Busy Week!

 We started off a busy 10 days with the wedding of Channo and Sraydte.

They are both Christians and members of the Phnom Penh Church of Christ.  Sraydte, the bride, became a Christian because she is from the village of Borey, one of our graduates.

Borey taught her as she was growing up, and was converted. Then she came to Phnom Penh to go to the university and met Channo.  Channo studied and became a Christian as well.

They are both now working here in Phnom Penh.

The venue you see in the picture is a tent that is set up just before the wedding and by the time we were leaving town, they were already taking it all down.

I took this picture because the MC of the wedding told her to kiss the groom.  (They don't kiss each other at the same time.  In fact, they don't really kiss at all.  They just put their face beside the other.)  She was really embarrassed and didn't want to do it.  

In this picture, she ended up kissing his hand.  A minute later, she put HER hand on the side of his face and kissed her own hand.  Ha!  He didn't do any kissing.

They are really a sweet couple!  Please keep them in your prayers as they start their lives together.

During their wedding, they spoke of how they were putting God first in their marriage and follow according to His plan for their lives.

I did want to show you their wedding invitation.  

It is thick!  It is like the cover of a book.  I can't bend it.  

Not shown is the little envelope that was inserted in the left side of the invitation.  It is for the money to go into. 

They don't do wedding showers here.  Everyone that comes to the wedding brings money.  It is a major ordeal.  They keep a list of each person and how much they give.  Then they must reciprocate to them, or their children, the same amount when they are invited to their weddings years down the line.

This is the invitation when it is folded.  And it goes in a clear plastic sleeve.

On Tuesday, the 7th, we started 2 days of Graduate Meetings.  

The theme for this meeting was the Minor Prophets.

We start off the mornings with singing.  Then there are 3 speakers in the morning of the first day.

This is Kakada.  (My pictures are out of order)  He taught Jonah in the afteroon.  

After his lesson, Rich did a Bible contest.

This is lunch on Tuesday.  It is pork cooked in a delicious sauce and then thinly sliced.  It is eaten with rice (of course), as well as cucumber and carrot slices.  Then you top it all with Sweet Chili Sauce, which makes everything taste great!

Sokun wrote the goals for his lesson on the board, so I thought you might enjoy.

Sokun taught on Joel.  On Tuesday, he taught this lesson on Chapter 1:1 - 2:18.

Then on Wednesday, he taught Joel 2:28-32, and discussed when this prophesy came to fulfillment in Acts 2.

This is Sokun.  He and Soklee have been preaching in their village of Moung Russey in the province of Battambang for 10 or so years.  

As I have told you before, he is also the village chief and he has a wonderful influence on the people there.

This was our mid morning snack on Tuesday.  

Baguettes with sweetened condensed milk.  It is delicious!  I totally enjoyed mine!

Piset works with Kakada in their village.

There was a congregation in Singapore who were supporting Kakada and Piset, but at the end of 2024, they stopped.

Kakada is getting a tuktuk to be able to supplement his income.  

The Capital Church of Christ here is also going to help them with partial support.

Please keep them in your prayers that they will continue to be faithful to the work there.

The Khmers don't move to another place like we would.  They either live in their village or the village of their spouse, or they come to Phnom Penh.  We have never been able to get someone to move to another province.

Piset taught Haggai. He is an excellent teacher who is not only knowledgeable but also encourages the students to live their lives for God.  He said that being a preacher is the very best job.  It has eternal value.

I didn't get a picture of Kemchhouy who taught Malachi.  Kemchhouy is one of our recent graduates and the only speaker that isn't a preacher.  Kemchhouy is a electrical engineer.  We were really proud that he was willing to teach.

Rich and I were both SO encouraged by all of their teaching.  Their Bible knowledge and their faith has grown very much.  We just sat, listened and smiled!

It also reminded me that we don't know the future and what will happen.  Khemrin, that teaches with Rich at the school and Piset, above, are 2 of our students that struggled the most while in school.  And now, they are terrific teachers and preachers!    

Channy, one of the ministers at the Phnom Penh congregation, also taught.  He taught Micah on Wednesday morning before Khemrin did a wrap-up of all the lessons.

In between our 2 days of Graduates Meetings, Rich did a wedding of 2 more Christians.  

Since I don't want this blog to be too long, I will post about that wedding and the weekend after on my next blog.

I hope this lets you see the work that God is doing through YOU and your support, prayers and love for all these years.  

Much love to you all!

Ronda