Sometimes I forget that we’ve been here for over a month. When I look around and see how normal everything has become, I feel as if we’ve been here much longer.
We’ve come to realize that everyone nearby is somehow related to our host, Vuthy. We’re seeing familiar faces everywhere we go and making friends with so many of the locals. All of us are trying to memorize the names of the kids in our classes, but with some classes at 25+ students who sometimes come every other week, it’s a challenge.
Each of us have our own Khmer phases that we’ve learned and memorized. Of course, my concentration was on the numbers. It has definitely made shopping easier! I can count up to the thousands and then say “Thank you very much,” when we’re done.
About two weeks ago, I was riding in the tuk-tuk to get breakfast for the team. We met friends and students on the way and I realized we hit the “week three high.”
While on the Race last year, we normally had about four weeks in each country. Somewhere around week three or four, we would hit our routine for the month. We knew the best places to get internet, coffee, food in the markets, and street food. We had friends wherever we went. And sometime in those last few days, we would find the gem of the town. In Bolivia, it was the hidden American pizza place with free wifi (there was no wifi in Uyuni!).
I started going through very similar emotions to last year — things are just getting comfortable, I love the people we know, I love living here — but at the same time, I knew I wasn’t leaving anytime soon. It’s kind of funny how habitual we are. Since January of last year, I have been in a place no longer than 6 weeks, and the longest was home. My heart and mind were so accustomed to being in one place for less than a month, and then having to say goodbye. There’s only so much of your heart you want to give when you know that’s the case.
Even being home, I knew I was leaving soon, so I couldn’t invest in people the way I really wanted to. I know it seemed shallow, but with my heart already broken twelve times over, it was hard to walk into that again.
“How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day? … But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13:2, 5-6)
Thankfully, the Lord knows my heart and my desire to be close to my team and the Cambodians we do life with. We are here for another month and a half and the relationships we now have are getting closer. Since we know we have more time, there is less of an urgency to get to know each other. It’s more of a natural progression.
There’s a beauty to the friendships we’re making. And I’m learning what life looks like when I press in and press on.
