Update from Chelsea
Christmas 2012
A light has dawned
Christmas in Cambodia is so different. A few businesses' windows have Christmas tree outlines, and a few private schools sing "Jingle Bells" on the 25th, but for most Cambodians, Christmas is just an ordinary day. Only the Christian 2% celebrate Christmas, and they don't have traditional decorations or foods since most became Christian in the last 20 years. Instead, many Khmer churches host an outreach for their communities, with free food, a Nativity play, and a Gospel presentation.
It reminds me of the first Christmas. The night Jesus was born seemed like just another night. Lights didn't brighten rooftops - there was only one star lighting the darkness, and most people missed it. You couldn't hear carols in the grocery store - only in a lonely field. It was up to the young, uneducated shepherds to run and tell everyone what had just amazed their eyes. Like Bethlehem's residents, most Cambodians are oblivious to the earth-shattering news that hope has come. Like in Bethlehem, Cambodia's pervasive darkness keeps the spotlight on Jesus.
"On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Isaiah 9:2)
What do I do when I'm not teaching?
"Guess what Christmas is about?"
After Khmer language lessons each Sunday with my friend Sovannary, I sometimes read a children's Bible with her two daughters, Liza (L) and Chrismoon (R), who have recently started attending church with a friend from school. Chrismoon has often seemed interested in the story we read and asked me questions about God. But last week, it was Liza who came home from church and excitedly told me, "Guess what Christmas is about? God sent his son as a baby!" Sovannary wants them to become Christian, but it's been years since she said she believed in Christ. She's struggled with questions that the church couldn't answer well and disillusionment due to several Christian leaders who betrayed her trust. Now, she's just not sure about anything. Please pray for all three of them to know the One who came as a little baby.
Fun with editing?!
Mountains of mediocre essays to grade have filled me with boredom and despair, but rarely excitement. This year, I've exchanged several English classes for French, and my favorite part has been the reduced grading load. However, there's one type of editing I really love: helping seniors revise their college application essays. Rather than scribbling comments across a paper, I can have one-on-one conversations with each student. I've worked together with these four and others to refine ideas, reveal personality, and add real-life details. (Grammar and conciseness also get some work.) The conversation is also a window into students' current frame of mind on faith, family, and the future. Last year, I had this group in English class and daily devotions. This year, I don't teach most of them, so I'm thankful for this way to stay connected. Praise God for evidence of spiritual growth in several seniors. Pray that the angst-ridden process of waiting for colleges' responses deepens their faith in the God who holds their future in His hands.
My new little sister
Move over, Julia, you have some competition! My landlords' house adjoins mine, and this spring their sweet 14-year-old niece, Srey Pos, moved in to watch the house since the landlords work long hours. Besides a few chores, she has nothing to do but sit by our gate all day. She's extremely isolated. Though her village's accent is pretty different from the Khmer I've learned, we do our best to communicate. A few weeks ago, I gave her an MP3 player with various radio programs telling some Bible stories. She told me, "The stories are so pretty!" I couldn't answer her questions about them, but I'm hoping she can talk soon with my house helper, who is a Christian. She asked me last week if I could be her "older sister" in Phnom Penh, and helped me make buckeye cookies for Christmas (shown above). She didn't like the cookies' taste, but she had fun helping me! I'm looking forward to deepening our friendship this spring. Please pray that I can improve communication and help her feel loved.
High School Service Trips
Thank you for praying!
Website: www.cranniesandnooks.blogspot.com
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia