I am not a morning person. That is no secret. But what is worth getting up at 4:45 am...?
This group.
This group.
complete with hammocks
Monday, February 20, 2012
Small group fun...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Moving Forward...
Three mornings a week, I have made it my personal "mission" to build the patience of this dear boy...
This is Pannha (pronounced Pahn-nyah). This picture is from one of the Friendship Camps we led for the English students and it was in the middle of a game. I am hoping he is not so tired-looking when he teaches me. Pannha is my Khmer tutor and my friend. He also is the pastor's cousin and he comes to eat dinner at the house pretty much every night. And since I live with the pastor, I have had countless meals with him and a few other people. I think part of the beauty of our friendship is that we laugh and joke around with each other, which makes learning all the more fun...ok, not painful is maybe a better way to put it ;-)
Some days I read in Khmer and then I have to translate into English. Some days we learn vocabulary lists (that is NOT my favorite). Some days we do a grammar lesson from my book. Some days we just talk about random stuff. Some days...we do all the above. And all of the days require perseverance from both of us!! I have been very impressed with him as I struggle through words. He has to repeat himself a lot...partly because I don't know the words and partly because he SO speaks fast and I don't listen quite that fast.
The new method of learning is actually getting me to speak Khmer to more than just him! This is helpful since there are a lot more people to talk to than Pannha ;-) On Sunday afternoons, I teach a small group. Up 'til now, I have done the lessons and Sophea, the pastor, has translated for me. From here on out, though, I am going to be leading the group without him.
{{insert a wee bit of panic}}
In an effort to prepare myself for this...and to accomplish the goal I set out to getting over my fear and being able to speak the language...I decided that I would start teaching part of my lesson in Khmer. We read a Bible passage and I ask some processing questions to get the students to think and answer. My idea was to at least ask the questions in Khmer.
So Pannha and I worked on translating the questions during my tutoring times and come Sunday, I told them at the beginning of the meeting that I was going to ask the questions in Khmer. I had to tell them ahead of time or I would chicken out and not actually do it. I would be frustrated and disappointed in myself that I didn't try. Thus the announcement. Because then they would hold me accountable. It came time for the questions and I did it!! They didn't sound pretty or eloquent, but they were in Khmer and they all understood what I was asking!
Mini success!
I have since prepared the questions for this coming Sunday's lesson...and have upped the ante by writing out the closing prayer too. I have to practice reading the stuff a lot before Sunday. I write it all out in Khmer rather than phonetically -- which I must say is a skill in and of itself. So since my reading takes a little effort, I need to prepare a little more than usual.
I realize this picture isn't the clearest (I used my phone), but I will take other pictures of my writing another time. This just gives you an idea of what I am working with here ;-)
Thank you for your continued prayers for my language skills...I need them!!
Monday, February 06, 2012
New Vocabulary...
This is a nail.
Nails belong in wood.
Nails do NOT belong in my car tire.
Nails belong in wood.
Nails do NOT belong in my car tire.
This evening while I was teaching my English class, one of my friends poked her cute little head in the door and called me to come outside. This is pretty abnormal and I was a little concerned by the look on her face, so I excused myself from the class for a minute to find out what was wrong. Here is sorta how the conversation went.
Dina: "Your car. Biy gong. You know?"
Heather (with a very confused face): "I'm sorry. What?"
{I should mention that "gong" is the word for bike, thus the confusion to have it in reference to my car}
Dina: "Your car. gong."
{repeat the first couple lines a few times}
Heather: "Something about a bike and my car, but I don't understand. A bike hit my car?"
Dina: "Yes."
Heather: "Is someone hurt? Is my car ok?"
Dina: "No, your car is not ok."
