In a quiet treelined street in Siem Reap is a solidly built
wooden house with 2 bedrooms a single tiled floor in the lower level the
simplicity cannot hide the intense interest in the Word of God that is
unmatched in my experience.
The house is a rental property for seminars and Bibe
teaching able to sleep over 10 people that had traveled up to 4 hours over the
bumpy Cambodia rural roads to hear the Gospel. The afternoon was hot and the
slight breeze from the fan in the roof helps to take but a few degrees as this
is the hottest month in the province.
Amongts the audience was a person disable in both legs and
brought to the house by his friends, accompanying the disable teacher were 5 of
his teenage female student all eager to hear from the Bible. The disabled
person name is Mr Chamroun,(Second row left of centre in above) a wheel chair
bound English teacher from a local community group whose desire to know more
about the Bible was amzing. His English was excellent and I immediately found a
kindred spirit in a love for the Bible, he was able to recite several parables
and incidents in Jesus aiton life in a single sentence, without hestitation.
Chan Roum has a deep desire to know his Bible and had a list
of Bible questions that needed answers in full. After the seminar we started a
further session and two and a half hours later we finished the first page of
questions to the satisfaction of a very inquisitive mind.
The questions included …. Are you concerned about morality
in the Western world- it is a problem in Cambodia? What does the bible say about miracles today?
How can peoples behavior be poor when they say that they love Jesus ? Why does the
bible talk about effective prayer when sometime we know that we may never be
healed( in reference to his own disability)?
Chan Roum was decidedly pleased to hear the Bible explained,
verses he was never aware of about faith, God purpose and the divinity of all
of the Scriptures. He requested another session that evening and we spent
another 2 and ½ hours that evening. After the session he wanted more questions
answered so we planned to meet the following day in his lunch time. At lunch
Chan Roum rang his boss and cancelled some classes so that he could continue
hearing the Bible explained.
After lunch he requested I bring my daughters to his school
class that evening to assist in teaching English, this was a very special
occasion and so we headed of in Bro So Veana’s Tuk Tuk to the roadside school
room that was attached to a thatched roof cottage on the main road to Angkor
Wat Temple.
Chan Roam holds a daily casl for 50 scholars freee of charge
and is developing some finse scholar, respectfulinterested and excited the
children learnt conversation and basic English by discussion with h all the
girls . When asked to address the last group at 7:00 pm I told the story of the
world oldest Book the Bible. The student learnt that is was much older than the
revered Ankgor Wat temple.
Figure 2 Bible
Questions with Mr Cham Roum and Bro So Veasna
An amazing experience and one that Chamroun summarized with
some effusive ( though undeserved) praise in the following text sent later that
evening by phone.
“Because we spent the best time together. You are strong
believer in Christ. And you good at the bible. You know lots of bibles. And you
thank you for your sharing your experiences to me and my students. We will
remember you Andy. And pray to mghty God for blessing your family. We hope see
again in some times. We love Andy and your family as well. God bless you xxx
Chan roum.”
Figure 3 Mr Cham
Roums road side School room - teaching teenagers
Figure 4 Mr Cham
Roum at his converted home /school assisted by , Rachael, Chloe and Alana
teaching English
While Seminars were being taught the three sisters with
Sister Sokourn travelled to bro So Veasna’s house 10 kilometres North of Siem
Reap to teach the 10 plagues to 17 students. The activity was a hand with each
finger pointing to one of the 10 plagues. The interest and keenness to colour
in was only improved when they played memory cards. The students develop many
and varied skill form the activities including remembering and repletion of
basic ideas and pictures that are the essential steps in small children
developing an appreciation for the love of the Bible and its wonderful lessons.
May valuable Yahweh continue to bless this wonderful work to the praise of His
name.
Figure 5 Sunday
School in Siem Reap Province
Figure 6 Bro So Veasna' Daughter with 10 plagues activity
In the service of our Master
Andrew, Denise, Chloe and Alana Pitcher along with our dear
sister Rachael Shaw (who also excelled as our medical assistant, first aid
dispensary technician and generally great support person)
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