Cambodia Bible Education Centre

In the morning of Sept 3rd, the flight I was on landed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I got my tourist visa at the visa application counter, went through the customs and then was met by Sister Rasmey holding a sign with my name written on it which clearly read “Juhee”. Handing me a welcoming drink, that is, a bottle of cold water, Rasmey said “Welcome to Phnom Penh, Sister.” As we waited for a couple of minutes outside the airport, a Tuk Tuk that was driven by Bro. Tut came and picked us up. When he took us to BEC safely, I was welcomed so warmly by the fieldworkers from New Zealand (Auntie Jackie and Bro. Zack) and BEC staff members. I guess I was still in a daze at the time. I didn’t know what to expect here and was feeling quite nervous at the same time. It took me a few days to get over the nervousness. Preaching the Gospel in a foreign country was a completely new challenge to me. Although I organized and translated Bible seminars in Busan where we used to have a BEC mission flat and B...

--> Wildlife Report. Our resident large, red-spotted ghecko has now got a smaller friend. They have taken up residence near the fleuro light above the entrance door where the insect life must appeal to their culinary delights. We will keep you posted as to whether the number increases in the future with diminuative additions. BEC2 Promotion. Sray Pov and I have been working on t-shirt and cap designs to advertise BEC2. Our BEC2 logo is a bit cliche but it is best to keep things simple here. The latest problem is how to get the T-shirts printed, as there do not appear to be any places that print them in Sihanouk Ville.   We have noticed a few silk screens leaning against walls, drying in the sun outside corner stores, but no silk-screening signs. Sray Pov and Dy will continue to investigate following a conversation she had with two new contacts that work at the markets. Contacts. Does anyone have a better word than ‘ contact’ for interested Bible students? ...

Saturday 31 August was Sisters’ Class day in Phnom Penh – wow!  For this foreigner, it was amazing.  Twenty seven sisters and young women were at the BEC on Saturday, including sister Srey Pov who had come all the way from Sihanukville to be part of our time together.  Sister Jackie presented two studies, the first ‘ The Good Life -Living With God in Your Life ‘, and the second ‘ The Good Life   - When There are Problems’; sister Kimsreang gave a study on Proverbs 31 which she called The Virtuous Woman .  Excellent translation was provided by Sisters Nirath, Loy, and Sokhorn.  Sister Kimsreang gave lots of practical motherly advice to us all showing how we can follow the model of ‘Solomon’s Ideal Woman’, and sister Jackie showed us that God promises to supply all we need - provided we make His kingdom our first priority.  Martha was more worried about the housekeeping than she was concerned to listen to Jesus – Jesus said she needed to turn those...

As my plane flew through the morning light across Cambodia towards China, I felt sad to be leaving behind so many engaging, and always smiling, brothers, sisters and students with whom I had enjoyed fun and fellowship at the BEC and at the dorm.  Just three short weeks previously, I had flown into Phnom Penh late one night, with my son, Luke, wondering if I was up for the task of being a field worker.  Light versus darkness is a very biblical theme, but in the end, it seemed that although I contributed my teaching skills in both English and Bible studies, I gained the greater illumination from the whole experience.  However, my students will probably remember me for my very bad drawing skills and for my somewhat better ability to act out just about any unfamiliar English word! Since there were several field workers there during this period, we quickly fell into a routine which divvied up the many tasks of the day.  Each day, I might add, commenced very early and...

  Abricot Jam (not a spelling mistake), invasion of the Chann Dynasty, and a slithery visitor. Just a few of the random things that have happened here. We have been investigating the options for breakfast and have developed a menu based upon whole grain Weet-Bix, fruity muesli, long life milk from NZ, a German bakery and sausage maker, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, peanut butter, butter, vegemite and abricot jam. With a nice mug of coffee we start the day at the crack of dawn, with our minds racing and heads spinning. The toaster and kettle have survived a molten power board and blackouts. Our Sister, cook, cleaner, apprentice carpenter and marketeer, Srey Pov arrived back from four days in Phnom Pehn and had with her an endless line-up of Channs.   Brother K (Chann Kosal) and Chann Srey Pov grew up down here in Sihanoukville Province. The Chann clan started at about ankle height and at increments of 5 centimetres paraded past the office. With gem like eyes ...

Warren and I spent several weeks recently in Cambodia at the Phnom Penh BEC. Our main mission was to introduce to the senior brothers and sisters  how to implement Gods commandments for marriage whether as a separate ceremony or incorporated into the Cambodian cultural marriage ceremony. The aim of our visit was to present:   The history of marriage covered in Genesis when God said " It was not good for a man to be alone."  Building a Christ-centred marriage and understanding the biblical principles of marriage.  How to nurtue a lasting marriage. Everyone involved were excited, enthusiastic, enthralled and many points were discussed by the parties involved. What we covered was not a big issue culturally and no matter where in the world we are raised when it comes to sharing most of your life with your spouse we all have plenty we can learn to aid in developing strong marital relationships. Warren and I were thrilled when we received very...

Steve has been including some business management teaching with one of his groups at BEC2 and brother Savy has been joining in and thoroughly enjoying the things they have been discussing. Yesterday Steve was explaining about the “middle man” in business and Savy obviously took it all in! At dinner last night Steve was telling everyone at the table about the disasters he had encountered with his thumb drive. He bought a new 16g thumb drive from a shop up the road and proceeded to save some important files on to it. A few hours later, to his great angst, the files were lost and the thumb drive empty. He tried to find them and as a last resort returned to the shop of purchase. The owner was very helpful and after a lot of arm waving, gesturing and broken Khmer he seemed to understand Steve’s problem. Very pleased with himself, he performed a few quick clicks on the computer and happily handed the thumb drive back to Steve assuring him that now it was all clear and, ...