Tuesday, November 18, 2008



What am I doing in Cambodia?
I wish I could say that I have some amazing job that sounds heroic: like “I counsel girls who are rescued from sexually abusive situations” or “I am teaching Cambodian nationals how to be a Biblical pastor by working in Cambodian Bible college” or “I am part of a team that runs raids that saves children from prostitution and sexual exploitation” or “I work with an unreached people group on the boarder of Cambodia and Vietnam” or “I work in an orphanage with starving babies” or “I work to bring begging kids off the streets and teach them to make crafts to sell”.
These aren’t my job, but they are my ministry.
See, when a missionary comes to a third-world country to do God’s amazing work, they don’t come alone. Most missionaries come with children. And many third-world countries don’t have adequate education for those children. If this is the case, than those missionaries have to go home or stop working to home-school.
The parents of my students are able to do these amazing things because I’m here taking care of their children. Because I prepare their student for college and life, these amazing ministries can continue being run by heroic people. The jobs that I mentioned above, are done by parents of my students. And those parents have told me several times, that if it weren’t for my job at HOPE, they would have to stop their heroic work and stay home to home-school their child.
My job is teaching, but my ministry is to keep Cambodian missionaries working in heroic works of God.


This is a picture of child with blonde in her hair. Now, the Cambodians like fair skin and light hair. So when I first saw a Cambodian baby with blonde streaks in its hair, I was alarmed. Would they really highlight their kids hair so young? No…
The hair is lighter because the child was malnourished in the womb.
A large percentage of the children here have blonde streaks in their hair because even pregnant women can’t afford any food except for plain rice.

Today I was talking with some of the teachers at lunch about what we’ve seen on motos. Moto’s are generally known as mopeds in the US. These motos come with an extended seat though. So these are some things we’ve seen ON A MOTO

A cow… yes, a whole, live cow was behind the driver

A family of 6 people… who needs a mini-van

A large pane of glass.

A metal pole at least 10 feet long…. I mean why couldn’t you hold it and drive?

A mattress, a QUEEN size mattress…. The driver just sat on top of it.

20 giant trash bags bursting full of limes

A moto (on the original moto)

Three large pigs… we’re talking big swine

Huge boxes with a woman riding on top

And lastly …

30 live chickens hanging from their feet.

Monday, November 17, 2008