Cambodia Bible Education Centre

We are so happy that we will have one more baptism in Cambodia next weekend. Phorn Sophea will be baptised on Saturday. Bro Him and bro K are busy making preparations for this wonderful occasion. Sophea has been living at Bethezer dorm since it opened in 2008 and has studied with many fieldworkers at BEC. Brother Him has recently been taking him through first principles and preparing him for baptism. Sophea has been living in the province through the week for the last couple of months, returning for university study on the weekends. His enthusiasm for God's word has meant that each weekend he also finds time for Bible study with Him, as well as joining the Saturda y night studies and the Worship Service on Sundays. Sophea will be a strong brother for this young ecclesia in Phnom Penh. We are all so excited and happy to be sharing his amazing commitment to become part of God's family and a brother of Jesus Christ. It is fantasitc to see our young brothers in Phnom Penh so keen t...

The rainy season is on its way here in Cambodia and Steve snapped some great shots on his way home from the early morning dorm service this week. It's really quite amazing to see the motos ploughing their way through the deep water which seems to rise so quickly on the roads. Luckily within about half an hour of the rain stopping - it all subsides and only puddles remain here and there along the sides of the streets. We have been enjoying the wonderful feasts that Sis Theavy prepares on Saturday nights after our mini Seminar at Bethezer Dorms. She feeds the 5,000 (well...nearly that many) with seeming ease! It is a lovely time of fellowship to sit around on the mats on the rooftop of the dorms together eating, chatting and laughing together. Of course some thing don't change, no matter where you are in the world...the girls are i n the kitchen doing the dishes. Not for long, however, as Bong Thom suggested at our ecclesial business meeting that we should have a roster which inc...

Well time passed swiftly, and before I knew it my three weeks in Cambodia were over. I had another incredible experience and am of course looking forward to my next visit, God willing. Some of the things I am going to miss: - seeing all the weird and wonderful ways to exercise in public at 5.30am - hand shaking, combined khmer dancing aerobic routines, hanging off tree branches as a kind of muscle building exercise, badminton, jogging.... the list goes on - staying the night at the dorms - the girls always have so many interesting personal questions to ask - seeing Steve and Lynne in action - their energy and enthusiasm is inspiring - listening to heartfelt prayers that encourage me to be more expansive in my own prayers to God (thank you Brother K for quietly translating all these for me - it gave me an insight into the faith of our brothers I would not have gained unless I could understand Khmer comprehensively) - having hot weather - sitting on the curb outside the dorms in the ea...

How blessed we were to have shared such a precious time with our darling sister Judith in Cambodia last year! I remember when brother Meng Him asked her sheepishly if it was ok to call her Judy because Cambodians have such difficulty in pronouncing ‘th’ in English. From that time on she was affectionately ‘Judy’ to all the Khmer people. Judy loved Cambodia from the time she left the plane at the airport – I don’t think a smil e left her face the whole time she was here, unless it was for a compassionate thought for people struggling or in need. The young people loved her so much - brother Vitou reflected yesterday with much affection, at how he was so happy she had been there for his baptism. We did so much together in the two weeks that Tim and Judy were here…our road trip to Siem Reap, calling in to see the students at LCDI in the province, the wonderful occasion of taking five young Cambodian men in a boat on the Mekong for their baptism, sharing many days teaching and talking at ...

We were ver y honoured last Sunday evening to join the celebration at LCDI for their 4th birthday. The evening started with an official welcome from teacher Mind and teacher Holy. Then we were treated to some traditional Khmer dancing from the students as well as some “modern” dancing from a group of boys. We had the official ‘cutting of the cake’, which turned into an hilarious scene as the all the teachers shared cake with each of the students. Teacher Mind’s idea of sharing was to not only put cake in the mouths of the students but also all over their faces!!! Soon everyone joined in and the laughing could be heard for miles around. It was wonderful to see the students so happy and sharing in so much fun after all the hard work they do in their studies! The evening finished on a more serious note, with the presentation of small gifts to the top three students in each class. How proud they all looked as their teachers praised their efforts and encouraged the others to do their best a...

We are so thrilled at the number of girls who are travelling from the Bethezer dorms in the evenings to BEC to study the Bible! We had another packed house last night...eleven girls, plus some other students who regularly join in. It's great to get visitors and we were doubly blessed in the past week with a day visit from Rosie Downey (Melbourne) who was spending a couple of days in Cambodia en route to Australia after some travelling in Asia. We also had a visit from David and Pam Pankhurst from New Zealand. They were thrilled to see the BEC and travel to the Bethezer dorms to participate in a lesson that Steve was giving for the girls. We have found it much more difficult to buy Bibles in Cambodia since we were here last. We are so very grateful for the NIV Bibles that Steve and Jan Harrison from Brisbane donated for us to bring over. Pictured here is one of our contacts with his new Bible - he was so excited and appreciative! Please have a look again at the blog for Tuesday 28th...

**evening dorm dinner; Sithy, her baby & mother & Lynne; our new monk Joseph** For all those hungry blog consumers out there, I thought I would prepare a bite sized morsel to assuage your appetites. Returning to Cambodia has been fantastic – in some ways slightly different to last time, but in many ways just the same. Having come from India last time, the smells, sounds and sights of Cambodia were less intrusive than on this trip, although that’s not to say they were unwelcome in any regard. What has remained the same is the warmth and hospitality of the Khmer. Having been here just over a week, I have already enjoyed many of the activities involving fellowship, spirituality and friendship with the dormers and other interested friends. Rising for 6am dorm service is not as much of the chore I imagine it would be if I was asked to do the same back home. The dormers are always extremely welcoming – cheery greetings of ‘Joomripsua, soksabai’ and ‘srei s’art’ abound, day or night....

We have had SUCH a wonderful weekend with the Outreach students coming back from the province for the weekend to study the Bible at BEC. It is so amazing to see young people that were students at LCDI not so long ago, who have progressed so far in their knowledge and love of God! Saroun, Channy, Chaileng and Sokun are still fulfilling their roles as trainee teachers for LDCI in the province. They were all part of the "biker group" who, only last year, used to cycle from school twice a week to BEC for Bible study as well as regularly attend the Sund ay morning activities. They have consistently shown a strong desire to increase their knowledge and understanding of God's word and the fruits of their study is amazing. After their monthly visits to BEC as Outreach students they take away lessons which build on their Bible study and existing understanding. Along with these four young people we were joined by Sopheak, Savvy and Vichea who were also part of the "bikers...