At this point, I am kinda at a loss because I have no idea how a bike could hit and damage my car...it was parked and should have been ok where it was. I told her I needed to finish my class and I would come down soon. The whole next 30 minutes, all I could think about was my car and confused as to how this all played out downstairs. When I ended class, I was met by a number of different people, all trying to speak Khmer to me {another reminder that I HAVE to learn this language!!} and explain to me what happen. I am sure I had one of the most confused faces ever seen because they would stop me about every 5 feet to say something else about it...and then someone else would come up and try to explain more. I kept saying that I just needed to get out of the gate so I could see what had happened. As I walked up to my car, I saw that my front tire was flat.
{{Insert MORE confusion!!}}
I kept asking over and over again, "How does a bike do this? Who was riding the bike? Where did they go? How did it deflate my tire? I don't understand." My questions were not really given any answers that made sense to me...they just kept saying something about "biy kgong"...biy means three...so now there wasn't just one bike but three bikes that made my tire go flat!! Needless to say I was pretty well confused. They were looking at me pretty confused too. At some point in the madness, a thought dawned on me that maybe I wasn't understanding the Khmer words. I think they had the same realization at the same time. One of them pointed at the tire and said "gong" and a light went on over my head.
The word for tire is also (inconveniently) "gong" as well!!
There were not three bikes. There wasn't even one bike involved. It was the silly little nail pictured above. I also learned that she wasn't saying "biy" but "biyk" and the k at the end of words is a very soft sound so to my American ear, I didn't hear the "k" at all. "Biyk" means broken. So she was telling me that my car had a broken tire.
Clearly.
I wish I could say that this was the end of the excitement, but it was just the beginning of the next wave. At this point, I discover that my car doesn't have a jack. Problem #1. I also discovered that most people around here don't know how to change a car tire. Problem #2. They all have "gongs" (actual bikes) and motorbikes. Not cars. At one point, I counted 14 people trying to help change my tire. There were even passerby's that were stopping to see the show. The whole process took a very long time. Then the power at the church and the street and the whole surrounding area went out. Problem #17. {I realize I skipped #3 thru #16, but trust me, they were there.} We were then completely dependent on the lights from our cell phones!!
This was one of the more "entertaining and interesting" nights in a "Oh-Cambodia-how-I-love-thee" kind of way.
I do love that I had so many people willing and able to help me.
I love that I learned the words for broken and tire.
I love the laughs that we had when we figured out the miscommunication.
And as I have said before, I love a good story.
I love that I learned the words for broken and tire.
I love the laughs that we had when we figured out the miscommunication.
And as I have said before, I love a good story.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Simple Truth...
Life has been busy...interesting...full. There are lots of stories to tell (and trust me, I love a good story!), but here is the most recent.
Last week, we had a women's conference at our church with approximately 200 ladies from Phnom Penh and a few surrounding provinces. Over the two days, the guest speakers from Australia covered topics such as value, God turning our suffering into a message of His love, and how God asks for obedience to follow His word even if we don't fully understand it all at the time.
At the end of the last session, we opened up the floor for some of the women to come up and give testimonies of things that God had done in their lives and spoken to them during the conference. These are the kinds of stories that I love. I enjoy teaching, but one of my favorite things about working with people is to hear what their hearts are walking through and watching people see God bigger than they did before.
One woman shared that her whole life, she never had anything. Possessions. Family. Food. Place to live. Nothing. She said there were times in her life she didn't even have clothes to wear and had to go naked. She shared that she had to sell herself for food at times. Her life was the picture of brokenness and hopelessness. But then she met God. And she said in the two days of the seminar, she heard God say that she was valuable and He loved her very much. As she told her story, she just kept repeating, through her tears: "I love God. I love God. I love God. He's says I am valuable and He loves me. And I love God."
That was the last thing that was spoken at the conference. The speakers got up to pray with her and we dismissed everyone else. It was not a planned, well-thought through conclusion that ended the conference. But it was the way God planned it. The way God feels about her, this woman who had nothing, is the same redemptive, restorative heart that He has for each one of the women in that room. And each one of us too. It was such a simple statement of truth, and yet not a minimal meaning. I love that there are so many things about God like that. We shouldn't complicate His truth and love. No, it's not something that can easily be understood in one sitting and there will always be something new to learn about Him and the depth of His love and character. But the simple truth is that He loves us.
