5 loaves, 2 fish, 1 snake
This past week was the last week with the bible college students! They knocked out another amazing 7 days of teaching chapel in the morning, classes in the school, home visits, leading worship and Sunday school and constantly pouring into the kids, loving on them, and talking with them. Fighting through sickness, extremely hot temperatures, bug bites, torrential downpours, and more they finished strong and made every single day count! Great job CCBC Kauai! You have made a lasting impact here and we miss you already!
The team just left yesterday and we are all still sad, but recovering. It's so different being on this side of things, usually I'm the one leaving, not being left. But I'm happy my time isn't up yet!
So much has happened in the last week and all the days seem to blur into one but I will try to hit on the moments that stood out to me the most!
Last Monday night, a girl who was a former student at the school here, was brought to the orphanage by her father seeking counsel on how to rid the girl's room of an evil spirit. Apparently the girl has been tormented by a demonic presence in her room for some time now and they came to AGHO looking for answers. Pastor Michael and several of the BC students and I gathered around her and shared the full gospel with her, and also explaining to her that Jesus has power over evil and that light always drives out darkness.
She was wrestling with some intense fear because the reality for kids who are the only Christians in Buddhist families is a lot of ridicule and criticism. Their entire identity, family honor, social status, etc. is all connected to being Buddhist. So to give that up is no small decision and not one we would ever want to force or be taken lightly. She was really afraid of what her mom would say and through tears she told us that she was just not ready to become a Christian. We were so thankful simply for the fact that she knew that AGHO was a safe place to come to. It says a lot about the reputation the ministry has in this community. We prayed over her and hugged her and made sure she knew that she could always come back with any questions or concerns and that we would keep our arms open to her and her family.
That is just one of so many stories like that. The orphanage and school shine like brilliant beacons of light in a very dark place. Many Buddhist families send their children to this school because they see the difference in the kids here. They may not agree on religious views, but they cannot deny the quality of education and moral structure the children receive here and they value that immensely. Christianity is never forced on anyone at the school, the children are simply taught biblical principles and many of them end up choosing Jesus as a result of seeing how He is changing lives around them. As these kids learn about Jesus, they are going home and sharing the gospel with their families.
Ream told me {{in the most humble way}} that the school is famous through out the province and is known as "Lord Jesus School". She said they never have to advertise because people share with their friends and neighbors what a good school it is. God has given them so much favor with the government because they do things so well. AHFW school has raised the bar so much in its level of excellence that other schools are now being held to a higher standard. The government is asking them to open more schools because they are out-growing their space so rapidly.
One girl joined the kindergarten class this week and her family lives over an hour away! In Cambodia, it is unheard of to go that far for school. {{In the states, it is not common either but would be much more feasible. Imagine an hour and a half long motorbike ride on dusty, crowded, dirt roads before the sun is up, with a 5 year old sitting in your lap}} This little girl in particular is going to stay with a relative here during the week and go home on the weekends, all so that she can attend A Heart For Wisdom School.
Ream laughs as she tells me these things because she knows that God is the One who has accomplished this and she is always quick to give Him glory. She didn't even finish high school and now she is the director and principal of one of the best schools in the province, if not the whole country. She and Kit always say that they are living proof that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
They continue to amaze and challenge me. Some of the most humble people I have ever met. They just work hard and trust God, day in and day out.
In other news...
This week we had some heavy rains. The downpours caused a really creepy centipede to wander into my room...it didn't survive our encounter. The flooded rice fields brought a few snakes out of hiding and about a million frogs too. One of my friends at the orphanage, 17 year old Wut, caught a baby snake and brought it inside! She's a brave girl. She put it in a basket with a lot of holes in it {{not sure why she decided that was a good idea}}.
Obviously, it escaped its temporary home and right as we were sitting down for dinner someone pointed it out in the corner of the room! It was safely recaptured and relocated back outside. The type of snake was left undetermined, but according to Google there are SEVENTEEN different kinds of poisonous snakes in Cambodia, so that was deeply comforting to discover. Once again, growing up in snake-ridden Florida with three reptile-happy brothers has proven to be useful in contributing to whatever level of adaptability I possess in these situations...and in life. Shout out to the water moccasins, rat snakes and pygmy rattlers we grew up with and to my bros Jordan, David and Joshua for bringing so many slithering things home over the years ;)
Cambodia has a lot of critters that's for sure. The rice fields are laden with crabs, fish, snails, frogs, and snakes. There are birds everywhere all the time. If there isn't a praying mantis crawling on your shoulder or an iguana crossing your path, there probably will be in a few minutes. Keeps life exciting.
