I find myself in the Terk Thla village in the Pouk District of Cambodia this month. The team and I are living and working at a school that teaches English and computer classes of various levels to children in the surrounding villages.
A typical day consists of a few work chores around the school in the morning. Then on some days we take a 15 minute bicycle ride to another village to do a Bible lesson and play games with the children. Other days we go to a different village about a half hour ride through rice fields to lead a Bible study for the chief, who is a fairly new Christian, and some of the other members of the village. We will usually rest for a little while after lunch and then it’s off to the classroom! Between 3 and 7 in the afternoon on the weekdays the school offers about 10 classes of English and computers. I have been helping to teach 2 beginning computer classes and one elementary English class.
Despite the fact that something about Cambodia zaps all the energy out of me, I have been very much enjoying my time here. This part of the country is beautiful. I love going for jogs in the morning through the rice fields or riding a bike to a village in the afternoon. It’s the tail end of the rainy season so everything is a pretty green and contrasted by a bright blue sky. The villagers, out tending their fields or taking their cows/water buffalo out to graze, usually give us funny looks while the kids smile and excitedly yell hi as we pass.
Cambodia is a wonderful country with a very rough recent past. But the people are beautiful, they have positive attitudes and are rising above the challenges placed in front of them by an oppressive regime in their past. I thank the Lord that I have the opportunity help in this process.
Until next time, pray for the people of Cambodia, specifically the students we are teaching and the staff we are working along side. And that it out short time here we would be an example of Christ’s love for the kids as we help give them an education.
