6 New Students

 I wanted to let you know that we received 6 new students from Battambang province at the school yesterday.  (There is another one but he was sick so didn't come now)

They have all taken their 12th grade exit exam but haven't received the results.  Rich thought it would be good for them to come for this short 2 week class to get a feel for the school.  At CBI, they have to read a lot more and the studying is more intense than what they do in high school.  If their motivation is only to come to Phnom Penh because the big city is 'cool', they likely won't stick it out.  

Starting September 15th, the school will be on break for 2 weeks for the Pchum Benh Holiday.  So they will be with us for 2 weeks and then go home for 2 weeks.  We hope they will all choose to come back and study with us.

All of these new students come from Sokun and Soklee's village or area.  Some of them are already Christians which is exciting!  It is great to see new students at CBI who have been taught by our graduates.

Here are their names so that you can pray for them.

Girls - Neerah.  She is 18 years old and a cousin of our student, Teang

           Sahmate.  She is 19 years old.

Boys - Seyha. He is 19 years old and the younger brother of our graduates Sophanmai and Phalim

           Hong.  He is 17.

            Rajana.  18 years old

            Piset. He is also 18 years old.

Please pray that they open their hearts to God's Word and become faithful Christians as their faith grows in the Lord.

After the Pchum Benh Holiday, we are expecting the other one from Battambang province, as well as 3 more new students from another province.

Now, for some of our daily lives.

I love walking in the rain!!!  It is rainy season now and almost every day, we get good rains and then sunshine.

Yesterday, I started walking and it poured.  I haven't taken my raincoat, so I ducked into a shop of a friend.

These boys were across the street getting sandwiches and then taking off for home.  I am sorry the picture isn't better, but they had huge grins on their faces.  They were probably about 12 or so years old.

This is the shop that I stopped into.  

When the rain slowed down, I walked back to the house (about 150 yards), got my raincoat and took off walking again.

When I was growing up in Thailand, my sisters and I used to love walking in the rain - usually singing.  Some great memories!  And I still love to walk in the rain.  The Khmers think I am crazy - to be an adult and still walking in the rain.  That is for kids.

As they are moving electrical poles around in are area, making way for the streets to be wider, we have been out of electricity several times.

On this day, the electricity went out at 9am and came back on at 4pm.  Remember, we live in a tropical country.  As it has been cooler weather, still with no fans even, it gets warm quickly.

Our stove is propane, so I used my phone light to warm up leftovers and we went up to our 3rd floor balcony to eat lunch and watch the rain.  (There was a bit of breeze there, so better than eating in the house)

Thank you for all your love, prayers and support.  We are so very blessed to be here, and we couldn't do it without you!  

Come see us!

Much love,

Ronda Dolan

PS.  Also please keep the disputes between Thailand and Cambodia in your prayers. Right now, we can't fly between the two unless going to China or Singapore first.  It will also affect your birthday cards from me.  So, if they are late, I'm sorry!