the good, bad, mundane.. boring, monotonous.. need i say more??
ok so let me give you a quick glimpse into my life.. it is currently 1:15 in the afternoon.. cambodia is its usual self.. HOT! i just got done doing laundry.. hand washing that is and i am dripping sweat. i would love to go inside my beautifully air conditioned bedroom but i cant because its non-existant.. something i just made up in my head along with my refrigerator stalked with ice cold milk.. and cookies of course! ohhhh milk i havent had you in a very long time! anyways yea so instead i im sitting on a bamboo platform swatting mosquito’s, gnats and flies off every 2 seconds while listening to the wonderful brooke fraser.. so there you have it missionary life is not always fun, full and exciting.. people aren’t getting saved all the time.. people aren’t getting healed as we walk by.. sometimes life looks really normal.. REALLY NORMAL… this morning i taught bible class to 15 youngster’s.. and later today i will play a couple games of volleyball, maybe watch a movie and hang out with the boys! but for now i rest.. i think i said this in my earlier blog that the people here stay away from doing anything remotely active between 1 and 3.. the sun is brutal and so is the rain.. you never know what your going to get that day.. today we got rain..and its a beautiful thing!!!! it brings in a nice cool breeze.. the other girls have now joined me on the bamboo platform, immersed in their books and enjoying not sweating for the next hour!! its a great afternoon for reading.. but did i mention our little rooster problem were having? yea its a serious issue.. our little friend seems to be confused because he starts at 3 am*!! thats right i didn’t stutter.. 3 am*!!!!!! our nightly prayers have consisted of asking God to mute the rooster, kill the rooster.. you name it we have prayed it!
but for the good stuff.. the boys here at teen challenge are so special.. i am loving just being able to love on them and teach them.. these kids are so young and just kinda tossed aside.. for example a couple of days ago i had a boy in my class that was being a trouble maker, he was making jokes and disturbing all the other boys.. and when we pray in a circle he never seems to be listening.. so i told him to stand up and i said you are one of the smartest boys in this class, you speak and understand the most english and yet when we sing and practice our english and pray out loud i can never hear you.. you are so smart ! you are such a quick learner and the younger boys look up to you so much, they follow after you, and do what you do.. the translator finished and the boy sat down.. no more then 5 seconds later that boy had his hand up first to repeat and sing the song by himself! and it broke my heart because in that moment i realized he had never been told how smart and capable he was.. and he is just one.. one of many that have been tossed aside, left to walk the streets, steal.. and the outcome of this is drugs.. drugs to numb the pains of hunger, the beatings, and the abandonment. i find myself in a rehab center with 10 year olds and 13 year olds addicted to glue and whatnot.. every morning i start bible class off with us getting in a big circle, holding hands and telling God what we are thankful for… one boy said “i thank God for the changed heart he gave me.” and of course i melted! the staff and pastor’s that work here at teen challenge are changing theses’ boy’s lives.. and the biggest blessing is that we get to see and be apart of it for a short while. they are impacting our lives more than we are theirs thats for sure!
here are some things im thankful for this afternoon
the rain-thanks to the downpour my wash is getting an extra rinse cycle out on the line, and i will always be thankful for the coolness it brings
toilet paper- no explaining needed*!
cambodian food! its by far my favorite on the race and im super thankful*!!
water- sapoon just refilled our jugs.. we go through water like its our job and when you have 6 cranky thirsty team mates, when water comes its a good day!!
health- this is true i haven’t had one day in 9 months where i have gotten sick.. i haven’t had any stomach issues, head ache’s, nausea.. nothing!! at worse i have had severe jet lag.. which has knocked me on my butt for a couple days.. but thats it! praise God!!
here are some things im missing on this afternoon
home- this includes everybody! i miss being in the loop and it being such a difficultly to talk to anybody to catch up!!
my car- the connivence of getting in your car and just going! i really miss that!
money- having one currency in your wallet! i cant wait till i dont have to do conversion rates in my head for every single thing i buy!
clothes- my clothes sink.. seriously.. after nine months geezz.. i think i have a sports bra that still smells of curry from india! i miss dryer sheets and my closet!!
and some things i am lovin’ this afternoon
the 50 chickens that are now finding shelter under the bamboo platform im laying on.. there are little chicks everywhere and they are so soft and cute!
the little girl who is splashing around in the rain
my itunes
and…
reading old emails from friends and family
there you have it.. the good, bad, mundane, normal, boring, exciting, and monotonous day out on the field..
ohhhhhhh and the recap video*!!!!! we LOVE LOVE LOVED WORKING WITH TEEN CHALLENGE !!!!!
