Smith - Cambodia

Luke Smith, a member of NSP, was ordained by the North Texas Presbytery in August 2009 and now serves as a missionary in Cambodia with Mission to the World. Since moving to Cambodia, Luke met and married Sokha who has now joined him in his work in wonderful ways. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for a pdf version of Luke's MTW prayer card.

Most recent updates are below. Also see Luke's blog for stories, photos and experiences: Life In Cambodia

Donation checks can be sent to: Mission to the World, PO Box 116284 Atlanta, GA 30368-6284 with "Luke Smith - 17118" in the memo line. Or you may donate online here.

November 24, 2011
 

Greetings from Cambodia,

If you were to drive through a village here, you would find yourself surrounded by beautiful rice fields. Rice fields here! And rice fields there! Rice fields are everywhere. If you were to open your eyes and look at them closer, you would notice that some of them are ripe for harvest while others will be ready in a month or so. Some farmers are joyfully reaping theirs now, while others are looking forward with excitement to their turn. They look forward to it, but harvest is not the most relaxing time of the year for them if we consider their demanding work in the fields. For instance, don't farmers have to bend down in the heat of the sun to sickle their rice stalks, tie them up into sheaves, and then bring them back to their houses on ox carts to thresh and dry them? Isn't it one of the most tiring and busiest times too? Aren't some of them already overwhelmed by its workload, and have started searching for people to lend them a hand? Isn't it indeed the most joyful time and yet the most strenuous time? Much of this parallels our experience as we labor as missionaries here awaiting a spiritual harvest. The work is exhausting but joyful. And ultimately, we are glad that this harvest depends not on the weather or even our zeal, but on the work of our God who is the LORD of the harvest.

We have been living in Angkjeay village in Kampot province for over 4 months now. The majority of our time is spent with the village church plant and our English outreach classes. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we reach out to children and teenagers through teaching them English. We have divided the children into three classes. The first class between 12 to 1 pm is a class for students who have just started to learn English. There are 30 students in this class. The second class between is 1.15 to 2 pm for young children between the age of 3 to 8. There are 50 students in this class. The third class between 5:30 to 6:30 pm is a class for advanced learners. There are 20 students in this class. Most of them are either in secondary school or in high school. Therefore, there are about 100 children altogether.

On Friday afternoons, we have a 30-minute Bible study with the advanced learners. We are chronologically reading through the Khmer Children's Bible with them, and then I give a short sermon on the passage and write down a memory verse for them to translate from English to Khmer. Since these children are back to school now, most of them can't come early to read the Khmer Children's Bible by themselves. But the two older classes have been memorizing the Children's catechism in Khmer, and we have been going through it before class. In any case, we always begin our classes on Monday and Wednesday by reinforcing the Bible lessons that they learn in Sunday school class through reciting the memory verses and singing songs. 

We've also been running Sunday school class on Sunday morning between 6:30 to 8 am. There are about 60 children attending that we know mainly from the English classes, and the neighborhood. We can see God's faithfulness in drawing them to Himself. About ten of these students are interested in attending the church worship service with us at the church plant. As we only have a motor bike and the church plant is far from their houses, they are willing to take turns coming with us for the time being. We are praying that older students will be willing to ride their bicycles to the church plant after it has moved closer to their houses.

On Sundays, I have continued preaching at the Prey K'Chiey church plant, and Sokha continues to assist with the music. I recently finished a series of 10 sermons on the Ten Commandments. Four Bible school students in their third year of study from Esther's village have begun to share the preaching duties with me, so I preach twice a month now. We are looking for a location for Sunday worship that is about halfway between missionary Esther's location and our house. We have been encouraged by Orm Sorn, an older man, Ming Saron, an older woman, Oun Navy, a high school student, and eight other girls who have been faithfully coming to worship with us on Sundays. Orm Sorn and Ming Saron are neighbors. They have been riding their bicycles about 30 minutes from their village to worship on Sundays with us. Sorn used to work for a Christian NGO, but had a stroke and has numbness in both legs now. Ming Saron heard the gospel from her daughter who is married to a pastor in the city. We had lunch with them for the first time at our place last Saturday. We also took that opportunity to encourage them with God's word and pray with them.

