Around the middle of November, one of the wives of my team told us a story she'd just heard from another couple that works in a village about 30 minutes away from the city. This couple came to Cambodia through the same organization as the rest of my team. I don't know everything that they do, but I know they have some medical experience.
Anyways, there was a man from the village who had believed in Jesus (I'm not sure for how long), but he got very sick. He went to many doctors and even went to Vietnam to see doctors. They all basically told him to go back home and get ready to die. There were preparations for the funeral and everything. A church or someone took an offering to help pay for the funeral and everything. His wife was praying and making sacrifices to Buddha and his two sons had just given up hope.
Through tears, he told his family, "juuah Preah Yae-soo," which translates, "believe in Jesus." Other believers were praying around him asking God to spare his life for this man's wife and two grown sons to believe in Him. Finally his wife said, basically that God's will be done. Just shortly after that he responded in some way. The couple loaded him in a van and took him to the hospital that some other M's from the states run. Several believers rode with him to the hospital and prayed over him. I think they said he smiled. And I think it was at this time that his blood oxygen levels were at a 30, which means nothing to most of us, but apparently that's really bad. Under "normal" circumstances he should've been dead, but even if by some miracle he made it, then he should've had serious brain damage.
NOPE! I think it was the same day, he was talking, and two days later, he was sitting up joking around. Within a short time, maybe a week or so, he went back to work. That is the work of the One True Living God!!! Today (Nov 30, 2013) I heard this man give praise to The Living God and share his story! He said there was a period of time that he said he saw Jesus (clothed in red because He took his sin upon Himself) and there were two other men standing by Jesus. I know the couple who witnessed all of this and heard this man tell his story, with my own ears! God is capable of doing far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!!! - Eph 3:19-20
Now I am able to share his story with you, and he is able to share his story with SO MANY Cambodians. His wife is very close to choosing to follow Jesus, but there is a lot of opposition from her family. One of their sons has already made that decision and the other one has a softer heart, but it's still pretty hard. A lot of people have heard his story and God is making His name known among these people.
Please pray for this man, that he would remain on fire, and never forget or belittle this miracle that God has performed. Right now he's working 4 days and sharing in the other villages 1 day per week. Also pray for his family to believe and follow Jesus, and that God would prepare the hearts of those who will hear his story, that they will be ready to surrender their lives to The Most High God! PRAY FOR REVIVAL IN CAMBODIA!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
'Tis The Season ...
There has been a lot happen this month, but I have to write my newsletter in a few days, so I'll save it for the newsletter!!! :-)
I would however, like for you to think about holidays ... below is an old post (from March 17) with some additions. It fits very well, as Christmas is approaching. You can click the following link to view, the original blog post, "Righteousness?", or read below.
Back in March, my friend Tear-E asked why there are so many eggs for Easter and what they are for. We had watched “The Rise of the Guardians” just two days before. This brought up interesting conversation about American holidays.
Many American Christians believe that since our holidays are not religious that it’s okay to celebrate them. Cambodian holidays are all spiritual and involve feeding spirits or worshiping gods … so Cambodian Christians are often told they should not partake in these holiday events after they choose to follow Jesus. I have heard this brought up several times, and wonder myself, “what is right?” Look at Romans 14 (it's originally talking about food, but I think it applies here)! Here's Rom 14:10-12, but I encourage you to read more! It's good stuff! 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
–- Should Cambodians not celebrate Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben … holidays that “all” Cambodians celebrate. It’s clear in Scripture that you shall have no other gods before the One True God and you shall not make any graven images, or worship or serve them. But what if they are not worshiping other gods. Pchum Ben for example, is believed to be the day that the spirits in the lowest level / worst hell are released for one day. On that day they come up and people throw rolled up balls of rice at the temples. They believe that these spirits don’t get food throughout the whole year and their mouths are so small that they can only eat these tiny balls of rice. People do not know if any of their ancestors are in this hell so they go feed them just in case. If they don’t go and they do have an ancestor there, then the ancestor will basically “haunt” them over the next year because they did not feed them. Some people say they don’t go to feed the spirits, but like to do it because it’s tradition and it’s fun to throw rice-balls at the temples. Should a follower of Jesus partake in this???
