How can it be that in just two weeks I will be home? I can’t even attempt to explain to you how much this fact blows my mind. In comparison to the 250ish days I’ve spent living across the world from you lovely people, 14 days is going to go by in just a quick blink of an eye. With this fact comes so many mixed emotions though. I am so excited to go home but I’m also so sad to leave my life here in Cambodia. I have absolutely fallen in love with this country and the people I am grateful to call my friends.
Here’s a few of the things I love in this country:
1. I love how some of the women here wear matching pajama sets 24/7.
2. I love riding my bicycle and the memories I’ve made on the streets of Siem Reap.
3. I love when I can bring a smile to someone’s face. Whether that be via tickling and goofing around with the kids in the village or at preschool, high-5ing random strangers, or attempting to say something in Khmer resulting in the locals laughing at me.
4. I love $1 smoothies, dried mangos, baby bananas, fried coconut balls, and of course $1.50 foot massages.
5. I love tuktuks and the tuktuk drivers.
6. I love joining all of the tourists in Pub Street at night and sticking out like a sore thumb with my awful dancing and lack of fashionable clothing.
7. I love how if I’ve met someone once they’ll remember me and say hello to me every time they see me after that.
8. I love how this country refuses to let its past define it.
9. I love all 11 of my preschoolers and their desire to learn.
10. I love air conditioning. Any break I get from this insane heat is truly a gift from God himself. Praise him for air con!
11. I love meeting missionaries that have come here from SO many different countries. America, Philippines, Singapore, China, Brazil, Denmark, Russia, India, South Korea, Switzerland, South Africa, and I’ve probably met people from even more.
12. I love my Filipino host brothers. Paul and Joshua. Thanks for giving up your bedroom for us girls. XOXO
13. I love talking with Monks. They’re just normal people and some of them are so funny! PS. Don’t let the tiger tats scare you…
14. I love the unity Khmer New Year brought between locals and everyone else. There is something to say about the unity felt from city-wide water gun and baby powder fights.
*. I’ll stop here, but I can promise you that if I had enough time, I could probably come up with 9865447 more.
My heart breaks to know that I will be leaving this country that I love so much. I will be so excited to see all of you and return home but I will be leaving a bit of my heart in this country. Please give me patience as I learn what my new normal looks like. I have been forever changed by these past 9 months. Whether we like it or not, I am coming back a completely different person. I am coming back with new family members from all around the world, new friends, new outlooks, and a completely changed relationship with God.
Please be praying for me as I go into my last week in Cambodia. Pray for overflowing joy and endless endurance to cuddle my sweet students and village friends.
Also, please begin to pray for me as I transition into going home and leaving this phase of my life. It is going to be a huge adjustment! Please pray that my time on the race will show to only be a starting block for the long journey of faith that I see God bringing me into. The world race is coming to an end, but my desire to know God and to make him known never will.
I love you all so so much and I truly can’t wait to see and hug you all.
I look forward to telling you all of my stories and trying to explain to you the experiences that have completely changed my life.
XOXO,
See you soon!
