On Monday we had an exciting day. I took my first true language evaluation with the outside consultant our mission hires for this. He started off testing my speaking as we spoke about Cambodian immigrants in California, which I didn't have a lot of vocabulary for, but I was able to contribute to the 15 minute conversation. Then, the missionary language advisor opened up the formal part of the evaluation with prayer. She seemed to take this as a good opportunity for the consultant to know something about me as she prayed for my two year old son and our upcoming move to Ratanakiri. The consultant seemed very amiable as he took this opportunity to talk some more. Next, they gave me a passage of gospel scripture and the 3rd grade primer to read and asked me some questions about them. Later he read me a few sentences from each of these books and had me write it out as dictation. He checked my spelling. Finally, I shared my testimony and gave him a note I had written. It was helpful to get much feedback on my pronunciation. He also gave me a good hint for sharing my testimony in a way that would be easier to listen to.
They had me go out of the room while they discussed my performance. 15 long minutes later the missionary gave me the “thumbs up” and gave me more advice in how to proceed in my study. She will keep my classroom time at full-time until I move up near the end of the year. Once we move we will have to come back to the language center periodically for reviews.
That night Sally and I went home with two reasons to celebrate. It happened to be our son’s 2nd birthday. So we invited several friends/team-mates over to consume the cake I had made. It was heart warming to see Nathanael play with Elizabeth, who is just a month younger, and to hang out with friends. One of the friends is a man I have just recently grown closer to even though we have known each other for 4 years. This is because we pray together weekly for personal needs.
The next day I started a training course in website design. Our Cambodia field director signed me up for this after I agreed to help with the team website. You can view it at http://www.omf.org/cambodia/
Our Vision: To See Indigenous, Biblical Churches Planted among Cambodia’s Minority Peoples.
We are getting settled into our new house in which we are thankful for a convenient place to park our car even though we have to bring our motorcycle and bicycles into our dining area every evening.
MINISTRY
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For the last several months we have been attending the Khmer church in Phnom Penh that our team missionaries planted between the railroad and the airport. A couple weeks ago the church planter passed the leadership on to the local leaders that he has been training. We may have the opportunity to serve in this church under the national leadership but are uncertain what kind of mentoring we would receive in that role. In the mean time Kurt is praying about getting involved in one of their youth cell-groups that formed recently near our home. It is helpful that they know some English. Please pray with us regarding which ministries to be involved in after we both pass our language evaluation for level I.
We will finally have the opportunity to visit the people and province we believe the Lord has called us to. We will spend a week there. Three years ago, when we were there last, it took us three days of travel by taxi and river boat. This time we will fly there on a Missionary Aviation Fellowship plane (1.5 hours) and return by land (approximately 10 hours).
We had a refreshing time visiting Sally's family before Chinese New Year, but the trip got extended because the medical check-ups we had there required follow-up. We praise the Lord that we could get that professional care that is not available in Cambodia. Now we are celebrating the birth of a healthy boy to Sally’s sister and brother-in-law.
PRAISE THE LORD FOR PROVIDING US…
· With the housing we have been looking for.
· A replacement camera for Kurt’s broken one.
· A Christian babysitter who helps us on weekday afternoons so we may learn language.
PLEASE PRAY FOR…
· Kurt’s language aptitude.
· Clear direction regarding our ministry in Phnom Penh after the language evaluation.
· Favor, wisdom, and good timing in Sally’s visa process. We are planning to go to the embassy soon to start the application process for Sally’s visa so she may travel to Kurt's home.
· Good health and protection during our trip and after. The Cambodia team here is currently without a team medical doctor.
Thank you for partnering with us through prayer!
eXÍF salI & NafaNEGl
Kurt, Sally and Nathanael Kovach
