Second day of ministry in Cambodia, we are picked up by our tuk tuk and motorcycle to head to ministry. We dont know where we are going, just that we are going to a school and possibly playing/teaching English/talking about Jesus/Teaching personal hygene to the kids. We arrive at the school, sit for a bit, look at these adorable nuggets and wait for someone, anyone really, to translate and tell us what we are doing. Finally we find out we will play some games in the morning, work on hand washing and some of the kids will be getting haircuts (not by us, which we didnt understand at first but then they introduced us to the lady who would be doing it and then we understood).
I took the older kids to the “field” with James and had this awesome idea of teaching them ultimate frisbee. Which I soon found out was utter kaos, until it clicked with the one of the guys who speaks no english whatsoever (but apparently understands some) and he comes over and explains it to the kids. It wound up being an awesome game and the kids had a blast.
Time for handwashing and haircuts. So naturally I bring out the speakers (courtesy of my teammates) because I have some fun songs to dance to with the kids who are waiting. But I soon find out that they stopped doing everthing because they were so distracted by the Americans dancing. Its ok, we kept dancing. =)
Lunch time!!! The food has been so good in Cambodia so far. The best on the race, in my teams opinion. So we are excited when we hop in the tuk tuk to go to where we will eat. As we gather around the table I look over and see something fried. YES! Fried chicken!….. they bring it over… NO, fried frog, fried whole frog!! (Nobody make a face, nobody make a face, we are grateful, they made us food, don’t look scared out of your mind!!) Come to find out, someone on your team mentioned to the pastor that he may want to”try a little bit” of frog. Well, we tried it. Thats right, we ate frog. You know the saying “You Only Live Once,” well we live by the saying “You Only World Race Once” #YOWRO
We head back to the school. Thinking we are going to do one big presentation for all the kids about a story in the bible (we even practiced a bit). But in true World Race fashion, plans were changed last minute. So we split up into two groups, one taught English (thats my group) and the other did the bible study lesson. In my session we worked on conversational English: hi, whats your name, how are you, how old are you? And naturally, the kids looked at me like I had ten heads. No biggie, im a month 6 racer, im used to it. After sessions the kids all sang us some songs, which was ADORABLE!! They then asked us to sing and dance for them, and we froze. “Ahhh we had no plans for this, what do we do?” “What song should we do?” “I dont know, do you know a song thats good?” “Nope, how about you?” “Maybe, do you know this song?” “Not all the words. Can we do just the chorus?” “Yes, ok, lets do it.” Good times on the race.
The day was going great up until this point, but now my name is being screamed out by a bunch of people. I hear “Shannon!!” “Where’s Shannon?” From some of my teammates. They point to the main road and say a guy just crashed his motorcycle right there. I run over and see this kid, yes kid (im old now so i can say that =) ) with blood all over and dripping down his face, staggering to walk. I knew i went through EMT training for a reason, to be able to help when things like this happen. It was an experience and a half. We got this kid (I soon found out he was 18) to a local doctor, but he needed the hospital. Definitely a concussion, possible broken jaw, multiple deep lacerations that needed stitches. The only thing is, his family could not afford to have him go, let alone get him there. I believe this to be a God moment (long moment) for many reasons. Number 1, we were at a different school the day before, God made sure i was at this particular school, ay this paticular time to help. Number 2, the kid should have been a lot worse than what he was. those who saw him crash described it to me and it was bad. Number 3, the Lord made it so that there were people around who would help, or had the means to call other Cambodians willing to support this family and get this young man to the hospital. Before this help was established the family was not going to bring him to the hospital
I stuggled with this for a bit because it makes you think about how many people suffer more than they have to or dont get the medical care they need because “they cant afford it.” Things like this happens in the US but its so evident out in third world countries. Theres such a high fatality rate or people becoming disabled when all they needed was appropriate medical care. Its just a reality people in these countres face, and although i see them work hard to avoid things like this, its also inevitable.
Needless to say after this ordeal, i took a shower when i got back to the place we are staying, then walked down the road for a $.25 donut, and a $1 blended iced coffee. (Thanks Cambodia for having cheap and yet awesome food). I was also going to post my awaiting blogs, write one more, and talk to some family and friends. the coffee place normally has spectaular wifi in addition to the slushies/blended coffee. Not today. Another typical World Race moment.
I decide to leave and head to the fried rice place which also has wifi and sit there till my blog is written and all 3 blogs (yes, 3. I’m a slacker in the blog department, I know) are posted. I started typing and soon look up to see Debbie walk in. She tells me she saw two white people on the side of the street hitch hiking. I dont know why but its always a big deal in other countries when we see other white people, I guess because it means the locals are staring at others in addition to us ( kidding……sort of)
She says she wished she went over to talk to them to find out what they are doing in these parts but she did not. Not even a minute later they walk into the fried rice place, see us and we start talking. Long story short, awesome couple, been traveling by land and sea for 9 month together, no hostels, only tents, and are circumnavigating the globe. He is from Texas, she is from England. They were planning on leaving that night to head to Siem Reap but decided to stay one night in this little town so that we could get coffee the next morning with the rest of my team, do a bible study and just talk some more.
It was an awesome way to end the day. I was in a funk from thinking about the young man and all those who are severely impacted by having no money and poor health care and God goes, “Nope, stay positive. Heres some people i want you to get to know.”
Just an ordinarily, random, odd, fun, stressful, sad, happy, crazy, blessed, day on the race!!!!