I ask, "What about "American holidays" that ARE religious??? Christmas and Easter!!! It's the exact opposite as Cambodia. Most Cambodians know that their holidays are related to spirits, but most, or maybe I should say, "many" Americans think holidays are just a time to spend with family, have time off from work and school, ... Many families, such as my own (at least growing up) celebrated CHRISTmas without CHRIST and Easter doesn't even have Christ in the name, so that definitely isn't about Christ.
-- Should Americans not practice many Christmas traditions or tell their kids to believe in Santa? Seriously, as followers of Christ, how often do our conversations revolve more around Santa and other traditions than Jesus, Who is the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas, and the reason we are here on earth? I am not saying Santa or Christmas trees, candy canes, presents, parties, ... are bad or anything like that. Honestly, I don't know what is "right." But I am saying LET'S MAKE CHRISTMAS ABOUT CHRIST! Do these things bring God glory?
Many people don't like to talk about religion ... And honestly, how dare you ask a person if they know Jesus (in Oklahoma). Of course they do (not always), but many people get offended because they are good people, or they go to church sometimes, or their mom is a Sunday School teacher ... "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (emphasis mine) If you're like me and normally find it difficult to ask people about Jesus, but you want to, then use this time of year to DO IT! Ask what their family does on Christmas, if they have family traditions, if they go to church on Christmas day or other days, if they'd like to see your kids (or other kids at your church) perform in the Christmas play ... share how your family celebrates ...
Make an effort this year and every year to talk less and worry less about Santa, gifts, stress, parties, ... and talk more about Jesus CHRIST, the ULTIMATE gift! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
I know easier said than done, but I am committing to pray that you and I will pray for "God to remind us to pray and remind us to tell others what CHRISTmas is really about and how CHRIST has changed our lives!" Make the most of every opportunity He gives you! Apart from Him we can do nothing! I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
I would however, like for you to think about holidays ... below is an old post (from March 17) with some additions. It fits very well, as Christmas is approaching. You can click the following link to view, the original blog post, "Righteousness?", or read below.
Back in March, my friend Tear-E asked why there are so many eggs for Easter and what they are for. We had watched “The Rise of the Guardians” just two days before. This brought up interesting conversation about American holidays.
Many American Christians believe that since our holidays are not religious that it’s okay to celebrate them. Cambodian holidays are all spiritual and involve feeding spirits or worshiping gods … so Cambodian Christians are often told they should not partake in these holiday events after they choose to follow Jesus. I have heard this brought up several times, and wonder myself, “what is right?” Look at Romans 14 (it's originally talking about food, but I think it applies here)! Here's Rom 14:10-12, but I encourage you to read more! It's good stuff! 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
–- Should Cambodians not celebrate Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben … holidays that “all” Cambodians celebrate. It’s clear in Scripture that you shall have no other gods before the One True God and you shall not make any graven images, or worship or serve them. But what if they are not worshiping other gods. Pchum Ben for example, is believed to be the day that the spirits in the lowest level / worst hell are released for one day. On that day they come up and people throw rolled up balls of rice at the temples. They believe that these spirits don’t get food throughout the whole year and their mouths are so small that they can only eat these tiny balls of rice. People do not know if any of their ancestors are in this hell so they go feed them just in case. If they don’t go and they do have an ancestor there, then the ancestor will basically “haunt” them over the next year because they did not feed them. Some people say they don’t go to feed the spirits, but like to do it because it’s tradition and it’s fun to throw rice-balls at the temples. Should a follower of Jesus partake in this???
I ask, "What about "American holidays" that ARE religious??? Christmas and Easter!!! It's the exact opposite as Cambodia. Most Cambodians know that their holidays are related to spirits, but most, or maybe I should say, "many" Americans think holidays are just a time to spend with family, have time off from work and school, ... Many families, such as my own (at least growing up) celebrated CHRISTmas without CHRIST and Easter doesn't even have Christ in the name, so that definitely isn't about Christ.
-- Should Americans not practice many Christmas traditions or tell their kids to believe in Santa? Seriously, as followers of Christ, how often do our conversations revolve more around Santa and other traditions than Jesus, Who is the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas, and the reason we are here on earth? I am not saying Santa or Christmas trees, candy canes, presents, parties, ... are bad or anything like that. Honestly, I don't know what is "right." But I am saying LET'S MAKE CHRISTMAS ABOUT CHRIST! Do these things bring God glory?
