Our First Sunday {or} កាលពីថ្ងៃអាទិត្យជាលើកដំបូងរបស់យើង

As I sit here, trying to grasp the words to explain our first Sunday in Phnom Pehn, I feel overwhelmed with exhaustion and a sense of numbness. Watching young Christians, in a new world for our first service with them was incredible. We met together on the rooftop of Thida and Seyha's home, gathered around a wooden table. Although there was nothing fancy in our surroundings, I feel confident we were pleasing to the Almighty King. Due to the language barrier, it was a very short and simple service, but no less beautiful than any other service I've attended. We sang 2 songs, we Americans knew the words and tune for both, while the Khmer sisters sang the same tune in their own language. Then the sisters sang a song they knew while we hummed along, as we didn't know the words, and the song books are written in their language. The collection was explained and taken, and then Bradley and Jonathan took turns praying and teaching. Bradley shared the story of Lydia in Acts 16, as he said the work in Phnom Penh was similar, starting with a woman's desire to obey the gospel. Then Jonathan used a children's bible to share the story of creation. It was beautiful to see our sisters' faces light up as they followed the pictures. This was brilliantly helpful since one of our sisters stills struggles with understanding the English language, and the simple, yet telling illustrations allowed Jonathan to relieve the language barrier, to some degree. We finished the service with the highlight: the Lord's supper. Upon our arrival, sister Thida had taken me with her to the market to purchase the flour and grape juice, in preparation for the cup and the loaf, and together we all shared the remembrance of our Savior and His sacrifice. For that moment, there was no difference in our language or culture; we were all the same: sinners embracing our undeserved salvation. After services several questions were answered, and then we retired to the second floor for lunch.

Evie. Enough said.

Pre-church nap.

This little piggy went to the market...

Meat market Thida took me to, and yes, some of

what you see was for lunch after services.

These little women with their huge cleavers. Yikes!

Bradley stretching out those awkward sitting

muscles on one of our "church pews."

Gabe felt the need to help...

Penny and Tina (Thida's nephew) being silly.

Sister Seyha and the kiddos.

Thida made the loaf.

Almost situated for services - Tina was trying to decide where to sit.

Lunch prepared by our sweet friends. Jonathan has

been deemed "he who eats little," and Bradley has been

deemed "he who eats lots." It appears Evie is after Bradley's

title, while Gabe and Jonathan are neck and neck.

This is the view from Thida's patio. I heart this home.

It has a gorgeous turquoise door on the other side.

Yes, I will take a picture soon.

With our bellies full, sister Thida once again took on the task of serving us. She first assisted Jonathan and Marissa with negotiating and signing the contract for their new rental home, and then she did the same for us. Sweet Thida has worked very hard for us already, and she has a strong desire to do more.  All of the women in her family are gems, and are now our neighbors!

The guys sporting their blue-printed thumbs.

Along with their signatures, they had to stamp

their thumb print to seal the contract.

With our first Lord's day under our belts, we are confident and ready to tackle the next task: our homes! Lia-hi!

A Whole New World

{Our First Few Days}

Just having visited Disneyland, and seen the Aladdin show at Disney Adventure, "A Whole New World" was stuck in my head. I continued to sing it as we set up our hotel room for the upcoming 3 weeks. {I booked our room for 3 weeks, as we had no idea where we would be living. If we found a place early on, then we'd have plenty of time to clean, purchase furniture, and move in with much less stress than our move out of the states allowed, and if we didn't find anything early on, worst case scenario, we'd stay a few more days at the hotel. Thankfully, the first of these two options has played out for us because although it's a very nice temporary stay, we are ready for our new home.} I continued shuffling suitcases, clothing, toiletries, and more, to make a temporary homestead, and it felt good. It was like I was closer to something more permanent, instead of the temporary everything I've been living with for the past few months. I hadn't really thought about how fitting the song was until I glanced out of our 11th story window. Well, maybe not all of the lyrics work, as we're not here on a romantic, magic carpet ride, but the idea of a whole new world definitely rings true. Let me take you on a view of our home away from home.

View from our room at the Frangipani.

Some buildings have a familiar look, and then others

are very foreign to me. It's strange to see such ancient

structures within a stone's throw of a modern building.

Notice the mix of transportation. You'll see pedestrians,

cars, motos, and bicycles all on the same street at the same time.

They place their structures very close together. Some

are close enough, that if both windows were opened,

you'd be able to climb in without stretching.

Bathroom. This is a large one.

Shower. Tubs are a luxury here.

Our door, bed, and fun wallpaper. When Timo saw the wall

during our Skype session, he said it looked like an AT&T

store, and it does... much more comfortable though.

Another bed view, with the night stand and a lamp

that doesn't work, but the rest of the lights work fine.

Our sink basin, mirror, and countertop.

The other end of our long counter.

