I was thinking this morning, how “normal” life has become. Then I look down at my Colgate toothpaste written in the Khmer writing and I remembered how abnormal my life is! I woke up this morning in Cambodia! After nine and a half months on the race, it’s easy to forget how adventurous our daily lives are! Here’s a taste of life in Cambodia.
I wake up every morning around 8:00am. I spend some time with the Lord and grab some fruitloops. Around 9:30am, I ride my bike to the center for conversation class.
I have three students in my morning conversation class. Cheata is fifteen and is very sweet-spirited. She is studious, always memorizing the vocabulary definitions, but is timid when practicing her broken English. She attends a Khmer school and takes classes at the center in her free time.
Che is a friendly, talkative young man who speaks boldly but refuses to memorize vocabulary definitions. He wants to be a tour guide (interestingly, many young men and women that can afford to go to the university study either tourism or accounting, as the majority of jobs available here are in the tourism industry). Because he wants to be a tour guide, Che can recite every major historical event in Cambodian history and is learning to speak Spanish as well as English.
KongKea is a polite, kind young man. He is my only student to consistently come to class on time, despite my best efforts to encourage promptness. In conversation class, we are currently discussing cultures of the world. The students enjoy talking about their country and learning about America and some other countries I have visited.
After conversation class, I run some errands before returning home for a family-style lunch. Our team eats with Phonkie and Roselette, Steve, and Sokle (new YWAM staffers here).
After lunch, we have some free time. We frequent a local cafe called Chaopraya that has great coffee and internet access. We also may go into the old market or relax at the base. Though Mary and Michelle have classes at 4:00, I do not return to the center until 5:00pm. Then it is time for my favorite class – Up and Away English – with thirty-five 11-15-year-olds!
I love my class! Though I normally resort to attempting to control chaos, they are awesome kids that really want to learn. Best friends Solheang and Duui are up front with my monkeys Seon, Narith, and Mong in the back. In class, we are learning numbers 1-20, vowels, “a” vs. “an,” “he” vs. “she,” and plural nouns. Nest week, we will try “this,” “that,” “those,” and “these” and learn some adjectives.
Many of the kids catch on quickly and can complete the activities with ease. These children have been coming to the center for several months. My heart always goes out to the few that don’t get it right away. The look up to me and answer quietly “No, teacher…” which means they don’t understand. Little Chanda (standing in the back) is new to the center and has not yet learned much English. I often have to go to her and explain things one-on-one, as well as I can in slow English. She never misses class and is showing improvement.
This is our Wall of Fame. Every Thursday is art day, and the kids (most of whom do not have crayons of their own) love coloring and drawing.
At the end of the day, I pick some of the pictures to display on the wall. I am a softie though, and will pick the pictures of the kids who are struggling in class to encourage them, even if they’re not the best ones.
Though it is normally an insane time, 5-6pm is the best part of my day. To be honest, some days I want to scream at them and have caught myself saying “You will learn how to do this!” Despite the frustrations, I get to enjoy and love on these kids, and maybe even teach them some English.
I finish up the day with a Microsoft PowerPoint class from 6-7pm. After some attendance issues, we moved the
time to the evening, and I now have four very eager young men who want to learn the program. After class, we lock up and head back to the base. We are greeted every evening by our Khmer family (from the Philippines). We have enjoyed many differing combinations of rice, glass noodles, vegetables,and chicken. We always contribute by bringing sweet-chili sauce to the table (which we eath 95% of). Some nights we invite Shira (5-year-old daughter) to watch a disney movie with us or Rosellete, Steve, and Soklee to play games. Pictured here with “Uncle Eric” are Phonkie and Hiya’s daughters Shevonne and Shira. They also have a newborn baby boy.
I have enjoyed our time in Cambodia, though I sometimes miss the “ïnstant-fruit” of Africa. (There are immediate rewards from feeding the starving and holding orphans). Here, we teach and encourage and love and pray and TRUST that by doing so, we are bringing the Kingdom of God. As we wrap up our time in Cambodia, I know that we have served these kids by teaching and equipping them. And I know that our Father has heard our prayers made on their behalf. And I know we have encouraged our host family and brothers and sisters in Christ. And I hope they all feel the immense love we have for them. I am grateful for our time here, for how the Lord has opened my eyes to the reality of recent global tragedies. And how he has reminded me to trust Him. And how He has grown our team closer together. And how He has entrusted me with more of His children to love. What a blessing!
