Day 29

     Today was very exhausting for me. I think this change and lack of sleep is really catching up with me. I had the hardest time getting out of bed and getting myself ready. Went downstairs to the Café for breakfast. Had cereal, was perfect since I have not had it since I have been here. Then we started our class. I really struggled to stay awake and pay attention, my body was restless and my mind was wondering. I am believing tomorrow will be better!

Our classroom, 3rd floor of Alma Cafe

    Lunch was incredible! We ate at Alma downstairs, and I ordered a pork dish. It was pork with pineapple salsa, with Mexican rice and beans. Fabulous! Then we finished with pineapple upside down cake. It really has been so nice to eat delicious food these last few days since I really do not care for much of the local food here in Singapore nor Cambodia. It isn't terrible, but it isn't a preference of mine, at all.



      After class, we gathered together to discuss a skit that we need to have learned by tomorrow. We came up with the idea to do the prodigal son skit, but haven't chosen the motions yet. After, we each went to our room to work on our bible readings and outlines. Shortly after, the a/c went out and it was boiling hot! Eventually we lost electricity. There was a short in our box, and there is too much electricity being used and our box cannot handle it.
     For dinner, Meygan Marino came meet us to take us to get burgers at a little local coffee shop down the road. It was delicious! Cheeseburger and fries, I think so!

  

 

     Our a/c still is not fixed. It is sooooo hot! Hope I will be able to get some sleep with the heat!

Day 28

     Today was our first class day in Cambodia! I missed class soooo much! We went have breakfast before class started downstairs at Alma Café, and had eggs with sausage, toast, and salsa. Yummy!

 

     Then we started class. We talked about judgment, and how you probably shouldn't go around making people live up to your convitions, and shouldn't give your opinion when asked questions controversial topics. Answering with your opinion is judgement. You should answer the question with giving the person scriptures about that topic, then ask what they think the correct answer is based on the Bible. We learn so much on a daily basis that I feel I can hardly contain, and live it out. Though my natural mind cannot fathom all of the incredible information taken in daily, I know my spirit is. We also learned about being humble. I have sooo many things to work on and incorporate on a daily basis that I previously wasn't doing. Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy.
     During our praise and worship this morning, we sang the radio version of 'Amazing Grace', and though I have heard the song a million times, it was like I had never heard it at all. Such powerful lyrics. "And like a flood His mercy rains. Unending love, Amazing grace". Incredible lyrics. How can you not cry when you realize His love for us, His mercy, and His grace. There are no words to describe the joy- literally joy unspeakable :)
     After class ended for the day, we grabbed a late lunch at Alma before heading out to the Russian Market again to do some more shopping. For lunch, we had chicken tortilla soup with watermelon-limeade. Amazing!

 

 Beautiful ceilings with open air spindles in Alma

     At the Russian Market, I was able to pick up a few more pairs of their capri length pants, a Cambodia shirt, and a few gifts to bring back home. Due to my luggage weight, I was forced to leave most of my clothing behind so I was in need of more!
     Once home, it started to down pour. Here is the view from our 5th floor. You can see some kids playing in the water, some simple, fun relief for the helpless children here.

 

 

     For dinner, Meygan came by and we picked up some food from a restaurant down the street. It has the exact concept as Alma Café (to employ people taken off the street previously in the sex industry), but is open for dinner time as well (unlike Alma). We had salad, which was great since salad was so scarce in Singapore.

     Meygan was telling us that she babysits weekly for this one woman: American. 25 years old. Raising 30 orphan children as her own. Absolutely selfless! She attends the church we will be working with, so I am so excited to meet her and her children! Talk about giving your life away so the Lord can use you!  I can only wish to be half as admirable as her!

    After, I was able to Skype with my lovely mother and Scottie. So glad to hear their voices, not just an electronic message. Today was such a good day.

