A Taste of Home...

This is buttermilk coffeecake...

and it is arguably one of the best things in the world!! I made this for a breakfast fellowship time that I have once a week with some other ladies. I was rather impressed with how it turned out. It made me miss home, though, because this is the traditional breakfast for Christmas morning in my family.

Meet The Harvesters

Back Row (L-R): Savery, Leng, Seyha, Sareth, Borath
Front Row (L-R): Mary, Naro, Narath, Ming Phansee, Mao, and Heather

The past few days I have felt very aware of the responsibility that has been given to me as a leader and as a teacher. I speak and people listen (at least that is the hope)....which makes it very important that I speak in love and truth and confidence. I feel the weight of the mantle that has been placed on my shoulders, but I also feel God encouraging me that He has been preparing me for "such a time as this."

These students have been so open to what God wants to teach them using me and I have been so grateful. And so excited to see their hunger to learn and the way that they respond to Him. The teaching today was on intercession and I felt very blessed to be a part of this group that is really grabbing hold of God's heart for others.

We are planning for our first missions trip to one of the provinces in the next couple weeks. I am waiting on more details from the Pastor that we will be partnering with and as soon as I know, I will post an update.

Down In My Heart

Today was one of those days for me that I definitely have joy overflowing.

I got to have dinner with some of my favorite people!

This is Naro, TiTi, Seyha and Mala. This is the first time that I have seen these 4 together since I got here 2 1/2 months ago, which is strange for me because they were the ones that I used to hang out with the most. These guys have been friends of mine since my first trip here to Cambodia in January 2008. I have sat here staring at my computer screen for a long time, trying to find a sufficient way to describe them to you and I am finding it strangely difficult. Not out of a lack of love for them, or even of things to say about them. Maybe the problem is there is too much to say. With each of them, I have story after story of our friendship and the way that it has developed in the last 3 years. I have spent many a meal with these boys, talking nonsense, talking deep stuff....and laughing a lot. For me, these guys definitely a source of those deep belly laughs that everyone should experience!

Tonight we went out to pizza...always a favorite! Don't get me wrong, I like rice (not as much as them though) and I really do like the Khmer food, but you don't have to ask me twice if I want pizza! And yes, that is ketchup sitting on the table because they put it on their pizza. This, however, is not something I understand and will not try to explain. I feel no problem with these guys to shake my head and tell them how strange I think it is to do this, but they like it and I guess that is all that matters. I have even seen someone put mayo on their pizza. No joke!

My heart is definitely full!

A Drink Bag?

There are some things that are uniquely Cambodian...and I love it!

This is a "to-go drink bag".

A Cambodian twist on an American classic...

...yes, that would be mayo going on a hot dog bun...

...and lettuce as well...

I will admit I was a little nervous about this combination, but I added a lot of ketchup as you can see and it wasn't too bad ;-)

This was a "reunion" lunch this past week with the team of students from the Friendship camp. Our goal is to continue to build friendships with these young people. They are so much fun!!

Last Sunday was also the beginning of a small group that I am leading with the Pastor. Most of the people coming are students from my team in the picture above.