Many people don't like to talk about religion ... And honestly, how dare you ask a person if they know Jesus (in Oklahoma). Of course they do (not always), but many people get offended because they are good people, or they go to church sometimes, or their mom is a Sunday School teacher ... "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (emphasis mine) If you're like me and normally find it difficult to ask people about Jesus, but you want to, then use this time of year to DO IT! Ask what their family does on Christmas, if they have family traditions, if they go to church on Christmas day or other days, if they'd like to see your kids (or other kids at your church) perform in the Christmas play ... share how your family celebrates ...
Make an effort this year and every year to talk less and worry less about Santa, gifts, stress, parties, ... and talk more about Jesus CHRIST, the ULTIMATE gift! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16
I know easier said than done, but I am committing to pray that you and I will pray for "God to remind us to pray and remind us to tell others what CHRISTmas is really about and how CHRIST has changed our lives!" Make the most of every opportunity He gives you! Apart from Him we can do nothing! I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
Friday, November 8, 2013
New Students ...
Here are the pictures of my classes!
The first week of class, we always have a lot of students, but by the end of the term at least a third of them stop coming. In some ways that's sad, but it also means that we can focus more on the fewer students who stick around.
Pray for God to work in all of their hearts for as long as they come and even after they leave!
My 5:30 Class
This class has about 20 returning students (from last term) and 25 new students.
My 3:30 Class
I love all of my classes, but I'm especially excited about this 3:30 class. I asked to teach the students with the lowest English level. Some of them are really really low. It's forcing me to speak more Khmer and is encouraging me to learn more Khmer. I shared my testimony with this class through really choppy English, very choppy Khmer, and drawing (along with the help of a couple of the "higher" level English speakers. This class also gives me more patience to speak with other students who don't know very much English.
My 1:30 Class
My 1:30 class has a couple of students who know quite a bit of English.
Sadly, I speak more like a Cambodian speaking English than an American speaking English. I rarely use contractions, and often speak in choppy sentences leaving out words like, "this, it, is, to, the ..." Even when I teach, I talk like that :-( It's hard, because so many students won't understand if I speak 100% normal, but this class is making me think more about the way I talk. I hope to speak correctly and for them to still understand, especially when we're talking about the Word of God!
The first week of class, we always have a lot of students, but by the end of the term at least a third of them stop coming. In some ways that's sad, but it also means that we can focus more on the fewer students who stick around.
Pray for God to work in all of their hearts for as long as they come and even after they leave!
My 5:30 Class
This class has about 20 returning students (from last term) and 25 new students.
My 3:30 Class
I love all of my classes, but I'm especially excited about this 3:30 class. I asked to teach the students with the lowest English level. Some of them are really really low. It's forcing me to speak more Khmer and is encouraging me to learn more Khmer. I shared my testimony with this class through really choppy English, very choppy Khmer, and drawing (along with the help of a couple of the "higher" level English speakers. This class also gives me more patience to speak with other students who don't know very much English.
My 1:30 Class
My 1:30 class has a couple of students who know quite a bit of English.
Sadly, I speak more like a Cambodian speaking English than an American speaking English. I rarely use contractions, and often speak in choppy sentences leaving out words like, "this, it, is, to, the ..." Even when I teach, I talk like that :-( It's hard, because so many students won't understand if I speak 100% normal, but this class is making me think more about the way I talk. I hope to speak correctly and for them to still understand, especially when we're talking about the Word of God!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Perspective ...
There is SO MUCH that I could write about, but I'll try to keep it short-ish!
The past several months I've been learning A LOT about perspective. It's easy to see that people from different cultures have very different ideas, views, thoughts ... in a lot of areas:
- skin color: most Asians think lighter is more beautiful but most white people think tan is more beautiful. I'm darker than him ==>
- personal bubble: it's much smaller in Asia than in America. I notice myself stepping back several times with certain people.
- modesty for women:
* Muslims cover everything ... sometimes even the entire face except the eyes and mouth.
* Cambodian women should have their shoulders covered (if they're not married) and should wear pants or skirts that at least come down to the knee.
* Americans ... I guess it depends on the individual ... schools have the three finger rule for shorts and tank tops.
* Europeans (based only on what I see) there's not much of a dress code. Women wear spaghetti straps (which many people would consider an under shirt) and very short shorts. Nude beaches ...
- dress:
* People in the states have different views on where it acceptable to wear your pajamas (only the house, Wal-Mart, school ...)
