A letter to Victor

On Wednesday, March 9, we found out that Victor, one of our long-time English students, died unexpectedly.

Here is a letter that Rachel wrote him in an effort to process the loss of his death.


18 March 2016

Dear Victor,
It grieves me so much to be writing you this letter.  I never imagined that I would have to say goodbye to you in this way.

You were a healthy boy--what could cause you to die so quickly?

Did you experience any pain in your death?  I hope not.

I want you to know that 13 year-old boys aren't supposed to die.  It is not the way things should be!

Jesus wept for Lazarus when he died and I want you to know that we weep for you.  You are worth crying over!  Even though you weren't such a good student, you were a son of God--you were valued and loved by Him.  I hope you knew that through the time that you spent at RHS.  We, the staff of the school, loved you very well.  Sometimes we didn't find it easy to love you, but we still tried very hard to love as Christ would have us to love.

You should have been able to live into adulthood, to study further, to have your own family, but that wasn't meant to be.  So the only thing that I can do is say that it is not the way things should be.  We wait with your family for the Second Order of things; we wait for the time of no more tears, no more sadness--that is the hope that we cling to!

As we say goodbye to you, we release you back to God.  You were always His and so we give you to Him with great difficulty and pain in our hearts.

Much love,
Rachel

Saying Goodbye

At the end of February, the English classes at Rahab's House School closed.  For more information about that, please read our latest update here.

Below are a few pictures from those final days.  

The whole staff went for a boat ride on the Mekong and together we witnessed a beautiful sunset

The remaining staff prepared a sweet song for the goodbye ceremony

All the English teachers after the graduation ceremony

Kim and the vice principal passing out gifts to the students

Eating lunch together before the goodbye ceremony

Bonus picture: 4th grade artwork about the water cycle

Walking together

A reflection by Becki

This week we visited the site where some dear Cambodian friends and co-workers are building their first home. Their eyes were filled with excitement and anticipation as they described the house - where the kitchen will stand, how big the bedroom will be and so much more. They are putting down roots in a community and trusting the Lord to meet them in that place. It was a sacred moment to stand with them amid the stacks of bricks, pipes and cement and pray for what is to come.

As I reflect on this time with our friends, I am filled with such wonder. I am amazed at how the Lord has given me the privilege of sharing life with the staff of Rahab's House School. Over the last five years, I have witnessed countless marriages, births, deaths, illnesses, new houses, homes burned to the ground and more beauty and pain than I can begin to describe.  I have walked with friends and they have walked with me. And life has been better and richer for these relationships.

"Friends love through all kinds of weather,

    and families stick together in all kinds of trouble." 

Proverbs 17:17

This house is just the next chapter in their beautiful story.

August Update

We're in the middle of a busy season as we prepare for the beginning of the new school year. Check out our August Update for more details and for ways to be praying for us.

Van video

The new school van was purchased a few months ago with the generous donations of many individuals.  Above is a thank you video.  You can read all about it on AIM's website.

June Update - Love Anyway

Here is the link to our most recent update. You can also view it over at Chris Sick's blog - Tangible Theology.

New building design

Throughout our most recent newsletters and blog posts, we keep mentioning the new school building. We are so excited to finally unveil the designs.  We worked with TPC, an architecture firm in Roseville, CA.  They even came to visit Cambodia in October to help finalize the designs.  It's been fun to see the designs come to life!

The bird's eye view of how the new building will be situated on the land

The view from the front of the school

The view from the east corner of the property

Looking from the south corner

The view from the west corner

Looking from the north corner

What the courtyard will look like

The view upon entering the property from the main road

The backside of the building

What the property currently looks like!