While in Cambodia, our ministry for the month was to work
with a school and a church in the heart of Phnom Pehn. We taught English
classes every weekday to preschool, elementary and college age students.
My elementary class was one of my favorites. I was given the
1st grade class to work with. Every day, we’d go through a couple
simple sentences like “I love my mommy.” I brought in coloring sheets to help
explain the true meaning of Christmas to them and they LOVED when we played
Heads-Up, Seven-Up on my last day.
In preparation for the college-age classes, the staff put
together a flyer that we took to several area colleges and universities. I had
a brief “is this really my life?” moment when I saw that the flyer included a picture
of 6 white English speakers. These faces floated around Phnom Pehn for at least
a month! We handed out thousands upon thousands of flyers to every student who
passed us. For the next few weeks, crowds of students showed up for speaking
tests and entered our classrooms to learn English from “true English speakers.”
…Although, I had a little bit of trouble not letting my
‘merican accent come out in the middle of class…
I had 2 separate classes with the most amazing Cambodian
teachers, Sombat and Sath. We spent each class period talking about the
fundamentals of English, the United States and worship songs.
It was incredible
to be able to teach the gospel while I taught English to students who were
predominantly Buddhist!
Over a 3 week period of time, I grew to love so many of
these students. For Christmas, we had a candle-lit service which was followed
by, none other than, a Macarena dance party! They taught us traditional Khmer
dances and we taught them the Macarena…4 times. J
It was so refreshing to get out of the classroom and hang out with them in
their element…to have fun dancing to American music and Khmer worship music…and
learning more about them, their culture and their music.
On our last day, they gave us so many cards and presents
that it floored me.
I didn’t anticipate the difference we would make in that
place when we first arrived.
I also didn’t anticipate the difference it would make in my
own heart.
It was hard to say goodbye to the people we lived life with
for almost a month straight. As much as I was ready for Africa, I will always
look back at Cambodia with a warmth in my heart and an excitement for its
people. I’m especially going to miss my students.
