Cambodia: Day 13
Start at the beginning.Shopping for Gifts
We were supposed to teach at KCEA today, but both Jeff and I had to buy gifts for our Khmer teachers. Jeff's was easy, gifts for two male monks. I had the difficult task of buying 3 gifts for girls.
First, I asked Soekna to help me, but he didn't really know what to get. I went to the market to ask Kum'Ting to help me but she wasn't around. So I asked Morico, her cousin to help. There was a disparity in age, but I think it would be alright.
She took me back to the same store that Soekna had taken me. We looked at some stuff, but none of it was really appropriate. I suggested maybe some small purses, but they were like $4-6 USD; way too much to spend. Then she had the brilliant idea of getting shirts for them. Too bad I didn't really get a chance to ask them about their favorite color or anything like that. Even still, it was a great idea.
We went deep in to the market to find some shirts. All the shirts that I liked ended up costing about $4, a lot more than I wanted to spend. We eventually picked out two shirts that were both $2. I wanted to give something special to Gentoo, so I decided to give her one of the many white t's that I had worn over the past week.
Then it was back to the other store to buy some boxes and cards for them. Jeff didn't have to because he only needed to get gifts for guys. The boxes were pretty nice, they came pre-wrapped. The store clerk added a pretty ribbon and bow which was a nice touch.Farewell Temple
It was both a happy and sad time as we approached the temple. I saw my pretty teachers sitting and waiting for me. I was both filled with the sense of excitement that we would be together coupled with the feeling of longing of saying goodbye to a good friend.
Even though my time with them was so short, I feel like I've made an important connection with them. One of those feelings where you just connect with someone despite language or any other barriers.
My intention was to just around and chat, but a new person came around and I ended up practicing my Khmer with her. We didn't get long before it was time to take pictures before KCEA.
We took a few group shots, but I didn't realize how poor the lighting was until later when I downloaded the pictures to my computer. It's a shame too, because one of the key group shots is really good. We'll see what one of the graphic gurus back home can do with it.Sharing at KCEA
Then it was off to KCEA to share about Acts 9. I'm not used to sharing like this, so it was very difficult for me. I prepared something, but I didn't feel it would really help them at all. Hopefully they were blessed in some way.
After the sharing, they shared their appreciation for us with gifts and prayer. Both Jeff and I got a chance to share a little more about our experiences in Cambodia.
It was definately a great experience for me. Unlike Honduras, where I felt like my mission was done at the end, I felt like mine was just beginning here in Cambodia. I had just started to make those strong connections with the people here and felt like I was ready to take them to the next level.
I felt like it was really difficult for me to leave when there is still so much to do. Even in just the last three years, there's been fruit from what Jeff's team had done so many years ago. To see the potential in such a short amount of time is staggering.
Cambodia is definately on my list of places to do full-time ministry. We'll see if God has it in store for me.Final Classes
For my final classes at Light for Living and Grace School, I opted to just play games with them. It's been a while since I've played any games with kids so it took me a while to think of some that were appropriate for them. Even then, it was still tough to think of all the rules for the games. Space was limitted, so a lot of games in my repertoire were out. It was even hard just to get them in a circle.
For Light for Living, I taught them the Watermellon Game, I tried teaching them Moo, Chi, Baa, but that didn't go too well. I also taught them the dance game.
At Grace School, I taught them how to play ABC and Black Magic. In order for Black Magic to work, I conscripted Kum'Ting to be my partner, so I told her how the games works. My class was dumbfounded by it. I would've continued to play, but class was getting short and I wanted to get some pictures.
After class, Nara and Lian called and asked if they could stay over. I wasn't too keen on the idea, but whatever. It turned out to be not so good an idea. During the night, after one finished snoring, the other would start. It was a really long and hard night for me, even with my iPod.
Tomorrow we'll be in Phnom Penh and get a chance to be tourists. I really don't want to go back yet.
posted by w3y at
8/22/2006 11:43:00 PM
