Down time....!!!!!

First early night so far! We spent this afternoon visiting not one but four 'schools on the mat'- simple rural schools where they put a tarpaulin on the ground, set up a whiteboard on an easel, and a teacher teaches the village children. They way, unschooled children get to learn their ABCs and get a basic education. What a privilege to see them in action. We did a brief presentation - weather in Scotland, pictures of Garelochhead Primary School children, then we acted out a Bible story from the Gospels, then Davie on bagpipes, then the children sang us a song, then we handed over a few sweets, back in the bus and off we go again! Probably the most humbling thing all day was seeing the 18 year-old boy (who we thought must be a teacher at first) sitting amongst children aged between about five and twelve because he had not had an education all his life and wanted to take the chance now while he could get it. And the 75 year old man, who sat on the edge of the mat, keeping the children in order, obviously because he had never had the chance of an education and was going to make sure the children got the most out of something he never had.

Tomorrow's challenge is a two-hour children's outreach - so more visual aids and more dramas and more bagpipes! (if I never hear Highland Cathedral again it'll be too soon..... only kidding Davie!) Then on Sunday, I have to preach and the others share some testimonies. Please pray that I pitch it right and that the staff here are encouraged, fed, built up. They work so hard and with such enthusiasm. They are genuinely lovely people, so warm, so friendly, so committed to the Lord and to the work they are doing.

Poipet is the same and yet different - same smells, same dust, same heat, same chaos. But the work at CHO has expanded significantly - 32 workers, instead of 16 before, with new projects, new needs, new developments going on all the time. Chomno is an amazing man - very gentle, yet visionary and energetic - he doesn't let the grass grow and he certainly gets results. All that holds him back is funding - as with all of us. But it is a privilege to be here and be part of this amazing team even for these few days.

We're all tired, and we've all got or had our aches and pains, or sunburn or sleepless nights. But we're all having a thoroughly exciting time and loving being here. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read our updates and to comment. It's so good to hear from you.

Be back in touch as soon as we get the next chance. We don't get too much detail about the programme, so don't know when that might be, but hopefully sooner rather than later.

Bye for now.