Quick Update!

Hey Everyone!

Just a quick update on how the week has gone. It is Thursday, 12:40 PM. All week, we've had a busy schedule, and many of us return back to our NEW home rather exhausted.

Each day has become somewhat of a routine schedule. Monday began with many of the girls going to White Doves for their first time. This is the home that we had intended to work primarily with, but as God would have it, He is taking care of them. They now have several full-time staff members, as this is a great improvement from last year, and they now do not need as much help from visiting teams. We have agreed to do the following: Teach English; Discipleship; Devotion (two team member girls lead a devotion and discussion); and later this week, prayer & fasting. It is a wonderful experience to see how God is working in all these girls' lives!

Later on Monday, we went to a village which is known to many of the local staff as the "slums." This place was rather hard to take in at first. There is trash everywhere, homes are made out of whatever they can find, and the place is rather unsanitary. Be it far from our standards, God still loves these people, and we see it. We work with the children for an hour, doing crafts, games and songs. We also preform basic first aid, as many of the children love to get a band-aid, though there are many who need serious attention. The parents here have difficulty finding work, or are not interested in working. They are also not aware of how serious some of their children's injuries are. There is a free children's hospital, just minutes away, but the parents do not think about taking their child there. We have to encourage them to do so, and though they do go after we talk to them, it is still sad that the child's condition can get so bad. Please pray for this village as God leads you.

All throughout the days, each team member teaches a class, mostly English classes at the U of N. I have begun two computer classes - photoshop and powerpoint. It is great to interact with the Khmer people in this facet.

Yesterday was Christian Values day at the U of N. As this is a school, approved by the government, we cannot require the students to attend this day, but we may encourage them that this day is important to their education. Every Wednesday is Christian Values day. I taught some basic techniques in each class and spoke about my faith. My photoshop class heard how God has redeemed me from a life that was very far wayward, and I believe that God has touched some of their hearts. Please pray that myself and all the team members would be attentive to God's prompting, as there are times where students wish to talk more, but do not know how to ask.

Also, I am asking for specific prayer for one of my students, Mony. He is very open to talking to me about his problems in life. Once he heard that I studied psychology, he wanted to talk to me about his insomnia. I believe that this is a great opportunity for God's love to be shown. We have begun meeting twice a week for 1/2 an hour, and today will be the 2nd time we meet. I have already told him about God's love and how it has impacted me. As a buddhist, Mony is very receptive, and I know God is planting a seed.

Thanks for reading, Love you all!!

-Michael