CAMBODIA 2019

This courtyard is a good place for practicing soccer kicking as well as keep away and other games using a ball.  The students also use a badminton racket to hit a birdie across the courtyard.  All are welcome to join and it is good exercise.  All of the motorcycles and bicycles are also parked at one end of this area.  The BEST center has a van and a pickup that are used for center outings and trips that usually happen annually.  We can see relationships built among the students here. Julie becomes 'grandmother' to the young children belonging to staff here.  She reads to them frequently.  This room is used for study as well as reading to children.  It is just outside the office for the Center where Julie spends much time in study as well as business for the Center.  This large room is also the room that is used for meals.  You should see the cooperation in setting up tables and chairs and taking them down again.  That is followed by sweeping and mopping the floor.  You

 Several years ago Tom and I came to Bangkok, Thailand to teach with the Let's Start Talking program.  We worked with this congregation teaching English using the Bible.  We have been wanting to return here and had the opportunity this year.  There have been some changes, but we also saw much that was familiar. When we contacted Tuli, who we had worked with directly earlier.  He invited us to stay in their home.  What a joy to visit with him and Nui and their daughter, Lili. As worship time approached we met so many that we had known before.  Some were from Ramkamheang Christian Center where we also taught.  The congregation has grown. There were two obvious changed.  Earlier the building was open air, with only front and back walls.  Now it is enclosed.  The curtains are covering sliding glass doors that can be opened when desired.  The second is the pews.  Before the auditorium used stacking chairs. The building is built over a body of water with a walk extending to

Sreynick with Helen Sidet with Tom Bondeth, Tom's student Seang Hai and Socheat with Tom Seyha and Houng with Helen Sros with Helen Som Orng with Helen Kakda and Srorn with Tom Kimleang, Orsoth and Bun Thou with Tom Makara with Helen Tom and Helen study for 1 hour per day, 5 days per week with each these student groups.  They are good students and do not miss a study time.  We use an online English course with some additional activities to help improve pronunciation and grammar.  They are also expected to study 40 vocabulary words each week and are tested regularly.  Some writing is also required in order to improve their skills.  These studies are in addition to the classes they attend at Universities in Phnom Penh. Our day begins with an 8 am study and ends at 6 pm.  Obviously we have some breaks in the day.

Meal time at the Best Center is a group activity.  All students and staff are expected to join the group.  It is a time for announcements and conversations together.  Tom and I enjoy that time as well.  We get to know our students better and they are good to speak English with us, although for some it is a challenge.  Meals are always served buffet style and we use these bowls and a tablespoon (as I would call it in the US).  Rice is always on the menu usually served with soup, stir fry vegetables (with a little meat), fresh vegetables and sometimes fresh fruit.  The menu varies but these are the primary ingredients.  On special meals we are served whole pieces of chicken or fish which has been fried and is delicious.  Avy is our excellent cook.  We enjoy our meals here. This family is a big part of life at the Center.  Piseth manages much of the office business.  He also teaches Bible to the students who life here, in their own language.   Sokneang (his wife) deliver

The Best Center is a gathering place for Christians on Sunday afternoon.  We have a Bible Class from 4:00-5:00 and a worship service from 5:00-6:00 pm.  All of our students are in attendance plus others from Phnom Penh.  We foreigners are issued earphones so that we can receive the messages through a translator.  Each year that we come we can see growth in the members here; better singing and better lessons. Tom will be teaching a class session next week. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in January Loren Hollingsworth will be speaking to the group concerning the Old Testament Sacrificial System and what that might mean for us today.  He is a very knowledgeable Bible teacher.  Veasna interprets his lessons for the Cambodian listeners.  He is a great teacher for the Cambodians as well.  What a joy to be with him again. Try Sunghy (far left) joined us last Sunday.  He was one of Helen's former students and it was so good to get to visit with him.  His life