I Covet Your Prayers

For more than a month now, I've been teaching English class in the church. This is our way of getting connected with the youth in our community.

From 4PM to 5PM, I am teaching a class of 8 students.

We've been using the Bible in our reading activities. We already taught them two Christian songs.

Now, I do admit that I cannot do it with my own strength. Therefore, I am asking you to please... please... pray for each student. They are Voleak, Sieng, Ghech, Huang, Sok Leap, Monineth, Phalla, and Sopheavy. Please mention them when you talk to our Lord.

Please pray for God's leading as to the perfect time were I can share to them the Gospel and challenge them to trust the Lord.

Please pray that they will always have the enthusiasm in coming to church for their English lessons (and of course, Bible lessons).

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

Pissed off?

Are you pissed off with me? It seems you are.

I don't care.

You have the right be be pissed off. But don't impose on me your self-righteousnes.

Actually, I am also pissed off with your holier-than-thou attitude. You project that you know the Bible from the first letter to the last.

That I think is the very reason why you are aghast when I utter "out of this world ideas". But my ideas are mine and I don't care how people will react to it.

You know why so many people are against Christianity? One of the reasons probably is that there are Christians who are so righteous that they always see the wrongdoings of others. They will bombard others with their unsolicited pieces of advice. They will not run out of opinions. And they usually quote the Holy Scriptures.

I tell you, the world will be better without you.

You see God as vindictive and a God who loves punishing people?

I see God as a loving God who understands my shortcomings.

I see God as a God who looks at what Christ did on the cross for me everytime He notices that I am doing things that are unholy.

I see God as a forgiving and understanding God.

So, I really don't mind you. In fact, I think you are an unnecessary termite.

But please!

BACK OFF!

Bong Maly

How will you teach a 47-year old lady who cannot recognize the alphabet and distinguish sounds of vowels and consonants? That really is a daunting task for me.

But I will not give up.

I've been teaching Bong Maly for two weeks now.

Bong Maly helped us a lot in the church. She is very active in the ministry. She invited a lot of people to attend our activities. She is also tireless in sharing the Gospel.

She is like the "Chosen Lady" that Apostle John wrote in his epistle. The only difference I guess is that she is married.

More than a month ago, she shared to our Pastor her desire to work and help her husband. Our Pastor recommended her to work in one of the Christian NGOs here in Cambodia. There is one obstacle though. That NGO prefers someone who can speak English.

That is why I am committed to help her in learning English.

We are now studying various sounds of consonants and vowels. We are following Montessori method which was developed by Maria Montessori. We actually started with the sound of M because according to Maria Montessori the sound of the letter M is the easiest to learn.

Slowly, we are now blending sounds together. We now have around 20 words in CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) pattern that we are trying to memorize.

Guess how many words in CVC pattern that she can read? One. That is right. One. The word "sit".

But I am not giving. I am very positive that she can learn the English language. With perseverance and prayers to God, we will be successful.

I will really be happy if she can get that job in that Christian NGO and if she can communicate with her bosses there in English.

Please help me God.