This time last year, I found myself nearing the end of the 3rd month of my race and preparing to transition from Vietnam to Cambodia. This year I find myself right back in Cambodia. To be honest, this was not one of my favorite countries on my race, but I knew that I loved the sweet people here and that I was looking forward to the new things the Lord would show me and teach me. And what a sweet month it has been. It’s been a month of refreshment and depth with the Lord. With a relaxing place to come back to at the end of ministry days and a host family that serves us so well. A group of gals that I have had the privilege of doing a whole month of life with. Plus, as a bonus, one of our hosts is a doctor and does acupuncture, so she’s been working on my back. The Lord knows just what we need and man, does He provide!
We are partnered with Agape School in Siem Reap. It’s a Christian school for grades K-5. Our main job is to teach English to grades 1, 2, 3, and 5. Our schedule looks a little something like this:
-7:30am-11am- Teach grades 2/3/5 (we split up our group to do so)
-11am-2:30pm- Lunch/Team Time/Break
-2:30pm-5pm- Teach 1st grade (3 of us go, alternating who has this off)
-5pm-7:30pm- Dinner/Rest
-7:30pm-8:30pm- Lead Bible study with host family and teachers
I get to spend my mornings with the 5th grade crew. They are a rowdy bunch, but SO fun. They know some English, so I actually get to have simple conversations with them and get to know more about their lives. They get to teach me some Khmer as I teach them English. We have a good system going. The fact that they know some basic English already is such a blessing, but it does make teaching a little more difficult. I can’t just rely on coming in and teaching the basics….they already know those. It’s been a fun challenge as I figure out what to teach them that is helpful, engaging, and fun. Our days are broken into 3 sections, each separated by a short break and they look a little something like this:
-1st session: Greetings and stretches; review date and write simple sentences pertaining to present, past, and future; do a lesson in their workbook (this has consisted of the following themes: school activities; free time activities; around the community, animals, and words based on Khmer folktales); and finally, review vocab from the lessons by writing them in English and Khmer to connect words and understanding
-2nd session: Bible Story; review vocabulary from story- write in English and Khmer; draw picture or scene from the story; sing Bible songs
-3rd session: Games to review the words from the day and previous days (these include hangman, students competing in spelling words on the board, etc); end with fun songs
I absolutely love when I get to teach on the race. It’s my two worlds and passions colliding and that’s a beautiful gift. I get to use my training and my experience. I get to spend the day with kiddos. I get to walk alongside teammates as they enter the classroom as a teacher for maybe the very first time. I get to empower them and watch them blossom as they love on the kids and let the Lord lead them out of their comfort zone.
While I love it, it really is difficult. Walking into the classroom back in America, I feel at home. I have all the resources I need. I can communicate with my students and their families well. I have the time and ability to plan and get really creative. I have a routine, I know my students well, and they know my expectations. I typically have a small classroom and can diversify all assignments. I have things set in place to be able to know their levels. I get to teach my students academics, but also life skills such as communicating well and handling conflict. These things are actually my favorite thing- getting to walk with students and empower them in making decisions, handling situations with friends, making good choices, and dreaming and making goals. I get to let them know that I care so much more about them as a person, not just a grade.
Here, these things are not the case. Teaching overseas, resources are limited. So is communication because of the language barrier. There’s not as much time or ability to look things up to get creative or resources to be able to do all the fun things. Here, I don’t have the same routine and my classroom involves many more students. Communication is hard. When students have conflicts or come to me crying- they can’t always communicate to me the why and I can’t always communicate solutions or empower them to go and make things write. So, I’m left standing and hugging back a crying student who runs to me and hugs me tight. A lot of my knowledge of what the students are actually understanding and retaining is hope and guesswork- affirmed by small glimpses of the ways they start to use the things I teach.
In being a teacher back home, I know how things “should” go and the reality is, they just don’t go that way most of the time here, and that’s okay. Walking into a classroom and it not feeling right at home or comfortable has allowed me to grow as a person and as a teacher. I’ve learned even more flexibility in this area. I’ve been able to get creative with limited resources. I’ve been able to learn and glean joy from my teammates who walk into a classroom and go with the flow because this is all they know. I’ve been forced to find ways to show my students that I love and I care for them even if they don’t understand my words. I’ve had to find ways to teach them to be kind and cultivate a loving culture in the classroom with few words. I’ve learned that actions speak loud and that sometimes, hugging a student as they cry is the best way to love them. I’ve had to trust the Lord in helping me teach and trust that He’s with each of these kiddos. I’ve had to realize that really, if all that they understand is that I love them, and that more importantly, Jesus loves them, then that’s more than enough.
What a joy this month has been. The hugs and high fives that I get from the kiddos just get harder every day. They feel more loved, safer, and more connected with each passing class. So do I. I know that leaving them in just a week will be hard, but the lessons they’ve taught me will only continue to make me a better teacher and person- both the rest of this race and back in the classroom at home.
I am currently still in need of financial support to finish out my commitment to F Squad. I know that the Lord has called me here and that He will provide- He already has in so many incredible ways! Will you join me in praying for the rest of the funds to come in? I am still in need of $850. If you feel led, you can donate through the link above.
I’d also love for you to join me in praying for F Squad and the countries that we will live in. Prayer is powerful and is the most important way you can support me and what the Lord has called me to. I send out an email update each month with specific prayer requests- so if you’d like to receive that, comment with your email.
Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement! Thankful for each and every one of you!
