Family Photo

You might well be wondering what we all look like now as almost a year has past since we have seen most of you. Hence I will indulge you with a family pic from this years school photos. 

Cheers

Fiona

Khmer Funeral Culture

I am not an expert on Khmer and its Buddist / ancestor worship beliefs, but we are exposed to it often, at times more than others. Take yesterday morning and this morning at 4:45 am for example. A funeral is being held in the house directly across the road. This means that at this early hour all the local Khmer come out and stand on cats tails until they squeel to a decibel level that can ruin your hearing. (Okay they call it Khmer traditional music with tinny instruments.) They also whine and chant. Funerals may last a couple of days through to seven days, with repeat events a few months and a year afterwards.

Traditionally in the villages, in the early hours, men would cry out loudly so the village knew the family were in mourning, people would gather at the home and musicians would play music. Days of ceremony would ensue with extended appeasement of the dead spirit so they would not be haunted but rather be blessed in the future.

Here in Phnom Penh, the houses are only metres from each other, the streets are narrow, ... and they have discovered loud speakers. So the whole neighbourhood is drawn into the process - ealry in the morning and late into the night.  At times the streets are completely blocked, this is normal for a funeral. On some occasions, like this, a small gap is left for bikes to get through.

The Khmer have little concept of personal and private space, so our front verge (Which in most houses like ours would be caged in) has become a public bike park. I had to move a space clear through them this morning to get out of the house. ( They don't mind you doing that, throughout the city people are always moving other people's vehicles to get past, they even leave their handbreaks off in cars so they can be pushed if they are in the way - Phnom Penh is flat, so they are not going to roll anywhere).

Please pray for protection for our family at this time. There is a lot of communication with evil spirits and other missionary friends of ours have reported seeing demonic figures during the night at times of celebration and appeasement of dead ancestors.

The end of the school year.

Well it is coming to the end of the school year here at HOPE School Cambodia - 3 more weeks.  The above photo is of the whole school, students and staff. We have students from 22 different countries and staff from 8 different countries.

Hope is a wonderful, Godly school and it is a blessing to work here. There is a strong sense of community and purpose within the school and wider environment. We have made many good friends. We have learned to appreciate the simple things in life and accept the challenges of intermittent electricity, fluctuating internet, limited resources and flooded rooms. These shared experiences allow us to pull together in support of each other. It is the ïn your face" nature of life and faith here that has been the catalyst for personal and spiritual growth. 

I cannot imagine not have having come here and would encourage others to consider overseas mission. It is not so much ability but availability that God works with to bring ordinary everyday Christian people into a phase of growth and service.

Please pray for our school as we continue to look for teaching staff in the future, the cycle of people coming on contract and going home, along with the growth of the school requires that we are regularly in prayer for new staff.

Fiona

School Camp

Last Month our school held the annual school camps. Year 4,5,6 and 7 all went to the Khmer Village Homestay in Baray Province. Here was an opportunity to experience Khmer culture, eat Khmer food, stay in Khmer style accomodation and contribute to a community. The students enjoyed seeing silk weaving and noodle making, eating freshly made waffles, pony cart transport and driving ox carts. 

 

The older students also participated in community development projects such as paving around village wells and repairing houses.

A highlight for many was visiting the local school, playing games with the children and giving them the gift of a pen each. The excitement of owning a pen was so vivid on the childrens faces and made an impact upon our own students.

Naomi, Nathan and I were all on this camp, (Graham was on an adventure camp with an older group). I would have to say that the visit to Baray and the opportunity to be involved in the ministry there, has been one of the highlights of my time here in Cambodia. 

Please pray for Esther, who established the Khmer Lifestyle Ministy to support the local villages. She does an amazing work and through her homestay and Community Development projects sees God impact the community and visitors alike. 

Fiona