Home Sweet Fort Knox

There are some certain parents - I won't name any names - who are, from time to time quite concerned for our safety in this far away land. Well, may all rest assured that we are safely tucked away in our lovely cage every night. Surely I am exaggerating you say? Well my friends, I'll let each of you be the judge. With the heat here, it is almost imperative that we keep our flat open to allow a constant air flow through the house. Here is our daily routine as we live in our own version of Fort Knox:

Bradley: "Hey Brandi, I know, let's go somewhere!"
Me: "Okay Bradley. That sounds swell!"
Bradley: "Alright honey, let's bar the place down... literally!"
Both of us: "Hahahahaha!"
Me: "Oh Bradley, you're so funny. Surely you don't mean that we have to literally bar the place down, do you?"
Bradley: "Why Brandi, yes I do. The Lord gave us brains, and our landlord gave us locks and bars."
Me: "Wow Bradley, that is so true. Welp, let's get to work."

First: The outer, metal doors...

We remove the door stop from one side...

and the bungee cord from the other - good thing we aced our 'how-to-ghetto-rig-anything class' huh?!

Now to close them in the proper order, as one has an outer lip. Vanna White ain't got nothin' on me.

We slide this bar into the door frame loop above, and twist it into the locked position. Then we repeat the same act with the bottom bar, before latching the two doors together.

Then comes the bar on the orange, inner door...

and ner' we forget the bottom bar that slides into the floor.

Then I have to unstick the door that Bradley has forcefully propped open...

and here we have an actual key and handle to lock the doors.

Then come the windows above the table. The lock on the window was broken when we moved into the place. We showed it to the Landlord. Her response: "oh, it's okay. Don't worry about it. You do not need to pay for it." Our response: "um, okay? Thanks?" Then we turned to metal wire... sorry, duct tape doesn't work for everything.

The kitchenette and hallway windows are last on our way out the door. Speaking of...

Because the wind slams the door shut if we don't have it... bungees are an American-Cambodian's best friend.

Another key and lock! Our door is actually orange, but the red color is pretty...

Good job Bradley! Now that you know how to properly lock down your home, you should go enjoy a nice, refreshing Coke. (You're welcome Coca-Cola company. I'm a Pepsi girl myself.) Don't forget to be cautious on that ridiculously uneven staircase. You never know where the accident monster is lurking, just waiting for its next victim.

Look what was waiting to greet us... a couple of our downstairs neighbors. Like most little Khmer boys, this cutie pie enjoys airing his innocence. Clothes are so over-rated when you're 2 years old.

Oh no! Bradley! What happened to your head?

Oh, phew! It's just a case of a tiny, cramped, built-for-only-little-people stairway. Originally, Bradley's parents were planning to visit us, and we were all looking forward to watching dad attempt getting through this space. I know, we're so bad. Love ya dad!

The final descent. We're almost out of the cage... yes, I said almost.

Our mudroom. No, seriously, this is usually where the mud collects when it rains. ;o)

The mudroom leads into our garage, and the final barred gate. It gets a little cramped at night, as our neighbors park their moto in here too. It could always be worse though.

Jingle, jingle go the keys. Here's our final lock, and look! It's on the outside of the gate. Oh joy! We have the fun of trying to unlock the door from the inside. No need to fear though, Bradley and his crazy unlocking powers are here.

We made it to the other side, and now it's time to ride...

Not too bad, huh? We like it, and we're thankful that God has given us a safe haven in the midst of this sometimes crazy-to-us place. The bars and many locks were slightly overwhelming at first, but now it's just a part of our life. It is amazing that with God on the throne of our hearts, home is wherever our hearts rest, and for the present, our hearts are resting here. So, anytime you're in Phnom Penh, just look us up. We'll be more than happy to welcome you into our Home Sweet Fort Knox.

Does it really matter?

During the planning process of our move to Cambodia, thanks to my over-thinking skills, a supposedly simple decision became very complicated. I feel confident if I were a super hero, my super natural power would be the ability to over analyze any situation... ANY situation. So, when it came time to choose a hotel for our transition into a new country, I managed to convolute the task.

