What am I thankful for in Cambodia?
This month my team and I are living at an orphanage in rural Cambodia. We’re here during the hottest month of the year – which means nearly 110 degrees Fahrenheit every day! I absolutely love experiencing this culture, although some days are rough simply because we are living in a third-world country. So I decided to make a list of everything I am thankful for!
Cold showers
4 months ago I was suffering through cold showers in the frigid temperatures of Nepal, but now I am so thankful for cold showers because it’s the perfect thing to cool down before bed every night!
Frozen water bottles
We discovered the trick of freezing water bottles and sleeping with them at night to keep cool! It really does work 🙂 AND frozen water bottles are great to drink during the heat of the day!
Fans
Another thing to be thankful for in the 100 degree heat!
A quiet place on the roof to be alone
In the midst of busy days with lots of people, my favorite thing to do every night is sit up on the roof to think and pray. It’s so peaceful and calming, especially for an introvert like me who enjoys alone time!
Mangoes
Mangoes, mangoes, and more mangoes…. If you ever visit Cambodia, you will find that mangoes are the most common fruit, and if you visit anyone’s home, you are likely to be welcomed by freshly picked mangoes from the mango tree in the yard. I’ve tried sour unripe mango, sweet mango, pickled mango, dried mango, and mango sauce on fish. Sour mango with chili salt is a favorite snack here, we eat it almost every day. I’m convinced that Cambodia has the best mangoes!!
The afternoon breeze
Right around 3:30 or 4pm, a wonderful breeze starts to blow and brings relief from the intense afternoon heat.
Beautiful sunsets
The sunsets here are absolutely gorgeous!
A God who loves me even when I’m having a rough day
Some days I’m tired and I miss home; it’s not always comfortable or easy living in a foreign country, and living so closely in community with my teammates. But at the end of the day I know everything’s going to be okay because God still loves me, and nothing can change that.
Cold water to drink
We have a refrigerator in our room, which is such a blessing to pull out a cold water bottle!
Hammocks
I love hammocks, and everyone has them here in Cambodia! The homes are built above the ground, and under the house is where Cambodians rest in their hammocks during the heat of the day. Sometimes I’m not sure if a hammock will hold me or not, but thankfully I haven’t broken one yet!
People who are so welcoming and friendly
The first day of being here at A Greater Hope Orphanage, I felt like part of the family. Everyone is so welcoming; the kids, the staff, the other missionaries here. Also when we visit homes in the countryside, we are always welcomed by a smile, a place to sit down, and fresh mango.
Food to eat
Even though we don’t have access to our favorite American foods and rice is the main part of our diet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I can’t complain. We eat a lot of fish and vegetables, and of course mango. I never go hungry, and I am thankful for a simple diet of locally grown food.
Crazy cultural experiences
Things like riding bikes on a dirt path through rice fields, seeing a cow be born in someone’s front yard, going to a local carnival in a rice field, packing 15 people in a 7-passenger van, eating a tarantula leg, riding in the back of a cattle truck….. these are things that would never happen in America. I love it!!
Electricity
Definitely thankful for this!!! Sometimes the power goes out at night or for short times during the day, which means no fans… which makes me even more thankful when the electricity is on!
A pool and lake to swim in
The orphanage has a swimming pool on their campus, which they built for the kids. It’s so much fun to be able to swim with them and cool down! We also took a trip to a nearby lake, which was fun and refreshing as well.
A team that doesn’t give up even in the midst of struggles
This month has been challenging because of the lack of comforts we’re used to, and personal struggles that each of us may be going through. It’s easy to get on each others nerves and become annoyed with our teammates… but we are fighting for unity and we are not giving up on each other!! I am so thankful for a team that is willing to love each other in this way.
Village life
Away from the city, life is lived at a much slower pace. I’m thankful for the simplicity of daily life and for the joy of friendships.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
