We are living in a YWAM guesthouse, off one of the three
main streets in Siem Reap, the second most populated city in Cambodia that is internationally
known for Angkor Wat, the ancient ruins that are comparable to the Pyramids of
Egypt and Machu Picchu of Peru. This tourist-focused city sees two to four
millions tourists on an annual basis, so we, unlike in Manila, do not stick out as a missions team.
Our guesthouse has two stories, approximately 3,000 square
feet, 9 bedrooms each with a bathroom-shower room, 2-3 fans in each room, air
conditioning at $2 a day, large light tan floor titles, beds that are a bit
bigger than twin size (that are two to a
room), 11-foot walls with pink molding near the top, a dresser, and a small
table or two-depending upon the room. To be honest, we have been spoiled here
in Siem Reap. We each have bikes as our transport from our guesthouse to the
girls’ safe house as well as to the grocery store, food market (where I
purchase mangos with glee) and the two cafes we love (Common Grounds and Blue
Pumpkin.) We also enjoy biking along the river, past temples and house on
stilts, and through the royal palace’s gardens. Each day, I sweat as though I
have finished a marathon; the temperatures have yet to reach anything less than
90. The people are friendly, gracious, hospitable-as long as you remember to
take your sandals off at the door (barefeet are required inside homes here),
your skirt is past your knees, and your shoulders are covered. O and there are
lizards and rats living just outside our gate, which guards the guesthouse we
call ‘home’ this month.
