It's a quiet Sunday afternoon right now, both of us sitting on the bed after a wonderful morning of worship and meal at the base. No wedding music this morning but the party next door to our room went all night so sleep was a bit sketchy.
After a breakfast of cereal with soy milk and bread and jam we rode our bikes about 2 miles out into a village for our morning worship service. We travelled with a group of about 20-25 students and staff from the YWAM base. Had coffee and fellowship outside the church while children were having Sunday School. Met a lot of neat "kids" (20 year olds). Some of those kids have experienced so much life already. It makes us aware again of how much we have lived a sheltered sanitary life in the midwest. The world is so big and yet so very small. We all serve the same God and He provides for all of our needs but our needs and the needs of most of the rest of the world are vastly different. I was asked to lead the communion part of the service. It was such a God moment to declare the Truth about the elements with an interpreter and to see and feel the true communion of the saints in a world half way around the globe. God is Good.
After resting a bit in our room we will go to a 1st anniversary celebration of the opening of Eden's cafe. It is a new establishment that was started by a YWAM student from the states. Its purpose is to serve the people of Cambodia by training folks in how to hold a job and to develop skills so that they can in turn go out and make a living on their own. The proceeds are used to benefit hungry children.
After that, we'll probably head back to our room to get ready for tomorrow's activities which start a 8:00 with worship at the base then to a 3 hour lecture on the Book of Revelation.
Blessings
Ed & Mary
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Getting supplies an adventure!
Saturday almost 1pm already. We awoke to the Cambodian wedding music, explanation of that is when someone gets married in Cambodia they celebrate for a few days, and all the while of those few days this music is playing or someone is talking over a loudspeaker, do not ask me what they are saying.... but the music each day starts at least by 4 or 4:30AM, that is early, very early!!
I used earplugs and went back to sleep, Ed heard it for a long time before more slumber came, then we had to hurry to be at the YWAM base to meet Sopheap and Laura, with boys in tow. Off to find us used bicycles for our time here, everything is an adventure trust me! Bike acquired off to the market for fruit and a few other supplies to tide us over if we miss a few meals here and there. Which we did today but only two meals, and we have been snacking on our fresh fruit, ok we did buy little cakes which remind me of round dutch letters! Not bad!!
So now we have transportation of our own! I only fell once on the trip back and that was onto a high curb with some grass and dirt, so nothing major! It is a bit challenging to ride here as it is generally a free for all, no traffic signals you just go and so does everyone else!! Trucks, cars, buses, moto, tuk tuks and bikes! Ok so you may pray for safety that could be a good thing!!
And the good thing is I fell before we got the groceries, so I only spilled me!!
Well off to meet Rina who is going to give us a tour of SBS, and then off to a soccer game with Laura and the boys.
Blessings to all,
Mary
I used earplugs and went back to sleep, Ed heard it for a long time before more slumber came, then we had to hurry to be at the YWAM base to meet Sopheap and Laura, with boys in tow. Off to find us used bicycles for our time here, everything is an adventure trust me! Bike acquired off to the market for fruit and a few other supplies to tide us over if we miss a few meals here and there. Which we did today but only two meals, and we have been snacking on our fresh fruit, ok we did buy little cakes which remind me of round dutch letters! Not bad!!
So now we have transportation of our own! I only fell once on the trip back and that was onto a high curb with some grass and dirt, so nothing major! It is a bit challenging to ride here as it is generally a free for all, no traffic signals you just go and so does everyone else!! Trucks, cars, buses, moto, tuk tuks and bikes! Ok so you may pray for safety that could be a good thing!!
And the good thing is I fell before we got the groceries, so I only spilled me!!
Well off to meet Rina who is going to give us a tour of SBS, and then off to a soccer game with Laura and the boys.
Blessings to all,
Mary
Welcomed to Battambang!
A wonderful afternoon and evening of being welcomed to Battambang!
First shortly after we arrived Laura, Ruen and Rain stopped in for a visit, it was so good to see them again and hear how Laura is doing, find out she needs the playground treated and Ed is anxious to get back see if bolts need tightening etc.
Then we walked to the YWAM Base for the evening meal, and were greeted by, Piseth, Sopheap, Channouen, Kovonne, Samphas, Rina, Yuka and many, many more!! Hello to last years team, and they are awaiting this years team!! Rina gave me a ride back to the Hotel and Samphas gave Ed a ride each on moto's. So our first meal back at base, awesomeness!!!
We are headed out tomorrow to find bicycles, see SBS, and Jeevit's House let the fun begin!!
I hope the people in the next room decide to sleep soon! the walls are VERY THIN!
