Toni is the eldest daughter of the family we lived with in Cambodia and the one who knew the most English, so she did all of the translating from Khmer to English and vice versa. She quickly became our dear friend. She also is a preschool and English teacher at the one-room church her brother pastors. Her huge need right now is a second teacher to assist her in the classroom. She does not get a paycheck for her job and the very limited paycheck her assistant would be offered deters any prospective applicants. Since the school resides in a church and her family members are the only Christians in their village, no Buddhist wants to work there. These are the challenges she and thousands of other Christians around the world are faced with. Please pray for my friend, Toni. Her faith, wisdom, and commitment to her purpose in God’s story really inspired and challenged my own faith.
The following stories are told in Toni’s words.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
They Will Come
I started my pre-school on November 2010. I wish all of the children around my village come to get education from my Christian pre-school. Because no Christian school at all around here. So I’ve been to train for a Christian pre-school teacher. So when I’ve done my training I came back to my church and open the school.
Before I started I went around the village tell people about my school and gave the paper to them about the information. I hoped have lots of children come to my school.
But only 6 children came, and that 6 children are the children of our church member only. None other children come.
I’ve been taught that 6 children for one whole year.
And I’ve felt very dismay because I heard people said they don’t want to take their children come to learn with me because I teach them about Jesus, they don’t like it. I am a God’s servant I like to talk about my God I like to tell every one about Jesus.
After that I’ve prayed to God every day I ask God to bring children to my school like he leaded all kind of animal to Noah’s ark. I ask him every day. I said I can’t do it but you can God. Nothing imposible with you Lord.
After 1 year God started to lead children to me. The second year I got 30 kids in my class.
You know why I think about Noah’s ark. Because I do all things by myself but nothing happened, so I only trust in God ask him to help me. I’ve imagined about animal come to Noah’s ark even though God told Noah to bring them to come but let you think is it easy? To collect all kind of them in pairs to come 2 by 2? Must be lots of work for Noah.
But for me I think only God can do that, he always do thing by his words. He only say and then things will happen. So I trust him he will bring children to me like that too. Finally he blessed me like what I asked him. Now I got 86 children including English classes.
So when I saw your team draw picture about Noah’s ark I felt about my prayer and what I’m trust him, and what he blessed me. Actually Noah’s time is very bad time for people on world. But God blessed who is faithful with him like Noah he is faithful his whole family got safe.
So if we faithful in him even though we got a struggle but he faithful to make a way for us too. Just trust him and wait. I know some time it’s not easy to wait for what that we really want it happen right now. It happen to me a lot. But God teached me alot through that too.
___________________________________________________________________________
Srey Sor
About 9 years ago I was teaching English in my church. And one of her aunt came to learn with me. She was a good girl I like her so much. And I alway go to visit her house I want to make friend with her family and also want to bring the love of God to them too. Tell them about God’s words. God is so good to me, every time I went to visit the family very welcome me.
The sister love to talk with me she told me about her life. That time she had pregnant and she was poor she was hungry but she doesn’t have enough money to buy food that she really want to eat. When I listened to her my heart is broken it so sad. And I thinked to the baby inside of her.
So I gave her some money and I left her house. While I travel back home I saw a lady sell the dry fish and I thought of her, so I buy 1 kg of fishes and turned back gave it to her. Just said that God bless you. And I say good bye to her again.
I didn’t think that is a deal, but for her is so helpful and so meaning to her. She always remember that.
I totally forget it, a few month ago her younger sister is one of my student told me about her. She said she appreciate about her daughter is so smart, when came to church for Sunday school she learned all thing. When she back home she sing, memorize bible verses and tell the bible story to her mom, she so proud of her daughter.
And she tell her sister that do you know why my daughter so smart because when I was pregnant teacher Toni bought me 1 kg of fishes to eat for that time I was very hungry. So she got the love of God since she was inside of me.
When I heard that I feel so amazing that she think that is a gift from God. I pray for this whole family come to know God. Please keep them in your praying.
Now Srey Sor gets to wear a dress handmade by a group of women from Virginia. The dress was given to us by our squad mentor’s mother, Connie and the ladies of her Bible study. They sewed a bunch of dresses for our squad to hand out to whoever God told us to.
___________________________________________________________________________
Toni’s younger sisters: Srey Pov and Srey Pich, and Toni on the right.
