Children's Books & Tongue Twisters

My English classes with the students today were diverse. The first one had them reading a beginning reader ofBible stories. There are a couple of them who found this very easy, but others found it quite a challenge. The books will be good for them to use in teaching children English and Sunday school. The evening class was tongue twisters focusing especially on letters that give them difficulty... th & s, v & f. The children's classes were funny as I would have six show up early. About the time they went home another dozen or more showed up. We reviewed Sunday's lesson and learned "My God is so Great" then played a number game. ***Joe's classes were presentations of Abraham's story...Then a reworking to meet the assignment and re-presenting in the PM. *** Srey Nang made sweet and sour pork from Sokhom's description and got the recipe right on!

Sunday Smiles

Smiles from early in the morning to late in the evening can indicate great joy, total confusion or just being happy in the moment. Sunday is a time of great joy! The children come an hour early to everything around here! So it is no surprise to find them standing behind me at the table before I can even finish my breakfast. Their enthusiasm is hard to ignore. We enjoy singing, and can go through ou entire inventory of songs pretty quickly now. On Sunday I enjoy delving into the scriptures with them, because they have no background in the Word and find the stories fascinating. They sit listening as I explain the divisions of the Bible and the significance of God's plan for His people throughout the Old and New Testaments. Then I explained that the main idea of the Bible is God's personal interest in each person and His control over the things around us as He orchestrates His will in the world. We added two verses to "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"--one for Jonah and one for baby Moses. They enjoyed creating the scene in their composition books and writing a summary under each depiction.****Joe's sermon on God's calling in Gideon's life kept his audience spellbound as well. Worship is such a sweet time with the students leading throughout. Communion bread, like all our meals, is made fresh on Sunday morning. It is a form of fry bread in small squares since there is no oven nor microwave.****After a time of rest, Sokhom and Serai took us southeast of town to visit an orphanage for children whose parents have died of AIDS. it is a large complex divided now into two sections--one for teens and the other for younger children. The younger children were engrossed in a television program. There was a shelf lined with children's books in English, but none of the children could read English! We toured the grounds and visited with the manager before we headed out to see the chicken farm where his hatchlings are sold.****We decided to try the local pizza parlor for dinner tonight. The drive through town brought smiles as a toddler on the motor next to us began flirting with me. I couldn't resist his kisses blown over my way!****On the drive home, I commented to Sokhom about how amazing it was to live in a household of eighteen young men from so many backgrounds and different villages. Every young man, aged 16-33, takes part in every aspect of the family life. They treat each other, the staff and the neighborhood children with respect and love. He told us of three of the students who were originally taken into his care at the reqest of their parents to reform them. They were three of the most recent additions who would have wound up in the wrong crowds on the street as runaways. They are adorable, kind Christian leaders now. Their parents were amazed at the changes when they returned home on vacation recently. Your mission contributions-both financially and through prayer--are making a difference in the Kingdom!

