Saturday Evening Cambodia Style

After an afternoon of much needed and appreciated rest in the air conditioning, we went with Angela to the supermarket to buy ingredients for dinner. Lucky's market is very westernized. It had many of the same things we have but they were displayed in weird order. Things were very pricey. The check out was more technologically advanced than in the US as a picture of each item appeared with the price. 

We then went to Angela's apartment. It is small but adequate by our standards but considered large and luxurious here. 

We cooked dinner, taco salad, and took it upstairs to the top floor to Angela's neighbors, Jackie and Steve. Their apartment was larger and had a huge lovely patio where we ate dinner and fruit and drank mango smoothies.

We enjoyed our time with them very much. 

Dragon fruit 

Jackie and Steve are here to learn the language initially but also on Christian mission. They are supported by their business back home. They are starting small businesses here using Cambodians to teach them how to run sustainable business. They were fascinating as they spoke about a Cambodia that they love. Jackie also talked about food and clothes and decorating. We returned to our hotel early and crashed. 

Prayer requests:

We continue to try to acclimate to the time change and intense heat. Air conditioning is sparse. There is also sort of a spiritual oppression all around us. We are intensely aware of the Buddhism all around us and the poverty. We are frequently approached by beggars including seeing a baby in diapers near the busy street with her hands out not very supervised. 

Please keep Angela in your prayers. We are looking forward to seeing more of her work and encouraging her and letting you know how you can pray. 

Day Two Cambodia

Today was harder. Last night I started to feel the jet lag so we turned in early. I slept ok but not great. We got up and got ready and had breakfast at the hotel just Deb and I and then Bunton,  our tuk tuk driver picked us up and we picked up Angela. Bunton is a Christian Cambodian man who is a dear. Angela hires him for all her driving and she has reserved him basically all week to tote us around and look out for us. He is so kind and has a gentle smile. 

We drove through the crazy traffic downtown the red light district where the clubs, bars and brothels are and we prayed. 

We then toured the Royal Palace and Buddhist temple.  It was interesting and sort of creepy with all the serpents and spirit houses and Buddas. It was crazy hot and I started to feel pretty icky. 

We then had lunch at FCC which is an open air cafe overlooking the river where the journalists went in the 70's during the Khmer Rouge. We had a very good talk there which was hopefully helpful to Angela. 

After lunch we visited Daughters which is another organization here that helps women escape sex trafficking. They have 7 sustainable businesses that teach trades to the girls and they offer traing, employment and a variety of counseling services. 

After lunch we felt sort of overwhelmed between the culture and the heat so we are chilling out at the hotel. Tonight we will go to the supermarket then cook at Angela's apartment. We have vhurch tomorrow and then a few fun things Angela wants to do and meet some of her friends. Next week we will spend time at the organization where Angela works. We will help with the English classes and attend the devotional where I will give my testimony. 

Evening One

Tonight we went to a restaurant that trains at risk youth. It was very nice. 

The best dish had beef and peppers and nuts and I could taste lime also. Upstairs was a gift shop with unique things made by the youth. 

Here are some random pics of the city for your enjoyment. 

View of the city from our hotel rooftop. 

Our room and the cool pantaloons I bought today. 

Our tuk tuk. 

On the way to the restaurant we pulled out into a large intersection and it was so scary!  There are no traffic rules. Everyone just goes everywhere. And it works!  People turn from the right lane into the left lane when the turn left and then sort of merge right eventually. One huge Lexus vehicle pulled over to the left going the wrong direction right in front of to order food to go. It is pretty crazy. 

After dinner we stopped for gelato and it was delicious. I had praline chocolate. 

Right now we are sitting on the rooftop enjoying the breeze. I am pretty tired and have big dark circles under my eyes. 

Here is another view of my cool pantaloons in the elevator. Yes I will wear these to work at home. 

Day One Cambodia

It is Friday, our first day in Cambodia. While you were sleeping Thursay night, we had our Friday. 

We slept very well and got up at 8. We showered which felt amazing after our two day trip. Angela met us in the hotel restaurant for breakfast. 

We chatted and ate omelettes and bread and fresh fruit and drank coffee and mango juice.  

