For ministry this month we are working with the Cambodian Hope Association orphanage. We spend a few hours a day teaching them English and Bible. Our team is split into two groups; one taking the morning shifts the other group taking the afternoon shifts. Everyone else on my team is switching shifts. They spend a week doing morning shift, then a week doing afternoon shift. There are a few reasons we decided to do this, one of the main ones is so that we could get to know as many kids as possible.
I am not switching shifts. As our first week with the kids ended, I selfishly sought out my team leader and asked her if I could stay on afternoon shift. Truthfully, there were more reasons to benefit my team for me to stay in the afternoon. It helped even out the number of teachers we had since we have more kids in the afternoon. It gave others a chance to get to internet in the afternoon if they needed. I spouted all of these reasons out to Chanell as I made my case for wanting to stay in the afternoon. Then I finally got to the real reason; my purely selfish reason for wanting desperately to stay in the afternoon.
I love the boys in my class so much, and I want to get as much time with them as possible.
The way the Cambodian school system works is that you either go to school (real school) for a few hours in the morning or a few hours in the afternoon. Then you have the rest of the day free. That is why our team splits into two groups. I teach the younger boys who go to school in the afternoon. I get to see them when we have lunch, assure them I will be back in a few hours, then get to spend 3 glorious hours with them in the afternoons.
I have 7 boys ages 8-12. They are so full of energy; typical pre-teen boys. They all have their own crazy personalities. They can all drive me up a wall in their own way. Each of their smiles can melt my heart. It is almost impossible for me to say no to them as they beg to play Temple Run. “If you listen and behave during study then you can play the game.” So they quickly pile themselves on our couch, or a few chairs scattered around it, and get each other to be quiet (for at least 2 seconds before someone else says something), and look attentive for the lesson we have prepared.
Their names are Cheat (the one God gave me on our first day there, you can read about it in my “Three Little Words” blog), Map (pronounced mop), Top, Virek (pronounced V-wreck), Kea (pronounced Kia), Srim (like trim), Pollok (we say Pon-lock and he answers). Ready for the funny part: as hard as it was to learn to say some of their names, I thought my name was going to be a piece of cake. That is until I walked in on the second day and they started yelling “Korean”! Apparently that is how they thought it looked like it should be pronounced after I wrote it on the board. It took me a little while to realize they were talking to me, but when I did all I could do was smile. My teammates still laugh every time of my boys calls me it. But honestly, it is probably my most favorite nickname of all time.
So here in Cambodia, I am affectionately, and proudly Korean.
_____________________________________________
Right now, Korean is in some financial need. I am $1527 away from being fully funded. My next deadline is July 1st, a mere two weeks away. I know God can bring this money in. I have seen Him do it. Please, if you can help in any way, click the "Support Me" button on the left side of the blog. I appreciate your help so much. I know God is not ready for me to go home. And as homesick as I have been this month, I am not ready to go home either. I still have so much to learn. But going home is the reality I could face if I do not meet this deadline. So thank you in advance for all your further help in getting me to where God needs me to be!
