So here's the story all about how my life got twisted upside down... (so catchy). So bad news on Wednesday! After a long day at school I found out at lunch that the Prime Minister closed all the schools in Cambodia due to a spreading disease called Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. Unfortunately this meant that we would no longer be teaching summer school with a week and half left to go. This also meant that I would no longer see my students again, as well as the neighborhood kids and orphans :( The hardest part about this change was that I was never able to say goodbye, it didn't seem fair. Thankfully our team is healthy but this decision left our team wondering what was next. Although I really don't understand why this had to happen and I am missing a sense of closure I know God has a plan and its not always my place to understand. Trust!! A few doors have been opened for our last week here thankfully. We are going to go help with an organization called Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry who we have been in contact with through friends since we arrived in Cambodia. Then in the afternoon God has really blessed us with the chance to go back to the orphanage we have been volunteering at. We cannot work at the school but we have gotten special permission to go to the children's home to play with them there :) yay!!
I mostly wish that I could have just explained to all of the kids I can no longer see why we cannot play anymore and remind them one last time how special they are and how much I love them. I do need to remember though that I have a God so much greater than I and he is watching over the kids here in Cambodia with a love I could never give. So please be praying for my team this last week as God uses us in ways we may not even understand.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Orphanage!
We started volunteering at an orphanage called Asia's Hope about 2 weeks ago and oh my goodness its been wonderful! We went not necessarily planning to teach but hoped more to assist and just enjoy the kids; of course their plan was a little different than ours :) I walked into a class, the teacher looked at me and said, "You teach." I said, uhhh no, I think I'll just help but 2 minutes later I had some random book in my hand a red pen and about 13 first graders who speak little to no English staring at me. That first day I have no idea what happened! It was uphill from that day on thankfully (but just in case a code word was set in place).
These kids have won my heart over. I love that they are waiting with anticipation as we pull in. They absolutely adore the time we spend with them and so do I. There is not a moment while at that orphanage I don't have at least two kids hanging on me, holding my hand, or giving me sneak attack hugs! So stinkin' cute, even while teaching I need to remind them to sit down. They don't care that I'm a sweaty mess, they still share a love so strong that I need to pry it off as we leave.
One little girl this last Tuesday called me sister. Although I know it was her way of addressing me I couldn't help but think, yes we are sisters! Thank you Jesus for allowing me and this sweet, innocent, orphaned girl to forever be sisters in your name. How excited I am to one day meet up again in heaven, and there we can once again twirl, and dance, and experience a love so large.
One little girl this last Tuesday called me sister. Although I know it was her way of addressing me I couldn't help but think, yes we are sisters! Thank you Jesus for allowing me and this sweet, innocent, orphaned girl to forever be sisters in your name. How excited I am to one day meet up again in heaven, and there we can once again twirl, and dance, and experience a love so large.
Weekend Get Away
Still catching up...so back track to last weekend!
Saturday morning we were invited to Vibol's (our Tuk Tuk driver) daughter's dance recital at the Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry. It was authentic Khmer dancing and music with a touch of adorable preschoolers, it was beautiful. I was really thankful we were able to go and share in this experience. Vibol was such a proud dad :)
After the recital we left for Kep, which is about a 3 hour drive to the beach. Our bus driver (for lack of really knowing lets just call him Seth) was quite the experience. Before we were even on the road to Kep we got lost going back to our house and that was just the start of it. Three hours later, after experiencing some CRAZY driving and constant, unneeded honking, and some Avril Lavigne we made it safely to our hotel, Vanna Hills. Ji Hae's friend, Ling, came to meet up with us and "Oh my stars" she is fantastic!!
Ling has an amazing story. She was in her early 20's, married, with 2 children when the Khmer Rouge hit. Her husband, both her sons, and most of her family were killed during this time. Skin and bones she survived, went to California and remarried a French man and restarted her life. At a refugee camp she was able to find Jesus which gave her such hope and peace. In 1991, she moved back to Cambodia where she lives in the most beautiful house I have ever seen; Bonnie described it as a little piece of heaven. Ling, so cute, cracked me up! She said, "I survived the Khmer Rouge, now menopause!! WHY THIS?!" haha. She took us to a great seafood restaurant where I got chicken :) and then we walked around Kep and the national park. Kep is absolutely beautiful with fresh, cooler, air, friendly faces, and STARS. It was so nice to get away from the crazy city.
Sunday we were going to travel to Bokor Mountain but first breakfast! At breakfast we met on of Ling's neighbors, Andi. Andi has lived in Cambodia for about three years now and just recently began to foster 6 kids under the age of 18, as well as her own 7 year old daughter. Her story really tugged on my heart and I am so thankful for people like Andi who are willing to give completely of themselves!
