Introducting Our Students

 I thought you might like to see who you are praying for.  So let me introduce you to our students at CBI.

These are 3 of our girl students.  Teang is not in the picture because, as I told you a few blogs ago, she was in a motorcycle wreck and had to have surgery on her ankle.  Her mom came and took her home - to Battambang Province.  We had expected her back before now, but her sister got married and, honestly, her mom doesn't really want her to leave.  She told us that she would be back this week.

Sraynu, is in the yellow shirt.  She is 19 years old. She is from Kompong Cham Province.  She is the oldest of 2 in her family.  Her dad is a farmer and her mom sells in the market.

Sokray is in black.  She is 20 years old. She is our newest girl student.  Bahn, one of our newer boy students was a friend from their village and encouraged her to come.  She is from Kompong Thom province. She is the 2nd of 4 kids in her family and her parents are farmers.

Sroy is in the red.  She is 22 years old. She will finish her studies at CBI in May.  Her older sister, Srang, is one of our graduates.  Her family also farms and she is the 2nd of 3 kids.  

All of these come from families that are not Christians.  Sraynu told Rich a few months ago, that when she reads all the stories in the Bible, it seems like fairy tales.  Please keep all these in your prayers - that their knowledge and faith might grow.  And that they might find good Christian mates and can be good examples to others in the future.  

These are our 4 newer boy students.

Ahn is on the left.  He is 21 years old. He is from Kompong Thom Province.  Eang, our student standing next to him, encouraged him to come.  His family is also farmers.  He is the youngest in his family.  He is also our newest students.  

Eang is next to Ahn.  He is 23 years old.  He is the 2nd of 4 in his family and they are farmers.

Bahn, who is 20 years old, is in the '24' shirt.  He is also from Kompong Thom Province.  In fact, all the boys in this picture are from the same province.  He is the 2nd of 5 children.  And they are also farmers.

Nite is on the far right.  He is 22 years old.  His family is also farmers.  

These are our older boy students.

Lymeng is on the left.  He has grown up around CBI all his life as he lived with Navy, his aunt, many different times.  Navy was married to Tawn, who worked with Rich before he died in 2010.  Now Navy is married to Khemrin, who works at CBI now.

Standing next to Lymeng is his brother, Aleab.  Aleab is 21 years old.  And although they are brothers, they rarely lived together growing up.  Aleab spent most of his life with his grandmother in Battambang Province. 

Phalim, 23 years old is next.  He will finish at CBI in May. He is from Battambang Province.  His older sister, Sophanmai, is one of our graduates.  His dad was a denominational preacher.  However, now they meet with the church that Sokun and Soklee, 2 of our graduates, lead in Battambang. Between Sophanmai attending CBI and studying the Bible and Sokun and Soklee's good reputation and Bible knowledge in their village, these parents were converted.

On the right is Vichega.  He is 21 years old and his older sister, Jenthra, is one of our graduates.  He is also from Battambang. He is the youngest of 3 children and his family farms.  Vichega is cousins with Lymeng and Aleab.

Again, please keep them all in your prayers.  Pray that they have wisdom in all their life choices.  

On another note, a couple days ago, we were notified that Phnom Penh was #2 in the WORLD of having the worst air quality.  I had just told Rich the day before that the sky looks like someone is burning (which you can do here in the city), but it was all over.  As is the custom here many times, the Ministry of Weather informed everyone that it is no problem.  That it was really the fault of the neighboring countries who had "severe air pollution problems" and it drifted over to us.  (Look at a map.  There is no way! We are in the middle of the country.)

But the air is better now.  We are in our cool season for about another month or so.  Then we go straight to our hottest time of the year.  The one major benefit to the hot season is that the mosquitoes will go away.  Right now they are thick!!  Thankfully our house has screens on the windows so we don't have much of a problem in the house.  Our students have been complaining that they are having a hard time sleeping because of all the mosquitoes.  

We really hope you know how much we love and appreciate you.  I looked again at some of the sweet notes that many of you sent a few months ago. They were just the boost we needed!

Much love,

Ronda