Packing Up

Today is our last day in Cambodia.  We decided to spend the afternoon getting some pre-plane pampering before our journey home.  I am sitting in Sugar and Spice Cafe above Daughters of Cambodia.  I just finished getting my first full body massage.  It was amazing, and a little painful at some points.  My skin is red and on fire!  LOL!

This weekend, we went to Siem Reap.  It is a big tourist location where people visit Angkor Watt.  We rented a van and left early Saturday morning.  Our driver's name was Mono and he was a hoot! He had the greatest laugh:)  It took about 6 hours to get there.  We found our hotel after a little bit of confusion as to which one we actually had reservations for.  Lucky Angkor Hotel was very nice!  Deanna and I were especially excited about having a comfortable bed!  The bed was pretty hard but getting to snuggle up with a comforter and comfy pillow made it nice.  We dropped our stuff off shortly after we arrived we started walking to find a market.  The market was a little farther than we thought so we waited until 4:00 and went to Angkor Watt to get our passes and see the sunset.  We walked up a hill and then a steep set of stairs with like a thousand steps to the  top of a temple.  Unfortunately, it was cloudy and then began to sprinkle, so we didn't get to see the sunset.  We took some pics before heading back.  Mono drove us back to Pub Street where we could find a place to eat and shop at the Night Market.  We found an Irish Pub and Steakhouse and had a good meal:)  We shopped for gifts and souvenirs at the night market and headed back to the hotel.  We left the next morning at 4:30 AM to see the sunrise.  It was dark walking to the temple and a man joined us in our walk and showed us the best place to stand for pictures.  I wasn't sure why he was being so helpful.  It turns out, he owned a little coffee place nearby.  He told us his name was 007! :)  He was so kind.  He took our coffee order and brought back little stools for us to sit on while we waited.  He brought us our coffee as well!  Yes, he wanted our business, but he had such a genuine heart to take care of us. We didn't get lucky in seeing the sunrise, either.  It was cloudy so waking up so early really wasn't worth it.  Anyhow, we went back to the hotel for breakfast and to pack up.

The first thing we did as soon as we arrived into the Wat was find the elephants!  I was pretty excited about it!  It was a rocky ride but a very awesome experience!  We went through a few temples but did it fairly quickly.  That was OK for most of us because we were so tired.  We had lunch at The Blue Pumpkin, grabbed a few desserts and were on our way home at about 3:00PM. We arrived home at around 9:00 PM and got to sleep in a little this morning.  I'll be getting into Oklahoma Tuesday evening.  I'm so excited to see all of you and tell you about all this in person!  See you soon!!!

Another Goodbye

I started writing this post on Wednesday and am finishing it up today on Thursday, so the days might seem a little off in my post. 

It’s Wednesday and I need rest.  Since we are teaching at two schools and helping with VBS in the evenings, there is just a lot on my plate.  I have to fight the urge to want to slack a little since things are coming to a close.  I’m trying to think of it like this....It is my last week to teach here, my last time to see these students and kids. Make the most of it and do it all for the glory of God.

 I’ve decided to catch you up to today, but also include some things I’ve learned about Cambodia that are more on the comical and/or weird side, just because its interesting and I could use a laugh! 

After visiting the orphanage on Saturday, we had plans to attend Vibol’s (tuk tuk driver) church the next morning. They do a lot of filming there of sermons and things and have cancelled the last couple of Sundays and this Sunday was the same story.  So our team got together that afternoon to have devotion.  Logos has a missionary church in English at 4:00 so we have attended there every Sunday and it has been a blessing to speak with others that are serving in Cambodia and listen to their stories of what brought them here.  The pastor and his wife came 10 years ago and while here they have adopted 9 children!  I think that is so cool!  Following church, we went to Mike’s Burgers again because Stephanie was sick the first time we went.  I ordered the same exact thing including another Mountain Dew, and it was just as delicious as the first. Yum! 

I am doing a unit on the 5 senses with my Kindergarteners this week. On Monday, we made special Spy glasses for sight. Tuesday, I had them listen to certain sounds and guess what sound it was, and today, for touch, they had to reach into a sock and draw what the object was just by feeling it. At New Life School, the preschoolers are learning about the letter Ss this week. I read to the preschoolers Mister Seahorse on Monday. They made seahorses using tissue paper and a pencil.  It’s good for fine motor practice because they are not allowed to cut with scissors, which makes it really hard to do craft projects.  I have to do most of the work beforehand. Yesterday, we sang the “Cool Itsy Bitsy Spider” song by Jack Hartmann and I taught them about positional words.  They made a book and had to draw the spider in certain positions next to the pumpkin, cat, gate, dog, and bat.  Next, we made spider hats.  They were so cute in them, but I do not recommend making these unless you have a helper or they are old enough to cut and glue independently.  LOL! 

