An Opportunity

When Dreams Come True

Dreams often remain dreams. They come; they stay for awhile; they fill us with a fanciful hope; they fade away. Most dreams are of our own fabricating. But what about when God shares His dream with you? 

Over the past couple of weeks, my friend Kat and I have been praying about an idea for a project that has recently come to us. We have met with Tim (our Director) to discuss and brainstorm about it. The possibility has seemed almost too crazy and too much of a dream to ever become reality. BUT-

The good news is that we have the go ahead! Tim has asked Kat and I to put together a horsemanship program for Wat Preah Yesu! It will be especially targeting at-risk young people, both from WPY, and from the surrounding villages. We believe that by working with horses, children can learn more about God, themselves, building healthy relationships, boundaries, body language, and gain some self-awareness, and self-confidence.

Studies have shown the therapeutical benefits of the horse to the human. They have assisted significantly in improving the lives of many: whether emotionally hurt, physically and mentally disabled, or someone who is stressed out and in need of a break. Horses are especially impacting the lives of thousands of troubled children and youth around the world.

We already have here at WPY, a number of different programs that we involve the young people in to aid them in their spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical growth. But we believe that this horsemanship program will also be beneficial in helping them grow into healthy, useful, whole citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Using horses to help heal troubled young people has been a dream of mine for a long time. I never imagined that God might make it become a reality – this soon and in this way!

We have put together three, 12 week courses that will run during the school terms, and during the holidays we will have horsemanship/riding camps. We hopefully will be able to work with at least 50 young people each year. We want this program to bring glory to God and lead more people into a growing relationship with Him. We have a small piece of the property in which to set up a couple of paddocks, riding areas, and a small stable. It is exiting to contemplate the possibilities of this program and all the people that will benefit from it.

Thank you so much to all of you who already support us through prayer. Here is a specific prayer list that we are bringing before God and also ask that you lift up to Him:

– New teachers for the new school year

– New boys and girls dormitory deans for the new school year

– That God will continue to provide for the needs of the orphanage and school here at WPY

– Guidance, horses, supplies and equipment for the horsemanship program

– That God’s will be done in all of this, and not our own

– That God will be glorified in our lives, here at WPY, and by this new project

– Please remember to pray for all the persecuted people around the world – This week I’m thinking especially of the many struggles christian youth face in their schools and peer groups in regards to their religious beliefs.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

I will keep you all updated as God continues to guide and lead,

Thank you for your prayers,

May God keep you all,

Ely

From Cambodia

Dear friends and family,

I can hear the light spitting of rain on the roof of our little wooden house – spitting that can turn into torrential downpours amid ear blasting thunder rolls and blinding flashes of lighting. The rainy season is here. Things are getting greener and at night the sounds of frogs and night insects sound like they are on loud speaker. I washed my clothes yesterday and hung them out, only to have them drenched by the now habitual ‘after lunch’ shower. I wrung them out by hand a second time and pinned them up in the house. My housemate tells me it can take up to a week to get clothes dry in this season. Ok, I’m going to have to be really organised from now on. I can’t wash my clothes the day before I need them any more!

Two of my students, Sokear from grade 8 and Seyha from grade 6, turned up on my doorstep on the day of perhaps our ‘introductory’ downpour, dripping wet and asking if I wanted to come out and play. No way was I going to refuse! So I left my class prep on the table and changed into my swimmers. Out side, lakes of water were forming by the minute and the dirt was a cool, squishy mud. We had so much fun kicking water and mud at each other, and then one of them had the bright idea we go down to the soccer field. It had become one big lake with the recently cutgrass floating on the top. Straight away a grass war began! The two boys against me! We chased each other, slipping and sliding, back and forth across the field, covering each other in grass and dirt. Sokear and I were trying to see who could douse each others’ faces the most times! The war continued until we had mud and grass all through our hair, clothes and in our mouths – and until we were so tired we couldn’t walk another step. Then we declared a truce and walked over to the pond across the road to rinse off. I just love being able to be a kid and play with my boys as buddies, not teacher and students.

Tuesday night: its time for me to go down to the orphanage and teach English to one of the housemothers, her son and a few of the girls. But its not your average class, we have a ball! Some of the things said have us all cracking up and we enjoy just being able to hang out and get to know each other. At the end we write down the new words they heard that evening and it’s their job to remember and use them throughout the week. Some of the words so far have been ‘toothpaste’, ‘flu’, ‘babysit’, and ‘superintendent’.