I began with over 60 hotels that fit into my criteria, before sorting through the various lodging options. After a few weeks, I had it narrowed down to 3 spots that would suit us well, and our desire to be in closer proximity to the Bouth family knocked us down to 2. For some, a simple coin toss or "eenie, meenie, minee, moe" would do the trick, but this was a job for the Over Analyzer. So, to that I said, "let the agonizing commence!" ;o) Bradley listened to argument after argument, knowing full well that he was not a part of the personal debate taking place in the living room, and wisely kept out of the web I was busily weaving.

For roughly 2 weeks I bounced back and forth between worry and prayer. Worry brought on guilt, as I was not turning over my burden (as small as it was), to the Almighty, but then I would begin to feel silly praying for such a seemingly unimportant matter. I mean, it is not like the course of our entire life would be altered because we were at one hotel or the other, right? I was being silly, and I knew it. So, with one final prayer {ya know, just in case this choice really did matter}, I clicked on and paid for the hotel that would be our temporary home in a foreign country. *PHEW!* It was done, and I could now relax, knowing that we had a bed waiting for us, and that the Heavenly Father was hopefully pleased with my decision, if it had any bearing on anything. The move came, and before we knew it, we were standing at the entrance of the Frangipani Hotel.

After the first week, Bradley had managed to make several friends {big surprise!*wink*wink*}, and one man in particular was often perched near our breakfast table, wishing us well and doing his best to assist us in any possible way. Being an introvert in a strange land, I was not always keen on this gentleman hovering nearby, but Bradley's God-given talent won out, thankfully. At first our conversations were cordial, necessary for politeness sake. Soon, however, the "good mornings" became "can I help you buy phones," and then evolved into "I will take you to the market and help you purchase such and such." As the Edwards were at the same hotel (an unplanned coincidence... or was it?) , Bradley recommended this young man's services to them as well. Before long, Jonathan and Bradley had interviewed Vanny for employment as our translator/interpreter, and this serious, very business like man left the same hotel to join us in our work for the Lord.

Now, let me introduce you to the man who is Chan Vanny.
In this culture, their family name is listed first, and their "V" is pronounced like our "W". So, Vanny's name sounds like "Wonny" to us.

Even when he struggles with motion sickness, he's ready to cheese it up for a good laugh.

Although at first he appeared very somber, with a let's not mix business with pleasure type of attitude, it soon became evident that this was a facade easily penetrated. A prankster, waiting for the next opportunity to startle or trick his nearest victim, it was easy to fall in love with this "little brother," as I know how to play the role of big sister all too well. He literally thrives on making me jump, and if I scream, it is just that much better...the little stinker! ;o) As a baby, his older sister passed away, and not knowing her in this life, he has said that he longs to make her laugh in heaven. If she is able to look down on her younger brother, I am sure she is already giggling joyfully.

Vanny is an invaluable blessing, and I will try to help you learn a little bit about the man whom I proudly call my friend and brother in Christ.

Born into a rough life without a father, and a mother who was incapable of raising her children without a husband, he spent most of his childhood in the care of his grandparents. Their family was in poverty, and there were many times Vanny played the part of a street urchin. This is a nickname given to children who are orphaned and/or poor, and who try to make money by performing random small jobs, like dusting a windshield or selling handmade bracelets. Chum Ben is a holiday when the Buddhists throw sticky rice on the ground of the pagodas for dead relatives to "eat," and sometimes guards are posted to ensure no one sneaks into the grounds to snatch the food. Vanny bears the scar of one of these attempts. When I see that scar, I am reminded of a hungry boy trying to feed himself, but the sadness fades quickly when I see the smile of the man he has become. He is Aladdin in real life - a street rat who is truly a diamond in the rough.

This man recognizes what God has done for him, and it shows in everything he does. Over the past 8 months, I have been privileged to watch the Lord working in and through Vanny for His Kingdom's sake. In the beginning, he was often nervous, even reluctant at times to share (interpret) Jonathan or Bradley's thoughts or questions with others during a study, but now... Now, he is eager to go and share the truth with anyone who is willing to listen. The talents God has placed in him are so complimentary with Bradley and Jonathan, and I am in awe as I watch them growing as a team for His sake. He has chosen a beautiful wife, Sopeak, who has recently given him their first daughter, Grace. Already I am looking forward to the day when I get to hug this couples' neck, twenty years gone, knowing that we were so honored to serve in the birth of the church in this land we call Cambodia.