MEDICAL MISSION TO THE WOMEN'S ISLAND

Saturdays the guys get to take a day off from reading through the Bible and devotions at 5:30AM. But they were all up and ready for a day of service this Saturday by the time we left at 6:00. Six of them joined our caravan to the Women's Island..an island in the Mekong River used to house, torture and kill some 1500 prisoners during Pol Pot's reign and then as aa place to isolate women who were left on the streets after the regime's demise. With more men slaughtered than women, many men took on two wives to protect,but so many women and children were left without a place to go. In an attempt to clean up the country and its appearance to the outside world, the street people, both women and children were exiled to this island with no contact with the outside world for thirty years. When Sokhom learned about the residents of the island, he raised money to buy a boat to provide access to the world. There are currently three hundred people living there. Raphael House out of Joplin, Missouri, has established a church that averages 100 in attendance each Sunday.***Wednesday Tokla had gone to the island to make arrangements for our arrival today. He distributed 250 free clinic vouchers and determined how to lay out the team.***Today we joined a team organized by our Dr. Yinh. Six of his interns, including Tokla and Sery who help him daily here at the clinic on our campus,and one RN composed the team. Dr. Yinh has a practice in Phnom Penh as well as opening the clinic here about a month ago. He is a native of Viet Nam. He specializes in treating his patients in two ways. Trained in acupuncture, he is well aware of the 450 pressure points. Depending on the issue with which a patient is dealing, he injects B12 into one or multiple areas; often relieving the pain immediately! His other miracle cure is the inception of gold filament into the affected area.***Today we set up in three locations on the church grounds. Inside the church building three tables housed two pairs of interns and the RN who screened each patient. In the workroom at the back of the building, two interns set up the farmacy dispensing drugs prescribed in the screening process. In the outdoor arbor, Dr. Yinh and his son, Sokly, (a CBI student) set up for B12 shots. Two of our young students assisted in each area. Joe and I even learned to mix B12 and fill syringes for the doctor and Sokly! The screeners saw 287 patients. The doctor and son gave shots to approximately 130 people and injected gold into two people.****We toured the island when we first arrived since none of the team had arrived yet. We tasted fried bananas and visited with the children along the walking path. At the end of the path, Sokhom introduced us to three of the ladies who grew up on the island and make their living by making macramé bracelets and headbands. We purchased some from each of them pooling all the smaller bills we could find to pay them. Later at the clinic we would be bombarded by women and children trying to sell us more. We bought our share of their wares!****Between clinic sessions we were served a delicious meal of grilled fish, grilled chicken, fish/banana/vegetable stew, mango slaw and rice. For dessert we were given manioc root with a coconut sauce. It was all very tastey! A heavy rain interrupted my game of Noah's Ark concentration with the children. Very few patients came by after lunch, so we packed up about 3:00 and headed home where I found my English students awaiting me! Instead of a formal class this evening, we put together a butterfly kite and were granted entrance into the lot next door for kite flying and oral English practice.***The students who stayed behind today went back out into the community to serve. They accumulated several bags of trash and made new contacts inviting them to Sunday school and church tomorrow! They were all ready to relax with a big game of volleyball. I worked with a couple on Power Point skills tonight and downloaded some pictures onto their working computer for them to use.***It was a day of blessing in which God was honored.

Service Projects

What a day filled with blessings and grace!**** ***Wherever you are, there will always be those who rise above and automatically become the leaders in the group or in the class. This morning one of my young boys rose to the occasion. He came to class singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children," one of the ten songs they have learned thus far. Other children foolwed behind him trying their best to remember the words! During class I was checking the song they had copied from the board into their composition books and allowing them to choose a color of smiley face to add to the page representing the Happy in If You're Happy. I alsoput a tiny happy face next to the word face to illustrate for them-of course allowing the naming of the color by each child. He saw my procedure and grabbed the AMEN stickers to illustrate the word in the third verse...always helping. Then, as if he had overheard the conversation last night between Mike Meirhofer and myself about getting pictures of me working with the children, he picked up my camera and asked if he could take pictures for me. (Well, it was all done in Kmai and sign language, but he did get permission before fooling around with the camera.) I appreciated his help and he even came back in the afternoon to help some more! He is delightful and appears to be around ten or eleven. The boys and girls here really enjoy playing a form of jacks using plastic chain links. I amazed at the songs they remember and their eagerness to learn even more. The Word is getting down the street and into the homes of these children most of whom come from a Buddhist background.****This afternoon Srey Nang, Phalika and I took a tuktuk to town to gather supplies. We wove in and out of traffic and Phalika enjoyed pointing out to me the wiring that lit the tuktuk's overhead light. It was a loose wire hanging down by the pole near her head. The one on the other side of the tuktuk powered the jam box wired into the overhead poles for the driver's enjoyment. It was almost more than the vehicle could manage to get up the bridge and over the Mekong River into town. Slowing down for turning cars; changing lanes to avoid bicycles laden with boxes or tools or most anything you can imagine; waiting for the turn signal as the myriads of vehicles of all sizes and styles pass us by the excursion was quite an adventure! Once in the market, we wove in and out of aisles and hallways filled with everything imaginable! Three stories of stalls housing everything from electronics to houshold cleaning supplies to fine jewelry. On every corner sat a person sellig something to eat...fruits, sweets, items wrapped in banana leaves, soups, etc. Srey Nang bargained for the best price throughout the compound loading down her arms with sacks at each stall she chose. Then we came to the serious shopping for the house of twenty five people. She stopped at one last stall where she bought cooking oil, oyster sauce, cooking sauces by the bundle, and several heavier items. We then called our driver to meet us at the nearest corner and hired help to get us to the street to wait for him there. The trip home was a bit overposered by the jack fruit we had bought. It is the most pungeunt smelling fruit I have ever been near! Thank goodness we had open windows in the tuktuk!***The students amazed me this evening in their English classes as well. I ventured out to teach them a round, not knowing how it would work out. (Those of you who know my singing ability would understand that. I am one who cannot clap and sing at the same time. I also have very little ability to sing on pitch. ) We learned Love, Love, Love, Love. After singing it about six times through, I tried to get it going in a round...NO luck! After three attempts, I thnked the guys for trying and said we wwould just keep with the unison version. Two brave young men ventured out and sang the second part--and sang it well! The next time through there were two more who joined them! It really sounded pretty good!****The guys are working up lessons for Joe's classes on the various heroes of the Bible. Today they started the studies for their presentations on Abraham by round robin reading the entire story of his life! Instead of working during the afternoon session, Joe sent them out into the neighborhood to be servants. Equipped with trash bags, brooms, p lastic gloves and a willing heart, they went out two by two to introduce themselves to the neighbors. Most of the neighbors were skeptical of accepting help from them...whether from pride or mistrust...they sent them on their way. One group wound up at the Buddhist Temple where we had saught a geocache the other day. The monks were glad to accept the help of young Christian men! SEveral of my young children saw them and joined in the fun of cleaning up. One of the children enlisted the boys' help to come to his house and clean their yard. The students gladly took the opportunity to meet the parents of the child and to invite them to services on Sunday. Their reports were inspiring and often humorous as they told of the people's eyes as they asked them how much they were charging for their work and they told them it was their first venture into the life of service!****on the lighter side, Joe and Sokhom went to the grocery this morning! Joe enjoyed his Tostitos and salsa this evening and should have enough soy sauce to get him through the rest of our visit here! The guys really are enjoying Garrett's gift to them. Every spare moment it seems the strings are being picked and choruses are being lifted in praise! Several of them are quite good singers. Others are talented in sports and love to play volleyball in the afternoon break time. WE need a good night's rest to be ready for the outing tomorrow to the Women's Island!

