September was my favorite month. So much was going on during this month, but it did not phase me at all because I knew my parents were coming. As much as we love hosting teams and getting to know new people from all over the world there is nothing like family. September started off a little shaky. Curtis got really sick and was in a lot of pain for about a week and a half. The doctor gave him some medication then basically told him that he wasn't allowed to get out of bed. I didn't hear any crying about that on Curtis' end, but I was a little freaked. Curtis and I usually do everything together out here when it comes to running errands because 1) I'm not allowed to drive the motto since the whole "running into the fence and almost killing us" incident (which I still don't think it was THAT big of a deal) so that means he has to drive me and 2) it is really hard to anything here with just one person. We had a Harmony team of 19 people coming in less than 2 weeks and we still needed to book hotels, flights, buses, vans and plan activities for them. As a disclaimer: I wanted to book these things like a month before this but the travel agent wouldn't let me because she said "it's too far away to plan". ***Cambodia Life*** So I put my suit and tie on and got to business on my own. By the time the team got here Curtis was feeling %100 better and everything was booked and ready to go. Thank you, Jesus.
The team of 19 people came from 4 different places which meant 4 different airport trips. We weren't complaining though, Ti got his beloved ice cream from DQ and we got Burger King :) We had a team from Illinois and a team from Denver here. These people couldn't be more different but we LOVED every single one of them. It's always fun hanging out with Americans again. The highlight for us was the watermark field trip we took the state orphanage kids on then to Water of Life for a kids youth day. So much fun! Kids love water no matter what country you are in. They played for hours. afterwards we bused them over to Water of Life for Youth Saturday. They danced, watch a skit by the WOL kids and a couple of them even got saved (!!!!) that day. We brought them back to their house moms nice and exhausted. The house moms were definitely excited about that. Haha. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend much time with the team after that day because my parents had arrived and the team went up to Angkor Wat to see the ruins. As bummed as we were that we could not join them, we were stoked about my parent's arrival.
My parents landed at midnight and we shoved them in a van at 7am the next morning and drove them out to the Svay Rieng village. My mom had zero chances to adjust to culture and I think that is the best way to travel. Of course the one time we almost die on the way there my mom had to be in the car, but she got to experience real Cambodian driving chaos. Haha. Svay Rieng was extra special since I got to share it with my parents. Curtis taught the first day and my dad got to teach the next day. The people were really excited to meet my parents. It really helps them relate to us too when they can meet and talk to our family members. On the last day Curtis and the Khmer church leaders had to take care of a big issue that was going on in the village so they were gone for almost 3 hours. During that time my parents, Rose (my translator and friend) and I sat underneath a canopy with all the pastors and their wives that went to the conference and it was probably the most fruitful and by the far the biggest blessing I have experienced since starting that project a year ago. First off the Khmer pastors saw my parents kiss (of course!) and I was worried how they would react since they do not kiss in this culture and especially showing affection toward your spouse is unheard of, but instead of being freaked they went and grabbed their wives and introduced us! Men and women are always separated in group settings like this and for them to want us to know who their wives and blend that gap was a huge step forward in our relationship with this village. After the introductions we sat around and just talked. They asked my parents and I a lot of questions just about life in America and how it’s different from Cambodia. They wanted to know about our weddings and what traditions they entail, what food we farm, what religion America believes in and so many other just random questions. It was so so cool. Rose laughed and said that they have been holding in these questions for a long time and now the flood gates have been opened. We did not mind at all. I was able to ask them intimate questions about their families and traditions and how they all came to know the Lord. Some of these guys have known the Lord longer than my parents which is awesome because Cambodia used to be a very strict religious country which has now lightened up, but these men and women had to face a lot of persecution in the past. Even better news is that Curtis and the church leaders resolved the big issue that has been going on for months now. Relationships were mended back together and grace was given in a culture that does not forgive easily. September was an amazing month in this ministry.
A few days later my parents blew us out of the water and decided to take us down to the beach (which we had never been to) for a vacation for a few days. We were in desperate need of a break so this couldn’t have come at a better time. After another 5 hour white knuckling, squeezed shut eyes, holding breath kind of drive we were there at Sohka Hotel. It was BEAUTIFUL! I did not know places like that existed in Cambodia. It made me feel like I was far away from everything and relaxation ensued. This place had white sandy beaches, a beautiful pool that overlooked the ocean and a bed so comfy I could’ve melted in it. Hands down best 25th birthday trip I’ve ever had despite getting the worst sunburn I’ve ever gotten (who knew Cambodia was so close to the Equator?? Explains why it’s so hot here alllll the time). That 4 days went by so fast I was not ready to reenter the world of reality. Curtis had to pull me out of there with the jaws of life. I guess that means it was a really good vacation right? We came home and spent one more day together and before you knew my parents were flying back home. Curtis and I love our life and home in Cambodia, but sometimes you just miss original home. Original home has our family, our friends, our home church and our favorite foods, but when part of original home comes to our new home its the best of both worlds.
I’m sorry this blog was so long. Yeeesh I did not realize I jabbered on that much. Stay tuned for our October blog coming in a couple of weeks!