Last week, we had a women's conference at our church with approximately 200 ladies from Phnom Penh and a few surrounding provinces. Over the two days, the guest speakers from Australia covered topics such as value, God turning our suffering into a message of His love, and how God asks for obedience to follow His word even if we don't fully understand it all at the time.
At the end of the last session, we opened up the floor for some of the women to come up and give testimonies of things that God had done in their lives and spoken to them during the conference. These are the kinds of stories that I love. I enjoy teaching, but one of my favorite things about working with people is to hear what their hearts are walking through and watching people see God bigger than they did before.
One woman shared that her whole life, she never had anything. Possessions. Family. Food. Place to live. Nothing. She said there were times in her life she didn't even have clothes to wear and had to go naked. She shared that she had to sell herself for food at times. Her life was the picture of brokenness and hopelessness. But then she met God. And she said in the two days of the seminar, she heard God say that she was valuable and He loved her very much. As she told her story, she just kept repeating, through her tears: "I love God. I love God. I love God. He's says I am valuable and He loves me. And I love God."
That was the last thing that was spoken at the conference. The speakers got up to pray with her and we dismissed everyone else. It was not a planned, well-thought through conclusion that ended the conference. But it was the way God planned it. The way God feels about her, this woman who had nothing, is the same redemptive, restorative heart that He has for each one of the women in that room. And each one of us too. It was such a simple statement of truth, and yet not a minimal meaning. I love that there are so many things about God like that. We shouldn't complicate His truth and love. No, it's not something that can easily be understood in one sitting and there will always be something new to learn about Him and the depth of His love and character. But the simple truth is that He loves us.
He loves me.
He loves you.
He loves you.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Where do they get this stuff?!
I hope the day never comes when the random misspelled or novelty signs, shirts and various other objects become common place to me. I may shake my head sometimes, but trust me, life is so much funnier with them in it. Like this:
Looks to be a normal, every day back pack, right?
But no...it is actually armor. This is what I want to be carrying in case of sudden war...
Too bad I just bought a bag not too long ago. I am going to have to remember this when purchasing my next back pack, knowing all that they can offer :-)
Looks to be a normal, every day back pack, right?
But no...it is actually armor. This is what I want to be carrying in case of sudden war...
Too bad I just bought a bag not too long ago. I am going to have to remember this when purchasing my next back pack, knowing all that they can offer :-)Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Ringing in the New Year...
On my birthday, it was cake frosting smeared on my face.
On day 201, it was watercolor paints that I was unexpectedly painted with.
On New Year's Eve, it was the black soot from the bottom of a pot.
The first few spots were "given" to my friend Eileen and I because we said no to dancing.
I say no more as a "gift" to the art of dancing and to those that might happen to catch sight of me...I am the whitest girl ever! My legs and my dancing prove it. I weighed the options and decided that a little soot would be better than trying to dance. We did make an attempt to get the guys back, filling our hands with the soot ourselves 
only to be "defeated" and have our faces covered! 
I did manage to get some soot on them, though, so it was not totally a waste...
One of my goals for 2012 is to not have my face smeared with random things, but I am pretty sure that is not gonna happen...
I do have other, more "serious" goals for this new year. I have never really been one for resolutions because I always manage to break them shortly after making them. But dreams and desires and hopes...well, I have those. Some of them are big. Some are kinda silly. Some are deep heart cries.
I want to speak Khmer. I am praying for confidence to speak what I knew even if I sound like a fool. I am not so good at looking or sounding foolish
...so here's to letting loose and having no fear.
I want to grow in grace, but also in truth and authority. They seem like opposites, but they have to co-exist in perfect measure because that is how they are in God's character
...so here's to the challenges and circumstances that will teach me.
