So difficult ...

Imagine, if you can ... you've never heard most of the Bible and you're reading the story of Saul's conversion (Acts 9:1-20) for the first time ever ... in the King James Bible AND you were raised in a place that doesn't have a Biblical foundation (that means little to no knowledge of the Bible).

I was trying to envision this today as I studied the Bible with Sihn and a friend of his. They read the story in Khmer (which some people compare to King James because there are a lot of words used that people don't know anymore), then I read it in English (NIRV). For me it's simple. BUT for them ... not so much! All I could do was try to empathize with them and PRAY. Pray that God would give them understanding. I also tried to summarize in my own words, along with a simple drawing. Finally, after a while, and them reading to themselves over and over, and comparing the Khmer and English translations, I think they finally understood (for the most part).

Sihn's friend (I forget exactly how to say his name) was really excited about it and wants to come again next week! That was really encouraging!

The memory verse, which I didn't tell them to memorize, but to just think about, was John 3:7 "You must be born again."  Sihn's friend asked, "so you believe when you die, you will be born again?" I'm pretty sure he was thinking reincarnation. "No, no, no " ... I explained what the verse actually meant.

Please pray for these two guys and for others to join. Ask God to give them all understanding of Him, His love and His desire to have a relationship with them.

Sunday Bible Study

This week I've told my students that if they don't currently go to church, and would like to study the Bible, then they can meet me starting this Sunday morning at 9am. (that's 9pm Saturday night - Central Standard Time)

Please pray:
- For God to make students interested and hungry for His Word.
- For students who are hungry to be available and courageous enough to come.
- For me to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and be obedient.
- For God to change the hearts of those who come.
- For the right number to come. ( I think 3-7 would be great, but God's ways are higher than mine!)

I'd been thinking about doing this for a while, but kept waiting, making excuses (there's a major holiday starting the first of October, and students are already starting to go home. They should return in early to mid October...), putting it off. I finally mentioned it to my team leader, and he said, "yea! Do it!"

Some specific students you can pray for are:
(guys) Sihn, Rosa, Rin-Treah, Sah-wahn, Ben
(girls) Bo-pah, Noo-uhn, Kall-E-yahn, K.Hang (busy this week), Dome

Rules in Cambodia

When we studied Exodus 20 about The Ten Commandments, we also talked about rules for girls and boys in Cambodia. This is what my students came up with:

Both Girls and Boys

• Cannot gossip
• Cannot live with the opposite gender before marriage
• Can only be married one time
• Must be at least 18 years old to get married
• Cannot scold parents / Respect parents
• Don’t make parents angry / disappointed/ have pain
• Cannot do drugs
• Cannot play cards (for money / as a job)

Girls

• Do housework
• Cannot yell out loud
• Cannot walk fast
• Cannot laugh loud
• Cannot eat too fast or too loud
• Cannot go out after 8pm
• Cannot talk too much to boys
• Cannot have a boyfriend when she’s in school
• Women stay at home
• Look after the children
• Take care of the husband
• Cannot drink alcohol

 

Boys

• Cannot be shy
• Must be strong
• Must be diligent to study
• Must be a gentleman
• Must be knowledgeable
• Cannot get drunk
• Must provide for the family
• Must be a leader in the family