Vol.# 287
Thank you ALL for your messages via social media (email, WhatsApp, FB) and your phone calls to wish me Happy Birthday! I am overwhelmed that so many would take the time and I am honored and truly blessed by all of you!
I took many pics and tried to put them in order to give you a sense of my trip to the village! It was a lovely trip in an air-conditioned van about 4 hours to the village. However, when we got there it was very hot and dusty BUT the Lord gave us a breeze to cool down the temperatures! Some of you asked if it was a team that was going to the village, and the team was Oun Muylen who is leading this project on behalf of BRAVE and myself!
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| SCHOOL IN CHHOUK VILLAGE, KAMPOT |
COWS BY A WELL BUILT BY BRAVE NEXT TO GROWING GARDEN
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| SNACK SHOP TO THE RIGHT |
As soon as we got there, I just had time to drink some coconut water straight from the coconut (durian fruit and coconut are the specialties of Kampot along with pepper and sea food) brought by the pastor, Lokru Bine Ra and his wife! It was truly SWEET and refreshing! I immediately was taken to the outside classroom where a Khmer class was about to start and I met with Lokru Khek Saun, who had retired from public school teaching and was now teaching a couple of hours each day at the school in Chhouk Village church, The Good News Church. He was still excited to teach his students and it was a joy to watch it happening as the chickens and cows were making sounds in the background!
KHMER LANGUAGE CLASS TAUGHT OUTSIDE 
LOKRU KHEK SAUN, RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AFTER 30 YEARS, NOW WORKING 2 HRS/DAY
After about 10 minutes I switched to the English language classes. Lokru Puth Cheara taught this one for Grades 1-3/4. This time I got to participate and was invited to jump in and help out. I wanted to observe first but since time was short and we were there for only 2 days, I jumped in! I observed the JK/SK class and thought that the idea of using TV trays, computer-type trays was brilliant as they suited the little ones. They were easy to fold up and put away as the room is a multi- functional one. It is a church and a classroom and a meeting room all in one!
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| TEACHER CHEA SOKHOM WITH JK/SK STUDENTS |
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| JK/SK USING SLATE AND CHALK AND COMPUTER/TV TRAYS AS DESKS! |
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| PLAYING GAME |
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| SOME STUDENTS PLAYING IN FRONT OF CLASS DURING BREAK |
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| COMBINED CLASS PHOTO |
Teacher Chea Sokhom is the daughter-in-law of the pastor and is a mother herself and she loves teaching this age group. Then immediately when this class was finished, we had a short break for lunch and then Oun Muylen asked if I would share a word of encouragement to the older members of the church (aka the non-students). It was about 4 in the afternoon now, and your prayers of strength and listening to the Holy Spirit in order to know what to say was answered! Thank you!
I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND PRAY OVER THE CONGREGANTS 
THE CONGREGANTS SURPRISED ME AND FORMED A CIRCLE TO PRAY BIRTHDAY BLESSING OVER ME! 
SOME MEMBERS AT PASTOR'S HOUSE. LOKRU BINE RA IS THE PASTOR (STRIPED SHIRT) AND HIS WIFE SISTER CHEN THAN IS IN GREEN.
I told them how they were my answer to prayer and my birthday gift from Jesus and then they surprised me by asking me to join in their circle as they simultaneously prayed birthday blessings over me! Oun Muylen captured this on video but I could not send it via this update but took a still photo from it to show you! When I return in July hopefully, I can show it to you face to face! By now, sweat is pouring down my face and back, but oh so happy after meeting these beautiful souls! Truly, they are rich in His Spirit though lacking in physical resources there. They are one community joined together to spread His Word in their part of the world! I am thankful to Oun Muylen for inviting me to see the work there and for BRAVE reaching out to build the well for clean water and helping to establish the church and school to build a better life for those in Chhouk Village, Kampot!
OUN MUYLEN SURPRISED ME BACK AT THE HOTEL WHERE SHE HAD ARRANGED WITH THE STAFF TO PUT BIRTHDAY FLOWERS /BALLOONS
Prayer requests:
- Please pray for the pastor’s wife, Sister Chen Tha who has been sick with stomach ailments and her mental health has been affected. They both returned with us to go to the hospital in Phnom Penh. Please pray for the correct diagnosis and treatment for her. They have to go into the city at least twice a month for hospital visits.
- Please pray for the JK/SK and Grades 1-3/4 English teachers. They have the desire to teach and the love for the students, and I prayed that the observations made would be put into practice. We discussed class setup from arrangement of desks and blackboard to praying over the desks and student list before class begins; praying for His creativity to teach the lessons; class management and discipline necessary in order for education to be done.
- There was a young woman, who is in the picture with the church members, wearing a white shirt and holding a baby. She is 18 years old and got married at 16, which is normal in the village and has 2 kids. She says she was quite sick with the second and she considers him to be a miracle child and feels so blessed. My prayer request for her is that she would be able to get formal education to become a teacher. She has the potential and I can see the gifting in her as she looked after the kids in the class and is getting the informal experience now to be a teacher!
- Please pray for spiritual growth for all, to read His Word and to study and apply His teachings to everyday life.
Thank you for going on this trip with me! I have so many more pictures, so in the next update I will send more! Thank you!
Love, His Warrior and Disciple,
Submitting to be His Dance partner here in Cambodia,
Your sister, Vedya
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