A morning with some kids......

Not sure if I should apologize or not,

but here [finally!] is the post I had said awhile ago that I was posting soon.

Well this isn't "soon" anymore. :-(

For various reasons.....

1.) more important things came up & this post got pushed aside

2.) I had no time to process what I experienced that morning

3.) I still am not sure what all to think of that morning.

So this may just be a post of photos and a few words. :)

 

 

We got to "listen" in on a Khmer Bible teaching time.

And we also got to sing a few songs with the kids. That was fun. :-)

 

Here are 2 very sweet people!!

This little man melted me! He was such a sweetie!

I don't know much of his story....but I could form my own options just from observing him.

Life is lonely.

Life is confusing.

Life is painful.

Life can seem so cruel.

I don't understand.

But...

I know God IS in control!

But still, I find myself asking why? Why? Why?

 Why some people have to go through so much pain, especially someone as young as this little man.

Why can't families stay together?

Why? Why?

I had no way to comfort this little man. I can only speak a few words in his language.

So I just hugged him tight as I prayed over him.

I looked him in the eyes and whispered "PraYesus sraline neak" ["Jesus loves you"].

 And I gave him cookies. :-)

"Jesus, please surround this little guy with Your arms! Protect him! Love him. Help him to find some comfort in this scary world."

 

This sweet baby girl was another 'heart breaker'.

At 9 months old her development was behind other babies her age.

But what can you say? She was abandoned as a small baby, and now is living at a home that is understaffed. The young girls who care for her do as best they can! Bless their hearts, nobody their age should have this huge responsibility placed on their young shoulders!

Sometimes, often I feel so helpless.

What can I do? I am only 1 person, I cannot do much.

Times like these prompt me to be more diligent in prayer. There are many people, many situations that need prayer. And even though I cannot wave a magic wand and make all these situations better in a moment, I know the only Person who can do this! That Person is Jesus Christ!!

He can, AND DOES! take care of each of these people and each of these situations!!!

So I bring these people and situations to Him, and trust that He will take care of them.

"Jesus, I know you are a Father to the fatherless. So I know that look down on these little girls with a love that is stronger than any person's on earth. I pray that You would help these girls to physically feel this love of Yours surround them each and every day! Protect them from any harm that Satan would want to bring against them. Bless them for the way they care for each other. And please send someone into their lives to love them as a physical mother would."

 

Everybody loves Mr. Z. :-)

 

Another person,

another story.

We taught the kids how to play kick ball.

It's always "fun" to try to explain a new game to people in another language. :-)

 

Check out the awesome soccer balls we have here!

Playing with a magnifying glass, paper & plastic bottles....only a boy...!! :-)

Reminds me of my nephew---who I miss a lot!! :-(

As we left, they all gathered by the gate and waved to us.

Nothing like breaking our hearts!! :-(

Pray for these kids.

Life is hard.

Life is not fair.

But, God is in control.

He IS taking care of them.

We can join in His work by praying for them.

 

Christmas in Cambodia

Just to give you a glimpse into what my Christmas was like.

 

Christmas was different this year.

My family was separated in three far away countries.

I can't wait 'til Heaven!

But, it was still a good Christmas.

I got to Vox with my nieces and nephew for awhile. :)

I surprised Mom & Dad with a phone call--turned into a Skype chat. :)

I opened a box of Christmas cookies made by Mom--delicious!! :)

 

 

On the 23rd us girls went out for a nice Fish supper & ice cream.

We were all recovering from some sort of stomach flu/food poisoning,

 so we weren't very energetic. :( But it was still fun. :)

We came home and 'exchanged' gifts :)

 

The 24th, part of my team got together to celebrate Christmas.

This was great!

It helped to make it feel more like Christmas to celebrate with people & food. :)

We went to the newest mall in the city, & went ice skating.

It was so much fun to be skating again!! :)

It was even FREEZING COLD in the arena!!! :)

[But it did make me miss playing hockey....if there would have been hockey sticks around, I would have used them!]

Alyssa & I

Alyssa & I had fun getting the house all decorated for Christmas & making the food look pretty. :)

 

I may not have my nieces & nephew around to love on & spoil,

 but this adorable guy & his brother sure don't mind getting spoiled! :)

 

 

Christmas Day Brunch!!

{Cinnamon French Toast & an iced Peppermint Mocha}

 

Everyone else had plans Christmas Day, so Alyssa & I created some too.

We went to Daughter Café for brunch,

then we took our cameras for a walk around by the riverfront

& around Diamond Island. :)

 

The Royal Palace

It was a lovely, warm day.

A lovely photographer

This BEAUTIFUL flag was flying by the river.

My other home. :)

Palm trees...not quite the Christmas landscape I am used to...but still beautiful! :)

A gate leading to the Royal Palace.

 

We stopped at this cute little ice cream shop.

The Carmel Frappe wasn't so good. :(

But the sorbet was! :)

 

My Christmas Day also included a {slow!} trip to the airport to pick up more team members.

{I've never rode on a tuktuk where the driver was this cautious--wow! But hey, we were very, very safe! We weren't going to get into an accident!!}

 

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas as well!

And God's blessings in the New Year!

 

Cambodian Transportation

Only in Cambodia can you stand at the side of the road for 20 minutes and be this entertained.

We were meeting friends [who were stuck in traffic--story of our lives here!],

I had my camera----so I was "a little bit" trigger happy. :)

Hope you enjoy some of the interesting sights I see every day on the roads!!

 

 

a guy selling drinks....like coke & ICED COFFEE!!! :)

 

 

No, he is not part of a gang or anything....he just didn't want the sun or dust to get on him!

 

This is how we transport trees.

 

This guy makes me smile! :)

There is this guy [or maybe more than one, not too sure] who wears funky clothes,

plays loud, funky music and sells something from the yellow box on the back of his moto.

[I haven't figured out yet what he sells]

But he sure makes everyone on the streets smile when he comes along. :)

 

This is how they transport lumber. :)

 

 

Tuk tuks can always hold a "little bit more".

 

When the truck is full, you sit on top of the stuff. :)

[Seatbelts are only something that the driver and front seat passenger need to wear.]

 

Notice the moto on the left going the opposite way! This is so typical. :)

 Sometimes it is just easier, & makes more sense, to drive the "wrong" way down the street.

*I may or may not have done this before. :) But don't worry! It's safe!! Everyone is always watching out for everyone else! :)

 

Not exactly sure what this vehicle is used for,

 but sometimes when you see them they are filled with people.

 

A three-wheeled tuk tuk

 

 

This moto is right tight to our tuk tuk, just waiting to cross the street.

Here, if you want to get anywhere you need to edge your nose out into the traffic until they go around you, or stop for you.

 

Sometimes you see your friends riding on a moto. :)

 

This photo doesn't do justice. This section of the road had massive ruts!!!

We made it through with our tuk tuk! :)

Monks

 

Oxen pulling a cart laden with goods to sell.

 

It's wedding season here. Which means that when you are traveling, there is a good chance that you will randomly come upon this tent that is set up on the road. You may be able to squeeze by it, or you may have to turn around and find a different way to your destination.

Life on these roads is never dull! :)

 

The front of the wedding tent.

They really do beautiful decorations.

We drove by an outdoor market.

The man on the left is selling freshly squeezed sugar cane juice.

 

True ladies ride motos sidesaddle.

*I have not mastered this yet.*

 

 

Well, hope you enjoyed the photos! :)