I am doing the same lesson for both schools, today.  The preschoolers will do Letter Ss Bingo and then a modified version of “What’s in the Sock?” game. It was hard to say goodbye to my preschoolers.  I have enjoyed them so much!  I love how when I open the door, they get excited and I hear over and over again, “Hello Teacher!”  I have to give each one of them a high five and for most of them, one is not enough. They are ready to learn and during the lesson and they repeat everything I say! They need guidance and encouragement because their English is very limited.  This reminded me of how I should look to God. 

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 19:14

I have learned so much from children in the years I have worked with them.  Seeing their enthusiasm and faces light up when I entered the room is the same look I want on my face when I experience Jesus.  I want to look at Him and mimic who He is!  A lot of the time I look to other things and people to affirm me or find my value, but I should always be looking to My Creator! Only He can define who I am because He is the one that made me.  Children get it!

My last day at Logos with the Kindergartners is Friday.  They have been a bit of a rough class.  I have several who do not speak English and others that are very proficient and at times has the “I know it already” attitude.  I’ve also learned that no matter where you are in the world, kids are kids and they will still talk when you are speaking, not listen the 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th time you tell them to do something, and of course, there will always be the ornery ones. I have still enjoyed them so much and they have shown me that I can go back home and challenge my students more because these kids know a lot!  We are having a program tomorrow that Deanna (the music teacher) is putting on.  Each class will sing and/or dance to something they have worked on in class.  In one class, she is doing a Stomp showcase where the students are playing on pots, pans, garbage cans, etc. It should be pretty cool!

Tonight(Thursday) was our last time with the VBS kids.  I will probably miss them the most.  Even though we couldn't speak to one another, so much love was given and received.  It rained most of the evening and God painted a huge rainbow in the sky.  We have seen a few since it rains so much here, but this one you could see from end to end! The colors were so bright and beautiful!  It made my heart smile that even though we will not see these little ones again, God promises to take care of His children!  

This little girl brings me a flower to VBS in the evenings.

So…a few random things about Cambodia

1)    Traffic laws are rarely ever followed and pedestrians do not have the right of way. If you want to cross the street, no one will be stopping so you just have to step out, on to the extremely busy road, and dodge.  It is very typical for motos, cars, and tuk tuk to drive on the opposite side of the road for any number of reasons.  For example, if you need to turn left you just go to the opposite side (there are no lanes) of the road and drive until your turn.  Even better, a gas station on the side of the road is a perfect turning lane.

2)   Guys can pee wherever they please.  There have many occurrences of riding along in the tuk tuk and you look over and see men standing by the wall taking care of business.  This isn’t in an open pasture somewhere by the way.

3)   When you go inside someone’s home or the school, it is customary to take off your shoes.  However, most people are barefoot even outside as well.  My feet are pretty disgusting by the end of the day!

4)   If you go to the market and look at someone’s booth for more than 3 seconds, be prepared for a series of 30 questions from the seller.  Then, if you waste their time bartering for more than a few minutes and decide you don’t want to buy…be prepared to be yelled at while you walk away.  One girl from our team got cornered and the lady would not let her go until she bought something. 

5)   Children like to shout “HELLO” and wave anytime they see white people. 

6)   Cows are just hanging out on the streets or in small grass areas, and they really like to eat trash or anything really.  And this is what I’ve been eating????

7)   Lucky is a grocery store we go to often to stock up on snacks and things.  So, instead of “I need to go to Walmart”, here it is “I’ve got to go to Lucky, today!” Our group has made it a tradition to always stop at the little ice cream shop outside of Lucky to get a scoop.

8)   Movies here only cost $3 and 3D movies are $5.  If you want a coke and some popcorn, no need to smuggle it in!  It will only cost you $3!! This is awesome!

9)   If you are American, getting 6 on a tuk tuk is packing it.  For Cambodians….If you have got less than 10 on your tuk tuk, you are wasting space and money. (*We broke our record and got 8 on today).

