#25 - New Center is now open despite political uncertainty

The political situation is still unstable here in Cambodia.  The ruling party still refuses to any kind of independent investigation of the election irregularities  Today there are many road blocks and checkpoints in different part of the city, we saw one on our way to the center this morning and one in the afternoon when we are trying to go to a T-shirt printing shop to make our teacher's uniform.  Here's a good summary from the Phnom Penh Post:  " Thousands of police and military police were deployed in and around the capital to prevent demonstrations when the opening session of the National Assembly convenes today (Monday) – minus the opposition."

The last few blogs have been mainly related to the political unrest but during the past few weeks we continue to get the center ready for classes in October.  Last week was the first week of work for all our local teachers, we went through a staff orientation with them and we are now giving them a 2-week teacher's training that includes lesson planning, teaching guidelines, our curriculum, teaching skills, classroom management etc.....   

Please keep us and our teachers in your prayers:

1) Pray for safety during our commute to the center; 

2) Pray for a servant heart for all the teachers and staff so that we are all willing and eager to learn how to be a better teacher to our potential students; 

3) Pray for the student registration and for Him to led His children to the center;

4) Pray for us so that we can be a better shepherd to these young Christian teachers and help them grow in Christ.

In the next blog, we will introduce our teachers to you!

Welcome to International English Academy
A project of Hope House Center

Reception Area

Decoration in the reception area

Workers were installing the white board 

This worker carried the air-conditioner by himself up the ladder,
and getting ready to install onto the wall

Worker installed the light on the wall.
If you look closer on the right side of this steel structure,
the top part (the cross) has already broken!

Classroom 1

Classroom 2

Classroom 3

Classroom 4

Classroom 5

We started to train the new teachers last week.
They are learning the new curriculum in front of us and other teachers.

God has answered our prayer that He provided teachers
to the center who are also Christian! Most of them also work with
other orphanages and churches in the village area.

Teachers are practicing to conduct an interacting class.

#24 - Sept 16th Birthday and 2nd Day of Protest... getting very violent

(Sept 16th, 2013) We made the decision to not to defer the first day of work for all our new local teachers and receptionist on late Sunday night and all the staff seem to be ok with the decision. On Monday morning, we started the day just like any other day by rushing the kids to finish breakfast and get out of the house to go to school.  When we are about 300 meters away from the school entrance we realized the street is extremely quite; when we pulled up to the entrance the security guard told us the school is close today.   Gryphon and Joelle have no choice but come with us to the new center and we were praying there won't be any problem on the way to the center especially having them with us.  Praise God that all of us including the new staff arrived at the center without any problem.

We have a great day with the new staff going thru a new staff orientation, discussing the expectation, rules, procedures that we created.  All of them seem to be very excited and very happy with their new job at our center.  Praise God for providing us with a group of young Christians to work with us.  We will take this God given opportunity to train and disciple them to be more mature in Christ and also to be better teachers.  Tomorrow we will start the teacher's training!

The protest becomes more violent by the hour.  One person died on Sunday night and several injured during various different clashes between the police and the protesters.  Pray for peace and safety among all the people here in Cambodia.

Thank you for all the birthday wisher and we appreciate so much for remembering us in your prayers; we are reminded every day that we are not here alone.

*These photos were taken from various news reporting agencies including nytimes, cambodiadaily, irrawaddy, phnompenhpost, etc....

#23 -- Uncertainty Continues

The long promised 3-day long demonstration started this morning (Sunday 9/15/13) even though the King initiated a meeting with the leaders of the two political parties yesterday.   A bomb was found near the National Assembly on Friday and 3 rockets were also found near the Freedom Park where the opposition demonstration was held.

These monk defied the order of the "high-ranking-monk" to join the protest and
they will certainly be punished upon their return.  But one of the monks said in
a news interview, they are here to stand for the justice and it's their responsibility
as a monk.  He is not worry about the punishment afterwards.

We are still debating what we should do for tomorrow (Monday 9/16/13); tomorrow is the first day of work for our local teachers and receptionist.  We are not sure if it is safe for us and our staff to travel to the new center or would the way be blocked by the street rally.

