I thought another list would be appropriate before I leave…
You might be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia if…
1. You’re considering purchasing the “whitening body wash” to see if it really works.
2. While digging in his nose, a gentleman who hasn’t bathed in about 3 months, walks up and tells you that he’ll allow you to kiss him for 500 Reel (approximately 12.5 cents). Tempting offer, but I just couldn’t find 25 cents…
3. Every time you walk into the kitchen after dark, you stand back when the lights flicker and allow Templeton the rat time to extract himself from the flour bag on your kitchen counter.
4. The hotel you arrive at for debrief very strictly prohibits the
consumption and/or possession of “the durian fruit” (aka the warm
squash and onion fruit mentioned in my earlier blog)
5. While riding motos you have to duck in between puffs of the drivers cigarette. Otherwise, they’re bound to slam you in the face every 7.5 seconds.
6. While riding tuk-tuk’s (aka death cabs) you are astonished at some of the items being carted around on tiny moto bikes: bicycles, fans, and REFRIGERATORS.
7. At the public restroom you are instructed to a “special” bathroom by the 12-year-old boy showing people around and you catch him standing on a plastic chair and peaking thru the window of your squattie room. (Hmm…so glad I suspected he was being a weasel and decided to stand with my hand on my hip glaring out the window instead of doing my “business.” Caught him in the act…much like Templeton.) Refer back to # 3.
8. You wonder why it’s acceptable for your male students to leave their shirts unbuttoned down to their belly buttons, but tank tops on women are unacceptable in 95 weather.
9. Every time you hop on public transportation, “Jesus, take the wheel…” is the only song that comes to your mind.
10. While removing unwanted food with a toothpick, you’re not suprised to find a piece of tarantula and garlic. That’s right, folks. I ate a tarantula. (pictures to come)
These are my students from my 8 o’clock class. TEACH-UHHHH was all I heard for three hours every morning. Came to be such an endearing name….The one on my lap is Parat. I would’ve packed him in my bag if I thought I could smuggle him home. No luck though.
This is David. Dimples for days and such a kind heart. I taught him English every afternoon @ 4 o’clock. I celebrated with my students on the last day with coke and chocolate. They waited forever to eat the chocolate because they thought they needed permission to eat….well, it had melted and im not sure as much chocolate made it IN their mouths as it did on their cheeks and hands. I’ve NEVER seen little kids get that excited about soda and chocolate. Such a blessing to share with them…
This is a sign from the killing fields. Hopefully it is clear enough for some of you to read….I was standing at the truck stop where the transporters from the local detention center would come during the reign of the Khmer Rouge to drop off victims in the Killing Fields. Surrounding this sign were the craters that were once filled with bodies of innocent Cambodians. Some of the signs specified that this is where “the young woman” were executed, the “children under 15” signs….
These two pictures are from Rubbish mountain, a plot of land (or garbage) that many people in Phnom Penh call home. Gentle Warriors ministered on Rubbish Mountain the entire month, and Liz, Ashley, and Blair spend some time there as well. Gentle Warriors didn’t talk about the poverty when they spoke to everyone at the end of the month about their time on Rubbish Mountain. They talked about how joyful and full of life the people were on Rubbish Mountain. If that doesn’t make you stop and think, I don’t know what will…
I taught an Intro English class every evening. I had about 50 students that I grew to love. These were three of my favorites. 🙂 I’m sure that me and my loud American voice, crazy mannerisms, and facial expressions had them convinced I was a luny at first…but I’m pretty sure they adjusted and ended up really enjoying themselves. They once told me that they wanted “A-P-E-S” in their chicken soup. After much confusion, I figured out they were trying to ask for eggs.
We took our level 3 English class on a Riverboat ride. They’d never been on a boat ride of their own city. The ride reminded me of Iquitos.
This was an interesting and painful Khmer game. Blair and I played a few times and I always ended up with BLACK knees. I look like I’m being abused. Well worth it when we won however. Basically, you throw this rock like objects at three of them that are standing on the other side. There are three standing and you have to hit the outer rocks before you can knock down the middle one, or you lost. The girls always lost, which meant that the boys got to whack our knees with their rocks. For whatever reason, my students really enjoyed getting to hit the teacher. Fun, but painful. 🙂
THAILAND UPDATE
This Saturday we will be heading off to Thailand. BLING will be separated. We’re not excited about that, but anxious to see what the Lord has in store. I will be in Selapume, one of the poorest areas in Thailand. Blair, Liz, and I will be teamed with 3 Tikvah girls, another team that BLING adores, and we will head off to do children’s ministry on a plot of land that happens to be located on a leper colony. We’re really excited but in severe need of prayer. Please keep Ashley, Kara, and Shannon in your prayers too since they’ll be separated from us for the month. We aren’t exactly sure of internet connection while in Thailand, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a while. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE you all….
***Kaye leigh….I’m sorry I didn’t get to call you on your birthday. Happy 14th my dear! Love and miss you very much. Give Breanna a squeeze for me and the two of you pretend that I’m right there with you!
