Hello friends,
I’m happy to say that all the students in our group are healthy today! This is the first free day that has happened since we arrived in Battambang!
I had recovered from my stomach issues last weekend by Sunday and was able to join the group at the church service at the Four-Square Orphanage. Liz gave a great message about God’s love and we got to hang out with the kids after the service was over. Oddly enough, at one point it turned into a big dance party, something that happened often with our family back in Oxford – I couldn’t help but think, as I danced around with the kids, that the backpackers would have been proud of us. We also spent Thursday afternoon at the orphanage. We did a teaching on the Prodigal Son parable (Luke 15:11-32) with a craft and some games. I think the kids really enjoyed it … we certainly did.
We had more Earth Care teaching with the Khmer Earth Care students (Pisith, Sath, Channoeun, and Lan) in the mornings this week. We learned about grafting fruit trees and went out to look at several nearby gardens – a very successful one, and some not-so-successful ones. Thursday we all piled into what was sort of like a giant Tuk Tuk (a cart pulled by a motorcycle) to see some gardens farther away. There were about 25 of us in all and we must have looked pretty silly all squished into that cart, because we got lots of smiles as we passed by the locals, and at one point there was a group of western-looking tourists who laughed and took pictures of us!
We spent more time at the youth center run by the Battambang YWAM base in the afternoons this week. I’ve found a couple of classes where I feel like I fit. I sit in and help the students and the teacher when they need it. My favorite part this week was standing in front of a level 2 class buzzing like a bee to try to help them say the “z” sound (and differentiate between “z” and “s”). They laughed at me – go figure – but I think it helped.
I went to the doctor about my persistent cough yesterday and got some medicine – I think it’s helping already. I’ve already laughed twice today without going into a coughing fit!
Tomorrow we’re going to a party at the youth center and our group is performing a skit that goes along with the song “Where is the Love?” by Black-Eyed Peas. I’m giving a little talk after it’s over to explain it – please pray for us!
God is doing great work in Cambodia. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to join in.