Our "kitchenette" for the time being.

Our second day in town, we went to a mall-type place the guys had encountered during one of their trips. We ate pizza, and although somewhat familiar, it wasn't as good as what we have back home. There was a play area for the kids, and it was a relief to see them laughing and having fun. They even made some local friends. Then we made a trip to the Lucky Mart - their version of a grocery store. It has probably been one of my favorite places, as I actually felt somewhat normal. There are differences, but they have familiar products, with listed prices (rare), stacked neatly on aisles, all in the luxurious comfort of AC. I was a little surprised by their prices though. A lot of things were priced the same as we'd find in the states, or more expensive, but it is a comfort to know that the must haves and some of the not-so-guilty pleasures are available, even if more expensive than I'd hoped. 

On Friday, Bradley and I went to the Russian Market, around the corner from the hotel. It was quite an experience, as my senses were overwhelmed by... everything. Bradley had said we'd be eating lunch after looking around, and I prepared myself for a meal that was definitely out of my comfort zone, but was honestly relieved when he took me to a coffee cafe to eat. The market has a covered roof with narrow, dark rows, and the damp heat sticks to you like an invisible cobweb - you can't get your hands on it, but you know it's there. The locals, for the most part, seem unfazed by the heat. Most of them wear long sleeves, pants, and some even wear jackets and gloves. Oddly enough, I feel almost naked with my sleeveless shirts and knee length skirts, but the thought of wearing a sweat jacket in a balmy 80 or 90 something degrees is near nauseating. So, I carry a fan, and feel like a spoiled southern belle, waiting for her sweetened lemonade and hourly chair fluffing. Just another way for me to silently say, "hey I'm not from here!" Ugh.

It's neat and yet odd to find little bits of

art influenced by the modern west.

Fruit anybody?

Steam from the plethora of cooking added another layer of heat.

I've been told that sometimes poor widows will

shave their heads as a sign of their poverty. It's like

a vow of poverty, and they rely on the kindness and

generosity of others for food and necessities.

Prawn baths.

This made me think of the "junk heap" ladies

from the Labyrinth movie, as well as Fraggle Rock.

Although it is much more methodic. I have been amazed

at the way the booths are organized, most of them barely

the size of a walk-in closet, each with their own niche of

goods: cleaning products; nuts, bolts, & screws; t-shirts;

and the list goes on and on. Hopefully once I am more

accustomed to the heat, I'll enjoy shopping more.

Leaving the Russian Market.

Thanks to a former student's parent, whose family

also did mission work in Cambodia, we were able

to find this little joint called Jars of Clay. It has had

the greatest variety of American-type foods of any

restaurant we've seen so far. I ate a delicious creamy

mushroom and chicken sauce over pasta with peas,

and Bradley had Khmer curry over rice. It is run by

local women who are dedicated to not only supporting

their families, but also helping orphans and others

in need. It was also very refreshing to hear

someone speak our language so well.

A view of the dessert counter. They even had chocolate!

We've been a few times since this first visit, and although

their brownies aren't as good as back home, their

chocolate cheesecake is the best I've tasted.

I've seen very few cats, but dogs roam the streets

in many places. It's weird to see them domestically

wild, romping around humans, but still keeping

their distance as they scavenge for bits of food.

I thought this was a neat photo.

And then had to zoom in on their electric lines.

Don't worry, we'll only let the kids climb these

poles during a rain storm... what?

After lunch, we made our way up to the roof of our

hotel. This construction is going on next door. It is

amazing how resourceful they are in this kind of work.

Also, here, a construction hat means you're in charge.

Everyone else has the choice of a scarf or their

motorcycle helmet. Most choose a scarf.

We've been here just over a week, and without

any big machines, they've already completed an entire

level. I keep wondering how come it takes American

workers so much longer with so many more resources.

We've been very thankful for this little sea salt pool.

After a long day, or just as a quick delicacy, this has

been a part of our transitional paradise.

Everyday brings new lessons, new surprises, and new adventures. Some good. Some bad. All in all though, we're still feeling positive. I just need to keep singing, "a whole new world, a dazzling place I never knew. But when I'm way up here {on the 11th floor} it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with you." This new world may not be home yet, but with Bradley I've got the diamond in the rough. Princess and Street Rat signing off for now, and may your 3 wishes come true.

