I’ve had the great opportunity to experience many different parts of life here in Cambodia in the last few days. Thursday and Friday, Emilie, Annie and I got to help out another team that’s working at an orphanage. On Thursday I helped take the kids to the water park. It was a blast, I’ve never seen children enjoy a water park so much.
(Kids at the Water Park, taken by Annie Bower)
(photo by Annie Bower anniebower.theworldrace.org)
(Me with the kids at the Water Park, they were a great group!)
Friday I stayed back at the orphanage and played with the kids, while a different group went to the water park. The children were precious. I had a great conversation with one of the 16 year old girls. She explained to me that the two boys I was most attached to were new, one had been living at the orphanage for 4 months and the other had been living there for 1 month. When I asked if the new boys were ever sad, she said that they were very sad and that at times she was also sad.
(With the kids at the orphanage, the girl on the left is the one I talked to for a long time and the two boys in red shirts are both new to the orphanage.)
Saturday started at 5 am, we agreed to go out to the Kompongtong Song province with some of the students from Hope Education Center. When we loaded in the vans, the guys informed us that it would be a 4 hour drive. Before this trip an 8 hour day trip would seem like a lot, now it just seems like a normal day. Thankfully it only took us 3 hours to get there, a relatively quick trip.
(Our friends from Hope Education Center who took us to the provance)
We visiting a new ministry, with an awesome vision to develop students, and share the gospel, through teaching English, helping with medical treatment, and doing computer training. Emilie and I led a Bible study on leadership to a group of students. They were wonderful and I enjoyed the morning!
(With the leadership students)
After that we had lunch at Sopheap (our guide’s) house. His family made us quite a feast, it was delicious and I really enjoyed getting to know more about Cambodian culture. After the meal one of our guides asked what we though about a specific dish. I had assumed it was chicken; it was my favorite of all the foods so I told him that. Then he answered and told me that it was actually frog. I never though I would eat frog, and like it, but this year is all about trying new things.
(Sopheap’s family at lunch inside the house)
(Sopheap’s house, where we had lunch. All the houses are built on stilts due to flooding)
(Lunch, check out all that food, including frog)
(Eating Cambodian style on the floor)
Tomorrow my teammates and I leave for 4 days in Vietnam. I’m really looking forward our trip! Please pray for safe travels and a fun time!
(Sopheap and one of the kids from his family at the pond where they raise fish)