Oun Navy, a high school student has also been riding her bicycle about 30 minutes from her village to worship on Sundays with us. We went to visit her this Tuesday. She lives with her mother. Her father died many years ago. Her mother, neighbors, and relatives came to visit us while we were at her place. We introduced ourselves and shared the gospel with them, and we were touched by three women who asked Jesus to heal parts of their bodies: one of them had pain in her left shoulder and hand, the second woman had a constant headache and the third woman had a few growths in her eyes and a sore throat. We prayed for them and invited them to ride their bikes to church with Navy. Due to their age, I do not think all of them can.Though I believe that they will come if we conduct a Bible study at their place.

Also, we have continued building good relationship with Yeay Chrong. In spite of her poverty, she always drops by to give us whatever she has. She has been bringing us watermelons, pork, cakes, both raw and boiled sweet potatoes. She gets upset if we do not take them. She said if we do not take her gifts, we do not respect her. My wife often gives her food and fruit to eat whenever she visits us. Recently, she came while we were having lunch with our Orm Sorn and Navy, his wife, Ming Saron, Sophal and Sarath (two Bible college students) at our place, we invited her to stay with us to listen to them share Bible passages and their testimonies. We also praised God together with a few songs. My wife played the guitar and Yeay Chrong liked it. When she came by again the next time, she asked if my wife could play the guitar and sing for her again. She said that she could listen to the music all day long. Since we are going to start a baptism class, we've decided to invite her to listen. Pray that the Lord will bring her closer to Him.

Matthew 9:37-38 says this "Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Our situation echoes the truth of this verse. We have many opportunities before us, but we do not have the time to take advantage of them all. So please join us in praying that God will send more workers into the harvest fields.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Luke and Sokha

Remember to check out our website for pictures and more updates: http://lifeincambodia.org (I was without internet in the village for about a month and only have a slow connection now, but I will add more pictures when I am in the city again).

With our recent marriage and a few supporters needing to reduce support or stop support over the past few months, we are in need of some monthly support. If you are interested in supporting us or know a church or friend that may be interested in supporting us, please let us know. Here is the giving information: Donation website: www.mtw.org/donations

To donate by check write "Luke Smith- 17118" in the memo line, and send it to: MTW, P.O. Box 116284, Atlanta, GA, 30368-6284.


August 30, 2011

Greetings from Cambodia,

Sokha and I have been in the village for about five weeks now. We've been adjusting to married life, living in the village, and new ministry responsibilities. We are living in the same village where I lived from January to March of this past year, but in a different house. It has been challenging to get used to life without running water, electricity, restaurants and supermarkets again. In addition, I had typhoid fever a few weeks ago, and am still not back to feeling normal. We can't say that it has been an easy transition, but we pray that in the midst of our weakness that the power of God will be shown forth. As His ambassadors to these people, it's our desire to see Christ's great commission in Mathew 28:18-20 being accomplished through our lives. Therefore, we are much in need of your prayers.

Sokha teaching the Sunday School classWe've been teaching children English three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Children are classified into three classes. The first class between 12 to 1 pm is a class for students who have just started to learn English. There are about 45 students in this class. The second class between is 1.15 to 2 pm for young children between the age of 3 to 8. There are also about 45 students in this class. The third class between 5 to 6 pm is a class for advanced learners. There are about 10 students in this class. Most of them are either in secondary school or in high school. Therefore, there are about 100 children altogether. On Friday afternoon, we read the Khmer Children's Bible with the advanced learners and have them translate a few sentences. We have also encouraged the rest of the children to come half an hour before their English classes to read the Khmer Children's Bible. We begin class by reviewing the story that they read and asking a few questions. We've also been running Sunday School class on Sunday morning between 7 to 8 am. There are about 60 children attending that we know mainly from the English classes, but a few children also come that don't come to the English classes. We strongly hope to see God draw these children to Himself.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we spend time getting to know the the village, the village life, and the children's families through house visits. This is the time of the year when rice seedlings are transplanted into the fields, and public school students are on their two and a half month vacation until the beginning of October. Since most people are farmers, all of them are quite busy working in the fields. Everyone has to help out in the fields. Even young children between the age 4-6, whose families are short-handed, have to help in the fields. Other than working in the fields, the villagers are skillful at catching and trapping fish, frogs, shrimp, growing vegetables, and raising chickens, ducks and pigs. Most families have their own small vegetable gardens, pig sties as well as chicken houses by their house. We can say that these people will not starve as long as they are diligent with their hands.