Not to mention all the domestic livestock, cows, pigs, dogs, chickens, ducks...the whole village is like one giant farm with no real distinct property lines.
One person I have to mention before I forget is a guy named Soy. He can often be found on the orphanage property but he is not one of the AGHO kids. Soy's mom tried to abort him when she was pregnant but the abortion failed. Due to complications from the toxin she used to try to end his life, Soy was born deaf. Being unable to hear and not being under parental supervision has resulted in Soy being surviving 6 car/moto accidents, the last one which knocked out several of his front teeth. But that doesn't keep him from smiling. Soy is always happy, he spreads so much joy everywhere he goes. Even though he cannot speak or hear, he is still able to give and receive much love. I loved watching the team members always include him in everything they did, it seemed like someone was hugging him 24/7!
In a culture that doesn't really value life too much {{due to the passivity and acceptance of fate derived from the dominant belief system here}} Soy has found love, acceptance and WORTH because of the people here who's lives have been changed by the gospel.
Loving God and loving people.
It all comes back to that. Something I have been pondering a lot this past week is learning to see the value in doing little things with a lot of love. So often I put the emphasis and value on doing something great, but that isn't what I came out here for. At the end of my life, if I have done something great but did it with no love, it's totally worthless! That's how it works in this upside-down kingdom, where little is much and the way to be great is by being a servant.
"An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-47
If I'm bandaging a wound, I want to do it with love.
If I'm sweeping a floor, I want to do it with love.
If I'm comforting a crying child, I want to do it with love.
I have a lot to learn but I'm thankful that God is so patient with me. Thankful that He uses the weak and foolish.
Before I sign off, I just wanted to extend an invitation to you to get involved with the school here. The Carsons started AHFW without the support of a church because they knew God was laying it on their hearts to meet this HUGE and very real void. In order to keep growing and meeting the needs of this community, they need help!
They do everything within their means to make education possible for even the poorest families by supplying them with micro-loans of a flock of chickens to help them earn money to pay for their child's schooling. {{These are more of gifts than loans, but they help teach responsibility as well instead of just giving scholarships}}
I say all that to express to you that the Carsons are extremely frugal and resourceful people. They make a dollar stretch farther than I thought possible, and I was raised in a family of 9 on one income! But there is so much more they could do with additional funding.
Compared to the thousands of dollars Americans spend on education, especially for private and Christian schooling, the expenses here are pretty low. So anything you give will go a loooong way. An elementary school age child can go to AHFW for $11.25 a month and a Jr. high and Sr. high student for $16 and $18 a month. How incredible is that?! God is taking 5 loaves and 2 fish and making it feed thousands every single day here.
This school is breaking the cycle of poverty and giving kids hope for a better future. 80% of the population of Cambodia live in rural villages and farmland, where good schools are hard to come by or simply unaffordable. So the majority of the poorest people never get the opportunity to receive a proper education. And the burdensome cycle continues on to the next generation.
If you want to look into it further I encourage you to visit the new website and find a way to get connected:
www.agreaterhopeorphanage.com
more pics on the gram! @agreaterhope
Until next time...keep doing little things with a lot of love <3
[above] some of the BC girls, Maddie and Dre teaching a bible story to the sweetest little kids at the cell group this week!
[below] Bree teaching the 1st graders new songs
[above] I totally forgot to write about this, but it seems that the skills of the kids at the orphanage just never end. one night they made every single person in the group a beautiful colorful friendship bracelet, something the team members will cherish for a long time!
[below] I forgot to mention our weekend activity! We spent alllllll of Saturday at the Grand Phnom Penh Waterpark. Floating in the lazy river, swirling down crazy slides and just enjoying a beautiful sunny day as one big family :) We all got a little sunburned but had a BLAST. For lunch, we got to pick between ordering pizza, mexican or burgers {{such a special treat!}} and then feasted on our picnic in the front yard of the castle-themed park. What a memory!