I went riding for the first time since coming to Cambodia. Like one of my friends and fellow volunteers said ‘everything feels better when you’re on a horse’, it felt amazing! I would have been thankful just to be able to smell and touch a horse but to ride…. it was stellar! I am so thankful that God knows the desires of our hearts and I was able to go and spend some time with my favourite of all His wonderful creation.

Avondale education students will be arriving tomorrow (Sunday) to begin their two weeks of prac here at WPY. On Monday they observe us teaching class and then take over on Tuesday. We still need to be present in the classrooms, but it will still be really nice to have a break from class planning. It will also give us some time to begin writing exams – which will be upon us in four weeks!

These are some snap shots of my life recently. Of course there are so many other things I would like to share with you all but I would be here for the next few days trying to write it all down. I just want to finish up by saying how thankful I am to the Lord for His goodness. At the moment I am studying the book of Romans, a book which I have struggled to understand in the past but am now beginning to grasp through the help of the Holy Spirit. I am amazed, humbled and filled with gratitude as I realize what God’s grace really is. It is the commending of His love toward us while we were still making mistakes. We don’t have to find His favour, He already loves us before we do anything. All I can say is WOW! How can God love me that much? But He does.

“He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.”Psalms 103:10, 11

Again I want to say thank you SO much for your financial support and your prayers! You are making a difference in Cambodia. May God watch over and bless each one of you,

Ely

 

Ely and Sa

Mission Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Here we are into April already – the year is flying by and I’m sorry it has been such a long time since I sent out an email!

Yesterday I said good-bye to my family as they left in a tuk tuk to the airport in Phnom Penh and I left in another tuk tuk to the bus station to travel back to Siem Reap. We had a wonderful two weeks together that went too quickly as time does! We spent time roaming the ancient temples here in Siem Reap and then travelled down to Phnom Penh for 5 nights. There we travelled out to the Flourish Workshop with Sherree Hughes, experienced the sobering story  of genocide at the Killing Fields  and just hung out, whether wandering through markets or swimming back at the hotel. We journeyed down to Kep, by the seaside, for the three days of Khmer new year where we enjoyed the forests of the national park, an extended hike over the mountain, a swim at the beach and $1.00 fruit shakes. I feel very blessed and thankful to God for providing the means for my family to come over and spend the holidays with me and make such happy memories.

Now as I face the next few months, classes resuming on Monday, I am praying again for God to give me a dedicated heart and the strength to always do my best.  After just recently reading the chapter “Education: The Great Equalizer” from Dr Ben Carson’s book, The Big Picture, I have realised again how great a responsibility, as a teacher,  I have laid at my door. And most importantly, the responsibility I have to God.  Just the other day I read this passage in Psalms 71:16 “I will go in the strength of the Lord God.” This is my mission, for only in Him can be found wisdom, understanding and knowledge.

Thankyou so much for your support financially and through prayer. Prayer changes lives and I can certainly see the effects of your prayers in my life every day. I am always praying for and thinking of you all.

May God keep you ever in His hands,

Ely

 

Family

My Grade 8 Students

Don’t Worry About Anything: Pray About Everything

Hi Friends, How are you all going? It has been quite a while since my last email and a lot has happened over the month that I have been in Cambodia. I cannot believe it has been that long already!

“Don’t worry about anything; Pray about everything.” These words taken from Philippians 4:6 have become a constant companion to me ever since the first night of prayer meeting when Mr King shared them as the evening’s topic. It has struck me on more than one occasion that if we truly take God at His word like the Bible tells us to, than we really should not have anything to worry about!

I want to tell you about teaching, but it is hard to put down in words. It is an experience I will never forget. As I daily think of the great responsibility laid at my door, it overwhelms me. To instruct and teach these children, teens, youth for at least one hour in their day adds up to days in their lifetime.  Am I teaching them to grow their knowledge or grow their character? Pray about everything.

Every class is different! The students constantly crack me up with their funny personalities and antics. Last week my year nines found a rope left in the library and began a skipping session! I had to turn around and have a good laugh after I’d told them in the sternest voice I could muster that there is to be no skipping in the library. They good-naturedly complied.