10) There are no Starbucks!!! Have I mentioned that before? They do serve iced coffee here that has sweetened condensed milk in it. Let me tell you, it is AMAZING!!! :)

We will be going to Siem Reap this weekend to see Angkor Watt.  I’m really excited about getting some pics of the old temples with tree roots taking them over and also riding an elephant!  It will also be nice to sleep in another bed that hopefully is more comfortable than mine.  Monday will be our pre- plane pampering. We are going back to Daughters of Cambodia to get massages and some mani & pedis.  Maybe our feet won’t swell this time. LOL!  Our flight leaves at 12:05AM on Tuesday (noon your time) and I will get home around 10ish Tuesday evening. 

I can’t wait to see you all!  It has been a wonderful experience!!!

I still need to raise $500 to pay TeachOverseas for the remainder of the program.  If you would like to donate, click on this link. 

https://www.teachoverseas.org/give/make-a-donation/

"A Father to the FatherLess"

Wow! I have only one week left here! I have so many wonderful experiences and have seen so much.  I have such a wonderful time, but each day I miss home a little more.  

I will be arriving back home late evening on Tuesday July 23rd and look forward to spending time with friends and I have a few things at the top of my list I would like to do shortly after returning.  

1) Eat a meal without rice!  I actually have been craving Mexican and a Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew. Can you believe I have not had one ounce of Dr. Pepper?

2) Rest at home in my own bed.  Our beds are really uncomfortable and I wake up with a soar body.  Also it would be nice not having to look around for giant cockroaches before I enter the bathroom. LOL!

3) Visit the chiropractor.  This would be due to point #2.  A facial also sounds very nice:)

4) I would also love some Starbucks coffee since there are none here in Cambodia!!! I couldn’t believe it either!

     This week has gone by incredibly fast!  It seems like yesterday we were just halfway through and now just a little left.  We called this Wednesday "Western Wednesday."  We eat lunch after at the school after teaching and occasionally they will make something we are a little more familiar with.  So that day we had pasta!  It was so good but we could tell that we were the only ones that liked it, but we have had some very interesting stuff here.  We had that afternoon off to rest and relax, so we ordered bubble tea and went swimming.  We stay really busy around here so it was nice to have that time to refresh.  Later that evening, we watched "Up" (which I have never seen before...so cute!) and then our house helper made us chicken strips!!  Two Western meals in one day! We were stoked!  

Thursday presented a very long day.  We teach in the morning, after lunch we go to New Life school and teach there for a couple of hours, and return to Logos school for the VBS kids that evening.  I taught my students about rockets and they got to make rockets and fly them.  My kindergartners learned about adjectives and we described our rockets, and my preschoolers learned how to countdown from 10 to Blastoff!  

We had about an hour before VBS started and Deanne, Hannah, Amber and I walked up the road for some iced coffee. We had a good time just talking and I got to know them a little better.  I was still dragging even after the coffee, but the neighborhood kids have so much energy it’s impossible to stay tired.  I spent most of the evening in a tickle war with a sweet little girl. 

The team decided to go to a movie Friday night.  Despicable Me 2 just came out here.  It only cost $5 to watch a 3D movie and $3 for a drink and caramel popcorn!  We walked around City Mall and many of us purchased some movies for only $1 each!  Here the only way to purchase them is buying the copy.  It isn’t illegal here. 

Saturday was the best thing this week! We traveled to an orphanage outside of the city called “Place of Rescue.” A woman named Marie Ens was a missionary in Cambodia for many years before returning to Canada because of the Khmer Rouge.  Her husband had passed away and she returned to Cambodia with the desire to start an orphanage.  She is 78 years old and has a passion for the Lord.  Unfortunately, we did not get to meet her yesterday, but the pastor showed us around the orphanage.  There are women and their children who live together in a small home.  They also house AIDS families and help with doctor’s visits and medicine.

A house mom stays in a home with 10 boys or 10 girls and they live there as a family until they are old enough to go to college.  As we walked by each orphan house, the pastor told us their stories.  They aren’t just providing food and shelter for the precious ones, but they know and love them.  Smiles and bright eyes were at each doorway as we passed.  We saw little babies and got to hold them.  I wanted to take all of them home!  My heart broke to hear stories of how they go there.  One little girl had a severe handicap and did not have hands.  She is considered “unlucky” and so they didn’t want her.  Another little girl could not walk because her parents strapped her to a cart to beg for money and she never got to walk or exercise her legs. Many children are there because their fathers killed their mothers.  “Place of Refuge” even provides a place for grannies that have no one to take care of them.  I am so inspired that Marie is such a servant of the Lord and a testimony that you are never too old to be used by God! 

Please check out the website at  www.placeofrescue.org

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

-James 1:27