Wherever you go, go with all your heart: Part 1

For the first time I have fretted over what to say in a post. I have so many photos, but they still don't capture the whole experience. Never the less, I shall try to share my heart.

Nearly four weeks ago, we made our first trip out to the provinces. I had no idea what to expect, and therefore was dealing with the yucky thing you call anxiety. Yeah, I know it's a weakness, but unfortunately I'm human. Although I'm striving to grow in my faith when it comes to worrying about the unknown, it sometimes rears its ugly head. Back to my anxiety issues: packing for a trip to a foreign place in a foreign land where I'll be meeting foreign people who do not speak English... So, do I pack food? If so, what kind of food? Do we have a place to sleep? If so, is it safe? What essential oils should I take in the first aid kit? Will we be able to purchase food if they don't have any? What if... and how do we know... and, well, um, excuse me, but I think I need to breath into a paper bag...

Okay, so I was freaking out in an annoying way, but this is where Bradley is so good for me. He just smiled, hugged me, and let me know everything would be okay. We weren't going to starve, although we'd most likely eat less than normal, and then he gently reminded me to hand it over to God. The next morning, we took care of some last minute details before packing up the car for our travels.

Our sleeping pads, sleeping bag liners, mosquito net

hammock, and BioLite stove ready for their fist trip

in this new, temporary homeland of ours.

These two guys make a great team in so many ways.

The Edwards purchased an SUV for our trips out of the

city to both allow us more direct travel, as well as to save

money on the bus fare and tuk tuk expenses that would

quickly add up over several months.

Some of my favorite peeps.

Loaded up and ready to go. This whole packing up

the car thing is just too much for Penny.

We had one stop we had to make before leaving town: the print shop. Jonathan needed to pick up the pamphlets for our bible studies, and as there were only 10 to print, he had decided to pick them up on our way out of town. Well, printing here isn't quite the same as in the states. For 10 pamphlets, front and back, 5 full pages, folded, we waited for nearly an hour. So, we decided to entertain ourselves while we waited...

Have you seen this man?

Evie + popsicle = entertainment

Entertainment = clean up

Finally, we were on our way. In response to Jonathan's apology for the wait, I'd almost said, "everything happens for a reason," but opted to just assure him that none of us were in a hurry. Since we had a later start, as well as a printer hold up, traffic reared it's ugly face as we puttered through the streets of Phnom Penh.

No, this is not a truck. It's a moto, pulling a trailer.

Beautiful.

I'm in awe of the various means of transportation.

The natives (as well as the foreigners) were growing restless as dinner time approached. Since we had not heard from the family we were visiting with that night, we decided to pull off for some food. We passed up 2 restaurants on our side of the road, before stopping at our eating destination, on the opposite side of the road. Bradley and this older gentleman engaged in an "I think I know you" stare off, until Jonathan walked up, also recognizing the gentleman, and said the name of a Cambodian town. The man's eyes lit up, and immediately hand-shaking, embracing, and laughing were shared. Apparently, the guys had been trying to contact this man, with no success, and here he was, randomly... or maybe not so randomly. I'll let you decide. Before you make your decision, you might want to know a few more facts:

1) This gentleman's family owns this restaurant, and he just happened to be visiting this Wednesday.  He lives 4-5 hours away from this rest stop. Yes, 4 to 5 hours in another direction.

2) There were several eatery options, and somehow we chose this one, that none of us have ever heard of before.

3) Jonathan's phone had accidentally turned off, preventing us from receiving a call from the family that was cooking and waiting for us to eat dinner. If we'd received their call, we would have kept driving to our destination, without stopping.

To continue, Vanny (pronounced "Waun-ee"), our translator and friend {more about him later}, was able to get his information which will allow us to visit and study with him and the others in his area.

Exchanging information.

He was so sweet and excited. He just kept walking

around the table, smiling and patting the guys.

Dinner is served.

This soup was everybody's favorite. Yum!

Oh! I almost forgot: our first rest stop bathroom experience. Bradley and I both wish we were in the room with certain people (Carli and Timothy being 2 of them), in order to see their reaction to these photos. Love you Timo. Love you Car-Car. ;o)

Not too different from a gas station restroom, right?

The pot-shaped dish is floating in the "flush" water.

