On to the next round

The first round of this year's National Exams have just taken place.

We'd like to congratulate 

Mr. Ousa Chim

for placing first in our district for 9th grade physics.

On to the Province/State National Tests

GOOD JOB

This is the 3rd time I've shared about this family who continues to bless and surprise us.

About 2 years ago a retired public school teacher Mr. Nhen Kong worked for us as Math teacher.  He was a very cool old gentleman whom all the kids liked.  While working for us Mr. Kong became a Christian.  He also brought his granddaughter Sokunthea to us asking if she could become a teacher and work for us.

We sent Sokunthea already a Christian; to college 2 years ago.
She's now a full time teacher who has been with us for the past 5 months.  Around the same time Sokunthea applied for college she enrolled her younger brother Ousa in our school and her father, Mr. Mao applied to work as maintenance.

Mr. Mao sacrificed his well paid construction job to be closer to home and take better care of his son. Mr. Mao is more of a blessing than our small NGO could ever paid for.

Mr. Kong was a blessing in the time that he served us.
Miss. Sokunthea is proving her worth.

The family's efforts, sacrifice and faith in God has been rewarded.  

In September of '14 Ousa became a Christian and was baptized.

If Ousa goes no further than District Finals we're proud of him.

A Spotlight on One of our Best

A Spotlight on One of our Best

The first grade classroom for A Heart for Wisdom School sits right across the yard from the Greater Hope Orphanage so I can hear the sing-song sounds of this hard working class all afternoon. This class is run by a young woman who is fairly new at the teaching profession however shines so brightly as a passionate educator and counselor to her young eager students. Kun-Thea teaches one of our two 1^st grade classrooms and does so in an inspiring way.

The era of the Khmer Rouge has left an ugly mark on the education system of Cambodia. The rouge targeted the educated for their death camps which has left the education system slow to recover. Although Cambodia has free public education, it’s often riddled with teachers that have purchased their teaching certificates instead of studied for them, often requiring students to pay bribes for answers to home work and test scores. This broken education systems most obviously effects the poorest of the poor who are unable to purchase homework assignments or fold in extra cash with their test papers.

A Heart for Wisdom is breaking this cycle with the stunning efforts of many teachers just like Kun-Thea. Kun-Thea has embraced creative and diverse learning methods while at the same time preserving Khmer culture and Khmer expression. She is a model of progress and preservation. Kun-Thea has added singing and dance classes into her weekly curriculum which instruct the students in traditional Khmer music and traditional Khmer dance.  Her students brim with joy during these courses with sharp focus and great effort.

The traditional arts were nearly devastated during the Khmer rouge era with no allowance for creative expression during the communist regime. Khmer culture is rich with unique dance, music, instruments, and performance arts with many of these traditions being thousands of years old. The arts have gained strength as the country has recovered with the grandmas and grandpas of this generation carefully handing down memories of plays, songs, and dance techniques.

It’s a joy to watch Kun-Thea’s class start a new era of Cambodia. It’s a joy to watch a whole new generation grow, learn, explore, create, and express the God-made beauty within them. It’s a joy to watch Kun-Thea balance the progress of education and the preservation of culture. It’s a joy to watch them dance!

Below a Link to a short clip of Khmer Dance Class:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ0hpl1R8pg

3 for 3

Our 3rd license for 3 years.

A Greater Hope Orphanage license has been renewed. 

Looking forward to another 3 years of whatever God would have for us.