 

P.S. The bugs are freaking me out! Today we had a beetle bug near the entrance to the 5th floor balcony. I am not exaggerating, it was almost the size of my palm. I did not know it was even possible to be so big! While shopping at the market, we came across many huge roaches. Freaky! And while we were doing our nightly bible reading, Sasi found a baby roach on our covers in the bed. FREAKKKYYYY! Not cool! Please pray for me. I am terrified, and paranoid to sleep. Since each bedroom has  balcony access (and the doors are not sealed, and can fit a hand under the top and bottom) we are finding many friends. We are also having an ant problem throughout the 4th and 5th floor. They are everywhere! Prayers are welcome!

Day 27

     This morning started off with an incredible breakfast from Alma Café. We had eggs, potato and onion hash, fresh baguette, and homemade salsa. Incredible! I also had my first cup of coffee in a month (since the Singapore coffee is undrinkable to me). Very nice! After breakfast, we had a time of praise and worship together before we were dismissed to go our separate ways and do some shopping for our rooms and to get things we need.

Velma & LiDan: Twins

 

     Cynthia, since she lived here for 5 months and is very acquainted with the area, was our tour guide. She took us first to the Water of Life Church, the church we will be serving under while here.

 

     After that, we all went to the famous Russian Market that I have heard so much about! It was so much fun, but HOT! No air circulation but we got lots of things we needed. We bought pillows and blankets, and sheets. And trashcans, and mops, and brooms, etc. Then before we left, I was able to buy a cute elephant satchel to wear while I am here, since carrying a backpack isn't very safe. The thieves are everywhere waiting to steal your backpack. So if you carry a satchel across your body, they know its nearly impossible to run and grab it off of you so you will be less of a target.

     After that, we ran home to drop our things off and left on a tuk-tuk for the Central Market where we had lunch and shopped a little more. We all ordered pork fried rice. It was not at all like I expected. I was imagining Chinese fried rice. But this was Khmer fried rice, local to Cambodia. Not bad but very different.

 They LOVE the peace sign in Asia!

 

 

    We did some more shopping there, headed home to drop them off and catch up on our reading. I was able to read and do some homework before we went to dinner. We went to dinner with Meygan Marino, Francel, Danielle, and Jeremy and the kids. It was a fun time! We went to a little place down the street from the house. I ordered pineapple fried rice... amazing!!!! Danielle and Jeremy are such a blessing, they treated us all to dinner as a welcome to Cambodia dinner!

How weird was this ice??!

     On a side note, I am soooo glad I got to see Meygan again today! She is such an amazing girl! I am so blessed to call her my friend. She is so selfless, and cute! ;) So glad I will be getting to see her regularly for the next month!

Day 26, First Day in Cambodia

     Today was our first day in Cambodia!! We woke up at the crack of dawn and scrambled around to do our last minute packing and get everything situated. We called the cab and was on the road to the airport by 10:15. What a surprise to see John, Eric, and Wiwin at the airport to see us off. We grabbed McDonalds for lunch before we went through customs. 

John carried my extremelyyyy heavy bag around for me in the airport! 

     Praise report: So we had a 33lb strict weight limit on our suitcases and 22lb weight limit on our carry on. Needless to say, no shock, my suitcase weighed 38 before we left the house and my carry on was 26. Pastor Steven said the penalty fee was a few hundred dollars and isn't worth paying and to lighten my suitcase. The cab was outside waiting and I didn't have time. So I prayed the entirrre way to the airport. When I got there, the lady checking my bags in was so worried about our visas not going through without proper paperwork that she didn't even look at the weight when I put my suitcase up to be tagged and weighed. PRAISE THE LORDDDD!!!! 

    AND I lost my visa that I got coming into Singapore that allowed me to go into other counties while there. So that was supposed to be a big deal. But my Jesus is incredible!! It ended up being no issue at all and they let me through! I love Him!!! 

     Once arriving in Cambodia, we got on tuk-tuk's with our suitcases and came to Alma Cafe where we will be staying. Since Pastor Steven and Barbara own the entire building we are able to stay on the 5th floor. Boys on 4th. Classrooms on 3rd. Stevens family on 2nd. And the restaurant on the first. 

