Growing trees

New Life Fellowship has begun what they call 'Growing Trees'; an internship-come-Bible school. It is an opportunity for young people to really grow in God over an 11 month course. This is a first for the church here - and sadly, it appears to be a first for in-house training within Phnom Penh churches.

12 people have signed up for what is the inspiration from Jason Prosser (a great Canadian guy who, with his wife Angie and now three kids, have been here six years) and Chris Foster. Chris and Rhiannon are Melbourne Aussies and for Aussies, are real good sorts.

Here are four of the students, plus a couple of stray legs from some others. Veasna (centre) used to volunteer at the Healing Home when we first started two years ago.

The way the program has been set up, students are in a classroom setting Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and working within a church ministry on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I'll get to introducing Rin to you soon - she's in the class and she has been snaffled by us for those two days. Also in our class is Neth, our weekend cook. She's growing so fast!

I've had six hours with these folk over the last two weeks, doing stuff on character. She's very much a different ball-game in this culture, approaching this subject. It would take a few pages to explain - but there is something about generational transfer in a culture, where values are adhered to and understood in an over-riding sense.

That simply is not the case here. Say the word 'truthful' and you are not on the same page at all. What I understand and what is understood is like playing with the remote control with the tv. It takes patient explaining and many daily life examples to begin to approach the same channel. They are great young people and keen as to learn - but no longer am I fooled by bright smiles and nodding heads. I continually ask questions and draw out responses.

Chris and Jason are pioneering something very valuable. There is a lot of input from the Khmer church leaders too, so this is not a foreigner-dominated thing at all. It is always good to be purposeful in equipping the young generation!