I want to develop new relationships and strengthen old relationships that glorify God. There is so much wrapped up in that hope
...so here's to honesty, vulnerability and having fun!
I want to make healthy, wise decisions for my mind, body and spirit
...so here's to my will and self-control.
I have big expectations for 2012. At the end of the first day, I fell asleep with joy in my heart and gratitude for the life I am living. It is early on day 3 now, but already it's been good.
...so here's to 363 more!"
On day 201, it was watercolor paints that I was unexpectedly painted with.
On New Year's Eve, it was the black soot from the bottom of a pot.
The first few spots were "given" to my friend Eileen and I because we said no to dancing.
I say no more as a "gift" to the art of dancing and to those that might happen to catch sight of me...I am the whitest girl ever! My legs and my dancing prove it. I weighed the options and decided that a little soot would be better than trying to dance. We did make an attempt to get the guys back, filling our hands with the soot ourselves 
only to be "defeated" and have our faces covered! 
I did manage to get some soot on them, though, so it was not totally a waste...
One of my goals for 2012 is to not have my face smeared with random things, but I am pretty sure that is not gonna happen...I do have other, more "serious" goals for this new year. I have never really been one for resolutions because I always manage to break them shortly after making them. But dreams and desires and hopes...well, I have those. Some of them are big. Some are kinda silly. Some are deep heart cries.
I want to speak Khmer. I am praying for confidence to speak what I knew even if I sound like a fool. I am not so good at looking or sounding foolish
...so here's to letting loose and having no fear.
I want to grow in grace, but also in truth and authority. They seem like opposites, but they have to co-exist in perfect measure because that is how they are in God's character
...so here's to the challenges and circumstances that will teach me.
I want to develop new relationships and strengthen old relationships that glorify God. There is so much wrapped up in that hope
...so here's to honesty, vulnerability and having fun!
I want to make healthy, wise decisions for my mind, body and spirit
...so here's to my will and self-control.
I have big expectations for 2012. At the end of the first day, I fell asleep with joy in my heart and gratitude for the life I am living. It is early on day 3 now, but already it's been good.
...so here's to 363 more!"
Monday, January 02, 2012
blog topic overload...
So many things to say...and I will attempt to not overwhelm you...
:: Harvesters ::
December 25 wasn't just Christmas Day...it was also the end of the fourth Harvesters class. We had a short graduation ceremony during the church service and gave the students their certificates.
This group has been such a blessing to my heart. I realize I say that every time, but it's always true (which is fine by me)! Over the past three months, they have learned, practiced, prayed, shared, been challenged, grown, and served. This group amazed me with their hearts to know and run after God. We had a bit of a debrief time over lunch yesterday and one of the questions I asked was: "How have you grown in the last three months?", to which the answers included things like:
...I know how to be an example in word and action...
...I learned of God's character and saw a change in my characteristics too...
...I have more experience through practice...
...I know the Word of God more clearly...
...I have better relationships with God and others around me...
...I have learned to surrender and submit to God more...
Great answers, but I can testify to say that they are not just words...they are really the ways that their lives were changed. I have seen the evidence of God transforming their hearts and putting those changes into action. I will miss this group...a lot. But I am also looking forward to seeing them walk out the changes more and more as time goes by. And I am looking forward to the next group of students that will study in the Harvesters. We will start on January 31. Please be praying that we have students sign up and that God continues to use the Harvesters in this church and in this nation.
:: The Holidays ::
Spending Christmas away from my family, our traditions, and our own brand of personal chaos is not exactly the easiest thing. I have been "adopted" into a family here in Cambodia and I absolutely LOVE them, but it's still a little difficult and definitely an adjustment. Case in point...
Christmas Eve family tradition: candlelight service at church...smoked sausage, cheese, crackers, too many cookies...opening one present (ALWAYS pajamas)...finally going to bed.