Up, up, and away

Our final goodbye to Byron was surreal, but surreal is becoming the norm for me. We entered the LAX airport, and I immediately felt foreign. I had my first taste of being a minority, and it was weird. There were children and babies preparing to board international flights, and at thirty-one years of age, this was my first time. The feeling of inferiority was strong. Not because anyone was imposing that on me, but rather because my own insecurities were reeling. People lined the walls, sleeping, eating, chatting, and waiting. We found the appropriate line, and as we approached the scale, the gentleman behind the counter asked for us to weigh our carry-on luggage first. Instant panic came over me. We had over packed our carry-on bags on purpose, to avoid the overage fee for weight in our checked suitcases. We were informed that our carry-on bags had to be 9 kg or less, and our suitcases 32 kg or less. The gentleman kindly motioned us to a quiet corner where several scales were unoccupied. The next hour was spent reorganizing our bags, weighing them, and reorganizing some more. Our 2 carry-on suitcases were practically empty by the time we got them down to 9 kg, but somehow we managed to make it all work. If I'd known about this rule (Jonathan, Bradley, and I had all checked separately on the baggage restrictions), we would've just checked an extra suitcase, since it would've been cheaper, but everything we read limited us to 2 suitcases each. Period. I felt relieved to have completed what I thought was the most tedious part of our airport ventures. We confidently approached the counter, knowing our bags would make the cut. The lady assisting us was professionally kind, but was somewhat offended when Bradley asked if she was Khmer. She very proudly stated that she was "Tai." Then to make matters worse, our credit card was declined. In the craziness of the move, we had forgotten to tell our credit card company that we'd be in L.A., and then Cambodia. So, with this charge in an international airport, I'm sure our auto-theft protection was on heightened alert. Bradley attempted a call, but with the clock ticking, we went ahead and used some cash we'd saved up for any traveling emergencies. Finally, the luggage fiasco was behind us, and we could go find Jonathan and Marissa. Then we rounded the corner and came face to face with hundreds and hundreds of people, all waiting in the same line we needed. Airport security is never fun, but the drab, unfinished look of the security check point in LAX was near depressing. I felt like a cow being herded off to the slaughter house. I know, a little dramatic, but after 3 hours of dealing with airport craziness without actually being in the airport, I was feeling quite dramatic. By this point I just wanted to throw my arms around Missy(Marissa) and cry. Then one of the security guards came into our section, and loosened things up a little. He recited the rules, but added a little humor. For example, "make sure your pockets are empty, unless you'd like a free massage." It was like a drop of water on a hot day, and I sopped it up, happily.

Walking through the detector, and being allowed to put your shoes on again is sadly, such a liberating feeling. You knew all along that you weren't a terrorist, but now everyone else knows it too. I always feel like that's one of the moments in life that deserves a number in a musical. I wanted to start snapping my fingers and dancing, but instead I just smiled, collected my possessions, and started off to find my friends.

On a plane bound to Taiwan, it didn't take long to spot Marissa's hair bun, along with a few pasty-colored little ones playing around. ;o)  It was at the same time comforting and strange to see this family. To think that 2 years lie ahead of us, and yet we'd been so disconnected for the past several months with moving preparations. Our best friends sitting there, and yet part of me felt like I needed to reintroduce myself. As I weaved through the chairs in our gate, Missy flashed her familiar and tired smile. *sigh* We knew exactly how the other one felt, and there was no need for words, crying, or anything else. Instantaneous relief came over me, and I reached out to hold Penny (Penelope). Her gorgeous little grin made the previous several hours melt away, and I knew everything would be okay. Jonathan wasn't feeling too well, and was passed out on the ground. The kiddos were sleepy, but were relying heavily on delirium to keep them awake. However, roughly 20 minutes before we boarded the plane, they all gave into Mr. Sandman, and the 2 older ones continued sleeping for at least 7 or 8 hours. This was a huge blessing, as all of the adults were beyond exhausted.

Passed check-in and security at last.

Notice how haggard we both look.

He was literally jungle-gyming these

chairs 2 minutes before this pic was taken.

Evie cracks me up how she wanders around with

her blankie, randomly stopping to curl up in a ball

before deciding it isn't quite the right nesting spot.

She reminds me of an ewok. A cute, pigtailed ewok.

My sweet Penny-Lou. (Penelope Kay)

Tired daddy. Tired munchkins.

Perfect timing before we board.

A bundle of precious.

After boarding, we all piddled around with the free shows, games, and what not, until our eyelids grew too heavy. Dreamland was disrupted by lights and commotion, and I woke to find the flight attendants delivering our first meal. I had no idea how long I'd been asleep, but I would've guessed around an hour or so. As I was the only one of the 4 of us who had not been on an international flight of this duration before, I was unsure if I was supposed to wake the others or let them sleep. My gut said to leave them alone, but then what if they didn't serve again for hours? Thankfully my confusion was made clear when a big, fat, round sticker was placed on the trays in front of those sleeping. Jonathan soon rose, and the rest followed. Never before has powdered cheese & macaroni served with processed breaded chicken tasted so delicious. After a meal and a show, sleep overtook me for somewhere around 8 hours. Here and there I would wake up to Penny crying or one of the guys (I was in the middle seat between Bradley and Jonathan) inadvertently nudging or snoring. I remember at one point waking up to see Jonathan passing Penny to Missy; then again to see Penny coming back to Jonathan, fed and passed out; and then again to reach out and snuggle with Penny myself. We were our own little community. Finally, my hunger pangs made it tough to sleep anymore, and I had to rely on the new Muppet movie to distract me. Everytime I'd see a flight attendant, hope arose, only to be crushed. At last, on our 13 1/2 hour flight, approximately an hour and a half before our arrival in Taiwan, our second meal was provided. I scarfed it down, and was thankful for whatever I ate. Then the hot tea and coffee was served. Two creams and two sugars later, my tea was scrumptious. I was able to finish the Lego Movie as we touched down on the runway. It was going to be nice to get up and walk around for a bit.

