Lao Lessons

Kirk and I continue to study Lao at Candlelight School, here in Vientiane.  Kirk is studying about Lao society five days a week, and I'm studying some new believer vocabulary two days a week.  We are blessed to be connected with CAMA Services, who runs Candlelight and teaches Lao to foreigners. We are able to study at the school as much as our own brains can handle!

Kolaya and Mikaya are studying Lao with an awesome lady named Tooey who makes learning Lao fun by playing games.  In this video Kolaya is practicing saying, "I have . . . [insert a school supply]".

Keziah practices Lao at home with the lady that watches her for 4 hours on Tuesday and Thursday.  She knows the names of body parts and can understand quite a bit when Na Jai is talking to her; but as of right now, she refuses to speak in Lao back to Na Jai.  But she rattles off in English a response.

Our neighborhood

We would really appreciate your prayer for our neighborhood, specifically for our landlord and her family. Recently, they had a family dispute that was the scariest event I've ever witnessed.  The girls pictured above are some our girls' favorite friends in Laos.  They are such fun-loving, patient little girls and our girls love when they ask to come over to play.  Our house is next to theirs and we can see into their living room from our kitchen window, so we noticed the mom and dad getting louder and louder as they began arguing.  I looked out the window to see what was going on when I saw the dad swing an ax at his wife's head three times.  I yelled for Kirk and we rushed over to our outside gate to see if there was anything we could do.  By the time we got outside the husband had retreated back inside but the wife was crying and yelling outside the house about what a horrible husband he was and that he was always drunk.  The kids were near their mom yelling and crying.  We assumed that the mom and her daughters would go to their sister-in-law's house and wait for the drunk, angry husband to calm down; but she didn't.  She decided to send her kids back into the house for her keys to the motorcycle and her purse.  They, of course, were terrified and went screaming into the house and running back outside with the things.  Within seconds the dad was back outside yelling, but this time he brought a gun and demanded they leave the motorcycle and the purse.  

Kirk and I sat watching the events that were unfolding, praying frantically how we could help.  Unfortunately, there was no culturally acceptable way for us to step in; and other family members were around watching and yelling at the man already.  

After things had simmered down (Kirk was pretty adamant that I wait until the husband was back inside his house), I snuck over our back wall and went a back way to the sister-in-law's house to see if I could help take the wife to the hospital or drive them somewhere safely away from their house.  She had already been taken to the hospital for some bleeding on her face and she had taken her kids with her.  I stayed at their house for over an hour listening to our landlord tell their family's story and the many struggles they have had.  God was so faithful to help me understand, which was a difficult task since the ladies in the house were upset and speaking so quickly.  But I feel like it was so important for me to let them know that I saw the event, I was sad with them, and I wanted to help in anyway possible.  I took the time to pray for them, but I hope I spoke clearly and correctly because it is really hard for me to pray in Lao.

Please pray for this family, especially the girls and their mom.  Pray for these girls to be shielded from the emotional and physical abuse that is present.  Pray that they all come to know God's love and forgiveness.  

Homeschool Co-op

This is a picture that was taken recently at the co-op that I teach at and our girls attend.  You can see the girls and I to the right side of the picture.  Kolaya is hugging her good friend, Naya; and Mikaya is in front of them.  This year we have over 11 families that come together Monday through Friday to share responsibilities and teach our children together.  I am teaching first and second grade, together with a lady named Elleke (she is in the brown shirt and blue pants at the table).  We have 4 second graders and 3 first graders.  Mikaya is in my first grade group and is really taking off reading.  

Kolaya is in the classroom with the third and fourth graders and studies with 2 other girls and 3 boys.  She is taught by Ms. Dawna (holding her daughter on the left side of the picture), Ms. Kari (in the middle front with the red sling purse and her daughter on her lap), and Ms. Jenny (not pictured).  They are a collection of moms who enjoy teaching different subjects.  She has voiced a great love of writing within the last few weeks and prefers to read non-fiction books.  

Keziah's teacher is Ms. Jolene (right in front of Mikaya with the black shirt) and Keziah absolutely loves going with the early childhood group.  There are 9 kids, ages 4 and down.  They enjoy painting, playing outside, doing crafts, and playing together.  Keziah especially enjoys dress-up and crafts.