Sunset in the villageSo far, we've taken several walks through the village. Every time, we are on a walk, we marvel at the views in the village. The sky, the shades of green in the fields and the mountains are indeed beautiful. We praise God for putting these marvelous paintings up for the villagers and us to enjoy. Gratefully, we are escorted by a number of our students from the English classes, and are welcomed into their houses for being their children's teachers. Teachers are well respected in the village. This gives us a chance to build good relationships with their parents and family members as well as to share with them the reason we are here in their village. We normally try to pray for each other as we take turns to speak about God, the creator, how they were separated from Him by their sin, and His love to save them from their sin and His eternal punishment. Most people are open to the gospel though the old folks seem to hold tighter to their Buddhist and animist beliefs. Before leaving their houses, they often give us whatever they have as gifts such as fish, corn, fruit, and glutenous rice cakes.

Through these house visits, we met an old grandmother who has been disowned by both her son and grandchildren. Two of the grandchildren's houses are our neighbors. As a result, she has been living by herself in a shack surrounded by a small rice field. She cannot see well and yet she has to cook, buy food, and earn money by polishing the leaf-stems of coconut branches. She gets paid 400 riels (10cents) per kilogram of the leaf-stems. These are used to make an assortment of things like brooms and roofing thatch. She has a sister living in the US who has been sending her some money, but her other grandchild is the keeper of the money. He sends her some pork and a small amount of money every few days. We try to visit her more frequently to find out her situation as well as her needs. We've also been sharing with her the gospel and God's great love, and even encouraged her to stop by our house to spend time and have meals at our place. One early morning about a week ago, she stopped by our house and handed some of her rice plates and bowls to Sokha as her last inheritance. Sokha was stunned and touched by her actions. Every time we talk to her, she often says she does not know when she will die and who will care if she dies. Our hearts break every time we think about her. If God pleases, may He give her a new heart to believe in Him before she dies.

We have also seen that a number of children are not taken care of very well by their families. Ravi, a second grader, has dropped out of school and is known in the village as a thief. A 7 year-old, Sam Art, and her younger brother Ream were left by their mother to live with their father and grandfather. We were told their mother is working in one of garment factories in Phnom Penh and would not return to them. Both children are lost in their own world, and hardly speak at all. A 14 year-old, Sophorn, and her younger brother, Ponleu, who are going to be in grade 7 and 5 next year are being raised by their mother, as their father has gone to work in Phnom Penh. Although Sokha was brought up in a Christian orphanage for ten years, she prefers to help educate and train the parents as well as to supply their basic needs so that they can take care of their children. We especially feel burdened to love these children and help their families.

On Sundays, I have been preaching at the Prey K'Chiey church plant, and Sokha assists with the music. The group is made up mostly of students from the outreach work of missionary Esther and teacher Saran over the past three years. We are discussing how this young church plant can be slowly brought to maturity. There is much to be thought through, so we need your prayers as plans are being made.

Thanks for your prayers and support,
Luke and Sokha


January 13, 2011
 

Dear Friends and Family,
It is hard to believe, but a couple weeks ago was already the second Christmas that I have celebrated in Cambodia.  I took the final exam for my language right before Christmas, so I have now completed the year long Khmer for foreigners program at the Institute of Foreign Languages. I am thankful that God gave me endurance to finish the program. I am encouraged by the progress in learning Khmer that I have made in my time here so far, and I hopefully can continue to progress in my ability to communicate.

My new home in the village!The New Year began with my next step in ministry here. I moved from Phnom Penh to a village in Kampot province. Missionary Esther and some of her students have been teaching English and Bible stories to a group of elementary and high school students at the village for the past several months on Saturdays and Sundays. The attached picture is of my new house. My roommate compared staying in the village to a never ending camping trip. With no running water and electricity, I think that it is a good comparison. But we do have a generator that we can run for a couple hours per day to recharge electronics and during the evening, we can use lights powered from a battery. It seems every time we use a computer or throw a football outside, a group of curious villagers gather to watch us. I'll try to post some pictures of the new place on my website soon: www.lifeincambodia.org

I'll be spending my time in several different ways: I'll be continuing to study Khmer, preaching a few times per month at a church plant 7 km away in Missionary Esther's village, gathering information about the village where I am living, and teaching English to Khmer grade school students.

