Eclectic Diary

Well, it’s been a while since we’ve blogged and we keep getting requests for more blogs. So I’ve stolen the computer from Jonathan and am taking things into my own hands – scary stuff!

The scariest bit is trying to remember all the interesting and funny things that have happened over the past few weeks.

I guess you’d like an update on our new brother. Him is doing really well. He expresses his excitement about being baptized and refers to us as brothers and sisters with a happy tone of voice. We don’t get to see Him much apart from Sunday’s as he’s teaching again so is busy preparing lessons. But when we do see Him, he’s enthusiastic and happy and appears to enjoy spending time with us. He came out for dinner with us the other night and was full of jokes and laughter.

We’re currently preparing for a mini-seminar (just one day) on “the Parables of Jesus” which will involve two talks and a workshop where we split into groups and study a parable per group. Hopefully this will help our contacts to learn Bible Study Skills that they can take away with them.

At the moment we have Judah and Fiona Smith staying with us. They’re a huge help! Especially when Joni & S’rose went down with some kind of cold / flu!! Judah and Fiona arrived half-way through that week which was a real blessing. After spending two full days teaching non-stop I was ready to pass on some lessons to our new helpers. So they got thrown in head-first, while Joni & S’rose lay in bed recovering from fevers etc. It’s been great to have extra people around to bounce ideas off and discuss issues. We’re enjoying their company!

We advertised in the local paper a few weeks ago and have been getting a steady stream of interested calls ever since. We’ve had about 3 new contacts per week – though only a third turn up!! Better than none though – and some are proving very interested.

We had a group of three guys turn up the other day for a lesson… a driving lesson! When we explained that we don’t teach driving but we do teach about the Bible they immediately signed up asking for lessons from Monday to Friday. So they’re coming Tuesday to Friday for an hour each afternoon.

One of my favourite things about living here is catching moto rides to places. I love the feel of the wind in my face. I love sitting side-saddle. And I love all the amazing sights in the city – they always make me laugh with incredulity!

Hmmm… this is kinda going all over the place with no real direction. Hopefully it’s not too boring for you. If you want any specific details please email: acbm.cambodia@gmail.com

We’ve done a few touristy things on our days off – like going to the National Museum, Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields. I found Tuol Sleng (S-21) very confronting – it is an old high school that was converted into a prison / torture camp during Pol Pot’s Regime. The atrocities committed there, the ridiculous rules, the way people were tortured, the reasons people were tortured, and the proof still evident made me feel physically sick! (and that’s quite a feat – I can usually deal with gruesome things pretty well) The millions of innocent people who died as “traitors to the Angkar (organization)” is something that is so hard to comprehend and accept. You have to see the evidence to believe it!

We’re working on a Khmer Sunday School book that will be translated into Khmer. So if anyone’s good at drawing pictures please contact us.

Talking about contacting us… we’re still looking for people to replace us in December. Raju has said he’ll even be happy if people commit for only 3 months. Please think seriously about serving God in the country and pray for His guidance.