I open my eyes. It’s 5:57 AM. I decide to get up. It’s another day in the village with unexpected adventures ahead.
I open my tent zipper and climb out into the room. Today I decide to just wear the same clothes as yesterday. I brush my teeth, untangle the mess I call my hair, and take a trip to the squatty. I then grab my devotional, Bible, journal, pen, and iPod and dodge muddy puddles to get to the first classroom. I sit in the back. It’s just me and Jesus.
At 8:00 AM I make my way back through the muddy yard and over to the hammock hut. I sit there until we are given further instructions about our day.
This morning we are off to visit Ann, a bed-ridden 73-year-old woman who is close to death. Everyday she prays that God will just take her to be with Him in Heaven because she is in so much pain. As a team, we listen to Vuthy speak with this fragile human. I have no clue what he’s saying, but there is so much passion behind his voice. God is working here.
We return to our compound and before I know it Kevin and Eddie are attacking me. Kevin decides to braid my hair in a hammock. After a couple minutes and a bushel of flowers later, my hair is finished. He moves on to his next victim while I lay back in my hammock and read until my eyelids can’t take anymore.
Before I realize, the area is full of children and yet there is another 2 hours before class starts. Marina and Parker are off teaching the first class of the day and soon it’s lunch.
12:30 PM everyday is lunch. Lunch is always chicken and rice. As is dinner, chicken and rice.
As soon as I walk through the gate to return to our compound I am welcomed with “Hello!” and “Hello teacher!” Even more students have arrived for class. They are scattered around the grounds playing a jump rope game, soccer game of sorts, and a few other games I have yet to figure out. Others are talking, but as soon as my team shows up, we are the center of attention for all the students. Many run up to give us high 5’s or to pound fists. Others are attracted to our cameras and want to see our pictures.
From the time lunch is over until 4:00 PM is it full of students. Paeh, Chanda, Peanut, Poy, and so many more names have taken over my life. I love these students. No matter how annoying or obnoxious they are in class, I love them! The hours are full of the alphabet and simple words like milk, open, pencil, queen, rat, salt, and thanks yelled on repeat.
4:00 PM comes and it is naptime! Our hammocks are strapped back up in the hammock hut and I nap until more students arrive for the 5:30 PM class. After some more reading and talking with my teammates, it’s time for dinner. As the sun is setting, we grab our headlamps, lather ourselves in bug spray, and walk over to the kitchen. We are met with geese yelling, ducklings at our feet, dogs under the table, and chicken and rice on the table.
By the time we walk back to the compound it’s pitch black minus the light our headlamps are omitting. The light at the main building is on which leads us through the still muddy yard from the downpour this afternoon.
I walk over to the hammock hut yet again and snuggle into my hammock as the sometimes-cool air breezes through. The team gathers in the hut to do feedback as each of us lay in our own hammocks. (Yes, this hammock hut can hold 7 racers!) After ending in prayer, I lay in my hammock until I’m almost asleep. I then struggle to get out making sure I don’t hit the others who are actually asleep. I put one foot in front of another trying to keep my balance over the wooden bridge we built to dodge even more mud back to the main building.
I brush my teeth, take my regular trip to the squatty, say goodnight to Tiger (1 of the 4 dogs) who sleeps right outside the girls room, unzip my tent, get in, lay down, thank God for such an amazing month, and turn on some music. Sometimes I fall asleep right away on my sleeping pad, but other times I toss and turn. Tonight is one of the nights that I’m out right away. A full week of teaching and running around with kids has caught up and I’m exhausted! Each day I fall asleep more in love with the people, places, and sights of Cambodia. It’s 9:30 PM. I close my eyes for the day.
This is month 2 and it’s exhausting, but so amazing!
