Monday, July 21, 2008
Hello from Cambodia! Update #1
Yes, it is true. Our team made it through our 1 Night in Bangkok... and arrived safely yesterday in Cambodia... was it really just yesterday? I feel like I have lived a lifetime in the last 24 hours.
Here are some of the highlights (and low-lights):
1. It is HOT. Seriously. HOT. Sweaty and hot. Basically I am hot all the time... and sweaty... that expensive "quick dry, doesn't wrinkle travel shirt" I bought at REI... INVALUABLE. That quick dry shammy towel I bought... couldn't live without it! It never gets below 85 degrees... even at night... with as much humidity... but each day we driven 1/2 hour to teach a lunchtime class... and the car is air conditioned... seriously... when I got in today I thought I might CRY. It makes me happy now each day!
2. I had my first experience with a Cambodian, rest-stop toilet. I am thankful that I brought tissue paper and antibacterial stuff with me! I think I peed a little on my feet... which is OK becausse they are dirty like 100% of the time anyway. And I successfully flushed it... meaning... I figured out that how to flush it was to grab the scooper in the water bucket next to the toilet and put it to good use!
3. I have gotten to meet my students and the AMAZING Cambodians who do such wonderful work through World Relief. God is so here. I will learn FAR MORE than my students, I wager!
4. My busy schedule is nice now that we are in Suong: we teach one class in the morning (6-7:30AM), then join in the staff worship/prayer time, then we are driven to Kampong Cham city for lunch and an afternoon class... and then we will go back to Suong for an advanced evening class we will teach. Long days... and I keep going to bed so early... because I am truly exhausted each night. We have this AMAZING woman who cooks for us!
5. I am really startled by what I see here... can I be honest? Talking about coming to a "Developing" country is far more glamorous than the REALITY of it. I am struck by the juxtoposition of intense poverty here... and the amazing HOPE that this staff we meet with daily have... They need God "literally" to meet daily struggles... things that I take for granted. It is humbling. It is emotionally tough. I sort of had a "what am I doing here" moment last night when the thunderstorm caused the power to go out (think about sleeping in a humid, 90 degree bedroom with NO FANS)... but then the power came back on (the grace of God?)... and today we learned what an ANSWER to prayer the rain was for this struggling agricultural area... and I was truly convicted of my own selfishness.
I will continue to need your prayers to make it through. Pray for health... and safety... and mental energy... and emotional stability. Thanks!
Here are some of the highlights (and low-lights):
1. It is HOT. Seriously. HOT. Sweaty and hot. Basically I am hot all the time... and sweaty... that expensive "quick dry, doesn't wrinkle travel shirt" I bought at REI... INVALUABLE. That quick dry shammy towel I bought... couldn't live without it! It never gets below 85 degrees... even at night... with as much humidity... but each day we driven 1/2 hour to teach a lunchtime class... and the car is air conditioned... seriously... when I got in today I thought I might CRY. It makes me happy now each day!
2. I had my first experience with a Cambodian, rest-stop toilet. I am thankful that I brought tissue paper and antibacterial stuff with me! I think I peed a little on my feet... which is OK becausse they are dirty like 100% of the time anyway. And I successfully flushed it... meaning... I figured out that how to flush it was to grab the scooper in the water bucket next to the toilet and put it to good use!
3. I have gotten to meet my students and the AMAZING Cambodians who do such wonderful work through World Relief. God is so here. I will learn FAR MORE than my students, I wager!
4. My busy schedule is nice now that we are in Suong: we teach one class in the morning (6-7:30AM), then join in the staff worship/prayer time, then we are driven to Kampong Cham city for lunch and an afternoon class... and then we will go back to Suong for an advanced evening class we will teach. Long days... and I keep going to bed so early... because I am truly exhausted each night. We have this AMAZING woman who cooks for us!
5. I am really startled by what I see here... can I be honest? Talking about coming to a "Developing" country is far more glamorous than the REALITY of it. I am struck by the juxtoposition of intense poverty here... and the amazing HOPE that this staff we meet with daily have... They need God "literally" to meet daily struggles... things that I take for granted. It is humbling. It is emotionally tough. I sort of had a "what am I doing here" moment last night when the thunderstorm caused the power to go out (think about sleeping in a humid, 90 degree bedroom with NO FANS)... but then the power came back on (the grace of God?)... and today we learned what an ANSWER to prayer the rain was for this struggling agricultural area... and I was truly convicted of my own selfishness.
I will continue to need your prayers to make it through. Pray for health... and safety... and mental energy... and emotional stability. Thanks!
# posted by ErinW @ 12:26 AM 
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