* In Cambodia, women and girls often wear their pajamas to the market (at all times of day, including the afternoon).
- traffic: Here it's very common to go through red lights, so do you obey the "law" or hold up traffic?
To get a better understanding click here. (A friend shared that link with me)
- time: Be early? Be exactly "on time"? Be 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes late...?
* From what I understand of American culture, you should be on time or early. However, being about 5 minutes late is very common and pretty acceptable depending on the people involved and the situation. Most people (that's me) don't want to be late, but somehow just "can't" always make it on time. I really enjoy my friends that sometimes text me that they'll be a little bit late because that gives me the freedom to do the same and know they won't be completely aggravated with me!
* "Khmer time" We have a love hate relationship! (But mostly love) :-) I love that it's completely acceptable for me to be a few minutes late. I don't have to feel guilty for one second. On the other hand, when you're trying to plan things with large group of students, it could get a little aggravating. I know that if we need to leave by, say 9am, then I will probably tell my students we will leave at 8:30. Even then, I should tell myself we're not really leaving until 9:15 or 9:30. My team and I have this exact conversation every time we plan an event or outing. (It's similar in America, but a little more exaggerated here.)
- feet: I think we can all agree that feet are dirty.
* In Cambodia, it's very rude for people to be able to see the bottom of your feet (don't sit with your legs straight out in front of you) and it can be rude to point to things or touch things with your feet (such as showing your friend that thing on the bottom shelf, but not wanting to waste the energy to bend over).
- picking your nose: What? Yes! It's perfectly acceptable to pick your nose here, and there's no need or even thought of trying to hide it.
- other ...
* When visiting your home (for first, second, or third time), Cambodians open your refrigerator and cabinets, and touch and examine different things. Though many Americans may want to do these things, it's not very acceptable or polite. We might call this being "nosy."
Easily seeing the different views because of different culture has helped me to notice just how different EVERY INDIVIDUAL (even with the "same" culture) sees things.
- hair: straight, curly, wavy, frizzy, long, short, blonde, brunette, red head, down, pony tail, bun, ... everyone has different opinions and most people want what they don't have. A friend of mine ( a fellow curly headed friend) was once talking about getting her hair permanently straightened. She looked at me and said, "It's everything we ever dreamed of!" :-) It certainly tempted me to get my hair straightened.
- the scruffy look: I think, in general, people think it makes the guy look lazy and not so clean, but some women, I guess, find it attractive.
- texting: "!" (exclamation points), "." (periods), CAPS, or words like, "k", "sure" ... Different people take these as rude (yelling, being short, not caring ...).
- not responding to messages: some people feel no need to respond, while the sender may be wondering what happened. Did they get the message? Are they angry or upset? Do they just not care enough to reply?
- germs, dirt, sweat, smells ... gross? indifferent? unbearable?
- helping others / taking over / doing things by yourself ...
- asking for help = bothering people?
- sarcasm : funny or hurtful?
- parenting: spanking, giving the child responsibility / freedom, how much the child should obey the parents ...
- words: they have different connotations, such as "sure." Some people think it means the same as "yes," but I think it means, "I will, but I don't really want to." Though tone of voice and level of excitement does make a difference on the meaning of "sure" and many other words, if not all!
Basically, I'm learning to be less sensitive to certain things, because people may not mean it to be offensive AND I'm learning to be less judgmental! Some people don't think twice about things they do or say, while other people tend to over analyze many things. The point is: every person thinks differently, therefore we must give grace and be understanding.
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way." ~ Romans 14:13
- I don't want the way I act, dress, speak, ... to cause any brother's or sister's here to stumble. What is acceptable for me (American culture) may not be acceptable here. I don't want somebody to see me "do" something and think, "oh it must be okay if Krystyn does it." I also have to catch myself as I watch other people. Jesus is the standard, not another sinful person.
" Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved." ~ 1 Cor. 10:31-33
The past several months I've been learning A LOT about perspective. It's easy to see that people from different cultures have very different ideas, views, thoughts ... in a lot of areas:
- personal bubble: it's much smaller in Asia than in America. I notice myself stepping back several times with certain people.
- modesty for women:
* Muslims cover everything ... sometimes even the entire face except the eyes and mouth.
* Cambodian women should have their shoulders covered (if they're not married) and should wear pants or skirts that at least come down to the knee.
