Christmas Eve in Siem Reap

So I find myself this Christmas Eve sweating profusely as I write this entry after biking around downtown Siem Reap on a rickety old bike with a basket attached to the front and carrying my teammate Bekah on the back. This city is definitely cleaner and more open in comparison to Phnom Penh. The number of tourists here is much greater as the city is home to one of the greatest historic sites in the world: Angkor Wat. We have not yet had a chance to visit this gigantic temple compound yet (fyi: Angkor Wat was where Tomb Raider was filmed).

The YWAM base here has attached to it an English school started a few years ago by missionaries from the Phillipines - Fhonkie and Hya. Upon arrival to Siem Reap on Monday evening after a six hour bus ride, we were given a short orientation and informed that we would all begin teaching English classes the next day. Surprise for us! We dove straight into teaching a total of approximately 300 students in various classroom settings about grammar, conversation, pronunciation, computers, and much more. I am teaching a computer class in the morning with about 10 kids and an English class in the evening for over 50 teenage students. The classrooms are small and dimly lit with flourescent lights but the students are eager to learn and are very bright. Many students are from the nearby community with people ranging from teens to adult businessmen and a few monks. I'm so excited to be here and actively do something and be a part of these students' lives. One day of the week is set aside to teach and discuss with the students about Christian values and expose them to the Bible. The lives of many here have been changed through the work that goes on here not only as they learn English but as they come to know who Jesus is. I'm so glad to be here :)

Thank you for your prayers and your encouraging words. I hope you have an awesome holiday weekend - Merry Christmas!!!