Valentines Day and back in Phnom Penh

On Valentines Day, some of the couples from the Capitol Church of Christ took a trip to Sray Ambel.  

We had a wonderful devotional and day of fellowship and fun.  They grilled seafood for lunch that was delicious.

Basically we had a great time together, enjoying the beauty of God's creation at the sea, not to mention enjoying being out of the concrete and busyness of the city.

The weather was great.  The ocean is always refreshing!  A wonderful day with our Christian brothers and sisters.

Just some sights around town.

On March 2nd, I was walking to the post office to mail birthday postcards and this group came down the street.

The police even blocked off traffic for them.

There were probably 6-7 trucks as well as people walking beside.

It is part of the Chinese New Year.  Rich saw some more yesterday even.

There are 3 New Years celebrated here:  January 1st for International New Years; Chinese New Year, that is based on the Lunar calendar so changes, but sometime during January or February (this year it started on February 17th and they have celebrations for 2 weeks), and then the Khmer (Cambodian) New Year that is April 14-16.

When we first got here, there was some acknowledgement of the Chinese New Year as many have Chinese roots.  But now, as more and more Chinese nationals come, it has become a much bigger deal.

This guys is right in front of our house.  I went out to walk and he is setting up.

I thought you would like to see that they way they work on the wires is to lay the aluminum ladder right on the wires.

I noticed it right after we got here because I had always been told that you would be electrocuted.  But...no.  That is how all the workers do it here.

This is a plant at CBI that Khemrin is growing.  Isn't the little pineapple cute??

On the first and third Thursdays of each month, the BEST Center hosts a fellowship and singing.

Here are some of our CBI guys washing dishes after supper.  

Great job guys!!!

Every year on International Women's Day (March 8th), the BEST Center hosts a seminar.

This year, as the 8th was Sunday, it was moved to Saturday the 7th.

This is the group that assembled from Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, and Pursat.  

It is always encouraging for the Christians to get together to sing and study the Bible together.

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Khemrin is teaching most of the students on Old Testament Basics.  Rich is teaching the 3 oldest students a class on Biblical Interpretations in the mornings.  Then, in the afternoon, he taught Vichega and Aleab (they had already had the other classes) on I Timothy.  

Starting next week (the 16th), Rich will have the newer students in class, teaching Biblical Doctrines while Khemrin will be teaching the older students the Minor Prophets.

As I mentioned, the Khmer New Year is April 14-16.  CBI will be out the week of the 13th through the 20th.  During part of that time, Rich and I will be going to Thailand.  Rich will be teaching at the Thai Chaam Camp on Ephesians.  (The Thai New Year and Khmer New Year is the same.)

Then on May 1st and 2nd, we will be going to Singapore to do a marriage seminar for the Lavendar Church of Christ.  The seminar is targeted for couples with younger children.  

Please keep our students in your prayers; that their hearts will be open to His Word.  Pray for Khemrin and Rich to have the wisdom and the words that God needs our students to hear.

Also please pray for Rich in Thailand and for us in Singapore that we might be God's faithful servants and use His wisdom in our teaching.

Wednesday, March 11th will be our 43rd anniversary!!!  Our first anniversary celebrated here in Cambodia was our 25th.  God has blessed our lives so very abundantly.  So many of you have been a sweet part of our lives.  

We are so very thankful for each of you!!  

Much love,

Ronda Dolan