Back in early September when we first arrived, this land seemed foreign. On our first tuk tuk ride we were ‘ooing’ and ‘awing’ at the new sights and unfamiliar smells. It seemed bizarre for this to be real life. We laughed as we said, more like shouted, “we are in Cambodia!” The homes looked so different, dirt covered the streets, I was alarmed by every honk and seeing little babies on mo-peds seemed shocking.
Over the course of the last few weeks ‘foreign’ has become not so foreign. This has become our usual, our home, what we expect each morn as we rise with the rooster crow (at 4am, 5am, 6am and 7am) It was weird as we were walking away from soccer for the last time, that we were really getting ready to say our goodbyes. And it doesn’t feel real. Just as I thought that it couldn’t feel real to finally be on the race, now it doesn’t feel real that month one is about to close.
It’s weird how something that seemed so different to your previous schedule and habits could be what becomes so familiar and normal.
As we rode on the tuk tuk yesterday; looking at faces and shops seemed like a blast from the past, all sights I had seen before. Smiling with people, smelling the ‘different’ scents, seeing their hard work in the shops, seeing people lounge as they enjoy their meals; has been a daily occurrence. Riding a tuk tuk even has become something that is expected. Don’t get me wrong these things are all still a fun and exciting, they just aren’t just so strange anymore.
Sweating while sitting, kids looking through our windows, taking a boat to ministry, listening to worship in a different language, taking a shower with cockroaches, playing with kids without the use of the same language, eating rice, teaching about the Bible in front of a group, having dirty feet 24/7, speaking in broken English, etc. the list goes on for what we have experienced and what became daily life for Cambodia.
And The moments of daily life are the things I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to forget Rosa’s smile when I greeted her, the walk to Thyvenn’s house chatting as a team, our times of laughter with the young people of the church, doing ministry with them at the villages, the walk to soccer through the puddles, the mud from kicking the ball, teaching English when I have no idea how to teach and all the faces that have greeted us with hope and joy.
Cambodia you’ve been good to me. You’ve taught me a lot, you’ve given be a jump start and began my understanding of what God has in store for me for this 11 month journey. You’re smiles have hit my heart and cheered me up when I felt tired. You’ve shared a warmth of hospitality out of all you have. You have shown your strength and revival from the history you endured. You have started this race off with great gusto.
I’m sad to say my goodbyes, but this not-so-foreign-land ain’t so foreign anymore. I’m delighted that this is only the beginning. We’ve got 10 more lands to be not-so-foreign. And I pray that although things can become usual, or expected, that I never loose my sense of awe and wonder of these new experiences. I pray that all moments are fresh and I approach them with excitement and wonder. I pray that we all have these experiences, that our daily life can bring! I pray we seek His blessings in the normalcy or the uniqueness of every day!
Thanks for reading!
Until Thailand,
Katie
