It all started when we got in four minivans and headed to the Cambodian border. It was a pretty nice, smooth drive. Four hours or so later we arrive at the border with a hilarious story of how Brittany needed to pee and our driver didn’t understand English. Three people in the van successfully drew pictures of a toilet and a squatty potty which was passed up to the driver. On behalf of her leader, B.Priess made sure to indicate desperation of finding said drawn facilities.
We had lunch at the agency that was suppose to get us across the border. After we filled out all of our paperwork, off we went to be dropped off. We got all our stuff on and walked down the road to the buildings. Waited in line, waited some more, got thru with our exit Thailand stamp and off to get our Cambodian stamp.
Cambodia, oh how different you are from the lights and busyness of Bangkok. We were not expecting….an African Asia! That’s right, Cambodia feels like Africa and Asian in one. It was actually sad. As soon as we crossed the border, I saw the street children begging for food and the trash dump site next to the river…their needs were in plain sight.
Finally made it thru the longer line of being accepted in Cambodia…to the bus!!!! Oohh, the bus left us??? It is Africa. Found out that we took too long in crossing the border so we hung out for a bit. Quickly we got our stuff and off we go to get on tuc tuc’s (little three wheeled carts led by a motorcycle). Ohh No! The squad left four of us behind and our tuc tuc started flipping over. Yes, you read correctly it started flipping over!!! I got a couple of nasty bruises, but that didn’t stop us from getting one more tuc tuc and quickly catching up while praying out loud for peace and protection.
Caught up with the rest of the squad at……our bus! Hurray. Loaded up and made sure to explain to the driver that we needed to pick up two of our squadmates. We got to them and foundd them…mad?!? Apparently they went to the transportation office and the men there were charging them for sitting! Very sketch. When the guys refused to pay them, they wouldn’t let them leave the compound. They warned us to not enter the compound, the driver drove in despite our “urgings” of not to. Five hours later, a worship session and intense prayer the “mob” of Cambodian men came to an agreement with logistics, squad leaders and the bus people. Corruption is such a downer, especially if you carry a blue passport.
Drove through the night and finally arrived in Phnom Phen, at two am. We said bye to team Harmony, as their contact took them away. And after several trips (we only had two tuc tuc’s) we transported the other 30 something people to YWAM and a hotel. Ahhh, sleep…until breakfast at 8am.
Hello Cambodia, O squad is here. Be ready, kingdom’s on the agenda.