Good night and God bless,
Ed and Mary
First shortly after we arrived Laura, Ruen and Rain stopped in for a visit, it was so good to see them again and hear how Laura is doing, find out she needs the playground treated and Ed is anxious to get back see if bolts need tightening etc.
Then we walked to the YWAM Base for the evening meal, and were greeted by, Piseth, Sopheap, Channouen, Kovonne, Samphas, Rina, Yuka and many, many more!! Hello to last years team, and they are awaiting this years team!! Rina gave me a ride back to the Hotel and Samphas gave Ed a ride each on moto's. So our first meal back at base, awesomeness!!!
We are headed out tomorrow to find bicycles, see SBS, and Jeevit's House let the fun begin!!
I hope the people in the next room decide to sleep soon! the walls are VERY THIN!
Good night and God bless,
Ed and Mary
Arrived Battambang!
It is now 3:35pm, just settling into our home for the next month!
We had the normal horn honking ride from Siem Reap to Battambang, that means every time the taxi driver passes a bike, pedestrian, scooter, tractor another motorized vehicle going slower than he chooses to go, he honks the horn and passes. Which is 95% of the time!
Our trip was good it was so good to see the sites of Cambodia, people walking cows, theirs shops along the road, people in the rice fields, ladies doing laundry by water that looks to dirty it couldn't clean anything, people fishing, lots of rice and rice straw either in stacks, still in the field in mounds, or being hauled either by tractor, byke, or truck. I hope to post some pictures of this.
The people are friendly and gracious. They are poor, but their eyes smile if you connect. It is so very good to be here, we are thankful, may God use us to bless those we come into contact with.
Ed and Mary
We had the normal horn honking ride from Siem Reap to Battambang, that means every time the taxi driver passes a bike, pedestrian, scooter, tractor another motorized vehicle going slower than he chooses to go, he honks the horn and passes. Which is 95% of the time!
Our trip was good it was so good to see the sites of Cambodia, people walking cows, theirs shops along the road, people in the rice fields, ladies doing laundry by water that looks to dirty it couldn't clean anything, people fishing, lots of rice and rice straw either in stacks, still in the field in mounds, or being hauled either by tractor, byke, or truck. I hope to post some pictures of this.
The people are friendly and gracious. They are poor, but their eyes smile if you connect. It is so very good to be here, we are thankful, may God use us to bless those we come into contact with.
Ed and Mary
Thursday, January 5, 2012
We are in Siem Reap!!
Good morning from Siem Reap!
I did try to post last evening, but all the headers were in Khmer and I had no idea what I was doing as there is no post of last evening!
We are so thankful to have arrived safely in Siem Reap, we will travel by taxi today to Battambang! No more air travel for a bit. We did meet lovely people on the flight, one lady was on her way to Siem Reap for the first time in 32 years, she left with her children (did not speak of husband at all) to go to the refugee camp in Thailand 32 years ago, two of her children died but the daughter who is accompanying her on this trip was born in the camp. She had so much in her eyes as she was telling me her story, I just wanted to hug her!!
We arrived with ALL of our luggage, the tuk tuk driver said you must stay a long time, I said most of it is to be given away, as are the four 50 pounders - exciting, we pray a blessing on all of the gifts sent with us to Cambodia! But he did get it all on the tuk tuk, and as we flew thru the streets of Siem Reap we were very thankful it did not tip over!
Our Hotel room is amazing thank you Garth or Caroline for setting up such amazing accomidations for us! I slept well and Ed is still sleeping, I slept more on the plane than he did and it is still only 6:30am.
Praising God for safe travels thus far, and asking his guidance on our time spent here in Cambodia!
Blesssings to all,
Ed and Mary
I did try to post last evening, but all the headers were in Khmer and I had no idea what I was doing as there is no post of last evening!
We are so thankful to have arrived safely in Siem Reap, we will travel by taxi today to Battambang! No more air travel for a bit. We did meet lovely people on the flight, one lady was on her way to Siem Reap for the first time in 32 years, she left with her children (did not speak of husband at all) to go to the refugee camp in Thailand 32 years ago, two of her children died but the daughter who is accompanying her on this trip was born in the camp. She had so much in her eyes as she was telling me her story, I just wanted to hug her!!
We arrived with ALL of our luggage, the tuk tuk driver said you must stay a long time, I said most of it is to be given away, as are the four 50 pounders - exciting, we pray a blessing on all of the gifts sent with us to Cambodia! But he did get it all on the tuk tuk, and as we flew thru the streets of Siem Reap we were very thankful it did not tip over!
Our Hotel room is amazing thank you Garth or Caroline for setting up such amazing accomidations for us! I slept well and Ed is still sleeping, I slept more on the plane than he did and it is still only 6:30am.