 

 

 

     Pics from the 5th floor of Alma

 

 

     I have only been here a few hours and have already seen: a prostitute, naked baby, someone peeing next to the road, and little boys who are owned by men forced to beg for money. Heart breaking. These people are so lost and hurt. They are still trying to recover from what happened with the Khmer Rouge mass killings. 

    Good news: we got to see Meygan Marino!!!! She is a childhood friend of mine who did this program two summers ago and is living here in Cambodia as a missionary. It was really so good to see her!!! She came with us to dinner, to pick some essentials, and get some ice cream. Everything is so cheap here. $1 gelato cone! Delicious! 

 

 

 

Day 25, Kum Yan Methodist

     So today was a lot of fun! We went to this reallllly cool church. It's 7 stories high, with many many smaller churches inside. There is a church for 5 different languages, then they are broken apart even farther for different groups. So we went to a youth group (ages 16-25ish) that spoke English. Pastor Steven was speaking so we went with him. It was incredible! So so much fun! The people there were so fun and welcoming! After his sermon, he asked all of his students to come to the front and whoever wanted prayer we would pray for. I got this sweet girl named Jade! So precious!

 

 

 

On the MRT acting a fool with John

 

     After service, we had to catch a quick train to our Sunday night service at The Shelter. Great service! Tonight was our last service with everyone for a month, since we are leaving tomorrow for Cambodia! It was realllllly hard telling everyone goodbye, and it's only goodbye for a month. I don't want to think about how hard it will be when we tell them goodbye for real. I have grown so close to everyone! 

     After we came home, we finished our packing for Cambodia. We can only carry 33lbs on the plane (and let me stress to you how litttttle that is when you have to pack for a month- and no tank tops or shorts). It is quite a challenge. 

     While I was packing, I saw a roach crawl in my suitcase! I screamed. Bliss screamed. And Jenn (the levelheaded one) told us to be quiet since Steven was sleeping. So we silently screamed and ran around like little girls, after all we are little girls. So we called our boy roommates to come and help. Tim Jordan really stepped up and opened my suitcase. Found it again but it ran out of mine and ran through Bliss's and we lost it. So Shawn helped Tim J search our room high and low. No sign. So since me and Bliss sleep on the floor every night, we will sleep on the couches in the living room. And that scary roach better not follow us in there!! 

 

       Our sad/scared faces! 

Day 24, Thomson Rd. with the youth

     So today was fabulous!!! Slept until 11ish. Stayed in bed until 12:30. Did some laundry. Took a nap! Then meet some of the youth tonight to hang out and have dinner. Love them all so much. They really have my heart here. I hate that we have to leave them Monday for a month :( But I have something to look forward to when we get back to Singapore, more time with them. I really don't know how I will be able to leave them at the end of the summer. The friendships we have developed over these short few weeks are so strong, and I am sure I will do some crying.
     We met up for dinner down Thomson Rd., this strip with restaurants and dessert places down each side. Pretty much heavenly (especially since they had Western food!). We decided on eating Fat Boy's Burgers, and it was amazing! So nice to have a good burger and fries!

 

The Girls

 

 Raymond eating his burger with a fork and knife!

 

     After our burgers, we went across the strip to a dessert place called Little Pancakes. Can you say FABULOUS!?? It was absolutely amazingly delicious! I ordered s'mores pancakes! They were sooo tiny and cute!

 

 

 

 

Tim & Raymond laying down in the middle of a busy street crosswalk. Only those two!

     After getting home, we started to pack for Cambodia! We leave day after tomorrow. So soon! We will be gone most of the day tomorrow, so we figured tonight was the only time we really will have to do it. We have a youth service with Pastor Steven tomorrow for 1pm. Then our regular Sunday night service at The Shelter. Time is flying! Hard to believe in just 8 weeks we will be saying good-bye to Asia and heading back home. It will definitely be hard, for sure. It feels like home here.