Salutations from Cambodia!
I am writing from the province, Preah Vihear, which is in the northern region of the country, near Thailand and Laos. We are living in a little, remote town where the only Westerners are the team of three missionaries we’re working with (and their three children). We have tripled the number of “barangs” (Khmer word meaning “foreigners”) they see on a day to day basis and it is obvious we amuse them by the number of stares, smiles, giggles and waves we get every time we leave our wooden house. This month we are working for World Team ministries, which is head up by a name named Joel and a married couple, Jim and Carolin.
The five women on Team Refresh are living in a gorgeous wooden rustic house on stilts (very typical of Cambodia to have your house on stilts) with bucket showers and squatty potties and the men are living in a similar style house that is also used as the church which is about 5 minutes away from us. We are in charge of cooking half of our meals and the other half of our meals will be provided by a local Cambodian woman who will make us all traditional Khmer meals. Three young ladies: Sina, Lida and Parry, live with the five of us Refresh women and we have had a blast talking with them and teaching them English. The people group we will be working with are the Khmer, and Joel, Jim and Carolin are very fluent in the Khmer language (thankfully) which will help us when we are having language barriers in our fellowship with the locals.
Other than teaching English to 20-somethings in the area, we are going to disciple and equip the young adults in the church World Team started here to one day lead the church themselves and have the confidence to run the services and the ministry without the help of Joel, Jim and Carolin. We will be leading a weekly English worship service, teaching the Khmer young worship songs and Bible studies to do among themselves and giving them encouragement to lead the church with boldness and confidence that they get from the Holy Spirit. The Khmer people are very timid and meak and are constantly thinking of themselves as much lower than anyone else. They look very scared when they first meet you, often bowing down before you a lot and giggling because they are very nervous to be in your presence.
I have found it very difficult to get them to understand that they are equal to me, and that I am their sister in Christ Jesus, who is no better than them. Granted, this is only day four of being in Cambodia, but it is still very frustrating when you are trying to do the dishes by yourself and you have three Cambodian women begging to help you. It’s been important to make the Khmer youth we are discipling feel important and needed. Haile and I went to the market for the first time the other day to get food for our team and we decided to take Sina and Parry with us.
They felt so special having to interpret and translate for us, and they knew we needed them to get to and from the market which helped them with their self confidence. They even shared their experiences with us at church last night during testimony time! It was so sweet. I keep trying to reiterate over and over that they are so valuable not just to me, but to the Lord and they are so important with so many gifts Jesus has given them. It is my prayer that Sina, Lida and Parry will feel more empowered by the time we leave Preah Vihear in three weeks.
Another thing I love about the Khmer people group is that they have to live in community. It is very unusual and almost bad to live alone, and relationships mean everything to these people. Sina, Lida and Parry all live in one little room together but they wouldn’t have it any other way because that’s all they know and when one of them is by themselves they often come up to me and say “I’m so lonely, please talk to me…other girls are gone.” Since I have become an expert in community, I agree with them. I’ve found it’s very strange to be by myself, especially at this part of the Race where I’ve constantly been with people for seven months. We were given the opportunity to have our own rooms the other day and I picked to sleep in the room for two people, since I think it would be crazy at this point to actually have “personal space” on the World Race.
So Haile and I are bunking together in the same room, with a giant green mosquito net as a canopy over our bed. I have never experienced as many mosquitoes in my life as I have in Preah Vihear so far. Scorpions is also something to watch out for too, because when we were over at Jim and Carolin’s house for orientation the other day, they found a giant scorpion the size of my hand in their back yard. This is my life this month. I’m living in a wooden house on stilts, sleeping under a giant canopy net, dodging mosquitoes and scorpions and taking bucket showers twice a day to try and stay cool. Did I mention it gets up to 105 degrees here during the day?!?! What??? Oh, how I miss the Colorado spring time and it’s 60 degree weather.
In an hour or so, a few of us are going to ride our bikes (we each have our own bicycle for the month) 30 minutes away on the red dirt path with Sina to her village. When we get to her village we will teach the local children English and writing, and we will meet Sina’s family. I already know I am going to love this month. Last night we went to church for the first time and listened to traditional Khmer music. It was the most enchanting sound I have ever heard. I will try and upload a video of the youth singing Khmer songs, because it is truly something to hear.
I love you, friends and family! I will write again soon. Until then, know that I am safe and sound enjoying the people people of Cambodia. Our contacts are taking us to Siem Reap this weekend to see one of the “Eighth Wonders of the World”, Angor Wat. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google it. It’s incredible. Details to come. XOXO…
Parry (left) and Sina (right) on our way home from the market.
My transportation for the month…equipped with a bell and a basket!
