After about 30hrs of bus rides we made it to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We had some changes within our squad so team changes happened again. I am now on a team of 6 members known as “Davids’ Angels”. Four I have been on a team with before and one completely new member. Our team is David Weide, Dave and Kelsey Roberts, Sarah Cheung, Mary Pham, and I. Yeah that’s right, the one move I wouldn’t think they would do, they did. All 3 David’s on one team!
We live about 20km south of Phnom Penh. We are sharing a one room, one bathroom “house” on the property of the church. The church is actually a house that is used for a church. We have fans that circulate the near 100-degree humid air. Cold showers are great this month! We even have a small fridge! Every morning our natural alarm clock goes off starting at 5am. It consists of roosters crowing constantly, babies screaming, dogs barking, and motorcycles driving by on the road that is 10ft from my head. Earplugs help a little bit.
I am once again reminded of how blessed I have been and still am. We have been blessed so much with our accommodations the last several months I have forgotten how some of the other months have been. God has reminded me of this and to be grateful for what we do have. We have 3 fans when we could have none. We have running water and a shower. We could be using a well like Moldova and have bucket showers. We have a safe home with a roof. I could be sleeping in my tent like Romania.
At the end of last month I was able to help a girl with her English homework at the girl’s home. I enjoyed doing that and wished I could have helped more with that. Well guess what, this month we are teaching English. This is a little more overwhelming than helping with a homework assignment. But it has been good. In the mornings we teach English classes to children in nearby villages. In the evenings we split up and teach 3 different classes. We teach English for children, for young adults, and Bible Study English.
So far I have helped with the bible study English class. We read through a bible story and help them understand the story, the pronunciations, and the meanings of the words. I am realizing how much I need to restudy the English language! But we have a good time and the young adults are eager to learn both the stories and English. I have many teachers in my extended and immediate family back home. I guess I am now one too! We also are helping with regular bible studies at the church and in different villages throughout the week.
FUN FACT: Currency is 4,000 Reel to $1 USD
When you go to the ATM it gives USD. There are no coins in circulation. Everything is in US dollars unless it is under $1. Then it is in Reel. It is so weird to have USD in my wallet and no coins. We have been eating meals at “restaurants” since we have no kitchen to cook in. My favorite place to eat is right down the street. We get a plate of rice with some kind of meat/jerky, bowl of soup for only 3,000 Reel or $.75!
Well the world race is 11 countries in 11 months. When it is all said and done I think we have touched ground in 16-17 countries. But there also is a month 12. What happens in month 12? We go to possibly the strangest country. We might remember from almost a year ago when we stepped foot there. It may have changed some since we have left, but more importantly we have changed and therefore nothing will be the same. America will be another big culture shock for us. Nothing like we have grown accustom to in the past months. A country many of us will spend much more time in. Please keep us in your prayers for the coming months that we stay focused on our current priorities, and for the sometimes-overwhelming thoughts of what month 12 will look like for each of our ever-changing lives.