We traveled up the winding roads of Bokor Mountain, of course "Seth" kept us on our toes the whole ride, and it was really pretty. The mountain was really random with a giant statue of Buddha at the top, old run down churches, and a mega resort all in one. It was something to see so I'm glad we made the trip. The rest of the day consisted of lunch, ice cream (of course) and another crazy ride home. There was an accident which turned into quite the delay. Women were grabbing their purses and walking haha and this only made "Seth" more antsy. We spent the rest of the car ride passing vehicles that were also trying to pass vehicles, playing chicken with oncoming traffic, and a blinker that was left on the entire way home because really it was only a matter of moments before we passed something new. Home safe!
Friday night through Sunday was filled with really fun Cambodian traditions and relaxation!! Friday night a big group of us went to take "glamor shots." We were dressed in authentic Cambodian clothes, and had our make-up and hair done too. It was really a funny experience.
Saturday morning we were invited to Vibol's (our Tuk Tuk driver) daughter's dance recital at the Cambodian Christian Arts Ministry. It was authentic Khmer dancing and music with a touch of adorable preschoolers, it was beautiful. I was really thankful we were able to go and share in this experience. Vibol was such a proud dad :)
After the recital we left for Kep, which is about a 3 hour drive to the beach. Our bus driver (for lack of really knowing lets just call him Seth) was quite the experience. Before we were even on the road to Kep we got lost going back to our house and that was just the start of it. Three hours later, after experiencing some CRAZY driving and constant, unneeded honking, and some Avril Lavigne we made it safely to our hotel, Vanna Hills. Ji Hae's friend, Ling, came to meet up with us and "Oh my stars" she is fantastic!!
Ling has an amazing story. She was in her early 20's, married, with 2 children when the Khmer Rouge hit. Her husband, both her sons, and most of her family were killed during this time. Skin and bones she survived, went to California and remarried a French man and restarted her life. At a refugee camp she was able to find Jesus which gave her such hope and peace. In 1991, she moved back to Cambodia where she lives in the most beautiful house I have ever seen; Bonnie described it as a little piece of heaven. Ling, so cute, cracked me up! She said, "I survived the Khmer Rouge, now menopause!! WHY THIS?!" haha. She took us to a great seafood restaurant where I got chicken :) and then we walked around Kep and the national park. Kep is absolutely beautiful with fresh, cooler, air, friendly faces, and STARS. It was so nice to get away from the crazy city.
Sunday we were going to travel to Bokor Mountain but first breakfast! At breakfast we met on of Ling's neighbors, Andi. Andi has lived in Cambodia for about three years now and just recently began to foster 6 kids under the age of 18, as well as her own 7 year old daughter. Her story really tugged on my heart and I am so thankful for people like Andi who are willing to give completely of themselves!
We traveled up the winding roads of Bokor Mountain, of course "Seth" kept us on our toes the whole ride, and it was really pretty. The mountain was really random with a giant statue of Buddha at the top, old run down churches, and a mega resort all in one. It was something to see so I'm glad we made the trip. The rest of the day consisted of lunch, ice cream (of course) and another crazy ride home. There was an accident which turned into quite the delay. Women were grabbing their purses and walking haha and this only made "Seth" more antsy. We spent the rest of the car ride passing vehicles that were also trying to pass vehicles, playing chicken with oncoming traffic, and a blinker that was left on the entire way home because really it was only a matter of moments before we passed something new. Home safe!
"Have low expectations, high hope, and trust, trust, trust!" -Ling
Cockroach Fever
There is something really special about hearing a bunch of crazy street children sing praises to Jesus in a different language. It truly is a sweet sweet sound. My time with the neighborhood outreach has been incredible. Although language has been a barrier, it has only been a small one. Each day (Mon, Wed, Fri) these kids flood through the gate in pure excitement and for the next two hours I get to be apart of what I'm sure is the best parts of their week. I don't have to teach, I don't even need to talk, considering they have no idea what I'm saying, but we can play soccer, and swim, and sing songs, and swing, and as the girls continuously hug me and the little boys pretend to beat me up I surely hope they know how much I love them.
One girl specifically has really gotten a hold of my heart- Chakriya. She is so gorgeous and we have this bond that I know will last forever (I know for sure because she gave me a friendship bracelet haha). I can only pray that God watches over her and protects her from a world that knocks you down time after time, and brings her an incredible joy. I just found out that she is enrolled in Logos for this next year, what a miracle!