Christmas Eve this year: out-of-control photo booth extravaganza with a few friends...dumplings, green beans, and fried noodle stir fry at a chinese restaurant. VERY different...but we had fun...and have pictures to prove it ;-)
Christmas evening and the following day I spent in the village with the pastor and his family. I always love it out there. What I did not care for so much was the morning of the 27th, when I woke up and realized very quickly that I was pretty sick. I am completely better now, but it was not so much my favorite way to spend my time off from work. I also "decided" to have a root canal done at the end of the week. Needless to say it was kind of a rough week. But I am all about finding silver lining to things like that and so here it is...the root canal was only $35 and my prayer for "supernatural novacaine" was answered...there was very little pain and discomfort afterwards. Not at all the horror stories I have heard from others on their RC recoveries. Praising God for that!
So many others things to write, but this post is already quite full and so they will have to wait for the next blog post...
:: Harvesters ::
December 25 wasn't just Christmas Day...it was also the end of the fourth Harvesters class. We had a short graduation ceremony during the church service and gave the students their certificates.
This group has been such a blessing to my heart. I realize I say that every time, but it's always true (which is fine by me)! Over the past three months, they have learned, practiced, prayed, shared, been challenged, grown, and served. This group amazed me with their hearts to know and run after God. We had a bit of a debrief time over lunch yesterday and one of the questions I asked was: "How have you grown in the last three months?", to which the answers included things like:...I know how to be an example in word and action...
...I learned of God's character and saw a change in my characteristics too...
...I have more experience through practice...
...I know the Word of God more clearly...
...I have better relationships with God and others around me...
...I have learned to surrender and submit to God more...
Great answers, but I can testify to say that they are not just words...they are really the ways that their lives were changed. I have seen the evidence of God transforming their hearts and putting those changes into action. I will miss this group...a lot. But I am also looking forward to seeing them walk out the changes more and more as time goes by. And I am looking forward to the next group of students that will study in the Harvesters. We will start on January 31. Please be praying that we have students sign up and that God continues to use the Harvesters in this church and in this nation.
:: The Holidays ::
Spending Christmas away from my family, our traditions, and our own brand of personal chaos is not exactly the easiest thing. I have been "adopted" into a family here in Cambodia and I absolutely LOVE them, but it's still a little difficult and definitely an adjustment. Case in point...
Christmas Eve family tradition: candlelight service at church...smoked sausage, cheese, crackers, too many cookies...opening one present (ALWAYS pajamas)...finally going to bed.
Christmas Eve this year: out-of-control photo booth extravaganza with a few friends...dumplings, green beans, and fried noodle stir fry at a chinese restaurant. VERY different...but we had fun...and have pictures to prove it ;-)
Christmas evening and the following day I spent in the village with the pastor and his family. I always love it out there. What I did not care for so much was the morning of the 27th, when I woke up and realized very quickly that I was pretty sick. I am completely better now, but it was not so much my favorite way to spend my time off from work. I also "decided" to have a root canal done at the end of the week. Needless to say it was kind of a rough week. But I am all about finding silver lining to things like that and so here it is...the root canal was only $35 and my prayer for "supernatural novacaine" was answered...there was very little pain and discomfort afterwards. Not at all the horror stories I have heard from others on their RC recoveries. Praising God for that!
So many others things to write, but this post is already quite full and so they will have to wait for the next blog post...
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Coconut anyone?
As I have said before...I love lists. Any kind of list, really. To-do lists. Pro/Con lists. "How-I-love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways" lists. Funny statement lists. Lists about lists (apparently). You get the idea. I love the order and logic that has to go into them. I have a long running mental list of all the things that will never get old or normal to see here in Cambodia. This is one of them:
If I ever want a coconut, I go for the convenience of a market. Mostly because I do not have the ability to climb a tree like this. If there were branches, I could maybe give it a shot. But my Cambodian friends have this almost innate ability to shimmy up a palm tree with the greatest of ease in order to retrieve coconuts.
Pretty amazing in my book.
