Cambodia: Day 12
Start at the beginning.Missed Teaching
Even though there wasn't much for us to do, we kind of hemmed and hawed and got to Cherr's pretty late. I was supposed to teach Cherr some computer stuff, but it was too late. I gave her my sincerest apologies and promised to come tomorrow.
Instead, I spent the time chatting with Kum'Ting, one of the original kids from Jeff's first trip. It's really wonderful to see how far these kids have come in such a short amount of time. Because of their English, both Ringsey and Kum'Ting got scholarships to go to University.
These kids are living proof that the work that is being done here is working and necessary. Even in such a short period of time, there is already tremendous fruit. Both these kids have the potential to continue on and make fantastic strides for the kingdom. This is one of the main factors that draws me to Cambodia.
The fact that the country was ravaged so badly, in such a short amount of time, by one man, is also a pretty good reason.Temple
At the temple today, Gentoo was very strict and made me repeat a lot of words she had just taught me. It was good, it forced me to learn the words.
We were surprised to see another American at the temple. She had been studying Khmer for 6 months. I was surprised that her Khmer wasn't as good as it could be. Everyone we had been talking to says that we should be able to pick up Khmer in around 6 months.
We spent a long while at the temple. It was almost time to go teach guitar class. I really didn't want to go teach guitar. I felt it was so frustrating and didn't really get anywhere. I opted to go visit Gentoo's house instead. I could tell that Jeff wasn't too happy.Gentoo's House
In some ways, Gentoo's house was similar to Sun Howee's house. There was a very apparent lack of furniture. She maybe had only two chairs which Mr. Soek and I took. Gentoo showed me the rest of her home which had a tiny kitchen in the back. Instead of gas or electric, they had a coal pit. For water, they had a old fashioned handle pump.
Behind her house was some water and a pagota. She took me to the pagota to take some pictures. It was really pleasant and kind of nice and serene. All the while, we were followed by these little kids. I'm sure they found me and oddity or interesting.
After seeing Gentoo's house, I finally had a chance to really experience the poverty in Cambodia. I didn't really get a chance to see the homes in Honduras, but I imagine that it isn't any better than it is here. Here, at least the houses are better built. Gentoo's family is so poor, they cannot afford a fan. Now that's really poor.
Part of me wanted to go to the market to buy them a fan. But at the same time, I would feel really weird about it. For me, it wouldn't be really expensive, but I wouldn't want to give them a really extravagant gift. I definately want to give the girls something to remember me by, I'm just not sure what.
It's such a different experience when you know someone who is poor and actually seeing their home. This is what they have to live with every day. All the other homes, I had only experienced from the outside. The fact that they are well built fails to convey how stark and simple the interior is. You watch old Kung Fu movies, and even they have stools and tables. Here, you may have a bed or a hamock.
We were hanging out at Gentoo's house when I spied a large storm cloud approaching. They asked the neighbor, who happened to be a moto taxi, to drive me to Light for Living. He was a little more expensive than he should've been, but whatever.
Not long after I arrived, the rain just pounded down.Sharing at Light for Living
I was surprised when they asked me to share at their Bible study. I wasn't sure what I should share, so I shared part of the message I had prepared for Tuesday. Hopefully, it was effective.
As we begin to get ready to leave, I definately feel a sense of wanting to stay. In Honduras, I was kind of looking forward to returning home. But I had entered a good routine here. I had also made a lot of good friends. The biggest difference is I feel like my work here is not complete. We had pretty much completed all that we could in Honduras, but there is still so much to do here. At the end of Honduras, I didn't feel that I would return for a long time. But I feel like I can and want to come back here for a longer time.
We shall see what God has in store for me. I don't even know what's going to happen in the next two months, let alone the next few years. All I can do is trust in God and what he will be doing with my life.
posted by w3y at
8/21/2006 11:43:00 PM
