You never know what you are going to get out of a world race month. Coming in to Phnom Penh, our ministry description was especially vague. We did not even know where we would be, much less what we’d be doing. On night one, hour one, our contact informed me that we were going to a small village that had some intense flooding; and, in fact, a group of missionaries had tried to brave the flooding in a van that very morning and been swept away to their deaths. Any imaginations about a monotonously boring month quickly flew out the window.
A few hours later, we were on our way to Prey Veng. It was a “Day of the Dead” holiday in Cambodia and we got stuck in line for the ferry for about twelve hours. When we finally crossed the river, it was night. After getting to the other side, we drove for a while and then our van pulled over in the middle of nowhere. The elevated road was the only dry area for as far as we could see, which was not very far in the incredible darkness. Some boats (long wooden canoes with motors) pulled to the edge of the road and we loaded up and set out in to the darkness. This was probably the most surreal experience on the race; heading out in to the darkness, hovering over a flood that had recently claimed lives, excitedly leaning toward remote areas to be Jesus to the world. We made it a few minutes later to the other side (having to wade through knee-deep water the last little bit).
A few days later, we were on our way to lead church on Sunday morning and came across the exact crossing where the people had drowned. The water was about three feet high but was rushing past the road quite quickly. We were in a van and not a boat this time, and the speedy water was decidedly more dangerous than the stillness we glided across to enter Prey Veng. As the locals discussed whether we could pass, I had already decided to pull my Team Leader veto card if necessary. Luckily, they decided not to risk it and that conversation was avoided.
During the couple weeks we were in Prey Veng village, we scraped and painted, and played with the children there, and then scraped and painted some more. I saw insects I’ve never dreamed of before, some pretty cool. One time I had a huge spider in my shirt sleeve; not at all cool. There was also loud music and weird trance-zombie-like dancing happening in the streets for the day of the dead festival. The church there is not especially received, so there is a constant danger of having rocks thrown at us or music being blared to drown out our ministry efforts. It was especially nerve-inducing when Justin got Typhoid and had to go back to Phnom Penh with Kyle and our contact Daniel, leaving just me and the girls, with a few translators, on the culmination days of the festival (therefore, the most dangerous).
It wasn’t particularly safe, but it was good. So good. We are back in Phnom Penh now, without any instances to report. Justin is over Typhoid and ministry went without a hitch. Chelsey got to teach some self-defense classes to the women and our ministry time with the kids grew every day we did it (there were nearly 70 the last day, which makes for an exciting tug-of-war match). This is what I thought the world race would be, going to places that others dare not, being unafraid in the face of danger, being excited as we boat out in to the darkness, staring down disease and insects, and hoping against hope that our lives will make a difference in the community.
sidebar: the landscape, when the water receded is unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is incredible!
Please keep our team in your prayers. We have a couple days in the big city of Phnom Penh and then are heading out again to another village (less dangerous than the first, but still remote) and in to the Muslim area of the country. We have ten more days in Cambodia and they will not be easy.
(Team Ampersand, on our last day, when the flooding had gone down. This tree was almost completely submerged when we boated in).
