I just want to wish you all a happy thanksgiving! We truly have soo much to be grateful for!
Love you guys!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Teaching
So this past week I started teaching at the Bible College (Cambodia Bible Institute). I was really nervous on my first day... but praise God I only have 8 students! 8 students is manageable as I have lead many seminars in university. I never thought I would say this but praise God for those horrid seminars. It is large groups that petrify me. Out of my 8 students, only 3 are girls and the rest are guys. I am the second youngest in the class -- did I mention that I am the teacher?!
So I took the first day to get to know my students and try to figure out how much English they know and what they need to work on. At the end of the class I gave them the opportunity to ask me questions. Well... I was not fully expecting their line of thinking. So the questions I got were: are you married? Are you single? LOL. Anyways, when I went in again on Thursday, one of the assignments was that the students had to think of 5 yes or no questions and then pick one and ask it to their neighbour. Some of the questions and answers were: "Is Rebecca single?" "Yes, she is." followed by, "Are you single?" "Yes, I am." So the joke about Bible college being bridal college seems to transcend international borders.
So I took the first day to get to know my students and try to figure out how much English they know and what they need to work on. At the end of the class I gave them the opportunity to ask me questions. Well... I was not fully expecting their line of thinking. So the questions I got were: are you married? Are you single? LOL. Anyways, when I went in again on Thursday, one of the assignments was that the students had to think of 5 yes or no questions and then pick one and ask it to their neighbour. Some of the questions and answers were: "Is Rebecca single?" "Yes, she is." followed by, "Are you single?" "Yes, I am." So the joke about Bible college being bridal college seems to transcend international borders.
Another Week, Another Heart Throb
This week has been crazy busy and I haven`t been able to sleep either. That being said, I felt exhausted and so I didn`t want to go to the center this week because it is emotionally wearying. However, after talking with my wonderful sister Jackie on Saturday night, she was able to talk some sense into me and remind me why I go. So I went!
These past two weeks without a translator have probably been the best and yet worst times I have had here. My language is now at a point were I can chat with the girls about simple things. Unfortunately I understand more than I want to. There is one girl who keeps calling me mom and hugging me and then she tries to manipulate me into buying her ice cream. Another girl, who I have come to love over the past couple weeks, is leaving... I don`t know if that means she gets to go home or be moved to a more permanent place. I hope for her sake that she gets to go home. The older girls do not like being there. One girl just spent all yesterday afternoon sitting and saying she wants to go home.
Yesterday the girls felt like singing and dancing and so they sat in a circle and each took turns dancing. I watched 6 and 7 years move in ways that 6 and 7 year old`s should never move. It brings up the whole issue of childhood and innocence... or lack there of.
Anyways, I pray that just by being there and loving the girls that I can be a positive influence in their lives and that I can show them the love of Jesus.
These past two weeks without a translator have probably been the best and yet worst times I have had here. My language is now at a point were I can chat with the girls about simple things. Unfortunately I understand more than I want to. There is one girl who keeps calling me mom and hugging me and then she tries to manipulate me into buying her ice cream. Another girl, who I have come to love over the past couple weeks, is leaving... I don`t know if that means she gets to go home or be moved to a more permanent place. I hope for her sake that she gets to go home. The older girls do not like being there. One girl just spent all yesterday afternoon sitting and saying she wants to go home.
Yesterday the girls felt like singing and dancing and so they sat in a circle and each took turns dancing. I watched 6 and 7 years move in ways that 6 and 7 year old`s should never move. It brings up the whole issue of childhood and innocence... or lack there of.
Anyways, I pray that just by being there and loving the girls that I can be a positive influence in their lives and that I can show them the love of Jesus.
Mara Praise Report
I just want to thank all of you who have been praying for me. Since I posted about experiencing bittness, I haven`t been bitter -- and I pray that continues. YAY! It`s like when we expose light to darkness, the darkness can no longer exist in the presence of the light. Thanks for your prayers!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A Broken Heart
Today I went to the center as usual. I was on my own again today and with God's help I was able to explain the games so that the girls understood how to play. They seemed to enjoy them-- you never know with them if the game will be a hit or a miss. There is one young girl who has been there a while who loves the games. She always asks to keep playing them over and over. She makes me smile.
Usually another lady goes with me and she does a Bible Study with the girls for the first hour and then I do games for the second. Seeing as my language is there yet, and I don't have a translator, I can't do the Bible Study so I usually do a couple songs with the girls and then games. Today , most of the girls were tired after playing games for an hour and so I spent time talking with them. One girl kept saying how she wants to go home. She doesn't want to play games, just go home! She also showed me many bruises. I wish I could have asked how she got them. Another girl told me about her/ her sister's boyfriend and his apartment -- did I mention that she is around 12. She showed me the earrings that he bought her.
