CAMBODIA 2019

English studies have progressed this week.  They are tested after every 4th online lesson.  So all of our students have taken at least one test since our arrival.  Paul has left supplementary materials to help us review with the students.  That has been helpful.  They also have a new 40 word vocabulary list every 2 weeks.  We study English for 4 days of the week.  But on Friday we plan what we call 'Fun Friday'.  This week we showed them pictures on the TV of the trip that they had taken last week to another province in Cambodia.  They told us about their trip.  Then we got out the 6 Yoyos that we had brought with us.  They found it challenging and fun.  Of course Tom got to show them the tricks that he could perform.  Then we showed them YouTube videos of  'professionals'.  Today as we were shopping we went into a toy store to see if they had yoyos.  They did.  They cost only $27.00 each.  Thes...

Tom and I do a lot of walking in Phnom Penh.  Driving a car is not an option.  We have no moto and would question the wisdom of trying that if we did.  We do hire a Tuk-Tuk when we want to go a distance.  Today was one of those days.  The traffic is very heavy almost all of the time.  It seems there are more Tuk-Tuks now that there is a 'PassApp' that can be used to call them using phone navigation.  Since our smart phones do not work here except with WIFI we cannot use that app.  The Tuk-Tuk that we are riding in is the old style with 2 seats.  Most of the ones in the photo are the new 2 person style, although we have seen as many as 5 Khmers in them.  If you get to use their meter with the Pass App the ride is usually cheaper.  We still visit with the driver before getting into the Tuk-Tuk about the price as foreigners are many times charged much more than the Cambodians are for the same ride. Today is Saturday so we ro...

The new location for the BEST CENTER still provides a good location for Thursday night meals together for everyone from here as well as those from the Cambodia Bible Institute and other Christians in the city.  Awy, the cook from the BC prepares a simple meal and all eat together.  The meal our first night here was chicken/rice/noodle porridge with soft bread sticks.  It is one of my favorites.  The students help prepare, serve and clean up after this meal.  You can see that these rooms are well used.  In the mornings this room is used for staff to teach students the Bible. Following the meal the tables and chairs are moved into a large circle and we all enjoy singing together.  Some of the songs are solely Khmer language.  We English speakers have an English song book and when the chosen song is also in English the students are so good to let us know the page number in our books.  We all sing together.   The bonds that are fo...

 The new location for the Best Center has two large rooms for teaching and for meetings.  We teach English four hours each day.  Orsoth and Bun Thou are 3rd year students at the BC and study together. Tom and I are team teaching this year, which we really enjoy.  Paul, the full time American teacher here is on leave in the States so we are trying to keep his same schedule so that when he returns it will be easier for him to resume his routine.    Som Orng, Srorn, Makara and Kakda are 3rd and 4th year students.  There is an effort to groups the students according to their English levels.  Their university schedules also play a role.  The online English course that we use takes at least 120 weeks to complete.  They also are tested on about 2000 vocabulary words during that time.  Paul has also developed some supplementary materials to review each online lesson. We begin our teaching day with these 5 students.  Se...

Tom and Helen are looking forward to another two months with our friends in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  Each year presents different challenges and experiences for us and for our students who strive to improve their English skills and to learn more about serving God.   We would appreciate prayers for them and for us as we work there. This is a photo from 2019 when Christians from across Cambodia came together to learn more about teaching the Bible.   We will soon post photos of the new location of the BEST CENTER where we will be working.

Each Friday we combine our students during each teaching hour and have a different activity.  On this Friday we played CLR (Center, Left, Right).  Each week is different.  Last week we played a 'domino' game in which they had to be able to tell time from analogue to digital, which is a challenge for many of them.  We always enjoy these days and hope that they do too. 

Rich and Rhonda (Julie's sister) Dolan direct the Cambodian Bible Institute, which is a preacher training school associated with Sunset School of Preaching in the US.  This is a new location for them.  On the Sunday that the wedding was taking place in front of the BEST Center we held afternoon worship services at CBI.  It takes only a few minutes to walk from one to the other.  Two Cambodian men are teaching at this facility as well as Rich Dolan.  We met on the ground floor, which is also their classroom.  There are two higher floors which house sleeping quarters for the students and staff.  There is a kitchen beyond the classroom.  The students there are involved in worship services at the University congregation every Sunday and they conducted the services this Sunday.  It is so good to see young people being taught and trained to present the Word.  Tom and I were glad that we were able to visit this place before time to le...