Ministry in Cambodia has been an incredible experience. Most of our time has been spent teaching in the villages and evangelizing in Siem Reap. Every day for the past month we have been picked up in a big white van and delivered to villages an hour out of town. We are always met with big smiles and waving hands, along with many stray dogs. Between 15 and 60 kids show up to class to learn english and bible stories.
The classroom, overflowing with children, consists of dirt floors, green tarps, and a whiteboard under someone’s home. Our time here has been spent fighting language barriers as we inforce the teachings from our ministry hosts. To teach the Bible stories my team and I act out the stories as they are being read to the kids.
Quirky dance parties have become a regular occurrence with the kids along with many games. It has been such a blessing watching these children and their eagerness to learn and to see the joy that flows from their presence and laughter.
Every other week we bring a meal to share with the village and it is beautiful to see all of them gather together as a community.
As we have been serving, our driver, Bora (Boe-ra), has been watching, slowly becoming comfortable, interested, and involved. He is someone who is always smiling, joyful and always willing to help. Soon he began to help the kids with translations, sing the songs with us, and became intrigued with the motivation behind our involvement. After many conversations with one of our Khmer friends, over the span of a month, he made the decision to follow Jesus! I had the incredible privilege to be apart of his first prayer as he proclaimed Jesus as his savor and the one true God.
A celebration breaks out in heaven! It is time to rejoice for we have a new brother adopted into our family. He is to be baptized on Dec. 6th with two other people, a grandmother and her grandson. Thank you all for your support and prayers. The Lord is wonderful and alive!
Christmas in the Villages:
My team and I are trying to raise money for Christmas gifts for the children. The ministry we are working with is making gift boxes for each of the students. The boxes include a new public school uniform, notebooks, shoes, bag, bible, coloring books, colored pencils, pens, hygiene products, noodles, and some treats. Here is a picture of the box. Each box costs $30 so we are trying to fundraise so that each kid that regularly comes to school in the village, which is 300 students, can get a box for Christmas. So if you would like to help and give a gift this year you can Venmo me @marly-kracher or use PayPal @ Marly Kracher, and I will give the money to the organization here. I can’t even express to you how much I love these kids and how sweet they all are. If you are looking to give this holiday season this is a great place to.
Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayer. It is such a blessing to have people all the way across the world apart of missions here in Cambodia! God bless!
You could hear the joy in your words of seeing the kids. Thank you for sharing your story.
Rejoicing with you! What a blessing for you to be serving there and loving on the people. Love you, Marly! ~Mom
I hear the joy in your words as well – interesting how the written word can do that! Much love to you all!
Thinking of you every single day, Marly! For some reason I thought I had already commented here hmmm. If you mention a city name, I always find it on Google Maps and then go down the rabbit hole looking at photos that visitors there have posted. Just amazing. Prayers, huge hugs and love from us! ??
TEAM APRUKA IS CELEBRATING OUR NEW BROTHER IN CHRIST HERE IN KAMPONG THOM!!! WE LOVE BORA!!!
I meant to say “Arukah”… I got excited
Such blessings you share! May God continue to richly bless you. Hugs and kisses,,,