Presentations

It seems that the day was made for presentations. Both the CBI students and the morning children's class stood before the young men to demonstrate what they have learned.*****Today the students were assigned portions of the story of Noah in Genesis 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. One young man was selected as the leader by the class. That leader was given the assignment of dividing the scripture into nineteen sections so that each student presented his section as it appeared in the scripture. After an introduction of mary Margaret's youtube retelling of the story and listening to the children's song on video, the men were given two hours of study and preparation time. After lunch they came back prepared to present their study to the entire class. Each of the young men did a fantastic job! Sokhom and Joe were amazed at their understanding and depth. They related the facts with ease, but their illustrations and parallels to the New Testament and their own testimonies were so impressive that the teachers were moved to tears with excitement over their growth in the past six months of faith! ***Chanthy related the levels of the ark to the trinity. He went further to explain that Jesus is the only door into the kingdom. Only one level of the ark had a door from the outside. Once the animals had entered the ark, the door was shut behind them and their security was preserved for eternity.***Sok had wonderful presence. He stood firm and gave each of the audience his full attention with eye contact. He even used the leader at his side as part of his illustration. His section was Genesis 8:1-5. Sok was astonished at the seeming discrepancy in the scripture. God seemed to favor Noah over all of His other children. Then he looked deeper into the scripture and related the relationship of God to that of a teacher with 21 students. The teacher bought a gift for each of the 21 students for when they completed their assignments. Only one reached the goal, so the teacher's heart was broken that he could not give each of his students the gift prepared for him. God loves each of His children equally. He is broken hearted when he must deny entrance into heaven to those who do not accept his gift just as He was broken hearted to see His creation perish in the flood. Sok is an only child. He is boarding here many miles away from family and home--in a very foreign situation. His entire village is Muslim. He is so excited about returning to his people to share his faith and offer them a gift...the saving knowledge of Christ's resurrection!***Each of the nineteen stories could be recounted with ferver. The students were quite impressive.***The children also took an opportunity to present their songs to the young men. At the end of the morning class, we marched the 20+ children down from the third floor to sing for the students. They sang Heaven is a Wonderful Place and Jesus Loves the Little Children.***Early this morning I introduced Sovan and SreyNang to the hobby of geocaching. We walked down about a quarter of a mile to the Buddhist temple and cemetery where the cache Monkeys Temple is hidden. Unfortunately, the cache seems to have been muggled. We did find monks and monkeys as we strolled through the shrines.***AS we sit this evening, taking a breath between classes and awaiting our evening meal, it is so rewarding to hear the songs echoing through the halls as the students file down the stairs throughout the house for dinner. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Tomorrow they will again go into the neghboring village to share their faith. Pray for these faces as you remember us here.

