Last day of teaching Pre-K and English to Elementary, Middle and High School students was a a memorable day for our team. If I were to describe my experience in our ministry at Cambodia Slum Ministry last month in one word, I would describe it as impactful. It was impactful not just for me, but for our students and our host family! What about CSM was impactful? My team and I were only there for just about 3 weeks. Well that last day of teaching, for me was a confirmation of how impactful our presence was, being at CSM.
We have grown so much from week 1-week 3 in our lesson planning/teaching skills/classroom management. Personally I have learned that I’m not too shabby as a teacher (Melanie DeJesus, Bo Beck and Celina Velez) you would be so proud of me!). With the help of the Holy Spirit and my team, I feel like my confidence blossomed in just managing a room full of crazy and wild kids was an awesome experience to process. I wasn’t alone of course, we all had a part to play in those 3 weeks of teaching. However, looking back to all of the past experiences I had in leading youth and children whether it be through babysitting my friends’ children, Younglives, being a teacher’s assistant for children’s ministry at church, my previous job…leading up to that last day of teaching at CSM, I have never felt so comfortable in taking a lead in the classroom and just freely loving on them. God has definitely walked me through this growing pain/process of getting along with children especially with my past of having an unplanned pregnancy and choosing not to parent my own child. God is so good and I love how he shows how much he loves me through the power of redemption!
I believe my team’s experience at CSM impacted our ministry host Beoun and his wife Moo by how we were able to simply just build a sweet relationship with them! The guys shared some great man-bonding time with Beoun via going to a live kickboxing match with him, working out with him, teaching him how to play the keyboard, use powerpoint, and play the keyboard. Hannah painted a sweet mural of Jesus and young children gathered at his feet in the classroom. The girls on my team and I enjoyed spending time cooking with Moo, going shopping with her, playing with their son Mannah, and just simply hanging out with her, enjoying her food and delightful conversations about everyday life. When we worshiped and prayed together as a team before class started we always invited Beoun and Moo to join us. 2 weeks out of Cambodia, we learned from their evaluation of us that their family really enjoyed having our team serve there especially in that aspect of having worship be a part of a regular routine before teaching.
The fruit of those 3 weeks of spending time with those precious children at CSM seemed impactful especially in the last day. The first half of class was a regular lesson and the second half of class we showered them with candy and had a dance party for all 3 classes. In return we were showered with gifts and hugs, climbed on, bombarded with taking selfies and cried over. Look forward to the pictures that I will post in the photo section! The middle school class especially was super emotional. Granted the majority of them are adolescent girls lol, but their tears and gifts impacted our team as well. We were lead to pray over them and just continue to love on them. Even when we left the next day to our debrief, a few of those students came by to bid us goodbye again! Praise the Lord we can love on others because HE first loved us.
I apologize that this blog is up so late. Look forward to multiple blogs this week! Thank you so much for trekking along with me on this Kingdom Journey! I am on the World Race yall, going into my second week of month 2! I am currently in Chiang Mai, Thailand serving at the Zion Hostel and Cafe.
Fundraising Update:
I am only $4,517.00 USD away from being fully funded! So far I have raised over $12,000 USD! There is no doubt in my mind that God will continue to provide these funds. 11/30 is our next fundraising deadline of $13,000 USD! I am only $956 short of meeting that goal. Please continue to share, pray and support. Love you from Thailand!
P.S. Remember that WR special burpee challenge I had? I did it in Cambodia too! Here’s the video… It’s either 11 of these or donate 😉
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Bliz
