Birthdays...Cambodia style

I have never been happier being so messy!

I would not really classify myself as the type of person that enjoys getting messy, but this is how they celebrate birthdays here in Cambodia (or at least how my friends do it).  It was Kim's birthday (the one on the right with the blue and white jacket...and somehow the least messy!).  The cake was cut and passed out, but everyone one only got a couple bites before we bagan slathering frosting on each other's faces...and in my case, chunked in my hair too.  It's a strange joy to be so messy with such great friends.

The four girls...Thida (bottom middle), Bopha (bottom right), Kim and Srey Pich (top right)...are in their last year of high school.  Mala (top right in white) works with the church as the accountant, English teacher, and soon to be the translator for our missions class.  The guys on the left, Seyha (bottom with his face completely covered) and Titi (top left) are both preparing to start university next week, by the blessing of scholarships they recently received.  They will also be students in our missions class.

We have just a few days before the class starts and we are very excited on how it is all coming together.  Please be praying for Brittany and I as we finish all the last minute preparations.  And please pray for the students as well.

By the way, I am not sure why the picture came up so large, nor can I figure out how to make it smaller.  One would think you would just click the "small" option on the picture upload page...if it were only that easy.  Bear with me (and good ol' blogspot)...

By the light of a cell phone...

One thing is certain...Cambodia is HOT! 

I thought that I was sufficiently prepared being from Florida, experiencing the heat and humidity there.  Well, I was wrong!  There are some days that I feel like it is a little difficult to breath because the heat and humidity is so thick!  The major difference between here and America is that there, I would go from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car to my air conditioned work.  I didn't do much outside when it was dreadfully hot there.  But here you have no option...

Because of this fact (which I do not by any means want to sound like I am complaining), we have been "forced" to eat on the roof every night for dinner.  The sun goes down and there is a little respite from the scorching heat, but it is still hot.  We hope for a little wind while we dine up there...by the light of our cell phones since there is no electricity.  The best part about it though is the friends that invite over to eat with us.  There are a couple regulars and we love to share this meal with them.  We end up sitting on the roof for hours talking about some pretty great things.  I have been so touched the last few days by the conversations I've had, amazed that God has blessed me with such an amazing group of friends here.  And while I am away from my family in America, these people have become my Cambodian family.