Ely with Grade 6 keyboard students: Rothana, Sophall and Seyha

From the beginning I implemented push-ups as a form of accountability during my classes. Talking over the teacher, late to class etc. Now, whenever I arrive at ‘Classroom 9’ the boys are there blocking the doorway insisting “Cher, you’re late!” Haha, their cheeky smirks tell it all!

The grade 8s are my largest class and are usually full of plenty of beans and tricks, proving a challenge at times. Sometimes a lot of class time is used ‘pushing-up’ but in the end they accept it and those sentenced to a session of ten or more are cheered on with a round of applause.

I love my students so much! Despite the tough days, the challenges, the heat and lack of concentration, the tiredness, I love to teach. When I become discouraged and feel as if I can’t go to another class, Jesus reminds me that the hard times are when we are to build character, if we allow Him to bring a blessing out of them. Don’t worry; Pray.

 Although it tests and tries and pulls every effort, every talent and every ounce of knowledge and strength to the absolute max… I love every single moment.

 I am in no way perfect. I get discouraged and stressed, worried and irritated. I just thank God that He is the Great Teacher. The one who teaches teachers.

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7

Thankyou so much for praying for me!

May God keep you all,

Ely

 

Word of the Day

Sok-sa-bai = used as “How are you?” but also means “I am happy” because you usually say it back to the person when they say it to you.

Photos {New Friends}

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Word of the Day

Achung = I don’t want to.

Word of the Day

Akun (Ah-Koon) = Thank you

The First Sabbath

Time has whizzed by and I find myself in the second week already of my stay in my new home. The 8th of February was my first Sabbath here at WPY. It was a beautiful day in the fact that 1. it was Sabbath, a day of rest and 2. I was able to experience their church program and spend time with the people.

Here at WPY they have two church services starting at 8am. No one can complain about Sabbath School starting at 9:30am after being here! One service is in the chapel and is all Khmer; it is for the older and the little children. Youth church is held in the cafeteria for the youth and teens, and usually, those who speak English. The program can be anything from all english to all khmer, to part english and part khmer.

 

I sit on the cool tiled floor next to one of my friends from the dorm. SreyYa, Allen and Maureen’s adopted daughter, sits down on the other side of me and we talk for awhile before the service begins. The singers and guitarists get up and we begin to sing khmer songs. The actual service has not yet begun and my knees are already starting to hurt! But I love the community feel of bunching up together on the floor. It made me think of what it must be like to sit at Jesus feet.

 

A prayer is prayed by one of the students and the offering is collected. Then a second group of song leaders stand up and lead out in singing English songs. David, a year 12 students, take the sermon. His slides are in English but in between them, he speaks Khmer. The English sections are just enough for me to follow his topic. He was speaking on the importance of the youth’s part in God’s work. It’s amazing that although I understood little of what he said, I caught the message and was inspired to allow God to use me – perhaps more so than I am from listening to some english sermons.

I don’t quite remember how long the sermon went for, but I’m pretty sure it was around 1 and a half hours. So much for the normal 30 minutes!

I attended the english Sabbath School in the library, taken by a fellow volunteer. The lesson was about reaching people as Jesus did in view of feeding the seven thousand. Physical and spiritual needs.

The volunteers and a handful of grade 12 students gathered under the mango tree by Tim and Wendy’s house for a potluck lunch. It was a great time of fellowship and experiencing some more of the local food. Including lime with chilli salt… Oh my, that’s an experience I shall never forget! I’m not quite sure what my face looked like when I took my first and almost, last, taste.

 

Sabbath afternoon I was able to talk to my family on Skype for the first time since I arrived. We talked for two hours catching up on all that had happened on both countries. It was so good to talk to them, and see them!

At 5:45pm we gathered at “the cross” (The actual cross is not there yet, but it should be arriving shortly) for closing Sabbath. There we sung songs like “Jesus, Lover of my Soul”, “Mighty to Save” and “God is so good”. Apart from becoming a mozzie’s dinner, it was a wonderful way to end the day. Some of the students put on a play about Zaccheus.

Then stirred a lot of action and laughter in our little wooden house. Francis, one of the volunteers from the Philippines, was having a birthday on Sunday and we were planning a surprise party that night. Francis turned up early before everything was ready and some of the girls had to chase him away, so he kind of knew what was happening. But when he was finally let in, the look on his face showed that he was surprised with all of the balloons and decorations! It was a fun evening eating spaghetti and sitting on the floor chatting.

And so ended my first Sabbath in Cambodia.