Please pray for the following:
-adjusting to life in the village.
-that God would use my preaching at the church plant to convert and conform His people.
-that I would be able to form relationships with my neighbors and students.
-that God would give me a heart of compassion for the villagers that I live around that have no hope without the gospel.

In Christ,
Luke


August 20, 2010
Greetings from Cambodia,

Snacking on crickets?Time has passed quickly, and I recently passed the 10 month mark of when I first arrived here. Currently, I am spending most of my time on language learning. I started the third class at the Institute of Foreign Languages at the beginning of July. My teacher teaches about 90% of the time in Khmer. This class is a big step up in difficulty and amount of time required to prepare for class than the first two classes that I took. Here is a description of the course that I am currently in: "This module builds further on students' vocabulary, comprehension, and grammar. Topics include: going to the bookshop, appointments, weather, shopping, meeting at the airport, asking for information, interviewing, greeting, talking about your family, greeting cards and how to write a letter. Students also read stories and legends, such as The Glasses Seller and the Ignorant Man and The Judicial Hare." I have progressed a long way in my language ability, but a long road is still ahead. Some days learning a new language can be quite mentally and physically draining. Please pray that I would have a renewed desire and diligence in my study. 

Several weeks ago, I was finishing my second language class, and our Khmer teacher was explaining the correct way to say that God gives something to us and to say that we give something to God. Talking about God in Khmer requires knowing many new words, because the Khmer language uses different words when talking about kings and gods. One person in the class asked our teacher how to say that I give my heart to God, so our teacher wrote it on the dry erase board. Then, the person asked how to say An ancient religious temple.that God gives us blessings. So the teacher wrote that phrase on the board for us too. He paused for a few moments reflecting on what he had just written. Next, he stated that he thought he understood these statements. He concluded that in Christianity if you give your heart to God then God blesses you. After that, he stated this seemed a bit like some of the principles of Buddhism where delivery comes through doing good works. I sat a bit uncomfortably in my chair thinking that the heart of the Christian message was basically lost in what my well-intending classmate had asked. Instead of us giving our hearts to God, Ezekiel tells us in chapter 36 verse 26 that one of God's merciful covenant promises is that He is the one that actually gives us a new heart. We were dead and helpless in our sins and God reached down and gave us a new heart so we might believe in Him. Paul does tell us in Romans 12 to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, but this command is in response to God's mercies that Paul has been describing in the first 11 chapters and not to coax God into giving us something. So I ask that you would join me in praying that the gospel will be proclaimed here in Cambodia with clarity and boldness.

In other news, plans are coming together for my roommate and I to move to a village in January. It will be at least a 3 month commitment for me, and it should serve a few purposes. This is an area where one missionary on our team has already been working and another village besides the one where she is currently living is open to having Bible studies. In a few more months, hopefully I can start to minister in Khmer at least in a limited fashion, while I continue to learn. Also, living in the village will provide a great opportunity for further immersion for language and culture learning. Please pray that details would continue to come together for this opportunity.

In Christ,
Luke


Taking a boat ride on the local river.April 15, 2010

The Cambodian New Year started yesterday. It is a three day celebration where most people return to their hometowns to celebrate with their families. The first day of the celebration is used to welcome new angels who will come for one year periods of time to take care of the earth. People often go to the temple to get blessed or mediate at home in hopes that an angel will stay with their family throughout the new year. The second day is a time when gifts are exchanged and donations are given to the poor. The third day is filled with more ceremonies at the temple centered around forgiveness for misdeeds against the elderly and blessing for the new year. Many businesses are closed and the city looks a bit like a ghost town, since most people return to their hometowns in the countryside. I am enjoying a few days without language school and trying to keep cool as we are now in the midst of the hot season.

Speaking of language, last week I started my second class at the Institute of Foreign Linguistics. Here is the course description of the class I am currently taking: "Students review consonants, vowels and consonant feet, and construct sentences. Topics include shopping, going to the restaurant, going to the post-office, family, school, housework, and seeing a doctor." I have learned much in the past six months, but still feel like I have just begun the process.

