Going into the Villages with Sokreith

Sokreith - one of the children's Pastor's 

If you recall - on our very first day here in Battambang, a Sunday ~ we enjoyed a wedding reception for a couple...well Sokreith was the Bride and she is also one of the children's pastor we spent the morning with!  

At 8 am, Sokreith arrived on her moto and then tuk-tuk driver came and off we went into the countryside on the outskirts of town....countryside AND outskirts it WAS!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness we left the paved area and went onto a dirt road and drove for quite a long time actually...say 30 minutes at least!  The roads had pot holes in them...there was mud and mush...from the past rains.  Lots of pot holes...and we passed rice fields and more rice fields...villages and more villages...and then we came across a big truck that got stuck in a deep rut of mud...I am sure tires spinning and it was going no where!  It was full of dirt too, which didn't help!  It would need something very strong to get it out!  

We continued...going left and then right and then over a bridge and further along into the countryside.  All the time thinking of Jerry on the motorcycle all those years..with his interpreter - further and further out where no one had ever gone to share the Good News of Jesus!  Sokreith had a guitar with her...and she would use it to play a game with the children.

Finally we came to a little cross road and we stopped..."gosh I thought...that tuk-tuk has had a hard drive today...let alone us on it! Bouncing and bumping left and right....I was surprised my muesli had stayed in my tum! 

When we came to the first stop the children already came running...Sokreith greeted the children warmly and they all climbed up on this raised bed/eating area...where families live and sleep on.  Thankfully for me I was able to sit on it - because I sure can't sit on the ground very comfortable...like Nick can...actually he squats! 

Sokreith played a game with them first...she crumpled up a piece of paper and played "Hot Potatoe" with them...

the kids already knew the game...and they got into a circle...and she began to play on her guitar...and then the music would STOPPED and they all giggled and yes..someone had the crumpled ball of paper

..and had to go out of the circle!  They laughed and so' enjoyed it!  Then the winner was raised up in the air and everyone cheered! Yea!!!!! 

When they finished playing Sokreith encouraged back to the raised bed area and then she pulled out her lesson book and told the story about Jesus in the boat with the disciples...and how the storm came and how afraid they were...and Jesus said "be not afraid" and he quieted the storm.  Sokreith told them that Jesus calmed their hearts from fear and that He too will keep them from fear -

"He loves you...He loves little children and you too can call on Jesus and not to be fearful.... just like the disciples in the boat and ask Jesus to calm the storm!"

Remember the pamphlets we packed when we first arrived here...? Well here we were in the villages miles into the countryside sharing it with the children!  Sokreith then passed out those copies we had counted and separated and sorted out a few weeks ago and that the pastors (children pastors) had picked up on Friday when all the pastors meant!  Wow - to see it all come together - and actually see how it is distributed out in the villages was something so' special and so' precious!

See the planks and the separation...no matter...they colored!

Just like Sokreith's picture in the book....it was important to them to do it right!

The kids were so' very diligent coloring the drawing! Oh they took it so very serious to heart!  They don't have coloring crayons and paper to draw on...they use rocks and seeds to play with.  

They colored and colored and then they showed her the completed paper and she put a
 # 10 on it to show it was completed!  I too got the job to sign off on their work!  So I put a smiley face on it with a 10/10 and wrote in English "very good!" They left and walked home to share with their parents and siblings - what they had learned and done!

...coloring in the hammock!

One little girl came a little later into the hour - she was about 7 yrs old,she too received a page and coloring crayons...and I could tell she had not held a coloring crayon in her hand before...I showed her how to hold it, and to go back and forth to color the page...she looked up and smiled! She had little control of her crayon...just learning to hold it!  I thought - my!... she is possibly not even in school yet! 

He did such a good job...yes a 10 over 10! 

The kids colored on the rice sacks.

Oh we are so fortunate to be born where the Lord has planted us...YES...we do take it for granted don't we - that we have a pen to grab (boxes full!) and paper when we need it...and here they hardly have clothes and sleep in huts and no bath/toilet/bed/toys.... BUT they are happy... laughing and giggling and do not miss those things we are all so used to in the West!

May we be ever so' thankful for ALL we have & where we live and have opportunities to go to school, get an education, a roof over our heads, clothes to wear (lots of it!)  a grocery store to go to...a car to drive around in...a CLEAN home and bed...Lord forgive me for complaining help me to be grateful for  e v e r y t h i n g  You provide for us everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sokreith also brings nail clippers and gets busy cutting the children nails if they are too long.....so sweet of her and so caring!

The kids stand there and let her do it...so cute!

....sometimes looking very serious indeed....!!!

The kids wandered off and then we packed up to go to one other village...but the roads were so bad we had to walk.  Yes - on the rough roads...guitar, packs and water bottles...down the road we went!  A grader and also a steam roller were trying to grade the roads.

 

We came to this little village and again

and the children came out...one by one!

She prayed with them and began to share the story once again...they listened.....

They listened & looked..

Even a lady in the hammock who saw us coming joined in and listened.

 Also an elderly grandmother was inside the hut.  More children showed up...word gets around fast...Sokreith is here!!!......with grateful smiles they receive a coloring page and began to color!  

 This little guy was trying to walk in those large flip-flops...so cute!

Walking back to the tuk-tuk Nick saw this new pump and sign...read it!

What a eventful morning...yet so very very humbling!  Yes...to see what is being done to so far away from where we live our daily lives...and then to see a work is being done here and so many far away places......the Good News that Jesus came to save us from our sins - not to condemn us but to give us new life! What HOPE and a future...yes everlasting!

Jerry had shared with us that the Khmer Rouge did  horrific destruction to their own people! They planted many mines in the ground along the border and even today...many many people loose their limbs because someone steps on a mine and it blows up! The UN comes to all these areas and with experienced people try to find these mines - can you imagine that?  Hid in the ground - live mines!  People still have to be careful where they walk - thankfully there are organizations that care and come to help the Cambodia people be relieved from that!  They have a special hospital here in town for those that have stepped on these mines...sad huh...so many years later.  

Anyway - it was a hot day...and we headed back down the pathway to the tuk-tuk driver who was patiently waiting!  Sokreith normally takes her scooter to these places but because of Nick & I tagging along we need the tuk-tuk! We were really worried that it was not going to damage it...for it is the driver's livelihood and his means to provide for his family.

Nick gave him a little extra for the drive and patience!  We headed back to town...quiet and a bit overwhelmed...can you understand that?   

Yes Jerry & Wilma are doing an amazing work here in Battambang...6000 villages are being visited monthly by these devoted children pastors  Remember, 45,000 pages distributed every month!

Praise the Lord! 

A very Special lady!