After breakfast we took a short tuk tuk ride to buy a SIM cell phone card and to exchange some money. 

Phomn penh is similar in many ways to some of the cities I've been in, 

Guatemala City, quayaquil,  Mexican City, loud, crazy traffic. Lots of horns honking, people and vehicles. Here there are more motorcycles and tuk Tuks. We were amazed that there were not more sirens sounding. We saw children on motorcycles with their parents and even a woman with an infant on one shoulder driving her motorcycle with one hand. 

We stopped by the Russian market where I immediately made two delightful purchases for myself even though I was looking for gifts for others. 

We then stopped by a Christian run cafe called Jars of Clay and shared a banana chocolate chip muffin and frozen lime aids. 

While visiting, I asked Angela what she looked forward to most about our visit, hoping she'd give us insight into how we could bless her. She said what she'd really like most is to just have fun, to laugh and go do fun things and relax. When we told her that sounded perfect, she was touched. The work that Angela does here is very difficult. We are happy to just hang out, have fun, and just spend time with her in this amazing city. As Deb and I were discussing this later, we decided that we are, in fact, gifted in the area of fun!

Deb and I spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool as Angela said that jet lag would hit and she also had something she needed to do. As I was laying there with the warm sun and the cool breeze and the sounds of the city far below, I shut my eyes and God seemed to be saying, "Just rest in Me."  I realized that maybe having fun, hanging out and relaxing is exactly what Deb and I need to. As a Pastor and a social worker and our work with Homestead, we both tend to burn the candle at both ends. It's good for us, too, to take time to rest in Him. 

On our way

530am kci 

Dallas airport

10:18am. We have just been seated on the plane from Dallas to Seoul. All is well. We can feel the prayers and blessings of everyone. We have now been awake for 9 hours after sleeping about three hours. The drive and flight to Dallas we're pleasant and uneventful. Deb and I have chatted almost the entire way. We had a nice breakfast at tgi Fridays.  Getting ready to get some pillow time. We have been seated where we have some space and across from each other. 6834 miles to Seoul, 14 hours. 

There is quiet piano music playing  in the background and I noticed it is a hymn!  Jesus Jesus how I trust you....

Halfway through the 14 hour flight...

I have watched a movie, slept quite a bit curled up across two chairs, read my kindle, eaten dinner and now a snack, read my Bible, prayed, and did some prep for the upcoming volunteer training when we get home. I have no real idea what day and time it is but I think it is about. 630 pm at home. Doing well. God is good. 

4 hours 42 minutes to go. Watching a good movie. This is not unbearable but 14 hours is a long time. Pretty sure I have an eye infection. 

? Time? Seoul Korea airport.  We have no idea what time it is. We feel mostly rested and very well fed. Just looked around in some of the shops but the prices are super high. The shops are high end like Gucci.... The airport is beautiful. A procession of traditional dressed people went by with music playing followed by police. They had a sign that said Royal Family Walking. 

We stopped and listened to a youth string ensemble for a few minutes. 

We board soon for the six hour flight to Phnom Penh. Almost there!

We have arrived!  Customs visa immigration and a short tuk tuk ride and we are in our hotel room!

Prayed Up

We got commissioned this morning, then TRU prayed for us tonight.  Two days of work and TRU Connect group and off we go!

I love TRU church at our house!  

Are You Ready?

Are you ready to go with me to Cambodia?  Remember, you are going with me!  I will feel your prayers and blog with pictures so that you can experience it with me.  Not everyone can pick up and go but it takes a team to go on a trip.  I couldn't do it without the support of each of you.  At this moment, we leave in 3 days!

It is Saturday.  I am excited.  The nerves are going away as the details are getting taken care of.  Not really nerves, just a preoccupied mind.  I purposefully left this weekend free so I could pack and relax and get ready.  I say free, however, I am spending much of today with Adelle, helping her Mom fill out the fafsa, get commissioned at both services tomorrow, TRU Sunday school, a haircut, and TRU church here tomorrow night with 40 or so people:).  But I did spend last night snoozing on the couch in my grubby clothes after a great workout and had a good night sleep.  My to do list is steadily getting knocked out.

And the packing is almost done other than last minute things.

So get excited!  It'll be time to leave very soon!