***This is an open letter to one of my students at the Buddist School at which I have been helping. He is 6 or 7 years old and is autistic. He is one of the people that make Cambodia what it has been for me which is a blessing. I am thankful for him and wanted to share him with you all.***
Dear Veha,
I’m sorry I thought your name was Ben. I know some of the kids in your class called you Ben, and
I think it’s a nickname, but I am not sure; after all, I’m not Khmer. I know after Thanksgiving I will
only see you for one more week, and I wanted to let you know all my favorite things about helping
take care of you and all the other kids at Pannasastra. To be honest, I wasn’t sure about you all
when I first walked into class. I mean, you all were kind of crazy that day, like 5 and 6 year olds
can be. You pulled on me, complained to me in Khmer, and I had no idea what you were saying,
and I couldn’t remember any of your names. I wasn’t sure how I would ‘get through’ a month of
being with you all in the mornings. But then Jesus came and changed something for me. He
changed my perspective. I learned your names and got in your space and tried to have
conversations with you. I realized I have no idea what your home life is like. I have no idea if you
know that you’re loved. I have no idea what it’s like for you Veha as an autistic kid growing up in
Cambodia. Jesus made each day a day to show love to you all. Veha, I will miss having to follow
you around during recess to make sure you get your snack. I will miss having to sing the ABC song
so that you would actually eat your snack. I will miss dotting out letters on the whiteboard for you
to trace them. I will miss singing Skidamarink-a-dinka-dink with you and then writing out all the
words to the song on the board. Also, I will miss your random smiles and your joy when you jump
off the tables in class into my arms, like five more times than you are actually supposed to
(considering you’re not supposed to be on the tables at all). I will miss breaking up fights on the
floor with Vereakreach, Sambath, Chanun, and Hong Pheng or having fun with them when they
listen. I will miss Socheat clinging to my arm and telling me about Ana and Elsa from Frozen but all
in Khmer. I will miss spinning her around while she plays princess and having all different kinds of
Khmer children cling to me during free time. But for now, I will still have one week left with you and
I pray that you come to know Christ and how much He loves you. Thank you for the hugs and
laughs. I will be so glad when you run up to me Monday morning and say, “hello?” like you think
that it’s my name.
Love,
Teacher Victoria