I've been lacking in updates so here are some slightly brief details on the last weekish...
So last week (7-9-12) started session two of summer school. I only started with nine kids and was definitely missing the rest of my class (I now have 15 kids so the class is feeling full and oh so lively once again)! Teaching, as well as life here in general, has become routine and its a good feeling to feel comfortable and confident when really I have no idea what I am doing.
At the beginning of this week I started not to feel too well but hoped that it would just pass with a good night's sleep, wrong! The whole week I felt so terrible, a sickness I really had never experienced before and it was hard to know what to do. Each day I told myself just get through the day, just get through the day!! One morning when I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage, one of my boy's popped into class early and brought me a pop-up picture that he created that read, "I hope you have a good day!" and that's exactly how I was going to manage for the day!
I had a lot of people looking out for me this week which really meant so much. My TA, Roth, offered to take me home one day instead of staying for the neighborhood outreach (first Moto experience) and then the next day Roth and Kosal took over the last hour of my class and I was able to go rest in the teacher's lounge. After a week of complete pain I was starting to feel better but at the same time a rash took over my body, haha. I was able to talk to an American nurse and she reassured that I wasn't dying of hand, foot, and mouth disease or dengue fever but it was probably just viral. By the end of that weekend I felt so much better, thank you for the prayers!!
I had an encounter with a cockroach! Squirmy thing tried to store away in my backpack at school, he didn't last too much longer. At home ANOTHER cockroach!! I guess they do exist, maybe not as ugly as I had imagined though.
One girl specifically has really gotten a hold of my heart- Chakriya. She is so gorgeous and we have this bond that I know will last forever (I know for sure because she gave me a friendship bracelet haha). I can only pray that God watches over her and protects her from a world that knocks you down time after time, and brings her an incredible joy. I just found out that she is enrolled in Logos for this next year, what a miracle!
I've been lacking in updates so here are some slightly brief details on the last weekish...
So last week (7-9-12) started session two of summer school. I only started with nine kids and was definitely missing the rest of my class (I now have 15 kids so the class is feeling full and oh so lively once again)! Teaching, as well as life here in general, has become routine and its a good feeling to feel comfortable and confident when really I have no idea what I am doing.
At the beginning of this week I started not to feel too well but hoped that it would just pass with a good night's sleep, wrong! The whole week I felt so terrible, a sickness I really had never experienced before and it was hard to know what to do. Each day I told myself just get through the day, just get through the day!! One morning when I was trying to figure out how I was going to manage, one of my boy's popped into class early and brought me a pop-up picture that he created that read, "I hope you have a good day!" and that's exactly how I was going to manage for the day!
I had a lot of people looking out for me this week which really meant so much. My TA, Roth, offered to take me home one day instead of staying for the neighborhood outreach (first Moto experience) and then the next day Roth and Kosal took over the last hour of my class and I was able to go rest in the teacher's lounge. After a week of complete pain I was starting to feel better but at the same time a rash took over my body, haha. I was able to talk to an American nurse and she reassured that I wasn't dying of hand, foot, and mouth disease or dengue fever but it was probably just viral. By the end of that weekend I felt so much better, thank you for the prayers!!
I had an encounter with a cockroach! Squirmy thing tried to store away in my backpack at school, he didn't last too much longer. At home ANOTHER cockroach!! I guess they do exist, maybe not as ugly as I had imagined though.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
I Ate A Bug Club!
Did you know that the sound trucks make as they back up is NOT the typical beep, beep, beep in Cambodia, but rather to the tune of "Its A Small World After All!?"
Happy Saturday :) Today was a touristy day but enjoyable! We started off the morning by making pancakes from scratch (thank you Ji Hae) which were so good and then headed to the city with Aaron! Today we went to the Central Market where I freshened up my bargaining skills! We then had lunch at a place that helps street children get an education, "Friends." I love all of these places that support people who really need the help to get back onto their feet, it's encouraging! After lunch we went to the Royal Palace which wasn't all that exciting but something to see I suppose. I think a King, or someone important, was there so a lot of the areas were closed off, shoot.
Now the exciting part of the day! All week we have been building up the guts to eat a tarantula and today was the day! Aaron took us to this restaurant, that outside had a sign that read "Creative Cuisine" (appropriate) and YUP we ate tarantula!!! That was only the appetizer, for my actual dinner I had a Red Tree Ant platter. MMMM. The tarantula was actually pretty good, after getting past the squeamish part, but I wasn't a huge fan of the ants. We'll see if my stomach holds up, fingers crossed!
