At work in Mondulkiri

Written by Emily 7-17

Suo sdey!

Picking up from where Jonathan left off last night, our first full day in Mondulkiri was... amazing! We walked through the jungle, Jonathan helped dig a water well, and Jess and I plowed the land! We have pictures and videos to prove it on the blog (at least for the well)! http://sgvac-cambodia-stm-08.blogspot.com/ Jonathan asked me if I could have walked through the jungle in my first year to Cambodia. To that, I murmured, I couldn't even take a complete shower in the student dorm the first year! Oh, how God has grown and stretched me. The best thing is that it's a lot cooler here than the other parts of Cambodia. Sure, we still sweat, but the sun doesn't burn as much and there's a nice cool breeze here and there.

We might go back to the land tomorrow morning and visit a patient with Joyce. They're building a small training center for someone to stay in and to store supplies there. If we behave well, she might take us to one of the waterfalls in Mondulkiri too! On Saturday, we'll head out to a village church where there will be some kind of children's program. The plan on Sunday is to leave around 8 in the morning and be back in Phnom Penh by 4ish. Hopefully, we can make it to the evening church service!

(Sidenote: As I'm typing this email update, I'm actually feeling cold!) I forgot to mention in my previous email that Dengue Fever usually ends with a rash. One of the missionaries said God's definitely calling us to go long term overseas if we get Dengue. Hmm, how shall we pray? For His protection against Dengue or for Dengue?

Pray with us as we continue our trip in Mondulkiri and learn more about Joyce's ministry. Pray for the people working the land. I love watching the way the Khmais (better described as Bunong tribal people. Joyce was saying that these people have a better sense of community and they work better together compared to the Khmais who don't trust each other as much because of the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge) work together! They're kickback, they sing, joke, and chat while working. About 30 people are camping up there this whole week to finish the center and water well. A couple people were injured in the process, pray for protection! We just found out that a guy who worked and lived near the land had passed away last week. The area he took care of is now being neglected. Pray that they'll be able to finish what needs to be done before more rain comes and that the training center can be up and running as soon as possible.

As Jonathan was finishing up his time at the internet cafe, he had a chance to talk to the guy who works there. He's Buddhist but has many Christian friends. Pray that good seeds will be planted and God will continue to send people to water the seeds.

Jonathan's doing well, but my stomach was hurting and I felt like puking last night. Same thing happened again tonight after dinner. Also, please keep praying for the mosquitoes to stay away from me! They stopped biting me for a couple days, but they have no mercy on me again now.

OK, think we should go now. A couple tipsy guys are coming in and out the plac and they're blasting the music louder now. Plus, the electricity's out now since it's passed 10 P.M. (The internet cafe has its own generator.) Guess we'll have to shower in the dark or shower tomorrow morning. Either way, it'll be a cold shower, especially since there's no warm water! Y'all take care!!!

In Christ,
Jonathan & Em