To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think much about Cambodia
during my previous months on the Race, even last month in Thailand I was way
more focused on the fact that we would only have two months left of the Race
than what those months would hold.
I overlooked an entire country, which is easier to do than you might
think, especially when you travel to a new one each month. But I’m so glad that this month
happened, that it was difficult, that it was hot(no fans, no electricity), that it was uncomfortable(bucket showers (with dirty water) and squatty potties) and
difficult to communicate with the people here. I’m so glad this month happened because the Lord really
showed me that I still have so much to learn, so much space to grow closer to
Him, so much grace to give and receive.
My 11:30 class, aren’t they precious!?
This month in Cambodia we worked with a
local pastor whose main ministry is to teach English to the village children
for little to no cost. Each day we
had one class at 11:30 and then three classes each at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. My teammate Jeff and I taught the 11:30
class each morning and these kids quickly became some of my favorites, they
were so attentive in class, and gave us so much grace as we may not have been
the best English teachers ever…but at least we were fun, right? Then at 5:00 I taught with my team lead
Jamos, and at 6:00 I taught with Allison.
Jamos and I teaching in our 5:00 class.
In each class there were the bright ones who would quickly become bored
with the repetitiousness of our lessons, and then there were the kids that need
just that. But each and every single one of these kids had to fight just to be
in these classes, they would come after all day at regular school and be ready
and willing to go along with whatever we had planned for the day. We would end
each class with a friendly game of hangman (which these kids loved, and were
geniuses at).
Parktra and I, so precious.
We also did a few house visits in the mornings or
afternoons, depending on our contact’s schedule. We even went to a wedding one day, which was an interesting
experience to say the least. Our team had no access to internet this month, so
I’ll be posting a few more blogs to tell you more about our month in beautiful
and smiling Cambodia.
A few of the kids that hung out outside of the church everyday.
