Training Teachers in Cambodia

By Angela Atwell

Pronunciation Guide:
Phiep = phee'-up
Sopia = so-pee'-uh
Huey = hoy

During my time in Cambodia , I have had the privilege of working closely with three Cambodian women—Phiep, Sopia, and later Huey. When I finished language school and began teaching ladies' Bible studies, Phiep and Sopia were relatively new believers, won to the Lord through the ministry of my colleagues, the rob and Kristi Cady. As I got to know these women, I could see that they were eager to learn and grow in the Lord. But first I had to learn Cambodian.

As Phiep says, “When Angela first started teaching me, I didn't understand, but when she learned more Cambodian letters and language, she spoke very clearly.” Besides the language, I also had to figure out how Cambodians learned–things that seemed simple to me were strange to them. In time, the ladies began teaching the memory verses in Sunday school. Eventually, they were able to handle the entire class time, including the lesson.

After the ladies completed their teacher training, we continued to meet, moving into a “Bible Institute” style of study. Phiep, Sopia, and I spent over a year on the stories of the Old Testament. They hadn't grown up hearing Bible stories, so they needed help learning the names of the characters and how their stories fit together. During this time, I also got to know Huey and invited her to begin taking the teacher training course. By the time I left for furlough, Phiep and Sopia were teaching one children's class and the ladies' Bible study; Huey was teaching the other children's class and the teenage girls' class.

Because of her circumstances and the ages of her children, Phiep has the most free time available for other ministries. I have been overjoyed to see her trying to live out her faith. She began sharing food with a sick lady and witnessing to her. She is also part of our team, made up of missionaries and Cambodians, which visits a provincial village called Phuum Chaa to evangelize. I asked Phiep about her burden for ministry, and she wrote the following:

The reason I think studying and teaching God's Word is important is because the Bible teaches us to love one another and help one another. And I love God with my whole heart, mind, and soul. I know surely that this Word is food for my spirit and soul, and God's Word has comforted my heart. This makes me want to teach God's Word both in Phnom Penh and in Phuum Chaa. As long as God allows me to teach, I am going to serve God so that others will know the One True God and that others will receive Jesus into their hearts to save them from sin because they can't save themselves. If there is no one to teach them, then they will not know.

For more information on Cambodia, visit ABWE's Cambodia page.

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