We arrived in Phnom Penh Cambodia on the 15th of January where we stayed together as a squad for one night before launching out into our different ministry locations. As we had been preparing to leave Phuket, I had desperately hoped that our destination in Cambodia would be a rural one. Phuket was westernized and tourist oriented and I certainly enjoyed the amenities. I’m thankful for my time there BUT living in the country without power and electricity is like a breath of fresh air. It’s something I’ve come to enjoy very much. True to form, God knew exactly what I needed this month and gave it to me. We’re living here just 45 minutes outside of the city in a very small village. There is a small building that we stay in…me and a few others have pitched our tents in the front yard. I get to fall asleep every evening with Orion in view and watch him move across the sky during the few times I may wake up overnight. We do not have electricity or running water. Our communal hang out and eating area is at the local “coffee shop.” This is an open air shack of sorts with tables for dining and two TVs that run off of a generator. Locals come to sit and watch television around breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are several families that live in this shop. On the opposite end of the shop is a classroom where we teach English. This shack is also where our bathroom is located. It is about 50 yards from where we sleep. There is a porcelain squatty potty and a large basin of water. This is where we do our business and bucket shower. This small space serves as a bathroom for our 2 World Race teams, the coffee shop and the families that live there.
We are able to charge electronics when the generator is on. However, the first 3-4 days that we were here, the generator was broken. It was very peaceful. There were no blaring televisions in the corner shop (there are two TVs that they run full volume at the same time).
It is in the upper 80s/early 90s every day…and with no electricity comes no air conditioning or fans. So, we sweat it out. I continue a habit I picked up in the Philippines…dousing myself with cool water every hour on the hour. Last month, I would literally hop in the shower with my clothes on…wetting your clothes and hair keeps you cooler longer.
A Day in the Life:
We have breakfast every morning at 8am. This consists of eggs with vegetables or pastries or bread with $.25 iced coffee! Lunch and dinner are usually rice, some vegetables, sometimes fries and always fruit. Then we either play with kids during their recess from 9-11a or cut bamboo and work on constructing a fence on some nearby land. At noon, we are served lunch and then on alternating days, we either teach English in one hour increments from 1-4p or go to a nearby orphanage and do manual labor in their garden. Dinner is usually served between 5-6 p and then from 7-8p we lead a devotion.
That is life here! I am loving it!
The past two months we’ve been in Asia have been our first experiences in countries where Christianity is the minority. Buddhism dominates the people and the culture here. Honestly, I haven’t been a part of, heard about or seen any dramatic conversion stories or seen someone’s life completely change. I have, however, had the privilege and the honor of working alongside and encouraging local Christians. They are few and are often the only people in their family who know Jesus. They need encouragement, prayer and help in the work they’re doing. I know the work we’ve been doing here has planted seeds in the lives of those we have interacted with, no matter what they believe. The Asian Christians are a minority and being able to speak life into them and work alongside them has been totally worth the time and money being here.
Hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures once we get to Malaysia!