Spiritual Warfare

There is a battle raging in this world. The combatants are too often unseen, but occasionally one takes on human flesh. Sunday Paul Pinkley taught his lesson about this very subject. Pray today for peace for those who stand against attacks of the evil one. I am living in the home of a man who could be a modern-day Job. The work he is doing for the Lord is amazing. His devotion to Christ and his steadfast self-sacrifice has brought so many to saving faith and others to a closer walk with the Lord? You cannot help but be touched by his story...http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2159139~Life,_death_and_rebirth_in_The_Killing_Fields Today join us in prayer for those who would seek to gain financially from his generosity and dedication to the Lord's will in his life and for the peace that comes after the personal hurt of betrayal.****Joe conducted an overview of the Bible today with emphasis on the triune nature of God. His studies with the students will walk through the heroes of our faith guiding the young men to choose the right and face evil eye to eye!****My children's classes continue to grow. Every time I get a small group started, the crowds press in from the sides! They arrive at 7:10 for the 8:30 class and at 12:30 for the 3:30 class! Just as the afternoon class got well started, the daily rains came in torrents along with a strong wind. We were "blown" out of our tird floor veranda classroom and into the hallway. Fifteen minutes late r the rains were gone leaving puddles in our workspace. The children multiplied with the clear sky.****The students get double doses of me each day. We have one based on scriptures or worship songs and one hour of camp songs or games. Even young adults enjoy having fun and using laughter to learn!****We are so well fed! Srey Nang makes sure our diets are well balanced and we have every delicacy imaginable. We miss Garrett, and our hearts ache to see Sokhom attacked by a former friend and coworker, but God blesses us daily through His plan for our days. We are more richly blessed than you can imagine!

Good Days and Good-byes

The children came today in droves. I started out the day with ten sweet young children in the back work area where motorbikes are stored, macramé is tied, hammocks swing babies to sleep and all meal preparations are made. While the ladies went to the market for today's supplies, I taught colors and math skills along with a review of Sunday's lesson on the importance of one young child. We sang over and over about the love of Jesus for little children. The groceries arrived along with two young ladies ready to take over the room for preparing lunch for the masses. Simultaneously, fifteen more eager English students came to study/sing/play! We moved to the front driveway and continued learning more English with a review of songs and games with jump frogs and Noah's Ark. This would be the first of three groups of children's classes totaling fifty four today. The evening class includes several of the CBI students who are beginning English speakers. They enjoy these classes as much as the children do. I've begun to incorporate more children's games and songs in with the students' English classes as well. They enjoyed the lollipop song today along with "Heaven is a Wonderful Place" which made them laugh. Tonight I began looking into their computer skills. Classes filled with laughing students thrill a teacher's soul.*****Garrett finished I Timothy with the boys today and did an overview of II Timothy as well. It has been a perfect selection for the young men to study together. They have been eager to ask questions and participate in discussions. He ended thee session by washing the feet of the students. It was a moving experience as he and Sokhom knelt to honor each one. ****Garrett's departure was honored by a true Cambodian-American barbecue! We had coconut milk straight from the coconut, sticky rice, grilled vegetables and a perfectly cooked steak! For dessert we enjoyed the meat of the coconut, mangoes and Rambutan fruit. The students enjoyed jamming with Garrett and his new Cambodian guitar. When he left, he gave them his souvenir to continue the jam. This young man of God has left a deep impression on the hearts of his students. ****God bless you, each one as you continue to lift Sokhom and his work here to the throne daily. Lives are being changed. Souls are coming to the Lord. Joy is spreading throughout Cambodia. ********Saturday we will take a medical mission trip to the Women's Island. Ten local doctors have been enlisted to join us in hopes of ministering to 200-300 women and children that day!