This month we are blessed to be working with Kone Kmeng in western Cambodia. They’re mission is with at-risk children in very poor communities. They’ve established a school with two small classrooms and a church. It’s located 45 minutes from the nearest town and we travel via tuc-tuc down very bumpy, red-dirt roads to get there each day. Children come here for supplemental education for either the morning or afternoon Monday-Friday because there aren’t enough public schools or teachers for full-day education. We teach them English, bible classes, songs, games and dramas.
There’s also a dormitory for high-school students in town so that children are able to continue with their studies. Otherwise, it’s too far to travel and they’ll just drop out; many parents in these communities don’t value education. We spend three nights a week with the older kids and lead devotions for them.
It really feels like we’re on the World Race now. I’ve never seen living conditions like this before and God is igniting my heart for this place. We really have to be creative when we’re with kids all day who don’t speak the same language. I’m trying to remember all the fun games, songs and activities from my vacation bible school days and summers at camp. I feel needed here and I know that God’s using us. The other day when we showed up at school, the pre-school teacher asked us to teach the kids how to draw. Kearston decided she would show them how to draw a monkey, but then we realized that there were no pencils or paper. Later that day we were asked to teach an extra class because the teacher didn’t show up. The 12 and 13 year olds had been patiently waiting for over an hour and we learned that this is a common occurrence. I thought back to when I was in high school…if the teacher didn’t show up within 5 minutes we were out of there – such a contrast!
The schoolyard – their relief from the insane heat inside the classroom – is bare; they don’t have any toys or balls, but the children don’t seem to mind. When we play games, they exhibit so much energy, enthusiasm and laughter. These kids love with such abandonment!
