Pics, things and Peeps That I will remember from Cambodia!

Here are some stories, people and things that stick out from my time in Cambodia over the last month.  It has been an incredible month and the Lord has given me an unbelievable amount of opportunities to build relationships and see Him at work all over the place from those who have little to those who have much.  He is changing lives and capturing hearts and is clearly the God of this city no matter what cultural history says.  Cambodia has been claimed for Christ and a generation of believers is rising up.  Highlights from Cambodia…in no particular order.

 

1. Waffles on the corner for about .10 – Seriously these are some of the best waffles I have ever had and you can buy them from this sweet lady around the corner from where we lived.  She had a little griddle over coals and a smile on her face.  We communicated well by the end of the month.  One of my favorite things to do overseas is try the street food, especially when we are told not too 🙂  You can find pretty much anything on the street…more on that later.  It’s all about the experience and the fact that I can eat breakfast for .20 is pretty sweet.

2.  Coffee and other drinks in a bag – When you live in a country that the avg temp is about 100 degrees, ice coffee quickly becomes a staple drink.  The trick is to drink it before the ice melts because well you don’t know what the ice will do to you.   Also in Cambodia I discovered sweet milk in coffee and I’m not sure I will ever turn back to creamer or real milk because it is heavenly.  You also can get coke, sugar cane juice and many other beverages in bag over here.  Oh and it costs .25!!!

 

3.  Mark Kove and the fam – This is the family who planted the church we have been living and working at for the last month.  Each of them has an incredible testimony.   Mark and I taught an English class together, but that isn’t what sticks out about him.  Mark’s life hasn’t been easy.  Three years ago he had an accident doing construction and was told he would never walk again.  A wall collapsed on him and broke his back.  He was angry and didn’t understand why God would allow this happen.  As he wrestled with the Lord and began to give it over, accept what had happened and have faith that God could heal him, God moved.  Today Mark walks…with God Mark has conquered things the world told him would never be possible.  God used this incident to draw Mark back to himself and though it stripped Mark of much of his life, he is thankful.  He is pursuing the Lord wholeheartedly and desires to be used by Him.  His testimony spoke volumes to me this month and I will not forget him. 

 

4.  New kinds of bathrooms – I can’t say I loved these, but I do love this picture.  These are called squattie potties and Blair was kind enough to give a demonstration of how to use these wonderful toilets.  Most public places where these exist they cost money to use…I’m not sure if we are paying the owner of this facility or a random person on the street who has decided to charge people for use of public bathrooms.

 

5.  Transportation – I’m not really a city girl and I don’t think I’ll ever end up in a big city like we lived in this month.  However, I can honestly say I fell in love with the transportation in this city.  The main forms are motos or tuk tuks.  A tuk tuk is bascially a carriage hooked to the back of a moto and is quite relaxing.  It also helped that our tuk tuk driver Don pictured to the left was an incredible man of God who constantly texted us reminding us of God’s love.  He truly loved and served us with the heart of Jesus.  We were blessed!

 

6.  Water of Life and the women from Cali – This was the other ministry we worked with in Cambodia.  The website is worth checking out for sure.  Randy is basically the Mary Poppins of Cambodia as his hand is involved and at work in so many different things.  From his ministry at the dump with education and medical clinics, to loving on orphans, to going out to provinces and preaching the gospel, this man has given up his life to make a difference for Christ in this nation.  He had a team of women in from California who we were able to serve alongside and all I can say is blessed beyond belief.  We serve a God that loved us and reminded us of His call on our lives through these mom’s…He brought us together on the other side of the world and their stories will stay with me forever. 

 

7. Tarantulas, Beetles, Grasshoppers, Snakes and more! – Yup you read right, we have had the opportunity to try these things and more!  Here’s Natalie and I chowing down on some tarantula legs.  I have also tried a beetle (which may have been a cockroach).  The fruits in this country are quite interesting too.  In fact one we tried named Durian is prohibited from our hotel due to the smell.  This fruit looks like a porcupine and tastes like squash and onions and smells like a sewer.

 

8.  Cows climbing up a Mountain – I like to refer to this place as a Hibachi grill in Cambodia although my team kind of looks at me like I’m crazy.  I mean it’s a grill and you cook your food, veggies and steak and it’s dirt cheap and tastes great.  I mean it’s a grill and you cook your veggies and meat, it’s dirt cheap and tastes great.  Our fun friends Dan and Son Paul from YWAM introduced us to it!  Definitely a cultural experience that I highly recommend.

 

9.  Orphans – I continue to be amazed everywhere I go how much these children capture my heart and through their smiles, hugs and simple words.  I am reminded of my heavenly Father’s love for me every time I am around them.  They challenge me to be playful, to be spontaneous and to have an authentic childlike faith.  These children depend on the Lord for everything and He daily shows up as their Jehovah Jireh.  This little guy Hen captured my heart at CHA. 

10.  And of course our students – This month I taught English a lot.  There are too many students to list, but their faces and their stories will stay with me forever.  I don’t think I realized how much teaching English is a tool to reach this world for Christ.  God moves in the little things, the things all of us are capable of doing to bring glory to His name and draw people to Himself.  Below are some of my friends.