Connections

While I was in Thailand I was able to meet with a lady name Louisa. She and I met in Wheaton while doing prefield orientation and how to learn a second language. She was my roommate then. She arrived in Thailand around the same time I arrived in Cambodia. It was great to be able to connect with her. We were able to share experiences with one another because we are going through the same types of things just in different places. The Youngs took us out to dinner it was so nice. We talked a lot about being single, learning the language, traveling... This was also an encouragement to be able to identify with someone and them identify with me at the same time.

Thai Vacation

The past 5 days were spent in Thailand with the Young family. It was a perfect time for me to take a vacation and be with some really good friends. Near the end of last week was really when I became more emotional about missing family and friends and being home. But Cambodia has to become home. I had a wonderful time visiting and relaxing in Thailand. It was a blessing and encouragement to be with Dave, Maryanne and the girls, it felt like a touch of home. While I was in Thailand I visited Bumrungrad International Hospital and had a consultation with a neurologist there. It was really good to meet with him and get some questions answered. Now I am back in Cambodia and preparing for class tomorrow.

The Rat Trap

Since I knew a rat was present in my home I figured I should buy a rat trap to get rid of it. I went to the market and bought the cage kind. The door closes the rat in the cage when it goed to eat the food. It seemed to be like a good option because I did not have to figure out what to do with a rat that was dying. I figured I would just take the cage outside by the handle and leave it. However the first night a bite was taken out of the food I hung and no rat was trapped. The next time I tested it out a few times and hung food again the next morning the food was gone and still not rat. I definetly had a rat in the house, but what to do. I went to the market and bought rat glue. I did not put it out right away, but last night as I was at my computer I saw the rat. So i left the room with the door shut and got the glue put it out on the plate that came with it and then but food in the middle. I opened the door and slid in the room, then shut the door since I really do not like rats this all was not fun. Anyway the rat was finally trapped and my helper took care of it for me I did not have to - what a blessing.

Mentor

Yesterday I met with one of the missionary ladies on my team, Mary. We had lunch together and discussed her being my mentor. We will probably meet 1-2 times a month to talk about my life outside of language study. I believe that this will be a blessing to me. I believe that will also be a growing time for me in many areas of my life, pray that it is.

Team

Yesterday the C&MA Phnom Penh Team meet togther. We meet together to discuss the team strategy in the city. This takes place once a month. We have goals that have been set and we evaluate where we are at as a team on accomplishing these goals and develop ideas on how to better do what we are called to do. We have four C&MA connected (KEC-Khmer Evangelical Churches in Phnom Penh). Please pray for our team that God would speak to our hearts about the dirsction that we each and corporately need to move. We desire for the 4 KEC churches would grow in number and in their love for the Lord...how can we best help our churches?

Speaking Khmi

Speaking Khmi is my biggest struggle at the moment. I look back on things that I have learned, I can read many things in Khmi (not all words because it sure is easier to read when you know the words already), I can also listen to many conversations and pick up enough words to understand the jist of it, however when it comes to speaking the words just don't come to mind. The problem is that I have a hard time thinking in English and being able to come up with the Khmi words, but if I see or hear the Khmi it is so much easier to understand the meaning in English. Please continue to pray for me that I would have a mind to retain the information and am learning and the ability to speak.

My friend Soeun

This week I been off of school since Wednesday. I invited my friend Soeun to come and stay with me for these days. This friend of mine is from the province Kampong Cham but she is living in Phnom Penh in the dorms of the Bible School, she is in her first year there. I met her the first time in 2001 while I was on my missions trip. I met her the second time at my friend Rachael's house. Now she has been staying with me for the last two days and will leave tomorrow. It has been nice to have another person around the house. We have had a lot of fun with each other speaking Khmi and English as well as hanging out with our other friends Rachael and Srey. Soeun is full of energy and loves the Lord. It has been a delight to have her stay with me. Please pray for her as she studies, it is stressful and difficult for her, but she is being obedient to God.

Pchum Ben

October 11th will be the commencement of a 15 day holiday in Cambodia. The 15 days are days to travel to temples around the country to leave food for the dead anscestors. This day is a Cambodian falls on the full moon and is a kind of All-Saints or Day of the Dead day. This is a time when the spirits of the dead anscestors walk the earth and the living can ease their suffering by offering them food to eat. On the 11th people will go to the temlple around 4am to offer food to the anscestors they do this in the dark because it is said that the spirits don't like the light. So they do have one thing right and what a way to bridge into sharing the gospel. Pray for our missionaries during this time that we would have opportunity to share with people and that our lights would shine brightly in the darkness.

The Mysterious Creature

. This morning I woke up and went downstairs and as I was putting dishes away from my drying rack I noticed the spatula was outside of it and was chewed up as you can see in the picture. I am taking a poll on what kind of creature you think chewed up the spatula. Post your thoughts on the comments section. It is still a mystery to me so I hope to catch the creature so we can solve this mystery. Pray for me as I live with creatures in my house.

Prayer

I would like to share with you a verse and part of the prayer I have prayed today. Psalm 55:17 "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: He shall hear my voice." ... God give me patience when it is hard to wait, give me love when it is hard to love, give me understanding when things make no sense, give me comfort when I feel alone, give me peace when things seem out of control, give me words to say when I feel I have none...

The Royal University of Phnom Penh

Today I began studying at the Institute of Foreign Languages which is a part of the University. My class has about 16 people in it 1/2 of them are from Korea. There is a couple from Wisconsin whom I talked with for a while, they are also missionaries, have been here two months (arrived the day after me) and who live down the street a ways from me. I am hoping that this couple and I will become good friends and maybe meet a little coffee shop around the corner from their house that we both visit occassionally. It was nice to be studying with other people I think that it will make learning a little more interesting. Continue to pray that I would have a mind to understand and recollect, ears to listen and a mouth to speak.