Have we really only been in Battambang for 2 and a half weeks?  It seems longer!

In some ways we are settling in more.  This morning (when I started writing this) we went out to help with the raking, and the smell from this jasmine was very strong.

We have been meeting with students one at a time.  A couple of times we met with some who were more shy and came in pairs.  We've had very pleasant conversations.  None of the boys have come yet, though we have some signed up.  We've asked them to write their names in English and Khmer, asked their ages and birthdays, found out about families and school majors.  (We are meeting with one of the boys right now, and he gave me permission to take his picture for this.)

We have a yearbook for the various TransformAsia centers in 2025.  There are pictures of the students and of events.  It was designed by a girl here in Battambang, and is printed by Mixbook.  It costs something like $30 or $40 to print in the US, so none of the students have one.  But we brought one with us, and the students have looked through that while they were meeting with us.  Most are in this book from last year, and have enjoyed looking through it.  The same girl is working on a version for this year.

One girl gave us a surprise when she said she is 14, in 8th grade.  I didn't know that any were so young.  Her parents, like some others, are in Thailand.  Many Cambodians have gone to Thailand to work.  I've read some concerns about Cambodians in Thailand during the conflict and the tense time now, but all students whose parents are there have said they were well.

We've asked each whether he or she is a Christian.  We have prayed for discernment, to make sure they don't tell us what they think we want to hear, or claim to be a Christian because they attend the Bible study.  But so far, each has been clear and open.  Of the 12 students we have met so far, 3 are Christians.  We intend to love all the same, but we want to spend some intentional time with Christians to help them grow.  And of course we want share Jesus with all, and getting to know them better is a good start.

We continue in Acts on Wednesday evening.  This week we talked about Paul with governor Felix, who was afraid to hear the truth.  I encouraged the students to not be like that.  Yes, the good news (there is a rescuer!) begins with bad news (we need a rescuer!).  If Felix had been willing to listen, maybe he could have found that rescue.

During the last two Thursday evening Bible studies, we shared our stories of how we came to know Jesus and how he has helped us grow.  Andy went first, and told about how growing up in a Christian home does not necessarily make you a follower of Jesus.  God used different things to bring Andy's attention to Him.  Then Pha shared about her family's escape from Cambodia in 1975, her years in a refugee camp, and how she moved to the USA.   She focused on how she felt like a lost sheep, and how Jesus found her.

We went to a wedding early in the week.  There were enough adventures along the way that we may tell that story at some point.  We ate things we should not have, which have had an effect on us the rest of the week.  We are glad we went, but wish we'd eaten more carefully.  Combined with the heat, we've not felt well.  But while we didn't get rain last night, a storm blew all around us, and the cool breeze was wonderful.  It made us feel better just by the coolness.  Thanks to God for such simple beautiful things!

Andy has been working on his Khmer with Kem Sour, his main translator.  Andy understands enough to surprise himself sometimes, but only when the speaker is slow.  He started the last Wednesday evening Bible study with several sentences in Khmer.

The dorm needs to know which students are here and which are away.  Students are coming to talk to Pha when they travel to see parents, etc.  She is getting to know the procedures of the place.  She is enjoying working with the plants around the center, and enjoys the interactions with all the people.  They call her "Mom Pha", but Andy is just "Andy".

We are still negotiating with the ants about food, but we've gotten into real estate discussions as well.  We intend to hold a hard line.

Prayer requests

• Work continues in Phnom Penh on extending Andy's visa past May.  He had to write a CV (resume) and send more pictures.  There was something about an ID card that we don't know about.
• Guidance as we choose how to invest spiritually in staff and students.
• Andy's language study, and Pha's fluency.
• Preparation to use Thursday Bible studies to expand the context of what the students know about God and the Bible.