[above] me and Joe taking a study break! he's a great student, so smart and eager to learn. tutoring the Carson boys and now reading with Adah is one of my favorite things here.
[below] Mario (one of the BC interns) and the one and only SOY!
[below] i'm loving getting to know each and every one of these beautiful girls. yay for new sisters :)
[below] the entire bible college team (+ me!) and all the kids of AGHO. thankful for the huge, amazing extended family we have in Jesus!
The team just left yesterday and we are all still sad, but recovering. It's so different being on this side of things, usually I'm the one leaving, not being left. But I'm happy my time isn't up yet!
So much has happened in the last week and all the days seem to blur into one but I will try to hit on the moments that stood out to me the most!
Last Monday night, a girl who was a former student at the school here, was brought to the orphanage by her father seeking counsel on how to rid the girl's room of an evil spirit. Apparently the girl has been tormented by a demonic presence in her room for some time now and they came to AGHO looking for answers. Pastor Michael and several of the BC students and I gathered around her and shared the full gospel with her, and also explaining to her that Jesus has power over evil and that light always drives out darkness.
She was wrestling with some intense fear because the reality for kids who are the only Christians in Buddhist families is a lot of ridicule and criticism. Their entire identity, family honor, social status, etc. is all connected to being Buddhist. So to give that up is no small decision and not one we would ever want to force or be taken lightly. She was really afraid of what her mom would say and through tears she told us that she was just not ready to become a Christian. We were so thankful simply for the fact that she knew that AGHO was a safe place to come to. It says a lot about the reputation the ministry has in this community. We prayed over her and hugged her and made sure she knew that she could always come back with any questions or concerns and that we would keep our arms open to her and her family.
That is just one of so many stories like that. The orphanage and school shine like brilliant beacons of light in a very dark place. Many Buddhist families send their children to this school because they see the difference in the kids here. They may not agree on religious views, but they cannot deny the quality of education and moral structure the children receive here and they value that immensely. Christianity is never forced on anyone at the school, the children are simply taught biblical principles and many of them end up choosing Jesus as a result of seeing how He is changing lives around them. As these kids learn about Jesus, they are going home and sharing the gospel with their families.
Ream told me {{in the most humble way}} that the school is famous through out the province and is known as "Lord Jesus School". She said they never have to advertise because people share with their friends and neighbors what a good school it is. God has given them so much favor with the government because they do things so well. AHFW school has raised the bar so much in its level of excellence that other schools are now being held to a higher standard. The government is asking them to open more schools because they are out-growing their space so rapidly.
One girl joined the kindergarten class this week and her family lives over an hour away! In Cambodia, it is unheard of to go that far for school. {{In the states, it is not common either but would be much more feasible. Imagine an hour and a half long motorbike ride on dusty, crowded, dirt roads before the sun is up, with a 5 year old sitting in your lap}} This little girl in particular is going to stay with a relative here during the week and go home on the weekends, all so that she can attend A Heart For Wisdom School.
Ream laughs as she tells me these things because she knows that God is the One who has accomplished this and she is always quick to give Him glory. She didn't even finish high school and now she is the director and principal of one of the best schools in the province, if not the whole country. She and Kit always say that they are living proof that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
They continue to amaze and challenge me. Some of the most humble people I have ever met. They just work hard and trust God, day in and day out.
In other news...
This week we had some heavy rains. The downpours caused a really creepy centipede to wander into my room...it didn't survive our encounter. The flooded rice fields brought a few snakes out of hiding and about a million frogs too. One of my friends at the orphanage, 17 year old Wut, caught a baby snake and brought it inside! She's a brave girl. She put it in a basket with a lot of holes in it {{not sure why she decided that was a good idea}}.
Obviously, it escaped its temporary home and right as we were sitting down for dinner someone pointed it out in the corner of the room! It was safely recaptured and relocated back outside. The type of snake was left undetermined, but according to Google there are SEVENTEEN different kinds of poisonous snakes in Cambodia, so that was deeply comforting to discover. Once again, growing up in snake-ridden Florida with three reptile-happy brothers has proven to be useful in contributing to whatever level of adaptability I possess in these situations...and in life. Shout out to the water moccasins, rat snakes and pygmy rattlers we grew up with and to my bros Jordan, David and Joshua for bringing so many slithering things home over the years ;)
Cambodia has a lot of critters that's for sure. The rice fields are laden with crabs, fish, snails, frogs, and snakes. There are birds everywhere all the time. If there isn't a praying mantis crawling on your shoulder or an iguana crossing your path, there probably will be in a few minutes. Keeps life exciting.
