"Teacher, teacher!" the students chant waving notebooks in the air, showing off pages of sloppy Khmer writing. What is ironic is that I help them write in Khmer although I do not know the language at all!
'New Life in Christ' Church runs a school called 'New Hope' which educates more than 150 students daily. These students are mostly unbelievers from the neighborhood, who get to attend school, because this one has made itself affordable to their families. 'New Hope' School began as a preschool in 2005, and then grew into an elementary school.
Every morning I help in the first grade class. I help the students to write in Khmer, supervise them during recess, and then teach English. Josh teaches a preschool class and a grade 2 and 3 combined class. In the evening at 5:30-6:30pm, we teach English to college-aged students. I teach the 'beginners class', which I taught for the first time without a translator! The students and I definitely had a lot of laughs as we tried to understand one another.
I feel so happy for the students as they advance in their education, resulting in an advance in their life's ambitions. In a nation that is called 'hopeless', it is beautiful to play our small part in this Christ-centered education.

I would love to learn the Khmer language. A missionary named Matthew who lives here with his Cambodian wife and two young daughters, gave Josh and I some flash cards. Just looking at the alphabet, I do not understand it at all. The numbers are a little more straight forward. Hopefully, as we build relationships with some of the locals, we will be able to learn some Khmer. At least it isn't a tonal language, contrary to what we thought.

We made it! After a long trip including an 18 hour plane ride, we arrived in Phom Penh at noon today (Friday) and were met at the airport by Sally Kove, who pastors the 'New Life in Christ Church' with her husband Keate. It felt so great to finally meet them after all the correspondence over email.
They took us to their big home, and we got situated in a room. There are accommodations for missionaries in their basement which includes kitchen facilities and bedrooms. They even have a cook who prepares dinner.
Josh and I spent the rest of the day, catching up on sleep and then we picked up a few groceries. We traveled to the grocery store by Tuk-tuk, which is like a driver on a motor bike with a carriage attached.
As we sped through down-town Phnom Penh, It was beginning to really hit me that I am now actually in a third-world country, where Josh and I will be missionaries. People on the street selling vegetables, begging, stray dogs roamings, and guys on motor bikes weaving in and out of crazy traffic, made up the scenary of down-town.
Tomorrow Josh and I will talk more with Keate about the opportunities at the 'New Life in Christ Church' and their 'New Hope School' which teaches English to over 150 students (mostly unbelievers from the neighborhood).
So far, although it is very humid, it feels very refreshing to be here. We pray that Jesus will continually sustain us and be the object of our affection and desire, as we serve Him here, in Cambodia.

Although our flight is tomorrow morning, it still doesn't seem real that I am actually going overseas to South East Asia, in the '10/40 window'. The most traveling that I have done so far is to a few cities in the USA. I have never been in a foreign country, confronted with a totally different culture. North America, so far as sheltered me from the face of poverty, that I am sure to see in Cambodia.
By marrying Josh Duffy, I not only chose him for a life partner, but I also chose this life. Every piece of Josh's heart belongs in the third world. His favourite places are hospitals, prisons, dumps and slums. God's calling to Him and his experience in Africa,were like a 'second salvation'. He is a man who goes forward when others wouldn't and would sacrifice even more still, to advance the kingdom. It is a great honour and adventure, to minister alongside the man who I admire so much. As we set forth into the '10/40 window', my heart for missions beats, rapidly with his.
Today, Josh's grandfather gave us a ride into Halifax, Nova Scotia where we are staying at the Quality Inn, until we leave for the airport in the morning.
I truly enjoyed being able to spend more time with Josh's family, who is now my family. They have certainly put forth a labour of love, fundraising for us every chance they could get.
I don't expect to find anywhere else in Canada that I would consider as beautiful as the maritimes. In Cambodia, I think I will be amongst a new beauty.
Even as I write this, I grow more ecstatic about the work set before us. Wewill need the grace, mercy, peace and joy of God, like never before. We will need to be dedicated, people of His presence, like never before. May the Lord sweetly minister His intimate love to you.

The humbler the work, the greater should be your love and efficiency. Be not afraid of the life of sacrifice. -Mother Teresa

     A thought-provoking question that I have heard come up several times is "what will happen to the people who haven't heard about Jesus?" The same question in different words: if a person has never heard of Jesus and dies will he go to Hell?
 It seems an uncomfortable question amongst Christians, because we have difficulty agreeing that God is in His great, unfathomable love, would discard people to Hell, despite them even having no knowledge of a saviour Jesus.
We are disturbed by how God may handle the souls of the 'unreached'. We question Him, and wonder what He's going to do.
I think what is most disturbing about this question "what will happen to the people who have never heard of Jesus?" is that the topic of discussion even exists. That we even have to argue with each other about what will happen to the people who we didn't offer salvation to, is absurd.
This question is only further evidence that many of us are not in love with Jesus, for if we were, there would not be millions dying without ever hearing the gospel. The debates about 'the heathen' wouldn't exist, and we wouldn't just be pretending to be concerned.
We question God and His actions and character, instead of ourselves, in light of the great commission. We question God's love for the 'damned' and not our own.We put the pressure on God and debate with each other about 'what He's gonna do about it'.God has told us what He wants us to do, and what will make us happy.
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
The early church who didn't even have the New Testament, took Jesus' words to heart.
Then Paul placed his hands on them. The Holy Spirit was given to them, and they spoke unknown languages and prophesied.There were about twelve men in this group.For three months Paul went to the Jewish meeting place and talked bravely with the people about God's kingdom. He tried to win them over, 9but some of them were stubborn and refused to believe. In front of everyone they said terrible things about God's Way. Paul left and took the followers with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He spoke there every day for two years, until every Jew and Gentile in Asia had heard the Lord's message. Acts 19:6-10
It is no wonder why Paul didn't explain more clearly what would happen to the people who have never even heard the name of Jesus. The apostle, who laboured to bring Jesus to Rome and Asia minor; and was shipwrecked, beaten and laughed at, living and eventually dying to win souls to Christ; probably never imagined that two-thousand years later, two-thirds of the world would still be unreached. He might not have realized that today, Christians would be 'Christians' in name only.
I would like to end with a famous quote by Charles Spurgeon.
Answering a student’s question, ‘Will the heathen who have not heard the Gospel be saved?’ thus, ‘It is more a question with me whether we, who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not, can be saved.’”- C.H. Spurgeon.

