Heat+Musty+Humidity+Bathroom = A recipe for…??

      
       So after a 17 hour travel day (14 hours of riding in a bus and 3 hours of standing in line at the border), we finally made it to Phnom Pehn (the capital) here in Cambodia.  Traveling on The World Race is always interesting.  Whether it’s cramming twenty five people into a small van in Africa, loading seven people on a tric motorcycle in the Philippines, or hanging off the back of a truck in Thailand, on The World Race it’s never a dull moment when it comes to travel.  In the case of traveling to Cambodia we had people sitting, and sleeping, in the aisles on the bus due to a slight four seat shortage.  I had the opportunity to be one of those lucky people for part of the day on this travel day.  Located in the extreme back end of the bus, I was able to make a little seat for myself, in an area that everyone kept referring to as the closet.  It was nice.  The smell was a little musty but it was manageable.  But my spot being located directly behind the bathroom and soon, as you can imagine, heat+musty+humidity+bathroom+more heat = a recipe for…well…let’s just say a much longer bus ride…haha…oh well, that how things go sometimes and you just have to learn to enjoy whatever the situation may be. 

       The following day we took a van about another 1 ½ hours northwest of Phnom Pehn to reach our ministry location.  It’s beautiful here but for the first time we are missing ALL the basics that we often had, or could find, at other ministry locations.  No electricity (excluding a generator for a few hours each night), nearest internet is 1 ½ hours away, and no running water (back to the bucket baths…good thing I had lots of practice in Africa…smile…wink).  How’s the weather here?  Hot and humid and without fans to blow on us at night it makes it even more so.  Mosquitos?  Everywhere.  It seems like I have five of them flying around me continually, but thankfully they don’t carry malaria in this area and they don’t seem to like my blood much, unlike my other teammates who look like walking bug bites at times.  Although things could be a little better in the physical, don’t be misled, it could never take away the amazing beauty of the people and the landscape. 

 

       Surrounded by rice fields and the Mekong River, I am seeing things you only see in pictures or movies.  Elaina and I took a boat out into the one of the small ponds by the rice fields and it was an amazing experience….especially when we jumped into the warm shallow water just for the fun of it.
Our team rode old school, and I mean old school, bicycles through backstreet dirt roads so that we could visit the homes of the few believers here in the village (dont' worry, I put a shirt on before ministry…what where you thinking??…haha…smile)….fun … fun …fun.  Have I mentioned that I have an amazing team of people that I am serving with on The World Race?  I don’t think I do them enough justice as I just don’t mention them enough in my blogs.  I will try to do a better job of that but for now let me just say I am a blessed man to be able to spend time with them.

       Well, if you are reading this blog then we have been able to buy a wireless modem and as such I hope to get more blogs up soon.  My final support deadline is quickly approaching (only 8 days till the final deadline on February 1^st ) and ……I have received a tremendous amount of support (more to come on that VERY SOON) leaving me only with $888 to raise…however…I have an understanding from one of my teammates the I should be expecting a donation any day now to cover that amount!!!!!  That is amazing!!!  I will keep all informed of any changes as they come in.  Also, those awesome team mates I mentioned earlier, particularly Brian Berrelez, could really use your financial support.  Would you please consider supporting them?  I can’t imagine them having go home as God is doing an amazing job in them and through them. You can find a link to their blog on the bottom left of my blog where it says “Meet My Team”.  Thank you.

       I love you all and am so blessed to be out here in the nations serving as a representative for you as you support me thought your continual prayer and financial support.  I know you would love to be here yourself but until then I will try to give you some good pictures of things you can look forward to. Thank you for your comments on my blogs and most of all your prayers. 

Serving Him
Billy