Dear One,

I not only watch over you, I am closer than your next breath. As you stretch your heart and mind to find a fit in this place, I am with you. You are wholly mine. The path I have set before you is unique to you and your story. Your life and the ways you love others are a gift to them. Your life and love are precious to me. Through them you are my heart and hands and mind. You are able to love and to do and to thoughtfully be present as others journey deeper into my kingdom... a kingdom of Peace, a kingdom of Justice and a kingdom of Truth. Like Deborah of old, your words will heal and knit together the broken places in hearts, in cities and in nations. Rest in the garden of my Word, be cleansed by My Presence and go out daily with an open heart, an open mind and open hands to both give and receive from my Abundant Love. Amen

I will ride a bike home from the school tomorrow... the lock for it was $2. I will try to have some one take a photo of me looking less than confident with this bit of the adventure...

Yesterday I met Bonnie, I hope we're able to coffee soon. She is an adoptive Mom of one Cambodian young man and fostering four more teenagers who are cousins and siblings. She is the school counselor and seems a kindred spirit. She's lived here nine years if I remember correctly.  I'm still looking forward to meeting Marie Ens, we've been messaging back and forth. This Saturday Annette of "A New Day School" and I hope to meet at Cafe Fresco. I'm hoping to ride the bike!

Did I mention how the school had a little used Nokia phone waiting for me? I'm trying to become proficient at texting...

These are details of the Asian Hope welcome basket too! Thank you Danielle and Tom!

From Arriving in Cambodia 2009

now finishe

From Arriving in Cambodia 2009

I've finished the Pepperidge Farm "Sausalito" cookies... and of course the kilo of lychee was gone in the first few day. The basket included bottled water (handy to add the electrolyte powder to), two city guides and a 2006 map (yet maps and using them don't seem to be a priority here), a box of Twinings English Breakfast tea, papers with key school dates and contacts, a package of Nescafe individually wrapped instant coffee singles, three instant noodle cups, Lux soap, Herbal Essence shampoo, Colgate toothpaste mini, a spoon and a fork... and finally a roll of toilet paper. Seems the french influence has lead to a more bidet like approach to personal hygiene.

I've been to the church three doors down from the town house twice now. This is a Shalom Church affiliated with Action International there are some great picts here... the room the church meets in is the lowest level of the house with blue plastic chairs for about 40-55. There are three fans: two are wall mounted and a green floor model. At the front of the "sanctuary" which is about the size of a one car garage is a 5" high Cross covered with red fabric. The stage is covered with the same. On the Stage is a Yamaha synthesizer and a music stand with two mics for the worship team of two and then later for the pastor and his notes. To the sides of the room are two amplifers giving the worship a bit of a karaoke feel. If you sit toward the front of the sanctuary shoes are removed but on the other side of the opened secondary security gate shoes are kept on. I've found it important to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated... others do as well.

The service opens at about 9:12 with soft music "I worship You..." and then the order of service is as follows: Welcome newcomers, Bible reading, Prayer with background music, Worship team about 4 songs (some translated from English like "You're Altogether Lovely"), the Offering is next ("We Bring a Sacrifice of Praise" plays as the collection is taken up with a red bag with opalescent sequins in the shape of a cross on the side), The Message is brought by the pastor, Prayer at 10:21 a.m. to close.

This Saturday I attended a "Love Feast" at the church... and was the food ever good... "num chak menh" it was a sort of fresh spring roll affair... if you've had Vietnamese eggroll it is similar yet different.  A turmeric spiced and very egg-y crepe is made... and instead of flipping it a filling of 2/3 cup cooked minced chicken, bean sprouts slivered onions and shred carrots is put in and steamed a bit then flipped in half like an omlette and put on a tray with others separated by a banana leaf... it is brought to the table where a colander of lettuce and a tray of three different herbs and sliced cucumber is wait... a leaf of lettuce is taken, on it is laid a cucumber slice and leaves of the herbs then a bit 1T. of the crepe/omelette/springroll and then this is dipped in a sweet and sour sop with crushed peanuts and shredded carrot... and, wow, is it tasty! I've found a recipe and pict! I hope I can learn to it for a crowd... but like crepes, or "Thin Pancakes" it's labour intesive for the cook!

Report on the spaghetti dinner... It was a success... the only trouble was that because I thought I would be making it on my own I started way too early... 3:30 and it was ready at 5:00 rather than the 6:30 or 7 p.m. that the family usually eats at... The Pastor had some be for going of to play soccer/basketball? and The Grandfather said it was chingai nah = delicious and the Pastor's wife said it was just like a restaurant, if I understood her correctly she had craved it during her pregnancy and went to a restaurant once and made it at home once. This was her third time to have spaghetti.  I was pleased that the Patriarch liked it as I am so far removed from the expectations of a woman's life in Cambodia. 

The family Saing is rather pioneering though, the Pastor's older sister is a Bible teacher and now returning to Singapore to continue her studies in Christian Education.  Please pray for her and her two brothers who are Pastors. These people are truly mindful of the role a church can have in providing a social safety-net for the most vulnerable... there is truly much being done for widows and orphans but the churches here.  In this place without the social safety nets we enjoy in Canada this seems to be a good thing, a very good thing.

Here are a few more picts of Princess S on the swings at school:

Here's a picture of my first meal in Phnom Penh at the school cafeteria... very tasty... a wonderful foodie adventure... I'll put all picts so far into a slide show at the bottom.

The first pict are of Vietnam... a not to Brenda's lovely farewell poem... and then the river photos are as the plane approach Phnom Penh... then there are picts of my empty-ish room... and then some of the purchases made shortly after arriving...

then the feast is from the church farewell party saying good bye to the Pastor's sister who is on her way to Singapore... did I mention how wonderful the food is??? It's hot lunch everyday... the family's slow cooker is a huge cauldron type affair over coal fire... the stew for the party took 3 hours to prepare all the fresh herbs and spices and flavours then about 20 hours of cooking... the beef (?) melted in my mouth like butter... and the bread a very light french baguette... a legacy of French colonization.

I've been learning how to text on the used nokia cell phone I was given... slow going... I've enjoyed having my Khmer pronunciation corrected by a 5 year old... go Selina go... oh for the confidence of a happy child!  She is very gracious when I correct her English and is a very motivated and enthusiastic learner. 

Yesterday on the scooter ride home I saw something remarkable. There was this "recycling" rickshaw, I don't think there is recycling here, none the less this hand drawn covered mesh bin on wheels was full of empty tins and bottles. Suddenly I noticed a wee passenger... a hammock was strung under the cover and a tiny naked baby was napping.  Her granny must have been caring for her the best she knew how.  I'll keep trying to hold these moment for you and share them... pray with me this place will know an ongoing just peace and that my heart may also know this same serenity.

Happily today Sheryl Roberts called and had some Khmer study books for me to work with.  This window of time before the school year starts is so precious... I hope to make the most of it. If I can learn the "alphabet" I'll be well on my way to making meaning of the wonder of this language!

Please pray for my swollen fingers and feet... I'm working hard at staying hydrated... yet sometimes I get a bit nervous about our water filter and if the freshly cleaned cups are dry enough to be safe for drinking. There is this wonderful drink called "Royal D", another treat which Sheryl and John Roberts introduced me to, what a great way to amp up my electrolytes.