I recently had the opportunity teach an intensive one-training session on the Gospel of John in another country in SE Asia. While I was teaching one group, Lloyd was teaching another group of students the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. Lloyd is the team leader for Cambodia and currently he and his family are completing the last few months of home missionary assignment before returning in June. I took several intensive one week classes in seminary and now have a new appreciation for the work that is involved in preparing an intensive course and the energy it takes to teach a compact course. My translator had learned most of his English in Singapore. I had a good laugh when he told me part way through the week that it was getting easier for him to understand my accent. It was encouraging to be around church workers in another country that are growing in their understanding of the doctrines of grace and desire to have their teaching founded on the Word of God.

My roommate, Daniel, has helped me make a blog. I have posted the previous updates there as well as a couple photo albums. http://lifeincambodia.org . Also, Here is a video Daniel made of traffic in Phnom Penh: traffic video

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Luke


March, 2010
Greetings from Cambodia,

The following story comes from a local newspaper:

Supernatural sightings are being blamed by some for a rash of high school girls falling faint and writhing uncontrollably at two schools in Kratie province, local officials said. Dr. Cheam Sa Em, provincial director of the Kratie health department, said nine students from Prek Prasap district's Chambok High School became faint and writhed on the ground while 10 other female students displayed the same symptoms in Kratie City in incidents that occurred on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Though the principal at one of the schools affected believes the convulsions were brought on by the appearance of a ghost, Dr. Sa Em offered a less spooky explanation for the girls' strange behavior: bad diets. "The affected students were the same. They are on diets to be slim and only eating two times a day. They are lacking glucose," he said. Dr. Sa Em said that the military police and doctors are investigating the incidents, closely monitoring what the girls are eating and drinking and have ordered the schools' grounds to be cleaned thoroughly. He added that drugs or poison could also be a possible explanation for the students' symptoms. However, Vin Sokheng, principal of Kratie City's Preah Mohaksatany Kossamak High School, said that he believed the reason for his students falling ill was supernatural. "When they entered the classroom, they were scared, shouting and then some of them became faint and were writhing on the ground," Mr Sokheng said of the possession-like symptoms of the teenaged girls studying in 10th through 12th grades. Teachers at the high school and parents of the students were not taking any chances either and invited local Buddhist monks and pagoda laymen to hold a prayer ceremony at the school on Thursday. However, two students showed the same symptoms on Friday and the religious figures were invited back to continue their efforts to bring an end to the problem. - Chansy, Chhorn. "Girls' Convulsion Enigma: Ghosts or Crash Diets?" The Cambodian Daily

I would say that the above article provides a fairly fitting description of the spiritual mindset in Cambodia. Obviously, it is much different than what most of us are used to in the States. The Cambodian Daily is a daily mainstream newspaper that is mostly written in English. I think that before I came here the only time I saw a headline like the one above was probably on the cover of a National Enquirer in a supermarket checkout line. Most Cambodians believe in a very rich supernatural realm. The religion here is usually described as a type of Folk Buddhism that is Buddhism mixed with a belief in guardian spirits, ancestral spirits, ghosts, and Brahman deities.

The Buddhist temple where I meet with a young monk for conversation.Back towards the end of October, I was walking around the Buddhist temple that is close to my house. A monk greeted me in English and invited me to sit at a table with him and talk. I spent about an hour with him. I did not really think that I would see him again when I left that day. But after about 5 months, I have been able to see him 2 or 3 times per month. He is in his early twenties and studying English literature. It has provided a good opportunity for me to practice speaking Khmer and to learn some about Buddhism, and he enjoys practicing his English. His main duty as a monk is to pray for people that come to the temple with health or other problems. Many of the prayers that are recited are in the Pali language, so the average person often does not understand the content of the prayer.

Language learning continues to plod along. I am getting more comfortable using what I know in talking with Khmer people. It is always a bit of an adventure talking to people when your vocabulary is so limited. It is a random assortment of questions that I know how to ask now ranging from: "What is your favorite color?" to "Does your family have ducks?" so many of my conversations are not very cohesive. Please pray that my ability to speak Khmer progresses, and that I would find my strength and comfort in Christ as I continue to adjust and learn to function in this culture.
 
