Hey, everyone! Sooo
this was basically the message that I sent to several of my friends and family
earlier this week.
~~~~
“I feel like I’m
pestilence alive and walking right now. I’m pretty sure I have over 100
mosquito and ant bites right now and that number grows exponentially by the
hour. I have had a cough and cold since arriving in Cambodia. I’m developing a
double ear infection. I got a spider bite that is infected (and my Spidey
powers haven’t shown up yet… what the heck?!). I’ve developed a boil in my left
armpit. I’m lethargic and tired but I can’t sleep through the night. Right now,
my head is stuffed up. All I want to do is leave this country… and that’s not
how I’m supposed to feel. I feel like crying but if I cry then I won’t be able
to breathe cuz of this stupid cold that won’t go away. Oh yeah, and did I mention?
I discovered that I have lice again this morning. Marvelous. I love my
life.
I’m
tired. I’m sick of being sick. I’m sick of being itchy all over and constantly
having bugs crawling over me. I will never take for granted again clean water,
clean running water, clean running hot water. I won’t take for granted no
mosquitoes, or having fewer than five bites at a time. I won’t take for granted
good health or not having little bugs crawling all over my scalp and pooping
and laying eggs on it. Ew!
I
really just want to scream. AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!!�
~~~~
Yesterday, our
contacts wife sat down for over two hours and picked every louse egg out of my
hair. Her sister and my teammates brought me amoxicillin that has kicked in and
is doing a great job of beating up all the infections. One of the nurses on my
team filled me with Midol and Benadryl so that I was able to sleep through the
night and wake up feeling almost healthy! I sprayed and washed my clothes,
pillow, and sleeping bag and hopefully, will remain lice-free for the remainder
of my days. I woke up feeling so full of life and joy at just feeling GOOD!
It’s crazy how alive you feel when you’re healthy. Thanks so much everyone for
your prayers! I really appreciate them 🙂
Sooo now a bit more
about what I’ve actually been doing this month. My team is staying at a women’s
compound run by Teen Challenge. The women have been addicted to various
substances and living on the street before they were brought here to attend a
year-long program to get them off drugs, teach them a trade, and get them on
their feet. A few of the women have younger kids that live with them here. Our
job has been to assist in teaching a morning preschool class for those three,
plus four more from the nearby village. We’ve also done many long, leisurely
walks, praying for the land and people, singing praises over it, and having
some great getting-to-know-you talks that have really helped build our team. As
part of my specific ministry, I’ve been given the task of tutoring our
contact’s son Daniel in English every weekday afternoon. It’s been so
incredible to see the changes in the spirit of the women and children over the
course of the few weeks that we’ve been here. The women have become more
energetic and helpful, and I see new life shining out of their eyes. The kids
used to fight all the time but now, well, they still fight but there is much
less cursing of each other and every so often, quiet reigns. They’re getting
much more responsible and behaving better and helping to look out for each
other. It’s awesome!
The compound is
only an acre but my team has been given our own building that contains four
rooms and our own bathroom. We have been able to purchase two mosquito nets and
repellant coils to keep some of the bugs away (I’m pretty sure the mosquitoes
have developed immunity to all our devices though). We originally only had
“pond� water to bathe in (it’s really standing swamp water that our toilets and
showers drain into) but that has thankfully changed to a tank of rainwater. The
food is delicious and brings to mind foods from Chinese buffets only tastier
because everything is fresh (I do have a tendency to pick out the vegetables
and leave the meat, as my teammates have discovered). And we have fruit for
dessert! Which I’m finding to be an acceptable substitute for ice cream. In
fact, I think my stomach is beginning to reach the point where it doesn’t like
processed foods anymore… this could be bad for when I get home. Our team has
grown much closer over this month, with each other and also with God. I’ve seen
such growth in the women on my team! And in myself as well. This month has been
a lot of time learning to be – be content, be still, be restful and at peace
wherever God has placed me, and definitely learning to take joy in all
circumstances.
God is so good! Keep praying for my team,
especially for health and continued growth.
