by Jonathan Gerig

“Tha. Rote. Tha-Rote. Throat.” 15 Cambodian indigenous youth are trying to pronounce a newly learned English word. Nearly three months have gone by since I began teaching English and computer skills to 40-plus students ranging from 15 to 22 years old in a remote province of Cambodia, and everyone is still having trouble with their th’s. I can’t blame them. I still can’t pronounce the word for ‘delicious’ (something about the combination of n-g without a vowel in between has proved incomprehensible). Nonetheless, the students, and myself for that matter, are learning a lot.

I arrived in Cambodia just in time for Christmas. After two months, I have quite a full teaching load. Simply saying the students are ‘eager to learn here’ doesn’t really capture the exuberance they show in all there studies. The youth especially showed a liking for the computer class (about 25 students, divided into three daily classes) on English/Khmer typing, Word and Excel, which was benefited by the addition of two computers purchased through Bethany funds.

All told, what had initially started as a two-week volunteer stint has grown into a three month journey of personal and spiritual growth. Since arriving in Cambodia, I have begun to see an overall change in my behavior and mind set. For one, working and teaching indigenous youth here has obligated me to think less of myself and more of others. And how can I help but not when my students, who have far less than me, are sharing a hearty lunch with their “teacher”?

My time in this remote corner of Cambodia has helped me to appreciate the “simpler” things in life – like family, friendship and God’s beautiful creation. Fortunately, my living situation in Cambodia – limited access to television and internet – has all but dictated that I develop and nurture relationships. Perhaps an even more direct result of this is I am able to spend more time in devotion and prayer with God. Finally, I have also been witness to many here that are new to their faith, and I am constantly impressed with their fervor for God. From attending their local churches to visiting their homes and villages, I have seen God working in and through many in Cambodia.

Jonathan Gerig has taught Sunday school, and was active with the young adult fellowship at Bethany prior to his travels abroad. You can write him at jgerig07@whitworth.edu.