Vanny's baptism... Penny loves her Mister Vanny.

Vanny interpreting Mr. Sarem's words to Jonathan.

Hard at work, ensuring the message is understood.

Although the young man changed his mind, Vanny worked very hard to find him a job in the city.

Vanny working his "magic" in personal work.

Always able to laugh and love life...

The first study Vanny led on baptism.

Some may say our meeting Vanny is coincidence, and they may be right. However, looking back at the decision that I thought was so ridiculous, I cannot help but see God's hand in it all. I know some, if not many, when dealing with the small details of life will ask "does it really matter?" Well, for me personally, all I have to do is look into Vanny Chan's face, and then I know, "Yes, it does."

Table for two, please.

Well, the 6 month blues are finally wearing off, thankfully, and it's starting to feel like home around here. I had been warned {thank you Debbie!} about the homesick blues, and it appears to hit most people between the 3 and 6 month mark. The homesick blues are when you hit the point of "this-place-stinks-and-I-wanna-go-home" as the excitement and newness fades. I am grateful to have been prepared for that part of our Cambodian adventure, and hopefully my experience will serve as a help to another missionary wife in the future. As the homesick blues dissipate, we're settling in quite nicely. Bradley's second semester is under way, and as he works at the same time each day, all be it, the days still vary, it has allowed for a more steady rhythm in our life. We have both been busy with various projects, as we work together to set up our homestead, and I am thrilled to announce the newest addition to our home: our table! First, though, let me take you on the fascinating journey of table crafting...

Phase 1: Finding the perfect piece

Bradley, the poor soul, was forced to hunt down this piece in a small warehouse full of every size of wood imaginable. {For those who don't know, Bradley is obsessed with wood. In other words, it was like a kid in a candy store}

Unfortunately, this piece was not deep enough to serve as a table. So, Bradley chose to try his hand at concrete. He followed a natural split, and then drilled holes to create the rest of the split.

Our stair rail served as his make shift "work table." He used a kromaa and a small piece of wood as a sort of clamp for the base pieces.

He cut the rebar into small pieces to insert into the strips of table where the concrete would later be poured.

Hacksaw + man power = baby rebars

Baby rebars in place.

Essentials for my craftsman: sketch pad; measuring tape; and most importantly, a hot cup of coffee.

Yes. That is a hand saw.

Yes. He sawed everything by hand.

Yes. He misses his power tools.

Phase 2: Mending the tear

Aww, finally a power tool. His drill was his only electrical friend on this job... well besides lights.

Wood crafting is a dirty business...

Yuck!

Phase 2 completed.

Bradley is 6 feet tall, for a reference on the length of our table.

Phase 3: Concrete evidence

My hubby did his research! He went online to find, and then create 6 different concrete recipes. In the states, we would buy concrete bags, premixed. Here, you purchase the separate components to mix on your own. After the 6 samples had dried, he did a stress test to see which ones would move onto the final round: Brandi's texture obsession. Four samples made it to my hands, and sample "A" was the winner. Its color, appearance, and texture were perfect for our table.

Late night mixing...

Time to pour, spread, and cover.

After the concrete dried, my artist chiseled away at his baby, ensuring the smoothest surface possible. Then onto the last stage of the process:

Phase 4: Apply sealer, and enjoy!

Isn't it absolutely gorgeous!

Front view of the table and base.

The base. The vertical pieces are what were "clamped" down with the kromaa and wood piece.

We love our table, and have already employed it for games, office hours, and our Khmer lessons!

It never crossed my mind that a table would make our home feel more like a home, but, as an American, it makes sense. Although any table would have worked in our space, no other piece would be such a blessing. I'm not a huge gifts person when it comes to my love language, but this gift was an act of service and love. I feel very blessed to have such a talented husband. After 10 years of marriage, he still has the ability to amaze me with his talents. I'm jazzed to see what he'll make me after 20 years. Hehe! ;o)

Question time: What piece of furniture makes your home feel like a home?