Another note from Jen C. facebook:
Went to deliver Chantha a bible at the restaurant her mom washes dishes at.....we lived above this restaurant this summer. All the staff came out & were totally excited to see us standing at their back door ;)
I asked Chantha's mom where she was...she pointed behind the building and said she was at English class in the "white building"......so she grabbed our arms and headed us over to the "white building". For those of you that have read about Somaly Mam...you know the building I am talking about. It is a huge, old, dirty white building that houses drug addicts, prostitutes and sex slaves.....and we were heading in.
To be honest.....I had seen this building all summer from my kitchen window. It became a symbol of sadness & hopelessness for me. A scary place....and here we went....omg.
Chantha's mom was walking at a "mall walker" pace...we head into the building....some really drunk guys playing pool, little children in the dark saying "hello!!!", lots of people sleeping in corners.....
We head to the back to a tiny alley....water is dripping from the roof & I stepped in something nasty & slippery.......we head back to a little room with desk set up and students bent over paper taking a English exam. Chantha wasn't there yet so while we were waiting everyone greeted us so
sweetly....next door to the classroom they have a makeshift medical clinic on a tiny room. People who live in the white building come down for medicine and treatment. We hung out and chit chatted with the people in charge....so sweet & so much hope.....
I heard flip flops coming really quickly down the alley.....Chantha :) she couldn't believe I had come to her class.....I told her "I promised I would bring you your bible!!'"...her friends came up & said "Jennifer! We know your name well! Chantha speaks of you all the time :)"...at that moment....I felt like...this is why I am here. In this slum. With these people. Hugging them. Smiling & becoming friends. His hands & feet.....we are free to change the world.....
Gave Chantha her bible and she said "I will read it every night" :)
Looks like we have a opportunity to serve and work teaching English in the "white building"....how awesome would that be?! I pray God will open that door...
Tomorrow we come home......Chantha will hang out with me all day......can't wait to be back......what a great day.
Jen C.
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Taking the teen-agers out for Pizza - in the mall - first time for Pizza, first time to ride an escalator, first time to be in a mall...what an experience!
David checking out his picture-Bible.
Bible presentation.
So grateful for his very own Bible.
Looking for their name!
Greg teaching the kids about the importance of clean water and drinking from their "own" cup. He told them that they wouldn't drink out of the toilet, but when they drink water out of the Mekong River...it is the same thing.
Bibles, mugs (with candy cores) lined up and ready for the kids!
Mugs labeled with Khmer and English name. Tamara and Lauren wanted the English name - so they can make sure they are using their "own" cup! Thanks Tamara and Lauren! :)
One of our incredible translators writing Khmer names...