Maybe I haven’t been so good about telling you what it is really like here.
The stories that no pictures can do justice.
Like tonight. It is our third day at ministry in Cambodia and I already feel emmursed in the culture. Becca, Nikki and I were at University of the Nations in Spein Neik, teaching English and the power went out. Classes ended because we were just sitting in the dark and getting eaten alive by mosquitos. So we started the 15 minute ride back to the place we are staying, in the dark. Like I said, no picture could do this justice. It couldn’t capture the bikes rushing by me on either side, the sound of my bike chain squeaking with every turn of my only peddle, the smell of the piles of trash burning as we passed different villages. It couldn’t capture the honks and bells of cars trying to get by without any system or order. It couldn’t capture me trying to doge the potholes and rocks under the moonlight.
Even now, with no power still, I am typing this with my headlamp on the “red” setting so I don’t get attacked by mosiquotes, pausing every couple of lines trying to cool myself down by fanning myself with this souvenir fan I got for 75 cents at the market. These are the memories I will think back to next time I’m in the states and the power goes out. I’ll think back to the time I biked home when the majority of this city lost power, trying not to get hit by the unguided traffic. But this is what makes me feel like I am on the world race. This are the things that make this journey fun.
These are the moments that make me realize how thankful I am for the small things. Things like air conditioning. Things like reliable power. Things like a bike lane. Things like helmets and two bike peddles.
I’ll tell you more stories one day.
Remind me to tell you the story of the Fetchaboon Festival. The story about the elevator in the airport. The story about the sleepover at the University. The story of the trip to the Cambodian boarder.
P.S Here is a look at the ministry we are serving at this month, it is amazing!
University of the Nations: Cambodia with Funkie and Hya
Pray for connections with the students and for our safety as we bike around the city.
Love,
ASH