There is hope. Will we fall in love with Jesus, and give our heart to Him, joyfully leaving behind our comforts and pleasures for the millions who suffer daily without the gospel?

Josh and I visited his cousin Charmayne's daycare which is located in the basement of a church in Murray River. During Josh's first visit to the daycare last winter, he told the kids about Mozambique:the living conditions there, animals, mission work being done, etc. He showed them tons of pictures and each child got to pick out a necklace made by a village boy in Mozambique!
During our last visit in May, we got out the big map and talked about our plans for Cambodia. We also introduced the kids to the '10-40 window' is 97% unreached for the gospel and covers two-thirds of the world's population.
3.2 billion people who still don't know Jesus!
This time at the daycare we told them about the poverty of the families in Cambodia, comparing it with the luxury of our lifestyle in North America. When we asked the kids what they remembered from our last visit in May, 5-year old Sophie yelled out "The 10-40 window!" We couldn't believe that she remembered that! I love how this group of little kids knows about the most unchurched, needy area of the world! We are planting seeds!
I modeled an Asian wedding jacket for the kids, as we described a culture that is completely different from ours.
We ended our visit with tea and a 'good luck!' cake for Josh and I.
Thank you, Charmayne and kids-we love you!

 A border dispute about the ownership of the sacred Preah Vihear between Cambodia and Thailand, makes Josh and I hope that we aren't going to be flying into a war zone. Of course, we wont be allowed into Cambodia if they advance into war, so hopefully the discussions of reconciliation between the two countries will prevent a war.
So far Josh and I are still planning for our long-term stay in Cambodia (Oct 24-June 24), especially since we contacted the pastors of 'New Life in Christ Church' who expressed no concerns about us landing in Phnom Pehn, which wouldn't even be close to the area of the potential war.
During our remaining week on PEI, we have been crossing off items on our 'going-to-Cambodia to-do-list' which included the travel clinic and all those necessary last-minute things.
We also got to take some wedding photos. Aunt Alexandra and a friend of ours, Michelle Dawn each took pictures of Josh and I in our wedding attire. I figured I would save my wedding dress a little longer and we would take advantage of the island's beautiful fall setting.
Josh and I finished packing today and especially now that I got those wedding photo shoots out of my system, all I could think about is Cambodia!

To look at our wedding photos click ->HERE<-

In 2 weeks Josh and I will be taking off to Cambodia. With the help of our travel agent Tim who specializes in missions trip, we booked tickets which were $1000 cheaper than any other tickets we found online!
Our last couple of weeks on Prince Edward Island are sweet but busy as we meet with as many people as we can. I look forward to visiting Charmayne's daycare where we will prepare a little lesson for the kids.
I am excited and anxious to be overseas but at the same time I want to cherish the time we have left here, amongst the colourful trees and family.
In 2 weeks, our lives are going to be very different!

Yesterday Josh and I stood on the tip of Prince Edward Island in 'North Cape'. It was probably nothing special for Josh since he is an islander, but since I'm 'from away' it was a nice sight, especially in the fall.
As beautiful as I think PEI is and as much as I enjoy family here, I am eager to set my feet on the ground of Cambodia.
 We are continuing to set up fund raising. Josh's mom and Ian have been selling tickets on a draw for a portable DVD player and we may have some more fundraiser events taking place.
We are getting closer to taking off to Cambodia. In the meantime, we are meeting with people from our church 'Faith Works' and also with Noel (he began a ministry to the poor in PEI which is the Harvest House drop-in centre)who is pastoring 'Community Worship Centre'.
We're also going to be handing out tracts and possibly taking more people out to do street evangelism.
When it all comes down to it- we want to be good stewards of the time we have here on the island, and we don't want to be so eager to leave that we overlook the people here.
We pray for a stirring of hearts that will result in heartfelt, passionate service to Jesus.

Today Josh and I had our car wash to raise funds for Cambodia. We were stationed in the Burger King parking lot along with Teresa, Ian (Josh's mom and stepdad) Aunt Alexandra,Aunt Lynn, cousins Jillian and Alletra and Sheri and her kids from 'Faith Works Church'. They graciously toughed out the cold to help us wash cars, on this windy Saturday afternoon.
The fundraiser ran for 3 hours and the financial result was a good amount for our Cambodia fund, especially when it comes to purchasing tickets. We may have another car wash next weekend in Montague depending on how the weather is.