We did not get to go to church today.  Our normal place of worship has been cancel due to the embassy advisor to stay away from the area hence the church moved to another location  southwest of the city.  We live north of the city and we would need to pass through the city to reach this new place.  Instead we sang some praise songs, read the bible and prayed with Gryphon and Joelle at home!!

Remember us, our teachers & staff and Cambodia in your prayers during this period of uncertainty.

#22 - Rely on God to live everyday

When you turn on the news in the past few weeks, you have seen the conflicts in Egypt and lately the use of chemical weapon in Syria.  Have you ever thought of how you would live if you are in Egypt or Syria?   Currently in Cambodia, the political climate is very very tense.  The past 5 weeks have been talking about election irregularities.  Last Saturday, the opposition party held a peaceful demonstration the day before the official election result released.  Last Sunday, the official election result remain unchanged after all the allegation of voting irregularities and refusal of United Nation or other NGO investigation.  Today, the opposition party announced they will hold at least 3 days of ‘rally’ starting Sept 15 (Sunday) and this time they will go on the street and not guarantee it will be peaceful.  We pray that it will not turn into violence riot like in Egypt nor a violent suppression of the opposition voice.

Military tanks and armored combat vehicles have been stationed
in bases near the Phnom Penh

Military tanks and armored combat vehicles have been stationed in bases near the Phnom Penh.  Also, there are many military police with their anti-riot gear getting ready around the city.  Road-blocks have been set up outside of Phnom Penh to avoid people rushing into the city for the demonstration last Saturday.  Many people suggested that villagers and factory workers will take the risk to enter the city for the upcoming rally and demonstration.

Please pray for safety for our family, all the Christian missionary families here and the people of this country.  Our church was cancelled last Sunday, our school welcome BBQ was also postponed from last Saturday to this Saturday, and it probably will be cancelled again this weekend.  Please also pray for our new center as our new local teachers will be starting their training next Monday (Sep 16) while the rally/demonstration will be all over the city.  We are seeking God's wisdom in handling the situation and God’s help in lifting up the burden and the pressure of the opening of the new center to Him.

Among all the tense situations, one of Joelle's classmates, also our neighbor, also a Christian missionary family from Los Angeles, USA, had a fire in their house last Saturday. No one was hurt but most of their belongings were damaged badly.......   

We are really learning how to rely on God to live everyday and this is certainly a valuable lesson we have after moving to Cambodia.  

(Pictures and video taken from Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia Daily, FoxNews)

Last Saturday (Sep 7), the opposition party held a peaceful demonstration
the day before the official election result released (Sep 8) 

Opposition party announced they will hold at least 3 days of ‘rally’ starting Sept 15 (Sunday)
and this time they will go on the street and not guarantee it will be peaceful

Opposition party demonstration requesting investigation
on voting irregularities

Monks among the protestors

Road-blocks have been set up outside of Phnom Penh
to avoid people rushing into the city for the demonstration last Saturday

Protestors facing military police with their anti-riot gear

Video from Phnom Penh Post:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/video/pressure-change-keeps-mounting

#21 - Getting the new center ready

After over a month of busy running around looking for the right shop, right furniture, shopping for the best possible price, constantly thinking about the interior design, the marketing plan and what program to offer, we finally see our preparation work start to bear fruits.  Although it is still in progress, but here are some photos of the progress in the past 3 days.  More to come early next week and we should be ready before our local teachers start their first day of work/training on Sept 16th!

Please continue to pray for us for our needs in the previous post (#20).  

New banner for the outside wall.

Workers were assembling the reception desk.

Worker was assembling the cabinet.

This driver (red helmet) delivered 6 tables and 2 chairs on his motorcycle.
He probably carried over 120 lbs!

Lightings for all the classrooms and reception areas.

Thomas and our staff was holding on to the big banner to test the size.
This banner will be used on the side wall outside the front door.
We just ordered a bigger one and will be installed next week!

The 'tin roof' in front of the house has been completed!
It provides a lot more shading area.

Closer look of the 'tin roof'

In front of the new center!

Workers were carrying the tables into the new center.

Workers assembling the reception desk

Reception area.  More furnitures will be arriving soon!