Today I got a deeper picture into the lives of a few girls. I came home and cried.
Usually another lady goes with me and she does a Bible Study with the girls for the first hour and then I do games for the second. Seeing as my language is there yet, and I don't have a translator, I can't do the Bible Study so I usually do a couple songs with the girls and then games. Today , most of the girls were tired after playing games for an hour and so I spent time talking with them. One girl kept saying how she wants to go home. She doesn't want to play games, just go home! She also showed me many bruises. I wish I could have asked how she got them. Another girl told me about her/ her sister's boyfriend and his apartment -- did I mention that she is around 12. She showed me the earrings that he bought her.
Today I got a deeper picture into the lives of a few girls. I came home and cried.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Mara
Mara is the name Naomi (in the book of Ruth in the Bible) named herself after the loss of her husband and sons. It means bitter.
I have a blackness in my heart called bitterness. I don't know how it got there and it is a constant daily battle to get rid of it. The Bible calls us to serve one another and to put each other first. This can be a very difficult thing to do, especially when you put others first who do not reciprocate. But the purpose of serving others is not to be served. Nonetheless, I have found that the more I give and serve those who are oblivious, the more bitter I become. I DO NOT WANT TO BE BITTER! Bitterness can wreck your day and wreck your relationships. It is funny how even small things like always taking the broken mug so the other person doesn't burn their hands can turn from an act of love to an act that causes evil thoughts towards the other person. Please pray for me that I would be able to love sincerely and not allow any bitterness in my heart.
I have a blackness in my heart called bitterness. I don't know how it got there and it is a constant daily battle to get rid of it. The Bible calls us to serve one another and to put each other first. This can be a very difficult thing to do, especially when you put others first who do not reciprocate. But the purpose of serving others is not to be served. Nonetheless, I have found that the more I give and serve those who are oblivious, the more bitter I become. I DO NOT WANT TO BE BITTER! Bitterness can wreck your day and wreck your relationships. It is funny how even small things like always taking the broken mug so the other person doesn't burn their hands can turn from an act of love to an act that causes evil thoughts towards the other person. Please pray for me that I would be able to love sincerely and not allow any bitterness in my heart.
Boys, boys, boys... :(
I picked up a copy of the Cambodian Daily (the local English paper) today and noticed that one of the articles was on the sexual abuse of boys here in Cambodia. Seeing as that was an area that I found lacking when I was doing my research, my interest was peeked.
In summary of the article, the Cambodia director for the NOG Action Pour Les Enfant said "here, 60 percent of our victims are boys, so the sexual exploitation of boys is really a big issue" (meaning 60% of those who come through their center.) The article also reported that a study, done by the Social Services of Cambodia organization, found that it is not gay men who are predominantly responsible, rather, a significant amount of boys are abused by both Cambodian and foreign adults including women, and also by other children and adolescents. This is conclusive with my findings, but I found the 60% to be a shockingly high percentage.
What I found particularily interesting was this quote given from a victim: "It was very painful and frightening... I was overwhelmed with confusion... It was very painful in my heart... I asked many questions... Do I have bad karma? Did I do something wrong in my previous life? Why does this happen to me?" This quote is interesting because it sheds some light on the way Cambodians think. It breaks my heart to think that they could think that they are in some way responsible for the sick actions of others.
Please remember to pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation and also pray for their exploiters.
In summary of the article, the Cambodia director for the NOG Action Pour Les Enfant said "here, 60 percent of our victims are boys, so the sexual exploitation of boys is really a big issue" (meaning 60% of those who come through their center.) The article also reported that a study, done by the Social Services of Cambodia organization, found that it is not gay men who are predominantly responsible, rather, a significant amount of boys are abused by both Cambodian and foreign adults including women, and also by other children and adolescents. This is conclusive with my findings, but I found the 60% to be a shockingly high percentage.
What I found particularily interesting was this quote given from a victim: "It was very painful and frightening... I was overwhelmed with confusion... It was very painful in my heart... I asked many questions... Do I have bad karma? Did I do something wrong in my previous life? Why does this happen to me?" This quote is interesting because it sheds some light on the way Cambodians think. It breaks my heart to think that they could think that they are in some way responsible for the sick actions of others.
Please remember to pray for those who are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation and also pray for their exploiters.
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