One thing we learned quickly is that having 3 little ones gets you through the airport more promptly. I'm not sure if it was mostly due to their adorable level or to the desire for airport efficiency, but we were happy either way. Walking to our layover gate, we took in the sights. Jonathan and Bradley pointed things out, as this was their second time to be in the Taipei airport. The scenic spot which grabbed my interest most was the "zen garden" with plants, info charts on different native bugs, and several massage chairs. After purchasing a couple of snacks, the guys encouraged Missy and I to go enjoy the luxury of the chairs. Apparently one of the shops, "The House of Knowledge" or something similar, offers a coin per person for these massage chairs in the zen garden. Miss and I were outwardly reserved as we entered the shop, nervous we might offend by asking for free coins. A sweet young lady very quickly assessed the situation and bestowed the 2 tokens into our palms. Out of unnecessary guilt, the two of us hung around momentarily, acting interested in some of the merchandise, mostly magazines, none of which were in our language. Then we greedily headed over to choose our chair, and inserted the coins. Oh my stars! It was sensational. Each of us remarked that we never knew a massage chair of this quality existed, and here we were indulging in them for free! Fifteen minutes of kneading and rubbing, and I'm pretty sure we ascended from those seats 2 years younger. Returning to the guys and kiddos, we cheerfully sent the boys off for their turn. Then we received our first real taste of the circus show we had become. Being a handful of very few Americans/Europeans in Taipei, everyone was thrilled to take their photo with the kids. Evie and Penny have most likely gone viral by now. ;o)  The blond hair on Evangeline, and the fat thighs on Penelope are just too much for the Asian culture to ignore. Almost every person who passed by our group had to stop and laugh, if not grab up one of the children for a selfie. It was a little unnerving, as neither Marissa nor I care to bring attention upon ourselves, but we made it through.

The flight to Phnom Penh felt brief compared to our previous flight, and with a meal and some more hot tea, I was ready to see our new home land. After luggage collection and visa applications were handled, Thida and Seyha met us at the gate. It was so good to see a familiar face, although I was unsure how to react. My desire was to run up and hug them both, but I didn't want to offend them on our first interaction. After a few minutes of them hugging all over the children, I was able to sneak in a little side hug. Thida brilliantly tackled the tuk tuk situation for us. Tuk tuks are the Cambodian taxi. It's a motorbike pulling a covered carriage/cart. Bradley and I squeezed into our tuk tuk with all of our luggage, as we were headed to the Frangipani Living Arts Hotel, and J & Miss were heading to the Frangipani Villas with 3 tuk tuks. We most definitely did not blend in, to say the least. My first view of the city was so intriguing, but between the airport rush and my crushed hips (between the suitcases and the side grate), I didn't take many photos.

Notice the little one riding in front. You see

children and babies of all ages riding on these

"motos," as they call them. It's neat to see their

sweet smiles when they ride up next to the

tuk tuk and wave at the "fat, white baby." 

A tuk tuk. Some people wear surgical type masks

to keep the dust and grit out of their face.

Notice the 2 guys on the moto. If I understand

correctly, it is acceptable in their culture for 2 men

or 2 women to ride together, but a man and woman

only ride together if they are committed.

Our driver took us to another Frangipani location, but after realizing the misunderstanding, we arrived at our hotel, safe and sound. Everyone was so gracious and helpful. While the staff prepared our room, we were served fresh mango juice in the lobby. Then Thida appeared (she'd gone with J & Miss), along with several suitcases. Confusion was only momentary, as Jonathan explained that their room at the villas was flooded. So, the sister hotel, Frangipani Living Arts would be putting them up for the 2 week duration. Well, that was an answered prayer we didn't know we wanted to pray. It was comforting to know we could reach other quite easily, since none of us had serviced cell phones any longer, and local calls are $.25 a minute. We all settled into our temporary homes, eager to shower, brush our teeth, and recover from jet lag. Each of us knew there was a lot that lay ahead of us. Now we will be relying on our faith and each other to carry us onto greater things for His kingdom. We've fastened our safety restraints, in preparation for whatever turbulence lies ahead, and we're ready for our Almighty Captain to fly us up, up, and away.