Happy Saturday :) Today was a touristy day but enjoyable! We started off the morning by making pancakes from scratch (thank you Ji Hae) which were so good and then headed to the city with Aaron! Today we went to the Central Market where I freshened up my bargaining skills! We then had lunch at a place that helps street children get an education, "Friends." I love all of these places that support people who really need the help to get back onto their feet, it's encouraging! After lunch we went to the Royal Palace which wasn't all that exciting but something to see I suppose. I think a King, or someone important, was there so a lot of the areas were closed off, shoot.
Now the exciting part of the day! All week we have been building up the guts to eat a tarantula and today was the day! Aaron took us to this restaurant, that outside had a sign that read "Creative Cuisine" (appropriate) and YUP we ate tarantula!!! That was only the appetizer, for my actual dinner I had a Red Tree Ant platter. MMMM. The tarantula was actually pretty good, after getting past the squeamish part, but I wasn't a huge fan of the ants. We'll see if my stomach holds up, fingers crossed!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Week 3, Check!
This second week of teaching went really well, praise Jesus! I finally feel like we have a groove to the day (minus missing music class today, woops) but I'm having a lot of fun with my students. This week we finished our Space Unit! The students, researched and presented posters on the different planets, participated in the GALACTIC GAMES, created their own constellations, creatively wrote what it would be like if they were astronauts, and crafted their own astronaut helmets- ready to blast off into space! It was a fun week with a sad ending. Today was eight of my students' last day of summer school so they won't be returning for the second session :( Some of my favorites too but I truly hope they enjoyed their time and learned a little something along the way! I forced them to give me a hug before they left, haha. I love them all.
P.s. Thank you so much Piggly Wiggly for the incredibly generous paper bag donations! :) They worked out perfectly.
So CONFESSION! I finally took advantage of the wonderfully cheap massages here in Cambodia. We went to a place called Daughters of Cambodia. It is this "organization" that helps girls who were once apart of sex trafficking get back on their feet. Pretty neat! Anyways, a one hour head to toe massage for only $13. It was so amazing :)
Three more weeks to go and it is all going by so quickly! I am trying to take in as much as I can and let God use me in all the ways He sees fit. I am so thankful for a God who loves unconditionally, a God of such creativity, a God who is so incredibly patient, and a God who appreciates laughter more than I could imagine.
So CONFESSION! I finally took advantage of the wonderfully cheap massages here in Cambodia. We went to a place called Daughters of Cambodia. It is this "organization" that helps girls who were once apart of sex trafficking get back on their feet. Pretty neat! Anyways, a one hour head to toe massage for only $13. It was so amazing :)
Three more weeks to go and it is all going by so quickly! I am trying to take in as much as I can and let God use me in all the ways He sees fit. I am so thankful for a God who loves unconditionally, a God of such creativity, a God who is so incredibly patient, and a God who appreciates laughter more than I could imagine.
Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you! 2 Tim. 1:6
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICA!
MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY EVERRRR so of course I force fed it to my non-American students :) I made it very clear today that it was Miss Holm's favorite holiday and everyone better be excited, haha and they should be considering we didn't do much schoolwork and I bribed them with presents!
Happy Fourth of July everyone!! In school today we discussed the importance of parades (and how there is no better moment than getting pelted by free candy), fireworks, and hotdogs :) played a few holiday games, colored with chalk, and created 4th of July lanterns. It was a fun day with the kids whether they completely understood or not!! Neighborhood kids came today too, so so wonderful.
Tonight Aaron took us all to Mike's burgers to properly finish celebrating the 4th! Mike, the owner and the cook, lived through and survived the Khmer Rouge, moved to California for 30 years where he learned to cook really great food, and then moved back to Cambodia where he know serves the best guaranteed burgers. They were really good and his story is really cool!
MMM an American meal at its best! Today was a great day; I hope everyone back home has a fun and safe holiday! OOOO and AHHH during the fireworks for me :)
Happy Fourth of July everyone!! In school today we discussed the importance of parades (and how there is no better moment than getting pelted by free candy), fireworks, and hotdogs :) played a few holiday games, colored with chalk, and created 4th of July lanterns. It was a fun day with the kids whether they completely understood or not!! Neighborhood kids came today too, so so wonderful.
Tonight Aaron took us all to Mike's burgers to properly finish celebrating the 4th! Mike, the owner and the cook, lived through and survived the Khmer Rouge, moved to California for 30 years where he learned to cook really great food, and then moved back to Cambodia where he know serves the best guaranteed burgers. They were really good and his story is really cool!
MMM an American meal at its best! Today was a great day; I hope everyone back home has a fun and safe holiday! OOOO and AHHH during the fireworks for me :)
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