**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. Saturday night teaching is now followed by a shared meal – a fantastic opportunity to chat informally over a delicious feast. I also stayed the night in the girls dorm last Wednesday, playing 7-up, reading and discussing Proverbs 30 and then being subjected to the Khmer inquisition as I tried to drift off to sleep – another heart warming experience.
Then of course there is the teaching – it is so rewarding to preach to those with open hearts and ears. The outreach students were so enthusiastic in their learning this weekend, asking relevant and vital questions to aid their understanding of the Bible. The outcome of sowing on such fertile ground was seen as Brother K exhorted yesterday on faith and works – faith without works is dead. He finished with the story of blind Bartimaeus, who in his hurry and excitement threw off his cloak (the equivalent of his home and earthly possessions) to rush to Jesus and through his faith, be gifted with sight.
I am certainly praying that my remaining two weeks here are filled with as many spiritually uplifting experiences. May Cambodia and all those learning and teaching here remain in your prayers.
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. Saturday night teaching is now followed by a shared meal – a fantastic opportunity to chat informally over a delicious feast. I also stayed the night in the girls dorm last Wednesday, playing 7-up, reading and discussing Proverbs 30 and then being subjected to the Khmer inquisition as I tried to drift off to sleep – another heart warming experience.
Then of course there is the teaching – it is so rewarding to preach to those with open hearts and ears. The outreach students were so enthusiastic in their learning this weekend, asking relevant and vital questions to aid their understanding of the Bible. The outcome of sowing on such fertile ground was seen as Brother K exhorted yesterday on faith and works – faith without works is dead. He finished with the story of blind Bartimaeus, who in his hurry and excitement threw off his cloak (the equivalent of his home and earthly possessions) to rush to Jesus and through his faith, be gifted with sight.
I am certainly praying that my remaining two weeks here are filled with as many spiritually uplifting experiences. May Cambodia and all those learning and teaching here remain in your prayers.
Sarah
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