If breakfast is any indicator of how the day will go, then today’s breakfast definitely set us up to have an excellent day! Before we started our 4th and last day at Stronghold Cambodia, the whole group got together at a nearby cafe and enjoyed the terrific food and beverage. We arrived in time to join the children in a fun game. Pastor Kempin and I accepted an invitation by the older kids to play volleyball. Alas, God did not make us volleyball players. I won’t mention the score, but suffice it to say we might want to rethink our dreams of becoming professional volleyball players. Next we moved onto something we are better at – singing. Following the music, we all listened to Pastor Kempin tell the story of David and Goliath with the younger kids.
Surprised by the Stronghold Children
Then, while they went off to class, it was off to lunch at Espresso to enjoy a Western style lunch. Everyone left quite satisfied. We had two bags heavier with the finest coffee beans Espresso had to offer. When we got back to Stronghold, it was our turn this time to be surprised by the wonderful gift the children presented.
They had us sit down with our eyes closed and came out singing happy birthday. The were holding a cake that they bought by pooling their money together as a way to say thank you and good-bye. It took Bruce and Anna several tries to blow out all the candles. They used trick candles on us, the sneaky rascals. After our cake came the time that all of us were dreading. It was time to say good-bye. After a lot of hugs, a lot of high fives, a lot of photos, we watched as the students biked out the gate. We began setting up to put the finishing touches on the murals.
Finishing the Murals at Stronghold Cambodia
Bruce, Anna, and MaryAnn touched up a couple of the older murals with clouds and grass. Meanwhile Julie had to do just a few more things to complete her big mural. When it was finished, well…words can’t really describe what she created. You’ll have to come to Cambodia on the next trip to see for yourself. Or I guess you could look at the photo below. But believe me the photo won’t do it justice. It’s just unbelievably phenomenal, the favorite of everyone by far! So much so that they are already thinking up ways of how to transfer that section of the wall to their new site when it is ready. I take great pride in knowing that Julie couldn’t have created such a masterpiece without me. My expertise as tape measuring holder is a very important job you know, Julie told me so.
We finished with the murals just in time to welcome the older students for their evening classes. Anna and MaryAnn attended English class, while Bruce, Pastor Kempin, and Julie finished the fluoride treatments with the last of the students. We had to say the hard good-byes once more on our last day at Stronghold Cambodia, as the older students motor-biked out the gate. Then it was off to enjoy an Indian dinner to cap off the evening.
Today was a day with a spectrum of emotions, but it was a blessed day that God gave us to spend with this, our last day at Stronghold Cambodia, with the staff and students. And we take comfort in knowing that with God’s blessings, our friendship, our partnership, our fellowship with Stronghold and it’s family will keep strong and continue to grow until we meet again.
Thanks for all the support from back home,
Submitted by Lindy Brown on Thursday, January 16, 2020
PS Lindy is currently working in Korea teaching English and she traveled to Stronghold independently to work with our Midland Mission Team
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