In Christ,
Luke


Helping with the rice harvest.December, 2009

Well, here in Cambodia we are in the midst of the cold season. That is if you can consider a low of 72 degrees at night to be cold. Nonetheless, I am really enjoying this weather compared to the weather when I first arrived. But I hear the hottest weather will come in April. While the weather here hasn't reminded me that Christmas is only a few days away, the "consumerism" spirit of the season seems to be alive and well here in malls and other businesses. Hopefully, someday soon more people here will hear about and embrace a distinctive Christian understanding of Christmas as the incarnation of our Redeemer. Learning the Khmer language is progressing, but learning a new language is much more like a long distance race than a sprint.  I am not for sure that I am all that fast at running this race, but it seems like if one runs long enough that fluency will eventually come. For most of you, I am sure that some days your jobs are enjoyable and other days they seem somewhat monotonous and at times boring. I feel the someway with language learning.

As you will see from a couple of the pictures, I recently had the chance to see firsthand what rice harvest in the countryside is like (see above). The couple that lives next door invited me to come along for the day to her family's village. Although I have seen some modern machinery being used, most of the field work in Cambodia is still done by hand and with animals. The family in the village is representative of about 80% of Cambodia's population who are subsistence rice farmers. While I grew up on a farm and spent several years studying agriculture in college, practices here are much different. The field that the family spent most of the day harvesting would have taken about 5 minutes to harvest with a combine. The process of hand harvesting involves several steps. First, the seed head and upper part of the stalk are cut off with a hand sickle and tied together in small bundles. The bundles are left to dry on top of the stubble for several days and then hauled to the threshing floor. Threshing is often done by beating the bundles against pieces of slatted wood. The final step before bagging is cleaning the grain. This can be done by winnowing which involves tossing the seeds in the air and allowing the wind to blow away the lighter chaff and weed seeds. But often machines are used for this last step. I was My mode of local transportation!reminded of the many Bible stories about harvesting as I worked. I thought about Gideon who was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from the Midianites. But ironically the Lord calls him a mighty man of valor and tells him that he will be with him as he delivers Israel. And such are you and I - ones that are weak and timid, but are used by God because his grace in Christ is sufficient in our weakness. 

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement over the past few weeks. I am feeling much more settled in than when I last wrote. I pray that you know the love of our God to us, his undeserving children, as you celebrate the incarnation of our Savior during the Christmas Season.

In Christ,
Luke



September, 2009
Greetings from Cambodia,

Last night was the three week anniversary of my arrival in Cambodia. I arrived on a Wednesday evening. The next morning I left with the MTW team for our annual retreat which was along the coast. It was nice to spend a few days getting to know the team to start my time here. After we arrived back in Phnom Penh, I started unpacking and getting things for my house. I have started to feel more settled in this week. My time is spent meeting with a language tutor four or five days a week, studying the language, and spending time with a few Cambodians that I have met and some of the team. I have been eating most of my meals with a Cambodian Christian couple that live across the street from me. We sit on the floor to eat and we have had rice with every meal but one. Life here has been about as different as I expected. But it is much different to hear and read about these differences than to actually live in the midst of them. I am reminded of a David Powlison quote where he says, "Love of comfort and ease leads to every sort of evil...love of pleasure, love of excitement, the desire to never be bored...love of good health, love of control, love of adoration, love of good looks, love of getting your own way, love of what people give me, love of self-righteousness...these are profound idolatries." I probably didn't realize how much I loved my relative life of ease and comfort in the US until I stepped off of an airplane a few weeks ago and it was gone.

Prayer: You can pray for my cultural adjustment. I guess being a white guy in Asia has its limitation to fitting in, but you can pray that I fit in appropriately. Also, pray for my language learning and that I am disciplined in my study. Finally, pray for me as I am in the midst of many adjustments and frustrations at times that I would take comfort in Christ's gospel.

Support: For those of you who have pledged to give, this is the month to start giving. I attached an e-giving form if you prefer to give electronically. Also, for those of you who prefer to give by check, the bottom half of the attached prayer card has the address to send gifts. Please make sure to write my name and #17118 in the memo line.

Thanks,
Luke