* Americans ... I guess it depends on the individual ... schools have the three finger rule for shorts and tank tops.
* Europeans (based only on what I see) there's not much of a dress code. Women wear spaghetti straps (which many people would consider an under shirt) and very short shorts. Nude beaches ...
- dress:
* People in the states have different views on where it acceptable to wear your pajamas (only the house, Wal-Mart, school ...)
* In Cambodia, women and girls often wear their pajamas to the market (at all times of day, including the afternoon).
- traffic: Here it's very common to go through red lights, so do you obey the "law" or hold up traffic?
To get a better understanding click here. (A friend shared that link with me)
- time: Be early? Be exactly "on time"? Be 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes late...?
* From what I understand of American culture, you should be on time or early. However, being about 5 minutes late is very common and pretty acceptable depending on the people involved and the situation. Most people (that's me) don't want to be late, but somehow just "can't" always make it on time. I really enjoy my friends that sometimes text me that they'll be a little bit late because that gives me the freedom to do the same and know they won't be completely aggravated with me!
* "Khmer time" We have a love hate relationship! (But mostly love) :-) I love that it's completely acceptable for me to be a few minutes late. I don't have to feel guilty for one second. On the other hand, when you're trying to plan things with large group of students, it could get a little aggravating. I know that if we need to leave by, say 9am, then I will probably tell my students we will leave at 8:30. Even then, I should tell myself we're not really leaving until 9:15 or 9:30. My team and I have this exact conversation every time we plan an event or outing. (It's similar in America, but a little more exaggerated here.)
- feet: I think we can all agree that feet are dirty.
* In Cambodia, it's very rude for people to be able to see the bottom of your feet (don't sit with your legs straight out in front of you) and it can be rude to point to things or touch things with your feet (such as showing your friend that thing on the bottom shelf, but not wanting to waste the energy to bend over).
- picking your nose: What? Yes! It's perfectly acceptable to pick your nose here, and there's no need or even thought of trying to hide it.
- other ...
* When visiting your home (for first, second, or third time), Cambodians open your refrigerator and cabinets, and touch and examine different things. Though many Americans may want to do these things, it's not very acceptable or polite. We might call this being "nosy."
Easily seeing the different views because of different culture has helped me to notice just how different EVERY INDIVIDUAL (even with the "same" culture) sees things.
- hair: straight, curly, wavy, frizzy, long, short, blonde, brunette, red head, down, pony tail, bun, ... everyone has different opinions and most people want what they don't have. A friend of mine ( a fellow curly headed friend) was once talking about getting her hair permanently straightened. She looked at me and said, "It's everything we ever dreamed of!" :-) It certainly tempted me to get my hair straightened.
- the scruffy look: I think, in general, people think it makes the guy look lazy and not so clean, but some women, I guess, find it attractive.
- texting: "!" (exclamation points), "." (periods), CAPS, or words like, "k", "sure" ... Different people take these as rude (yelling, being short, not caring ...).
- not responding to messages: some people feel no need to respond, while the sender may be wondering what happened. Did they get the message? Are they angry or upset? Do they just not care enough to reply?
- germs, dirt, sweat, smells ... gross? indifferent? unbearable?
- helping others / taking over / doing things by yourself ...
- asking for help = bothering people?
- sarcasm : funny or hurtful?
- parenting: spanking, giving the child responsibility / freedom, how much the child should obey the parents ...
- words: they have different connotations, such as "sure." Some people think it means the same as "yes," but I think it means, "I will, but I don't really want to." Though tone of voice and level of excitement does make a difference on the meaning of "sure" and many other words, if not all!
Basically, I'm learning to be less sensitive to certain things, because people may not mean it to be offensive AND I'm learning to be less judgmental! Some people don't think twice about things they do or say, while other people tend to over analyze many things. The point is: every person thinks differently, therefore we must give grace and be understanding.
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way." ~ Romans 14:13
- I don't want the way I act, dress, speak, ... to cause any brother's or sister's here to stumble. What is acceptable for me (American culture) may not be acceptable here. I don't want somebody to see me "do" something and think, "oh it must be okay if Krystyn does it." I also have to catch myself as I watch other people. Jesus is the standard, not another sinful person.
" Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved." ~ 1 Cor. 10:31-33
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Today
INTRO...
