Hygiene Classes

Every evening from 5-6:05 and then from 6:05-7:05, the PATC students use their newly learned English speaking skills to teach English for free to children from the community. There is a principal, Savuut, and he organizes the some 250 children and teachers into classes, 16 in all. This is quite an operation, and most of the students appear quite serious about studying English. At the end of each year, they are awarded a certificate for completing their book. Chheng only allows the students to miss a max of 3 classes, so they are not allowed to come and go. This is also intended to be a time where the PATC students can share the gospel with these largely unchurched children. Very few of them are from Christian families and/or attend the church.

It was to these children that we taught hygiene. Roughly two hours each evening, about 3 or 4 nights each week of the last three weeks, I talked to them about germs, washing hands with soap, brushing their teeth and preventing cavities, eating balanced meals, avoiding hookworms, and a few other health topics. All in all, the kids seemed to enjoy this. The most important thing I wanted them to remember, I would tell them, is that it is easy to get your hands and teeth clean, but no one can clean their heart. All of us have dirty hearts and we need God to help us. He is our only hope! Please pray that they understood, and that God would open up their eyes and hearts to truly hear and respond to His call.

We gave each student a tube of toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a bar of soap. Most of them do not have a sink with running water at their home for washing hands, but hopefully they will understand the need for it as they mature and build their own homes and families. I pray that as they enjoy their gifts, they will remember the most important thing: they need someone to cleanse them from their sin. May Christ Jesus be glorified in bringing many of these little ones to Him!

Here are some goofy pictures:

Open wide!


Anna is helping me stick play dough on my large teeth to show that when we eat say, pork, we leave bits of pork on our teeth. We asked everyone if they had pork today, or chicken, or papaya, or mango, or fish, and added play dough to the teeth each time. Then, we'd ask who had rice, and of course EVERYONE had.


Here the students are awaiting their gifts. The boys and Anna helped pass out the soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and it was especially fun watching Daniel hand it out. I think we missed our opportunity to catch pictures of it, though, because we were so busy making sure everyone got what they were supposed to.

Our heartfelt thanks to our generous friends for contributing towards the soap and toothbrushes and toothpaste!