Graduation of Teang and Lymeng

I forgot to post about our Graduation on January 31st.

We had 2 graduates.  

The first one is Teang.  She is from Battambang.  She is now living back in Battambang and is teaching 5th grade. 

Sokun, from her village of Romchek in Battambang Province recommended for her to come to CBI.  She was a good student and a sweet girl.

Please keep her in your prayers as she has begun working back in Battambang.  She is attending the church in Romchek.  However, she is engaged and her fiance is not a Christian.  Please keep that relationship in your prayers as well.

Our other graduate is Lymeng.  

He has been around CBI all his life.  His aunt is Navy, Khemrin's wife.  Much of his life, he has lived at CBI with Navy.

He is currently job hunting and would like to stay in Phnom Penh.  Please keep him in your prayers as he begins a new chapter of his life.

Sokun, from Romchek in Battambang Province gave the message to our graduates.  He was selected as he is the one that encouraged Teang to come to CBI, and he also has had a part in Lymeng's life, since his grandmother is from Battambang province.

He did a great job of encouraging Teang and Lymeng to be the salt and light of the world.

Before the ceremony, we ate together. 

This is the front of the school.  

Motorcycle parking as well as where a lot of people sat and ate.  (Do you love all the shoes??)

Inside CBI.

Everyone is ready to eat!  

Here are a couple pictures of part of the gathering.

 

In this picture is Bunly, one of our graduates, Lymeng, Teang, Samai and Kimchhouy, also our graduates.

I put this picture in because yesterday Bunly's dad passed away.  He was only 51 years old.

Bunly struggles to be faithful, so please keep him in your prayers during this difficult time in his life.

These are some of our current male students. 

Vatana, Piset, Bahn, Rotha, Eang, Neath (Nite), and Mony

Rich and I with Lymeng and Teang.

Some of our current female students.

Savy, Neera, Khai, Sokray, Sraynu, and Phorn (pronounced 'Poan')

And this is a picture of our current students as well as some of our graduates that attended the graduation.

The next day, I was walking our of our neighborhood and I got stopped by a HUGE procession of people.  

I think one of the important monks at our neighborhood temple passed away and on top of the monks in the front of this procession (probably 60 of them - I didn't get a picture), there were probably 300 people walking in this procession.  I think this is the biggest one I have seen.

Feb. 3rd, we hopped over to Thailand because I had to have laser capsulotomy in both eyes.  (for those of you who don't know, it is basically the proteins in your eyes that cloud your vision, just like cataracts, but this is after cataract surgery has been done.  I had cataract surgery in both eyes 3 years ago).  I thought it would be like the cataract surgery, but it was a breeze!  So fast and easy.  (To be clear, my cataract surgery was very smooth with no problems, but is a bigger deal.)

My doctor said I would see better the next morning.  He was so right!  I was amazed how much brighter the colors on my phone were.  We are so very blessed to have excellent medical care that is close and that we can get to pretty easily.

Happy Valentines Day to you all!!  I am very blessed to have Rich as my Valentine for 43 years!  God has blessed us abundantly and we have had the very best life.

Much love to you all!

Ronda Dolan