My Class

  

My Wonderful Class

I have realized that somehow I always seem to end up with quite a few more boys in my class than girls.  I guess there is less drama that way. :)

My wonderful class enjoying my Friday afternoon tradition...Fun Friday.  I think the Oreos with milk was a big hit!

Monsoons

I took these photos on the way home from school today.  This street is perpendicular to mine.

Monsoon season is here!  I now see why my brother was so concerned that I wasn't very high above sea level. 

First Days of School

 Classroom is ready...

I'm ready...

I know many people all over the world were thinking of me and praying for me this past week as I began teaching.  Thank you so much!  Your prayers were answered.  I was a bit nervous on Monday morning, but it was just the usual first day jitters. :)  My first day went very smoothly.  I have a class of just 11 students!  I am thankful my class is small at the moment because their English levels vary quite a bit.  I definitely have my work cut out for me as far as trying to meet their individual needs.  That part will be the most challenging part to me.  I thought many of you would get a kick out of a question I was asked by one of my students at the end of the first day.  "Miss Verdi why do you talk like a cowboy?"  I guess he picked up on my southern accent!  LOL  I'm also guessing that the only time he has heard a southern accent is from watching movies...maybe Toy Story?  I don't know.  There may be 9 Khmer and 2 Korean students with a southern accent by the end of this school year. :)

I would have to say the highlight of my week was being able to freely talk about God in my classroom.  I must say it was quite unusual starting each day with a Bible story and later in the week having a student remind me that we needed to pray before going to lunch.  I definitely enjoyed being able to share Jesus with them and know that that will continue to be a highlight of each day for me.

So I have survived the first week.  It was very busy as I basically was just planning one day at a time which for those of you who know me well know that is difficult for me.  I am not a fly by the seat of my pants kind of person.  I like to plan in advance.  However, I feel that God is teaching me to really put my full trust in Him each day knowing that He is going to take care of me and will give me the wisdom that I need for the present day.

Stepping Out of the Boat

Yesterday someone who works for Asian Hope shared a devotional with us on Matthew 14:22-33.  He told us (all the new teachers) that we had stepped out of the boat.  It was somewhat like a "light bulb" moment for me.  I have realized that I have definitely stepped out of the boat and am trying to stand up on the waves knowing I am in very unfamiliar territory.  I can identify with Peter who was afraid when he saw the wind.  My wind right now...adapting to life in a third world country...being thousands of miles from home...getting ready to start my sixth year of teaching to students whose first language isn't English...okay to me that is a lot of wind! :)  I don't want to focus on the wind though.  The main main point I took from the devotional was this..."Don't focus on what or where God has called you instead focus on Who has called you."  I hope I always keep that thought in my heart and mind.  It is not about the place or the task...it is all about Him who brought me here to teach.  

 The wonderful teachers and teacher's assistants who I am working with at AHIS.  I love how many countries are represented by the staff...Philippines, Cambodia, New Zealand, India, Canada, South Africa, and the U.S.

 My sweet roommates - Merla and Jessica

My New Wheels

Excited to have transportation!  My journey home is now only 5 minutes.

End of My First Week

I pass several traveling vendors on my way to school like the two pictured above. 

I also pass this little massage place...I may just have to stop for a massage on my way home from school one day.

My temporary roommates - Katelyn and Carin

They are teaching English at the summer camp program at Asian Hope.  They are so very sweet and have been wonderful company!

Outside of Central Market

Beautiful Flowers for Sale

 

 One of the vendors inside the market.  Mom, I posted this one for you so you could get an idea of what the market is like.  There are vendors just like this one side by side.  As you can tell there are many choices of lots of things.

It hardly seems possible that I have been here for a week already.  The time has flown!  I want to reiterate how grateful I am to have such a vast support network at home.  I know the many prayers that have been said on my behalf have been answered.  It is just so comforting to know that others are thinking of me and praying for me.  I am also grateful for technology...the internet has been an excellent avenue for me to keep in contact with everyone.  

 

I feel like I have already learned many lessons in just one week.  A few that come to my mind...1. Keep it Simple - I was already learning this one before I left NC with packing up my life so to speak.  I realized that all this "stuff" we accumulate in life can be very burdening at times.  Then sometimes I wonder why do I have all this stuff?  It won't go with me one day.  Then I get here to Cambodia and I feel like one is forced to keep it simple as the luxuries that are available in the US cost so much more here or do not exist.  God has taken care of my needs here and quite a few of my wants too.  I am blessed!  2.  Allow God to set my pace - We live in a world where everything is so quick and convenient.  It is very easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of life and just go along with the rush.  I know I need to trust God and focus on the present journey.  "For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness."  Psalm 18:28  3. Be Thankful - I know I take so many things for granted on a daily basis.  I don't have to worry about where I will rest my head, where my next meal will come from, having clean clothes to wear, or having clean water.  I am now surrounded by so many who have these concerns and many more daily.  It makes me so much more aware of how blessed I am.  I was so convicted by something I read out of Sarah Young's little devotional book, 40 Days with Jesus, "You need to resist the temptation to grumble when things don't go as you would like.  Remember that I, your God, am a consuming fire.  If you saw Me in all My Glory, you would be much too awestruck to venture even the tiniest complaint."  Who am I to complain about anything?  However, I know I am human and after writing this will yet complain about something that is probably trivial.  Maybe I need to post this verse somewhere that I will read it every day..."Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship  God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."  Hebrews 12:28-29

First Few Days in Cambodia

So I am new to this whole Blog thing but I am going to give it a try!  I can't make any promises as to how often I will update it, but I will certainly do my best.  

 

I spent the majority of my journey on this plane...15 hours!  Glad that is behind me!  Thank you for all those who prayed for safe travels.  After getting past a bit of confusion with my visa in Greensboro everything went very smoothly.

  A very nice gift basket with all kinds of goodies (coffee, tea, peanut butter, jam, sugar, toilet paper, and soap) was awaiting me on top of an already made bed.  

 The front of my house which I will be sharing with another teacher.  More pictures of the inside will come later.

 

Any who are concerned for my safety can be put at ease.  I have 3 padlocks to get in to my house!  It is not due to being in a dangerous area...I am guessing just safety precautions. 

The view down my street

 

 

  Made myself a cup of coffee my first morning and enjoyed a piece of the best biscotti in the world...thanks to Caroline (aka "Paula" of the north).

Taking a tuk tuk ride to the market with two other teachers I will be working with - Chrissie (from New Zealand) and Lousie (from India).

This is where I will begin teaching in August - Asian Hope International School.

My classroom

 

Another view of my classroom

 The Playground

Visited Thmey Orphanage - Sweet reunion with my buddy Huy 

It was so good to see all the familiar faces!

Productive afternoon...bought some fabric for my bulletin boards...due to language barriers I have PLENTY of green fabric!  Also picked up an adapter for my surge protector, a laundry basket, and a few other odds and ends.  I have a new appreciation for Walmart...I had to stop at 3 different places to pick up the items I bought and it took me 2 hours.  

The kind tuk tuk driver, Vibol, who drove me all over and helped me pick up the things I needed.