The Khmer people of Cambodia are quite possibly the most friendly, loving people on the planet. Our month was spent working with YWAM’s University of the Nations. The primary ministry in Battambang is the youth center where YWAMers teach English, Chinese, cooking, hip hop, drama, and crafts to over 700 students. Team Zion had the privilege of coming alongside University of the Nations by teaching English, hanging out with the students, developing relationships, planning Sunday parties, etc… Through working with the youth center we saw an extreme hunger for knowledge that consumes this generation of Khmer people. Majority of these students grew up during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. In this time the educated population were Pol Pot’s targeted 2 million people that were killed. Now the Lord is restoring Cambodia 10 fold with a generation that hungers and receives the knowledge sought after.
In addition to working with YWAM, our team came alongside a local Four Square Church by teaching Sunday School, preaching, performing dramas, and working with the church’s orphanage. Down the street from the pastor’s house, where we lived, was a government orphanage where we taught English, played games, and loved on the kids. Some of our teammates also spent time ministering at a local soldier’s hospital with AIDS patients and their families. The town of Battambang has extremely fertile ground. The students and orphans are not only hungry for knowledge, but they are hungry to know Jesus Christ. They ask a million questions, want answers, and love to hear about God’s power.
Just wanted to give you a little overview of our month and some pictures to see where we have been…
View from our room…
Pastor’s granddaughters at church
She stole my heart!
Sweet girls…
Our Khma friend, who told us he was from Mexico. I taught him Spanish while others taught English!
Brooke and her buddy!
My buddies at the orphanage!
University of the Nations….classroom on the water
Playing Quack Diddly Oboe with the boys…
I will miss my Khma family in Cambodia!!!