My team has started reading The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken. I just started today. From what I've heard and read so far, I would also like to encourage you to read it! Anyways ... he was talking about how since he was a kid, his parents dropped him and his siblings off at church every Sunday. On an Easter morning, at the age of 11, he had "the first truly significant and personal spiritual experience he ever had in church." He wrote "I felt like shouting 'Hey everyone! Are you listening to this?' I had sat around some of those same folks at football games where they would yell and scream. How in the world was it that these people managed to get so excited about what happened at a high school football field on Friday nights than they did about the resurrection of Jesus at church on Easter Sunday morning? ... Maybe they had heard the story so many times before the, now, they saw it as ... just a story."
After reading that this afternoon, I prayed that I would not be numb or "used to" God's Word because I've heard / read so much, but that He would continually soften my heart and open my eyes to the truth! Tonight when I shared the Greatest Story Ever with my students, I shared in a way that I haven't shared in several months ... with such joy, excitement, awe, love ... and I didn't even notice the correlation between my prayer this afternoon and the way I shared this evening until I started writing this blog.
MY CLASSES ...
Today was the last day of class, at least as far as teaching and lessons go. All of my students who came today heard the complete Greatest Story Every (the Bible summarized in 15 minutes and a picture). They also have all 17 lessons which include both English and Khmer scriptures from the Bible. Most of the students that have made it to the end of the term (5 students at 1:30 & 16-20 students at 5:30) have attended most days. Therefore they've studied most of the lessons over the course of this term. If they missed or lost any lessons, I gave them an extra copy today and they stapled them all together with the picture as the cover.
It was exciting to see that many of them remembered what we studied. At certain places in the story I would pause and let them answer. I especially wanted to drill into them
"...BUT God still loved them,"
"The punishment for sin is death,"
"Jesus took the punishment for our sins," and
"we each must choose 1. to stay apart from God or 2. to believe in Jesus, choose to follow Him only, and have a relationship with God."
More importantly than them being able to remember these things, I pray that they begin to UNDERSTAND them and that it would lead them to faith in Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow we will have our end of the term party. Next week we will not have classes, but it will still be a somewhat busy week. Then we have registration on the 28th and 29th ... Then another new term!
My team has started reading The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken. I just started today. From what I've heard and read so far, I would also like to encourage you to read it! Anyways ... he was talking about how since he was a kid, his parents dropped him and his siblings off at church every Sunday. On an Easter morning, at the age of 11, he had "the first truly significant and personal spiritual experience he ever had in church." He wrote "I felt like shouting 'Hey everyone! Are you listening to this?' I had sat around some of those same folks at football games where they would yell and scream. How in the world was it that these people managed to get so excited about what happened at a high school football field on Friday nights than they did about the resurrection of Jesus at church on Easter Sunday morning? ... Maybe they had heard the story so many times before the, now, they saw it as ... just a story."
After reading that this afternoon, I prayed that I would not be numb or "used to" God's Word because I've heard / read so much, but that He would continually soften my heart and open my eyes to the truth! Tonight when I shared the Greatest Story Ever with my students, I shared in a way that I haven't shared in several months ... with such joy, excitement, awe, love ... and I didn't even notice the correlation between my prayer this afternoon and the way I shared this evening until I started writing this blog.
MY CLASSES ...
Today was the last day of class, at least as far as teaching and lessons go. All of my students who came today heard the complete Greatest Story Every (the Bible summarized in 15 minutes and a picture). They also have all 17 lessons which include both English and Khmer scriptures from the Bible. Most of the students that have made it to the end of the term (5 students at 1:30 & 16-20 students at 5:30) have attended most days. Therefore they've studied most of the lessons over the course of this term. If they missed or lost any lessons, I gave them an extra copy today and they stapled them all together with the picture as the cover.
It was exciting to see that many of them remembered what we studied. At certain places in the story I would pause and let them answer. I especially wanted to drill into them
"...BUT God still loved them,"
"The punishment for sin is death,"
"Jesus took the punishment for our sins," and
"we each must choose 1. to stay apart from God or 2. to believe in Jesus, choose to follow Him only, and have a relationship with God."
More importantly than them being able to remember these things, I pray that they begin to UNDERSTAND them and that it would lead them to faith in Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow we will have our end of the term party. Next week we will not have classes, but it will still be a somewhat busy week. Then we have registration on the 28th and 29th ... Then another new term!
Sunday, September 22, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, September 20, 2013
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
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
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