Hey People everywhere!
I know it has been a little over a week, since we posted last, so I wanted to give you an update of what has been happening in Phnom Penh J
There is a video with all of the pictures in it, because Blogger is not photo friendly, and it is easier to put them in the video. If you prefer the other (completely more inconvenient way), let me know and I will do it that way the next time.
Laser Tag
Well it has been
nine weeks of school and lots and lots of hard work. The students completed 165
PACE books! We had a poster that they had to fill up to go play Laser Tag—most of
them had never heard of it before. I made it with 200 slots, but everybody
knows that YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE. That goal was WAY too high. Each and every
one of the kids worked their butts off (pardon my language), so we went anyway!
When doing things in another country, I find myself setting my expectations
really low… when I was told that we had laser tag, I did this. I showed the
kids a video so they could see what it was like, but was very clear that I have
never been to laser tag in Cambodia. The whole time we were building towards
laser tag, I was praying, “please, God, make this a good time. Cause it could
be a stinker, and I would feel horrible.” The day finally came, and we called
two tuk tuks… for seventeen people. I thought Mark was crazy, but we could have
fit like ten more people on those tuk tuks. It makes me laugh when I think
about all of the safety regulations in the states, and I see a baby in her
mother’s arms on the back of a moto on the road, or three children and a mother
and father on one moto… Speed is the key… no one drives faster than forty miles
an hour, so everyone is usually safe. Back to laser tag, though. We get to the
place, and it is next to a gas station. Boo, our driver, pulls over to call,
because he is lost, and Mark and I are pointing to it (it was hilarious!). We
go inside and it is full of random artwork and black lights (you know it is a
good sign, when you see black lights at laser tag). We signed everyone in on
teams, and unfortunately there were only fourteen positions for the laser tag
game—we had fourteen kids, so that worked out, but I didn’t get to play with
them. I think that you have reached true adulthood, when you find out that you
don’t get to play laser tag and you aren’t upset, because you know the kids
will have fun… yeah, I really wish that I was to that point… who has two thumbs
and is not a true adult: this guy right here. I did get to run around in the
game with the kids and video tape, and take pictures, so that was a plus (there
were multiple signs that said, no cameras, but the guy let me anyway). I keep
saying that the kids loved it, but even our oldest Peroom enjoyed it, and he is
19 years old! It was a truly great experience, and afterwards we stopped on the
side of the road and bought seventeen cold water bottles for two dollars…
crazy! Thank you to our supporters for making this happen. The kids really do
not get the opportunity to do these things everyday and it was really a great
blessing to be able to give them such an amazing reward for all their hard work
in school.
Chantee and Sol Chea’s
Birthday Party
Right after laser
tag, we had a birthday party for Chantee and Sol Chea. Nobody knew about it
until we got home, because Kels and Rhonda decorated while we were gone. The
birthday cake was a soccer field, and Chantee loved it. He said, “Mr. Micah,
can you please get a picture of the cake for me.” And he got a cell phone,
which he has been wanting for a while now. He turned fifteen, and he is one of
the most mature and godly young men I know. I cannot wait to see what God has
in store for this awesome young man! Also, if you spoke with Chantee, you would
never guess that he was fifteen. Sol Chea turned sixteen. He has been with Mark
and Rhonda for a while, and has been learning a lot through our afternoon
computer class. Mark wrote a blog about him a while back, and I have recently
taken over the afternoon class and found out what a great boy Sol Chea is. His
sense of humor is great. You go up to him and try to click something with the
mouse and he says, “no.” and pushes your hand away, and then turns his head away
and smiles to himself. He is beginning to learn his abc’s and colors through a
program on line called starfall. He is a joy to have with us, and I know that
he enjoyed his birthday, and the cake especially (see picture in video).
Sewing Class
I (Kelsi) started a
sewing class a few weeks ago. I had two
classes, one with Chantal and Mary (the Benz girls) and the other with Srey
Heng, Mekarah, and by her own request, Srey Ruah (one of the BYKOTA
staff). We started slow and I told the
girls that if they would just stay for the first 5 lessons they could choose
whether or not they wanted to continue.
The first 4 lessons we just sewed on paper and practiced making straight
lines, pivoting, and making curved lines.
We finished up by making a small purse out of a Cambodian scarf. The whole time I was thinking they weren’t
liking it and that it was just another thing they had to do. It turns out that they actually did like
it! The oldest, Mekarah and Srey Ruah,
even asked for a sewing machine at their house so they could make more purses
for gifts and to sell! I am very happy
that they like it so much, and I am very excited about all the things we will
be making in the future! I have a long
list of things we can make but I have decided that our next project will be PJ
pants! J I’ll post our “fashion show” pictures when we
are done. J
Short Staffed
This past week, Srey
Ruah (one of the staff at BYKOTA house) found out that her mother was abused
and had bad head injuries. She left to go to province, and would not be back
all week--this became a dilemma, because we have just taken in three new BYKOTA
kids, and were already short-staffed. Kels and I gladly said that we could take
some of the kids during the day, and were able to take care of Srey Roat and
Srey Niet. We had a blast. Srey Roat is hilarious and wants to be chased all
day long. She is three years old and bites at you, if you make her laugh (you
can see it in the dish washing video a little). Srey Niet is just eighteen
months old, and cries over everything—I think she is a little spoiled because
she is the baby of the house. I told Kelsi, after trying to put her down for a
nap for thirty minutes, that Niet was a professional sleep fighter (did you
catch the play-on words there J).
We only took care of them for a couple days, but here is what I learned about Niet:
She must eat right after school, or she cries. After she is finished eating,
she will cry to let you know that she is done. If you want her to go for a nap,
you have to stand in front of the fan in the kitchen until she falls asleep—never,
ever, ever take her into the nap room before she is fully asleep. Once you have
her asleep, you must sit on the bed until she is back into “fully asleep mode,”
which coming down the stairs disturbs. After she has gone into “fully asleep
mode,” you may lay her down on the bed for the nap, but by no means let her
have the falling sensation or she will wake up, cry, and you will have to start
the process over again in the kitchen. As soon as she wakes up from the nap,
you have to give her a snack… or… she cries. Her crying is adorable, though. “MING!
MING! MIIIIIINNNNGGG!” And she looks at you with her deep eyes like you should know
what she wants… which I do, because Ming is the word for aunt in Khmer: aka, “I
DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT TAKE ME BACK TO MY AUNT!” Aunt is what you call
anyone who is a girl, so she was probably asking for the staff that takes care
of her usually—just like we call our tuk tuk driver, BOO, even though this
means uncle… still have yet to figure out his real name…
Khmer Lessons
Kels and I have
begun taking Khmer lessons from one of the students, Mekarah. It has been going
really well. We are learning a lot more of the language, and I can now tell our
tuk tuk driver where I want to go, and have a very superficial conversation
with a stranger in which I ask them for: their name, their age, and how they
are doing. We have also learned the Khmer consonants, which has already proved to be helpful,
because when we don’t know a word, Mekarah will show us the letter and sound to
make.
On a final note, I
have been sick with a head cold the last two days, and our power was out all
day today, again J
Gotta love Cambodia. God has been really faithful during our time here, and I
am so excited to see what other things He will teach us as the months go on. We
are continually grateful for everyone’s support and we love you guys bunches!
That is all for now!
BecauseHeLives,
Micah and Kelsi.
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