MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Cambodia proves to be filled with smiles, little kids, music, and dirt. Every morning I wake up to children coming to school, loud with excitement for the day. There are also lots of roosters doing their calls and sometimes there is a scurry of a mouse trying to hide before light catches it. This Christmas will show itself to be dirty instead of white and hot…real hot instead of cold. My team is trying to do small things that remind us of Christmas back home like stockings hung by the window, Celine Dion’s Christmas songs, or fun gifts that we can find. Though I may not be able to be home like a usual Christmas, we are all taking care of one another in some small way.
Our ministry here is pretty laid back which is nice to have when you are getting know women for the first time. We have opportunity to invest in one another and build relationships. In the mornings we go to Teen Challenge to teach a bible study. Teen challenge exists to allow men to change their lives. All of them have been addicted to drugs and alcohol. Teen challenge takes them in for one year, they don’t have to work but they have many chores to do. Teen challenge offers counseling and teaches them how to be men of God. They teach them practical skills like farming or computer. The men age from thirteen to twenty-five. At the end of a year teen challenge also connects them with churches and people that will continue to invest in them and give the a second chance at life. At first I thought it was weird that we, a team of girls, were ministering to a group of men. The pros to this is that they get the chance to be gentlemen. They get the chance to love us as sisters and we get to encourage them as men in pursuit of God. They hunger for knowledge and how to teach people about the gospel. It is really neat to see how God has woven this all together. They hunger for knowledge of the gospel and more of how to speak English. They really take care of us as sisters. A couple times we have gone to the city and they all want to come and look after us and help translate for us. They want to protect us and they always serve us at meals. I’m not saying that all men should be like this but I just think it’s awesome how God has transformed their hearts and minds from drug addicts and alcoholics to really striving to be gentlemen. They are very open to share their story and talk about their struggles. They don’t leave very often from the facility so they are always excited to see us each day. It’s pretty sweet…lets be honest. J
My teammate (Amiee) and I get to teach English to some girls at the church each day. So it’s not all guys all the time! I’ve realized that I don’t know English very well. Hashanah! Somehow I get to teach them how to have conversations in English and to pronunciate. I get to connect with them in ways I can’t with the guys, it’s a nice change during the day. They hunger just as much to understand English and in fact there is one who wants to teach English when she is older. I realized that here, knowing English can help get them out of the cycle of dirt poor. If they know English and have a skill they are more inclined to keep going to school and getting a better job. I’ve realized that Cambodians, at least the ones in the village I’m in, are hard workers. They are up early to take care of the cows or work in the wheat fields. They do it all the old fashion way, no machines, just their hands and a blade tool.As hard as it will be to not eat turkey and stuffing; macaroni and cheese, mash potatoes, or the endless amounts of pie I know and see God moving. Through YOUR support money and God doing what he does best (placing us in the right places at the right times), I get the honor to give gifts this year. I get to teach some English and some of the gospel. I get to encourage them to strive for more out of life. I get to see God move in ways I never have before. I get to be apart of what God is already doing. This Christmas know that you have brought some joy to some young lives by supporting me. I hope Christmas is great! Full of love, joy, rest, and of course lots of food!!! I will miss you all for sure. J
Merry Christmas from Cambodia!!!!!
