Starting Small

This month we are excited about the newest teacher from our Center: SreyOuen, one of our Father’s House kids! For many months now, staff member Aly has been visiting local children and teaching them Khmer literacy and basic English. Aly has been doing such a great job transitioning these children from completely unschooled to functionally literate! And sometimes she brings along some of our Father’s House children (including SreyOuen) to help.

Recently, SreyOuen noticed that there were several new children hanging around who seemed interested in learning but were not ready for the level of study that the children who had been attending for months were at.  She asked Aly if she could start her own little class teaching basic Khmer reading and writing to them. We were of course thrilled to say yes to this endeavor!

One of our biggest desires for Father’s House and Loaves and Fish children is that as they grow up and see how God has brought them out of brokenness into lives of blessing and abundance, that they would begin to sow back into the communities where they were once considered outcasts: that they would bring hope to those around them just as God has brought hope to them.

We are so thankful for faithful and encouraging staff like Aly, who are modeling service and helping our children find their callings. And we are excited to see the many ways that the kids in our programs are blossoming, maturing, and sharing what they have with others! Please join us in praying for SreyEun’s little literacy class, that as she teaches these young children, both she and they would be blessed!

- IHSI

Boxes of Blessings

This morning we held a special children’s program for kids from impoverished families who live in a nearby village. We’ve been looking forward to giving out the Samaritan’s Purse OCC (Operation Christmas Child) shoeboxes we received this year, and after completing a children’s Bible study initiative from OCC with a core group of children, it was time to give out the gifts to a larger group!

The kids were clearly excited about the event, some of them arriving early by an hour or more. There were 85 of them, ranging from age 2-14 years old, with some of the littlest ones accompanied by parents or older siblings. While waiting for the program to being, they ran around outside and played at the playground in a frenzy of anticipation!

After short lesson from Solomon came the main event: giving out the shoeboxes from OCC. It is always fun to see the looks on children’s faces as they open presents and discover everything from toys and school supplies to toothbrushes and new clothes! Many of them carefully surveyed the items in their box one by one with delight, before placing them neatly back inside for safe-keeping. Most of these children have few personal possessions, and even the simplest of gifts is treasured! 

We are thankful for Samaritan’s Purse and their giving to our
community and many others. Please join us in praying that the children who received a shoebox today would feel blessed, would begin to attend church, and that they and their families would come to know Christ as they experience His love.

-    In His Steps

Filling in the Gaps

All too often in countries such as Cambodia, huge needs exist in spheres of life that the Western world takes for granted. Children without parents, families without food, young people without education.... the ravages of war in the past and a lack of infrastructure in the present cause entire nations to wallow in poverty and brokenness, without hope or vision. As Christians, it falls to us to be Jesus' hands and feet, filling in the gaps and sharing hope as He leads.

Each weekday at our Center, we hold Khmer literacy classes for Cambodian children, as well as some adults in our Sak Saum program. Not only is literacy in one's own language is a key to breaking free from poverty and ignorance, it is a valuable tool to transmit the Gospel. Thankfully, we have been able to acquire some excellent curriculum that combines basic reading and writing practice with Bible stories and a Christian worldview!

The Khmer writing system is beautiful but very complex, a challenge to any student. Some of those who attend our classes cannot afford to attend public school, others simply need some extra help. Teachers Aly, Sokra, and Solomon sit with their students and practice writing and sounding out letters, reading simple words together, and listening to Bible stories in their native language.

It is a wonderful privilege to be a part of equipping future Cambodian leaders, teachers, ministers and businessmen/women for success with something as simple as this weekly literacy program! Other ways we are empowering the next generation include: offering free English classes to all ages, providing a reading room filled with books in English and Khmer, job skills training and discipleship, Sunday School for children, seminars and workshops, youth group meetings and activities, hosting community events, our new soccer team, and most recently, the opening of a new playground! Each of these programs and resources, in their own way, are helping to fill in the gaps and spaces that have been left vacant in Cambodian communities for so long.

If you would like to learn how you can support In His Steps ministries, click here. And please remember to keep our staff and programs in your prayers!

- In His Steps