If I ever want a coconut, I go for the convenience of a market. Mostly because I do not have the ability to climb a tree like this. If there were branches, I could maybe give it a shot. But my Cambodian friends have this almost innate ability to shimmy up a palm tree with the greatest of ease in order to retrieve coconuts. Pretty amazing in my book.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Respond With Love...
The floods in central and northern Cambodia, the worst the country has seen in more than a decade, made an already fragile economy even more strained. In the affected provinces, homes were lost...crops were lost...lives were lost. During a prayer time in the Harvesters Class, God began to prompt our hearts to respond in some way. The students asked "What can we do to help?" The answer from God's heart came very clearly...first, He said "I am going and I want you to come with Me." And second, the phrase "Provision come with obedience." We felt like we were supposed to purchase rice to distribute to an affected village, but weren't sure how that would all look...where the village would be, where the finances to purchase the rice would come from, how we would be able to do this. But we knew this was what we were asked to do. So we said "yes" and moved forward in our plans. We stood on the words God spoke and watched as the provision came! Thanks to some very generous donations, in a very short period of time, we were able to purchase 1000 kilograms (2200 pounds) of rice, as well as some other very necessary cooking basics. We prepared 100 packages of food for the people of a small village in the Kampong Thom Province. And as we distributed the food to the families, we prayed and asked God to bless them and reveal Himself to them in a big way.
Below you will find many pictures from the weekend. In the first one, you will notice the water line around the bottom of the building, showing how high the water came...and stayed for a long time. Further down, you will see the mass amounts of rice, an example of the contents of one "package" of food, dramas, testimonies, as well as a picture of me sharing a message with the community before the distribution (and yes, I am wearing a light hoodie because it was actually cold on Sunday morning...I was so happy!)
We spoke love in words as we shared testimonies and the Sunday morning message. We spoke love as we shared the Good News of God's love and Christ's sacrifice for them. We spoke love through action as we blessed them with this food. And as we served and loved this community, many people took notice of what was happening...and who was doing these things. The village chief commented to us that he was amazed to see this group of young people that came really did care about the village and at the work that Christians do to serve and help.
Please continue to pray for those in the affected areas, especially in this village, as they move forward after this flood. Pray for miraculous provision and crops to flourish in a way that will only be able to be credited to the goodness of God. Pray for those that received the words and actions of love that the Harvesters allowed to be poured through them.
Below you will find many pictures from the weekend. In the first one, you will notice the water line around the bottom of the building, showing how high the water came...and stayed for a long time. Further down, you will see the mass amounts of rice, an example of the contents of one "package" of food, dramas, testimonies, as well as a picture of me sharing a message with the community before the distribution (and yes, I am wearing a light hoodie because it was actually cold on Sunday morning...I was so happy!)
We spoke love in words as we shared testimonies and the Sunday morning message. We spoke love as we shared the Good News of God's love and Christ's sacrifice for them. We spoke love through action as we blessed them with this food. And as we served and loved this community, many people took notice of what was happening...and who was doing these things. The village chief commented to us that he was amazed to see this group of young people that came really did care about the village and at the work that Christians do to serve and help. Please continue to pray for those in the affected areas, especially in this village, as they move forward after this flood. Pray for miraculous provision and crops to flourish in a way that will only be able to be credited to the goodness of God. Pray for those that received the words and actions of love that the Harvesters allowed to be poured through them.
Sunday, December 04, 2011
One Year...
December 4, 2010...one year ago today...
That was the day that Cambodia officially became home. I stepped off the plane and it was instant. This wasn't an outreach. This wasn't short term.
This was LIFE.
And during this past year, I have...
...woken up 365 times in a place that I love.
...been challenged and stretched in ways I didn't know were possible...or always think were "necessary."
...been misunderstood a great deal...and done a lot of misunderstanding myself.
...been hot and sweaty.
...learned to look forward to showers with cold water...and rejoice when I get hot water.
