Hope School and the Christmas Concert

The School Semester is coming to a close. Last night we had the School Christmas Concert. The infants school performed 'The story of Christmas' and the junior and high school performed 'The Grinch who stole Christmas'. Nathan was in the play, Naomi helped with hair and makeup, Graham ran the light desk and I took the still photos.

It has been a great term here at Hope School. And as usual, we will be losing some students who are returning to their home countries either permanently or on furlough, we will also gain a number more in the new semester early January.

It may be difficult for outsiders to consider what we do here in Cambodia as Missionary work. But we are left without a doubt as to how necessary a role we have here in Witnessing Christ. The predominant portion of our parents are Missionaries be it in relation to orphanages, training facilities, church planters, community development projects, woman/children at risk programs, advocacy agriculture or clean water projects. Often a parent will thank us for being here to educate their children, for without an affordable fee school many of them would not be able to stay in country, as expensive private schools, Khmer language schools and home schooling are impractical or unaffordable.

We have opportunities to work alongside other missionaries through school via service projects for which we and our students volunteer and also in our church missionary ventures (such as the Steun Mean Chey Dump).

Working with the students is particularly special for Graham and I as we manage the extra curricular program and run many activity clubs such as swimming, photography, film making, gardening, portrait drawing and sports etc. My film making club is particularly a joy as the group of students I have are so keen.

Please pray for our work here in Cambodia, it is simple but rewarding. We do know many families would like us to extend our contract, but at this stage have told the school we will leave in June. It is a very very hard decision to make. We miss Australia, our families, friends, the mountains and the sea, but we also have an opportunity to bless others and be blessed by them in a way that is just so different to life in Australia.

Have a great Christmas,

Fiona

American Film Shoot.

Cambodia provides opportunities to participate in otherwise inaccessible learning experiences. An American production company (The Bandito Brothers) was recently in Cambodia completing an 8 month shoot on a feature film called "I am that Man". A film revolving ( I think) around the bond between a Navy Seal and the son of another Navy Seal who died in action. There were three days of shooting in Cambodia to cover a subplot scene about a terrorist. The call came out via the Expat Advisory Service for child extras for one day of shooting in Phnom Penh. Nathan went for a screen test. ( Naomi was too old). Nathan was accepted and we all headed for the film shoot. He had a great time, though found the waiting quite boring. They did however pay him for his time... which was a bonus.

Being an amateur film maker I had negotiated at the screen test for myself and two of my older film club students to assist with the weekend Phnom Penh Shoot. The day was incredible and led to the students and I being asked to travel with the crew to Kampot to undertake another two days of shooting. This allowed me the opportunity to learn on set about camera gear, dolly work, cranes, grips, special effects, directing, producing... and the list goes on.

The directors and producers were very friendly and while waiting for various setups explained various concepts to us, allowed us behind the camera and answered our myriad of questions.

I also had the opportunity to share my testimony with the two (Christian) students which they were inspired by and asked ongoing questions about.

Year 8 Me-Sang Village Service Project Trip.

Recently I took the year 8 pastoral group (including Naomi) to a small village for two night to visit a missionary family of one of the students. We harvested rice with sickles, threshed it with our feet, ran a children's program, visited a fish farm and observed the extraction of palm sugar.

We slept in Khmer houses; raised wooden huts on thin mats, with holes cut in the wall for windows. The bathroom was separate and consisted of a non flush squat toilet and a container of water to scoop over us to wash ourselves. There was no running water or electricity, though car batteries are used to provide light for a short time at night.

Naomi had a fabulous time and did not complain about the poor living conditions in any way. It was such a blessing to be able to see the work of the missionary family in this area and to spend time with Naomi and her peers in such a remote location.

It is times like this that really make me want to stay in Cambodia and support missionaries with the skills God has developed in us prior to our visit and while here.

Cambodia the Land of opportunity.

It continues to amaze me how diverse the opportunities are for us here in this country. Within the last month we have had the privelege of travelling throughout the south of the country, taking the year 8 students to serve a poor village and to participate in a $10 million feature film shoot.

Travelling the Countryside.

In the last month Graham and I have found ourselves and family travelling in the south of Cambodia looking for places to hold school camps next year. It is not easy to find affordable locations that will take a group of 30 people. Some of the most spectacular scenery is in the south of Cambodia. The sea and mountains are much more of interest than the flat sprawl of Phnom Penh. Cambodia is not large, but travel is very slow, often with dirt or muddy narrow potholed roads, random police check points, toll points and herds of cattle to be negotiated. We all enjoyed the photographic opportunities this trip presented.

Year 8 Me-Sang Village Trip.

Cambodia provides such an opportunity to meet the needs of others. Recently I took the year 8 pastoral group (including Naomi) to a small village for two night to visit a missionary family of one of the students. We harvested rice with sickles, threshed it with our feet and ran a children's program, amongst other things.

More detail and images about this event can be read in its own separate posting.

American Film Shoot.

Cambodia also provides opportunities to participate in otherwise inaccessible learning experiences. An American production company was recently in Cambodia completing a feature film called "I am that Man" with a scene set in Asia. Nathan has the opportunity to be a child extra in one scene, while I had the opportunity to assist the production crew while they were here.

More detail and images about this event can be read in its own separate posting.

Sorry it has been a while between blogs, I must admit access to a PC, the Internet and Electricity all at the same time means that so many priorities compete for online time.... but most of all I get forgetful. I am much more of an sms gal..sigh.

Please pray for our family as we consider God's future for us, and for the needs of the Cambodian people to experience God in their lives spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Fiona