Cambodia 2 - Heat & Mosquito Bites Don't Deter 'Grandma' Judy...

From: Judy [mailto:zimbi7@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 5:10 PM
To: zimbi7@aol.com

Cambodia 2

It is 5:30 on a HOT, sunny afternoon. The electricity has gone off...Lynn is studying downstairs and I came up to the rooftop to study. Vuthy is sitting here at the table with me studying English grammar and I am trying to help, but it is obvious he remembers more than I. He reads and writes English well, but has not had much practice in conversational English, so we struggle along together.
 

Sothea, one of the older students is sitting with us. He has an ear pod in trying to learn a new Worship song from my iPod; Borey and Nora are watering the plants that grace the top of the roof. Jessica told us this morning that they fixed the roof up “before Grandma came” to make it even prettier...what an honor! There is an abundance of flowers and plants and I was wondering why I kept being tagged on FB with different flowers...now I see them in person. Borey built a treliss for some climbing orchids and it looks so pretty; a refreshing oasis in the warm city. Each tree, plant and shrub is being lovingly sprayed and pruned and talked to by Borey.

The students continue to bless me. My desire is to hear at least two of their stories each day. They come from such interesting backgrounds and it is a blessing to hear how God has brought them to this place called Crossroads.

Pichet, started at Crossroads as a Sophomore. He is a Khmer Literature major. His Mom and Dad fought a lot as he was growing up and split up; he was brought up by his paternal grandma. She is now 87 and is still commited to putting him through University. He is equally commited to paying her back for her investment in his education, although she insists she doesn’t want him to. He is in his third year and plans to teach literature in a high school out in the country. When he returns to the countryside, he knows he won’t use his English very much, but he is commited to “pay back” to his culture and invest in the lives of the Khmer students. He is a strong, refreshing Christ follower.

He asked me last night that starting tomorrow, if I would be willing to sit at 9 and 2 for an hour with some of the students...and talk about Grandma “wisdom”. Hmmmm, we could have a problem here Houston!   He said he loves his grandma so much, but that she follows Buddhism and is commited to the religion. The 'pagodas’ used to be a safe place for children and young people to go, "but that is no longer so", Pichet says.  So starting tomorrow, we will add a few more times to share with 14 students, talking about Jesus and life and walking with HIM.

Lynn shared last night on the life of Nehemiah, and his leadership style and he challenged the students to be leaders, full of JOY and committed to their task. They sat in rapt attention hearing the Word being shared; many talked with him afterwards about their own leadership style.

I am hoping the mosquitoes I've “prayed over” before whacking them, were just a plain ordinary variety!   It was a little strange coming back to Cambodia this time...a feeling like we were coming “home”. I didn’t think much about insect repellent and malaria prophylactic...until last night when I came down from the roof with upwards of 50 'love bites' from the dear buzzing creatures.

Still working on some technicalities with photos/and electricity going off at weird times, so I hope to get in the swing of this blog (Thank you Rebecca/Valerie!)

Love,
Judy and Lynn