Love, love, love these beautiful children. I only saw them on Sundays, but they kept me entertained at church.
Our surprise to the youth: a trip out to the mall for a scoop of ice cream. Apparently they don’t do this too often.
Ankor Wat: One of the wonders of the world. A teammate and I ran out to it one morning when we were together as a squad in Siem Reap. Another morning a group of us went and toured around the temples.
We were here for the King’s birthday, which meant a three day weekend. Yeah! We headed for the beach! Even though it was rainy season, we had a great time. Note the green lawn chairs are in about 3 inches of water. Like icicles back home, look at the sheets of water pouring off the roof. When it rains, it pours.
Our really good friend Ty showed us around a lot when we weren’t in class or at church.
Spirit houses are everywhere in Cambodia and Thailand. A lot of people place offerings at them in the mornings or burn incense to keep the spirits happy. We really enjoyed the irony of the “House for Rent” sign on this particular spirit house.
Here’s my team (minus me) headed into the Sovanna Shopping Center. This place was a $2 tuk tuk ride from where we lived. We’d stock up on groceries here and eat at the food court sometimes.
Here’s our team with our contact, Jeff, and his wife Channy and their baby Caleb.
This morning was so much fun. We jumped into a tuk tuk at 4am and went over to the Olympic Stadium, which is in the center of Phnom Penh. From 5-7am, hundreds of locals turn out and do aerobics and run around the track. It was so much fun. We watched the sunrise too from the top of the stadium. Our local friends Ty and Piseth took us!
I discovered this wonderful little bakery on one of my morning runs earlier in the month. The aroma of fresh bread brought me here and I ran to it every morning. There were a few days we went there twice. Over the course of three weeks, we bought dozens and dozens of delicious treats. Simple pleasures at a cost of between 13 and 25 cents.
Taking the youth to get ice cream at the mall; we were clapping, singing and racing the whole way there.
My team and one of our faithful students!
This was one of my favorite gals. We barely could communicate with each other but she had such a sweet spirit. God really placed her on my heart and I will continue to think and pray for her even though I'm not there anymore.
These were our students but they became our friends. Tears were shed our last night there!
The most adorable, smart little girl out there! Absolutely loved her!
Two of the students, who we became dear friends with, surprised us with flowers at the airport the day we were flying out! Neither of them had been to the airport before so they ventured across the city just to say goodbye.
This country may have beaches comparable to Thailand and an ancient wonder of the world, but I HEART Cambodia because of the sweetness of the people! This country has been through a lot but the future is in these amazing youth!
We have arrived in Malaysia and I'm LOVING living in the Little India portion of our city! See the next blog!
