Women's Camp

This year we had the first ever women's camp - 400 ladies from 3-4 different provinces made their way to Siem Reap to participate in this 3 day event. It was a beautiful sight to see this many in worship together. The church was filled to overflowing - it was nice to see the building since when I was here in 2001 I participated in bulding it. I met some girls that remembered me, they were part of the youth group that we helped with then. I had opportunity to speak with Khmer ladies and to listen alot. It was a beneficial language experience for me (e.g. singing with the other missionaries in front of course in Khmer), but it was also a very encouraging time. It was a blessing to see that the Khmer women were blessed and that God was speaking to them. I also had the opportunity to connect with other missionaries on our field that I had not yet met. It was great fun.

Structure in Studying

The more that I study the more I learn about Cambodians. In my university class most everything we do is rote and everyday I know to expect in my class. Both my teacher and my tutor have a difficult time answering questions I have about the language. What can I learn about Cambodians from this...Cambodians do not seem to question much, they were taught not to question and to do just what they were told and they seem to have a difficult time thinking outside of the box or creatively. Reason being they were never given the chance to really do this growing up. Well this has gotten me thinking about the church in Cambodia - the church is still fairly new and I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a new Christian in Cambodia. They don't have a lot of resources or a lot of ideas of what to do. I just think of everything that we have had education, many different models of ministry...I guess that is why God has us here. Please keep Cambodia in your prayers, the Christians and all of us missionaries.

Examples of some Khmer

លេវីវិន័យ Leviticus

ជនគណនា Numbers

ចោទិយកថា Deuteronomy

នាងរស់ Ruth

អែសរ៉ា Ezra

The Books of the Bible

I cannot really remember learning the books of the Bible, but it must have been in Awana. I just take for granted the fact that I know them and can locate book-chapter-verse quite easily. Now I am going through this again in Khmer language - I know now what it feels like when you don't know the books of the Bible but are trying to learn them and you come across these really strange names that you cannot read or pronounce very easily. I can identify with the Awana kids who are trying to learn the names of the books of the Old Testament it is difficult. Today was the first day that I went through the 66 names. It will take a while for me to memorize all of them but I am working on it and am excited for the day when I can easily find book-chapter-verse in my Khmer Bible.

Byes

Tomorrow remember me in your prayers for I will say goodbye to my mom as she returns to Minnesota. It has been a wonderful time having her here in Cambodia with me, she was able to experience a lot of things with me. It will be sad to have her go - but I have enjoyed the 3 weeks we have had together. I have gotten used to traveling by tuk tuk every where that on Thursday when I go back to riding motodope I will have to consiously remember my helmet. I will have to adjust to living alone again (hopefully only for a short time longer) as I desire to move in with a missionary friend the end of February. Just keep me in your prayers as I go through this time. Thank you.

Christmas in Cambodia

Christmas in Cambodia is very different than in Minnesota. First of all the weather is very warm, then there are not a lot of decorations around town, also most of Cambodia treat the day like any other day. My mom and I decided to spend some time as tourists this Christmas. On Christmas day we went to Wat Phnom and to the Royal Palace - if you know anything about touring Cambodia it is the fact that there are many religious ties to the places to visit. There are Buddhist temples at both Wat Phnom and the Royal Palace and after Christmas we went to Siem Reap and saw the temples there including Angkor Wat. Well I believe that this is the Christmas that I have spent the most time in prayer. My prayer - that God would continue to deepen my love for the Cambodian people, that in all I do Christ would be seen in me, that the eyes and hearts of the Cambodian people would be open to the deception they have believed, for spiritual protection...May God continue to open my eyes to see what it is he desires of me and that I would also begin to see more my place here in Cambodia.