Dearest Family and Friends,
There are so many wonderful things happening over here. During the past month, there have been many new changes. God has been blessing me amazing new ways.
I mentioned in the last newsletter that I was moving out to the village called Puok, which is about a half hour from where I lived before in Siem Reap. Well, I have been in Puok for one month already, and I am so in love with this place!
I’ve settled in nicely to the quiet yet adventurous life in this village. Other than the giant rats that live in the ceiling and the monstrous river spiders that I find in my bathroom on a daily basis, I am adjusting to village life very well.
Twice a week we ride our bikes out to the real and raw villages. Each Thursday we spend a day with the wide eyed, dirt covered faces, curious, playful village children that eagerly come to sing songs, play games, and listen to Bible stories.
Every Friday, we ride our bikes 30 minutes out to another small village to lead a Bible study for adults 40 to 55 years of age. Right now we are explaining the Apostle’s Creed and praying with them. The Bible study is held at the chief’s house. He is a new believer and so eager and hungry to learn anything he can about God and the Bible. The chief and his wife are extremely hospitable and welcoming! I am so excited and honored to each week to spend time with them.
Finally I am teaching a Music Theory class! My new students are learning fast, we have so much fun together and I am having a great time teaching them! We are working really hard on rhythm right now. It will take time, but I am confident they will get it! I have only four students in my music class, but I am hopeful more will come in the future and I very much appreciate the many benefits of a small class as I build relationships with them.
Sundays we have morning fellowship with our students. Unfortunately, not many of them come. Right now just about 6-7 students join. We are praying for more, and in the meantime, being faithful to teach and disciple the few that we have. I am helping lead worship for Sunday mornings. This is a new experience for me, but I am really enjoy it, and hope to improve and am asking God to especially bless me in this area because of course we usually only sing songs in the Khmer language for worship music. I am learning Khmer daily and am thankful for all that I have learned, but desire to comprehend and learn so much more as I share the gospel with my new friends in my new home here in Puok.
I had a revelation this past week of how immeasurably blessed I am to be living my dream. My heart for missions has been growing for years and I just tear up when I am in the village sharing the gospel with the Khmer people. Discipleship warms me down to my heart. God is so very good.
Soon after I arrived in Cambodia I began asking you all to pray that God would send me a friend to serve here with me while I am here. I don't know specifics on the details of how you were praying this over me, but God has blessed me with a lifelong partner! Surprise! His name is Caleb Moseley. He is from Colorado, but also spent some growing up years in Bend, Oregon. He is a missionary kid in a family with seven siblings. We met at International Church (cute) while he was here on his YWAM DTS Outreach. He was one of the guys I mentioned that I took fishing in my last update. Well turns out that God had been calling him to missions in Cambodia for a couple months. He is here for two years heading up the Media Department at the Siem Reap. We kept in close contact while he was home in Colorado saying goodbye to family and preparing to return to Cambodia. He bravely asked my parents for permission to pursue me in a biblical courtship and we are now officially “courting.” I am so happy and excited to serve in missions alongside this godly man!
Some prayer point for this next month would be:
- Wisdom and guidance for teaching in the village and building relationships.
- Strength as I will be in charge of and leading the base in the village this week. All the other staff has left to attend a conference and have left me in charge.
- Prayer for blessing on Caleb and I as we start our journey together.
- Pray that my spirits would remain high and my attitude would stay joyful and hopeful. It has been pretty challenging this past month and I have felt discouraged and down. I want to remain positive and, I want to be a light here.
- Prayer for finances and that God would keep providing all I need with monthly support, and potentially a mode of transportation. Since I've been in the village travel to the locations I need to get to have increased transportation costs. I am praying that God will provide all of the funds needed to purchase a small moto. In the long run it will be much cheaper.
- Lastly, courage to face the big spiders in my bathroom each morning.
Once again I am so blessed to have such a strong church family and community back home. All of your prayers and support help me here immensely!
May our God Jehovah be with you and bless you!
With Love,
Beth