Not to mention all the domestic livestock, cows, pigs, dogs, chickens, ducks...the whole village is like one giant farm with no real distinct property lines.
One person I have to mention before I forget is a guy named Soy. He can often be found on the orphanage property but he is not one of the AGHO kids. Soy's mom tried to abort him when she was pregnant but the abortion failed. Due to complications from the toxin she used to try to end his life, Soy was born deaf. Being unable to hear and not being under parental supervision has resulted in Soy being surviving 6 car/moto accidents, the last one which knocked out several of his front teeth. But that doesn't keep him from smiling. Soy is always happy, he spreads so much joy everywhere he goes. Even though he cannot speak or hear, he is still able to give and receive much love. I loved watching the team members always include him in everything they did, it seemed like someone was hugging him 24/7!
In a culture that doesn't really value life too much {{due to the passivity and acceptance of fate derived from the dominant belief system here}} Soy has found love, acceptance and WORTH because of the people here who's lives have been changed by the gospel.
Loving God and loving people.
It all comes back to that. Something I have been pondering a lot this past week is learning to see the value in doing little things with a lot of love. So often I put the emphasis and value on doing something great, but that isn't what I came out here for. At the end of my life, if I have done something great but did it with no love, it's totally worthless! That's how it works in this upside-down kingdom, where little is much and the way to be great is by being a servant.
"An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-47
If I'm bandaging a wound, I want to do it with love.
If I'm sweeping a floor, I want to do it with love.
If I'm comforting a crying child, I want to do it with love.
I have a lot to learn but I'm thankful that God is so patient with me. Thankful that He uses the weak and foolish.
Before I sign off, I just wanted to extend an invitation to you to get involved with the school here. The Carsons started AHFW without the support of a church because they knew God was laying it on their hearts to meet this HUGE and very real void. In order to keep growing and meeting the needs of this community, they need help!
They do everything within their means to make education possible for even the poorest families by supplying them with micro-loans of a flock of chickens to help them earn money to pay for their child's schooling. {{These are more of gifts than loans, but they help teach responsibility as well instead of just giving scholarships}}
I say all that to express to you that the Carsons are extremely frugal and resourceful people. They make a dollar stretch farther than I thought possible, and I was raised in a family of 9 on one income! But there is so much more they could do with additional funding.
Compared to the thousands of dollars Americans spend on education, especially for private and Christian schooling, the expenses here are pretty low. So anything you give will go a loooong way. An elementary school age child can go to AHFW for $11.25 a month and a Jr. high and Sr. high student for $16 and $18 a month. How incredible is that?! God is taking 5 loaves and 2 fish and making it feed thousands every single day here.
This school is breaking the cycle of poverty and giving kids hope for a better future. 80% of the population of Cambodia live in rural villages and farmland, where good schools are hard to come by or simply unaffordable. So the majority of the poorest people never get the opportunity to receive a proper education. And the burdensome cycle continues on to the next generation.
If you want to look into it further I encourage you to visit the new website and find a way to get connected:
www.agreaterhopeorphanage.com
more pics on the gram! @agreaterhope
Until next time...keep doing little things with a lot of love <3
[above] some of the BC girls, Maddie and Dre teaching a bible story to the sweetest little kids at the cell group this week!
[below] Bree teaching the 1st graders new songs
Fact: Cambodian kids are ridiculously cute! Not hard to love.
[above] me and Joe taking a study break! he's a great student, so smart and eager to learn. tutoring the Carson boys and now reading with Adah is one of my favorite things here.
[below] Mario (one of the BC interns) and the one and only SOY!
[below] i'm loving getting to know each and every one of these beautiful girls. yay for new sisters :)
[below] the entire bible college team (+ me!) and all the kids of AGHO. thankful for the huge, amazing extended family we have in Jesus!
Thank you Heather, your words are so valuable to us.
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