...laughed until tears were streaming and my cheeks hurt more times than I can count.
...been unable to answer grammar questions for my English students more than they like.
...accepted helmet hair as a normal thing.
...attended a lot of meetings that I only understand 50% of what happens.
...developed an addiction to iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
...painted church buildings.
...waited patiently (and not so patiently too) for the power to come back on.
...killed flies with rubber bands.
...paused for my sentences to be translated when I speak and teach (so I actually feel like I talk less here).
...shared love.
...missed my family and friends.
...prayed...A LOT.
...eaten more rice than I thought I could.
...learned to eat more (and dare I say...like) vegetables.
...been visited by friends from the States.
...struggled through Khmer language lessons to read, write and speak.
...cried.
...seen motos transporting a limitless variety of items including people, chickens, pigs, refrigerators, and bicycles.
...had my heart broken for the things that break God's heart.
...taken LOTS of pictures.
...fed kids in the villages.
...had my calling confirmed time and time again.
...led others into the presence of God.
...followed with a desire to learn.
...helped with rice planting.
...been stared at, talked about, wondered about on pretty much a daily basis.
...squeegeed the flooded floor of my bedroom after a particularly hard rain storm.
...been to the beach 4 times.
...made new friends that bring such joy to my heart.
..."accidentally" climbed a mountain and rocks while wearing flip flops...and have the scars to prove it.
...given in to the temptation and spoken improper, broken English.
...lived well.
...had NO doubt I am supposed to be here in Cambodia.
I could go on and on and on. Suffice it to say, this year has been full. Refining. Rewarding.
And I am looking forward to what this next year (and hopefully many more after that) will hold for me. Thanks to all of you who have prayed, supported and love me to walk out this adventure. You are a part of my testimony.
That was the day that Cambodia officially became home. I stepped off the plane and it was instant. This wasn't an outreach. This wasn't short term.
This was LIFE.
And during this past year, I have...
...woken up 365 times in a place that I love.
...been challenged and stretched in ways I didn't know were possible...or always think were "necessary."
...been misunderstood a great deal...and done a lot of misunderstanding myself.
...been hot and sweaty.
...learned to look forward to showers with cold water...and rejoice when I get hot water.
...laughed until tears were streaming and my cheeks hurt more times than I can count.
...been unable to answer grammar questions for my English students more than they like.
...accepted helmet hair as a normal thing.
...attended a lot of meetings that I only understand 50% of what happens.
...developed an addiction to iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.
...painted church buildings.
...waited patiently (and not so patiently too) for the power to come back on.
...killed flies with rubber bands.
...paused for my sentences to be translated when I speak and teach (so I actually feel like I talk less here).
...shared love.
...missed my family and friends.
...prayed...A LOT.
...eaten more rice than I thought I could.
...learned to eat more (and dare I say...like) vegetables.
...been visited by friends from the States.
...struggled through Khmer language lessons to read, write and speak.
...cried.
...seen motos transporting a limitless variety of items including people, chickens, pigs, refrigerators, and bicycles.
...had my heart broken for the things that break God's heart.
...taken LOTS of pictures.
...fed kids in the villages.
...had my calling confirmed time and time again.
...led others into the presence of God.
...followed with a desire to learn.
...helped with rice planting.
...been stared at, talked about, wondered about on pretty much a daily basis.
...squeegeed the flooded floor of my bedroom after a particularly hard rain storm.
...been to the beach 4 times.
...made new friends that bring such joy to my heart.
..."accidentally" climbed a mountain and rocks while wearing flip flops...and have the scars to prove it.
...given in to the temptation and spoken improper, broken English.
...lived well.
...had NO doubt I am supposed to be here in Cambodia.
I could go on and on and on. Suffice it to say, this year has been full. Refining. Rewarding.
And I am looking forward to what this next year (and hopefully many more after that) will hold for me. Thanks to all of you who have prayed, supported and love me to walk out this adventure. You are a part of my testimony.
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