After you figure out how to use the toilet bowl, you

scoop up some water and pour it into the porcelain

bowl. Yes, that is the color of the water in the toilet,

and not anything else. Oh, and if you remembered

to bring your toilet paper (none is provided), then

you can deposit it in the trash basket.

(Stop gagging Lana.)

Okay, I thought this was pretty ingenious of them.

A chop stick serves as your privacy lock. As long

as they don't use these in the restaurant, I believe

this is a brilliant MacGyver moment.

Our final stop for the evening was at the home of brother Song Seng. Since they had made us dinner, we managed to stuff more food down our gullets - I'm not quite sure how though. (Gabriel was very confused why we were eating dinner again.) It was nearly 9 o'clock at this point, which is late here, and we were all weary from travel. The Song family graciously opened their upper room to all of us for the night. Mosquito nets and sleeping gear were unpacked, while we took turns using the one restroom before heading to bed. As it was hot and still all night, I had a difficult time sleeping. There were 9 of us, with only 1 fan, and we therefore opted to let the Edwards and Chans have the airflow, for the sake of the kiddos and expectant mommy Sopiak. There's nothing like a hot night, lying in a tight mesh tent, with no airflow, fully clothed, next to a husband who is a natural furnace when he sleeps. {Insert "Good Times" theme song here.} Every time I'd fall asleep, I woke up sweating, feeling as though I couldn't breath - and I'm usually the cold natured one in the group. Ugh! I was so miserable (and a little melodramatic by this point), that I threw malaria caution to the wind, and went to sit on the concrete porch. After nodding off a few times, I woke Bradley to ask him if we could move our bug hut outdoors. He reluctantly agreed. Poor Bradley. Although it was still hot, at least there was a slight movement in the air outside. Sleep finally came, and I was very grateful.

This was our view the next morning.

Our home away from home.

This is actually J&M's bug hut, but with 3 children

we think they'd be slightly uncomfortable using this.

So, they opt to use the larger mosquito net.

Inside the barn where the Edwards and Chans slept.

Bradley enjoying his mosquito net hammock.
Thank you Wilson family!!!

Stairway to our "campsite."

View from our "camping" area, down into the dining area.

The dining area, from downstairs.

The bathroom. Notice the creative toothbrush holder. ;o)

Water "tub." No, you do not bathe in this. You use

the water from it to "shower" yourself...

...and to flush this.

Believe it or not, the toilet being on the floor was

much easier to use than the one at the rest stop.

Bradley sporting his ultra garment before we get

down to bathing.

The kids had it made. TV. Pillows. And sweet

Marie only an inch away, ready to feed or serve

however necessary.

Thursday we headed over to study with a very sweet and intelligent group of godly-minded folks, who seem to have an honest desire to serve the Lord to the best of their ability.

Visiting with this group after the study.

The leader of this group lives here, in the worship

building, with his wife, as well as 4 of his 7 children.

He and his wife are teaching the younger children to

speak Thai, as he hopes the younger ones will be able

to share the gospel with his 3 older children, who are

working in Thailand, and do not believe in Jesus.

Front entrance.

Sopiak, Vanny's wife, being all cute and pregnant.

As I said, I have a lot of photographs, and I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves.  I hope you enjoy the visual experience.

The older lady in this group was so precious. She so earnestly wanted to share her thoughts with Marissa and I, and with Vanny's help was able to do so for a short while. He was then pulled away for more study with the guys, and we were left just smiling and nodding as this women diligently conveyed her wisdom in a language we were trying, but failing to understand. My hope is to be able to actually benefit from her words on one of our future trips. Sister Song is the gracious lady in the middle, who opened her home and kitchen to all of us, and then hoped her kindness would entitle her to keep Penelope when we left. Unfortunately for her, J&M are slightly fond of their youngest bundle of joy. ;o) We pulled out of their driveway early Friday morning, with Penny, ready for our next destination, an hour down the road. Already, I'm looking forward to our next visit with these new friends. Lord willing, each time we'll be able to bond a little more, spiritually and verbally. The Lord, along with this giving bunch, supplied all of our needs, and then some. We came with our hearts open, and they received us in the same manner. Although Confucius is credited with the title of this post, I thank God for yet again proving His awesome power to provide for our needs in this new and strange land.