Praising God for safe travels thus far, and asking his guidance on our time spent here in Cambodia!
Blesssings to all,
Ed and Mary
WE ARE HERE!!
Greetings from Seim Reap, Cambodia!!
We and ALL our luggage arrived safely at 9:16 this evening, we are now relaxing in a wonderful motel that Garth or Caroline set up for us, I am relaxing on a bed as we speak, so good to stretch out after the long day of travel.
Oh my you should have seen the look on the face of our tuk tuk driver, when he saw all of our luggage, he said you must be staying a long, long time! We assured him it was not all for us mostly to give away!
We met many lovely people on our flight over had a wonderful talk with a lady coming back to Cambodia for the first time since she left it 32 years ago. She was accompanied by her daughter who was born while in the refugee camp in Thailand, she and her daughter survived but she lost two other children. Her story is one of thousands here in Cambodia.
Oh and to my surprise my blogging queue's are now in Khmer, those will be extremely helpful since I have trouble speaking the language, much less reading it.
So if strange things happen well it might not be all my fault!
Blessings and enough rambling for tonight!
Ed and Mary
We and ALL our luggage arrived safely at 9:16 this evening, we are now relaxing in a wonderful motel that Garth or Caroline set up for us, I am relaxing on a bed as we speak, so good to stretch out after the long day of travel.
Oh my you should have seen the look on the face of our tuk tuk driver, when he saw all of our luggage, he said you must be staying a long, long time! We assured him it was not all for us mostly to give away!
We met many lovely people on our flight over had a wonderful talk with a lady coming back to Cambodia for the first time since she left it 32 years ago. She was accompanied by her daughter who was born while in the refugee camp in Thailand, she and her daughter survived but she lost two other children. Her story is one of thousands here in Cambodia.
Oh and to my surprise my blogging queue's are now in Khmer, those will be extremely helpful since I have trouble speaking the language, much less reading it.
So if strange things happen well it might not be all my fault!
Blessings and enough rambling for tonight!
Ed and Mary
Monday, January 2, 2012
Before we leave continues!
Well it was quite a weekend!
We packed as we mentioned before, last minute supplies delivered, and as of Monday evening even our backpacks are packed except for a few last minute items.
But Sunday was an eventful day, headed to the Bridge where Marty started his series on Mark my Words, the book of Mark a challenge to be Jesus Apprentices! that was a great message...one we cannot just chalk it up for "having heard it" that was not Jesus way! Then after a meeting we headed home, my folks were there to visit a bit and bid us good bye for our journey. We did have a lovely visit, but it ended with Mom falling as they left, now she is in the hospital at Pella Regional with extreme bruising, swelling on her knee and so much pain! Tomorrow they will do an MRI as the xray's showed no breaks but when there is so much swelling something can be missed. So pray for Judy and Otto Vos, pray for healing for Judy, and she is Dad's primary care giver so that adds to the difficulty.
I was able to stay with Dad Sunday night, and will be there tomorrow yet but then it pretty much falls on my not so Little brother Jer and his wife Jodi to round up help after we leave the country, so that is heavy on my heart tonight. My other brother Mel who lives the next closest has pnemonia and bronchitis he is very sick so, he could use some prayer as well for healing. This family's gotta quit falling apart! Ok, Mary not a joking matter, (but I can hear Mel say it)
Just an update on progress and pain, God the healer is in charge so we must all trust that!
Blessings, Mary
We packed as we mentioned before, last minute supplies delivered, and as of Monday evening even our backpacks are packed except for a few last minute items.
But Sunday was an eventful day, headed to the Bridge where Marty started his series on Mark my Words, the book of Mark a challenge to be Jesus Apprentices! that was a great message...one we cannot just chalk it up for "having heard it" that was not Jesus way! Then after a meeting we headed home, my folks were there to visit a bit and bid us good bye for our journey. We did have a lovely visit, but it ended with Mom falling as they left, now she is in the hospital at Pella Regional with extreme bruising, swelling on her knee and so much pain! Tomorrow they will do an MRI as the xray's showed no breaks but when there is so much swelling something can be missed. So pray for Judy and Otto Vos, pray for healing for Judy, and she is Dad's primary care giver so that adds to the difficulty.
I was able to stay with Dad Sunday night, and will be there tomorrow yet but then it pretty much falls on my not so Little brother Jer and his wife Jodi to round up help after we leave the country, so that is heavy on my heart tonight. My other brother Mel who lives the next closest has pnemonia and bronchitis he is very sick so, he could use some prayer as well for healing. This family's gotta quit falling apart! Ok, Mary not a joking matter, (but I can hear Mel say it)
Just an update on progress and pain, God the healer is in charge so we must all trust that!
Blessings, Mary
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