Oh, Happy Day!

I get excited about the little things...

I was walking around the block yesterday and met another American family. While this is a good thing in and of itself, as I started talking to them, we found out that we have a mutual friend...someone that we know from completely different places and situations. That may not sound terribly exciting to others, but to me, being on the other side of the world, I LOVE it! And on top of that, I now have new friends that live around the corner from me.

The other thing is even "smaller" but made me almost shout with joy in the grocery store. There, sitting in the vegetable section, with what seemed like a light shining from heaven, was a few small bunches of asparagus. I love love love asparagus and this is the first time that I have ever seen it here in Cambodia. I had even thought about bringing seeds with me from the States and somehow trying to grow my own. I am certainly not a green thumb type of person so I gave up on that idea pretty quickly. I had resigned to not having asparagus for a long time. Imagine my surprise and delight, then, when I saw those lovely green stalks! I am going to make them tomorrow for lunch and enjoy every last bite!!

Worldwide Truth...

There are some things that, no matter where you are in the world, seem to be done the same way. I have learned that grilling on a barbeque falls into this category. It seems to be the "boys job" in America as much as it is in Cambodia.


We have had two BBQs in the last couple weeks and each time, much like at home, the guys congregate around the grill. There is just something about cooking meat outside that brings the boys together. This BBQ, we had for the extended family Christmas gathering on Sunday. I am living with the pastor, his wife and their 5 children. There are many brothers and sisters, cousins and grandmas, friends who are pretty much family (I fit into that category), and the house was full...the good kind of full. They have said that I am brave for taking on such a large family, but anyone that knows my family at home knows that this is perfectly normal for me...lots of people, lots of kids, general chaos all around.

In this picture with me is the youngest child of the pastor, Sophea, and his wife, Jenny. His name is Eli and he is 8 months old. The other two girls, Srey Mao and Srey Ma, are sisters who I was living with the last time I was here.


This is the whole group together...

All in all, I had a good Christmas. I definitely missed my family and our own little personal version of chaos, but was able to talk to them on the phone. I love that technology lets me stay in touch with them even though I am so far away. I pray that you all had a blessed day, too.

From Scratch...

I love all things pumpkin...bread, pie, pancakes, muffins, seeds, carving...you get the idea. I get excited for fall and winter time when you can find just about everything pumpkin flavored. So when I was put in charge of making the pumpkin pie for Christmas day, I was more than happy to do it. Then I suddenly realized that you can't just run to the grocery store in Cambodia and buy pumpkin in a can. You buy the pumpkin at the market, cook it, and mash it before you can mix it in. Logically I knew this, but I am so used to the canned stuff. So I made pumpkin pie...really from scratch.

It was peeled, boiled and then I busted out the mortar and pestle to mash it. It is made of SOLID stone and weighs about 30 pounds (ok, so I didn't actually weigh it, but that's my guess at least). My friend thought I was strange for taking pictures of the progress, but this was definitely a first for me.


And it turned out pretty tasty. I think I might be doing this more often now that I know what to do...bread will be my next pumpkin goodness.

Solution for Helmet Hair?

...all for the sake of protecting my noggin when riding a moto...


I bought a helmet today and found out that Khmer skulls and American skulls are shaped differently. I guess the backs of their heads tend to be flatter and so I had to try on a number of different ones before finding one that sat correctly on my head, which by the way, is not flat. The helmet vender was happy to make a sale, but a little surprised when I had to keep asking to try another one.

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas...

Anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a morning person. I am a night owl through and though. Always have been. And I have always managed to function on very little sleep since the day doesn't typically start around 10 AM as I would like it to. So when I have jet lag, I am desperately trying to stay awake in the evenings past 6 PM and my eyes unwillingly pop open at 4 AM. It takes about a week for me to really get over the time change, but this go around, I am doing my best to keep on an "early-to-bed-early-to-rise" schedule. Cross my fingers that this works because I am a BIG fan of the snooze button!

The Christmas "season" is definitely relative to where you live. In the states, there is such anticipation for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Here, there is not the same build-up and you can almost forget what time of year it is...not to mention that it is nearly 90 degrees!! So I am grateful to be living in a family with another American who loves the Christmas season too. A few days ago, we listened to Christmas music non-stop, decorated the tree and I even made cookies.


I was especially impressed with these...

not completely sure what the name of the cookie is, but they are definitely good!! I even made the frosting from scratch. yum!

This weekend was the church's Christmas outreach programs...and talk about reaching the multitudes. I would say on average, a Sunday service has about 150 to 200 people. Today, there was 600!!! And the children's program on Friday afternoon had about 800!!! These numbers are unprecedented! With the kids, they were pretty much packed into the sanctuary like little sardines...not even standing room available anymore.

The outreach today was an all day affair. The service started at 8:30 am and for the next few hours, there were skits, dances, singing, and preaching. Because the church rented a hall typically used for weddings, we sat at tables and as the service ended, they brought out the food!

This says "Su-suh-die Noel" which means "merry Christmas"

This is the worship team...I love the color coordination they have going here.

This is a look from the back of the hall. It was nearly impossible to get a really good picture to show how many people.


"Round two" of the outreach was back at the church with a few more songs, a little more preaching and lots of games. And no party would be complete around here without dancing. Cambodians LOVE to have dance parties!! I, however, am not much of a dancer. So it is always amusing...maybe comical is a better word...when these evenings come around.

Please keep praying that I learn the language quickly...and that I am bold enough to speak and make mistakes. I understand a little here and there and realize that I remember things as I hear someone speak. I keep a notebook with me and jot down words that I learn. I can pick up a lot in context, but I still feel relatively lost. I know it will come.

Home Away From Home

Nothing will ever replace America in my mind and heart. I love where I am from. There are a lot of people that I love there. A lot of comforts and idiosyncrasies that I only notice because I miss them.

But I also love that from the moment I step foot off the plane in Cambodia, it feels like home too. Sure, I don't understand everything going on around me and I have to relearn the language and some cultural tendencies, but there is a sigh of relief in my heart. I am "home."

I got into Phnom Penh, the capital and city where I am living, safe and sound around 11 pm on Friday night. Going to the airport is a big deal here so I was not surprised to see a welcoming committee outside waiting for me. I am not sure I can adequately describe all that is going through my mind right now...a mixture of newness and things familiar to me, being quickly reminded of many of the things that I love about this place.

I am really enjoying my new home. I live with the Pastor and his family and am very blessed to have a room with a separate bathroom and air conditioning. I am not sure that one of those things outweighs the other! Here are some pictures:

I live in the one on the right with the blue tarp...

Still needs a little decorating help...

and a bed frame...

SO SO SO grateful for such a nice bathroom!!!