From Jon, Aug 7
Hi everybody,
It is hard to believe that a little more than six weeks has gone by here in Cambodia already. Yet when I look back and mentally catalog all the things that we have done I can't believe that we've fit it all in six weeks! Also, as we come up on the two month mark since our arrival in Cambodia I am just starting to feel like I am finally getting settled in and comfortable here. Not that I was totally lost before but I am starting to feel, for lack of better words, at home. Just the other day I was able to have a tuk tuk cart me around town, drop off Emily, and take me back to the family I was staying with in Phenom Penh. The driver spoke zero English. Not only that but using my very limited Khmai I was able to arrange for him to come back the next morning and take me to pick up Emily and get us to the bus station for our trip to Battambang. To be honest, I felt pretty cool.
Maybe I need to backtrack a bit. So if you remember our last couple updates were talking about the upcoming English Camp in Phenom Penh and the (I learned this phrase from our host missionary, Bill) whack load of short termers that were coming in to teach. We've been pretty busy this last week through the early parts of this week and not able to send out much in the way of email. But now that English Camp is over we can kick up our feet a little and relax. We definitely had a lot of fun at the camp getting to know a whole new group of students from Phenom Penh. I had never really liked Phenom Penh before, I was always partial to the smaller towns and rural areas of Cambodia. Now that I know a whack load of people who live in Phenom Penh I kinda like it more. I think that I'm turning into this really relationally oriented person. Even though the camp ended on Saturday we have been seeing some of the students and leaders that we met at the camp every day this week.
On Sunday all the short termers were invited to a church where a youth rally was being held. Something like maybe a hundred young Christians were gathered at this church for this youth service. One of the missionaries, David Ends, preached about David and Goliath. They played games, including one that had all the short termers up on the stage making fools of ourselves. And then ended with a time of fellowship in the big courtyard in front of the church complete with a salted ham sandwich and can of soda for refreshments. I learned that this church could be more accurately referred to as the chruch in Phenom Penh. It was one of the first that started up after Pol Pot's regiem fell and People began moving back into the city. Since then that small group of believers has grown and they have this nice big building to hold all the members of the congregation.
The first few days of this week were spent dealing with the aftermath of English Camp. That is to say that we had to clean the dorms where some of the short termers were housed and help shuffle the teams around to various locations as they each prepared to depart on different days. The last team left on Wednesday and Bill mentioned that he was going to sleep for a week. The words logistical nightmare and short term missionaries were used in conjunction several times over the past two weeks. But it wasn't actually that bad, it is always difficult to deal with large groups of people but Bill and all the Global Ventures interns pulled through with our sanity intact. I would definitely do it all over again, and I think Bill would too, after all this is the sixth consecutive English Camp that he's held.
After things quited down Emily and I were able to move to different parts of town. She stayed with Julie, a new missionary now in her second year of language study here in Phenom Penh. I stayed with a Khmai family. Soeun is the language tutor at the CMA office, her husband is retired and they live with their three sons daughter in law and baby grandson. They actually have two separate buildings on their property and were able to give me my own room and bathroom so over the two days that I was there I didn't have too much interaction with the family. I did talk to them whenever I had the chance though and I think I'll be able to get to know them better when I spend more time in Phenom Penh after returning from Battambang.
Emily and I just made the journey to Battambang today by charter bus. The five hour trip was uneventful and gave us a lot of time to talk and catch up since we've often been assigned to separate tasks and housed at different locations throughout English Camp. We had dinner with Dave, Doris, and Matthew Strong, their friend Holly, and Sharon who is a nurse who works with them. Tomorrow we were told to prepare for mud and a lesson in planting rice. I wonder how big the leeches will be this year. O_o
Anyway, here are some prayer requests:
- Continued good health, God has been blessing us these past weeks.
- Safety and effectiveness for Emily and I as we travel and do lots of stuff.
- More rain! I love the rain but the real reason is that many people have been saying that it has been a pretty dry rainy season and that the many farmers are in for tough times if they can't get a good rice harvest.
- That God would continue to place those he chooses in positions of leadership in this country. And despite the discontent among the people that the Christians in Cambodia would demonstrate peace concerning the political situation to those around them.
- Many nationals are concerned that the border disputes with Thailand could escalate to open conflict, pray that they would have peace about this situation as well.
Thanks for reading and praying!
Jonathan
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Rapping up English Camp...
Written by Em Aug 4:
Dear friends and family,
Wow, where should I start after a busy week of English Camp in Phnom Penh? God just doesn't stop surprising me with the way He teaches and stretches me! I learned a lot about having a servant attitude and being a leader this past week. The interns had a lot more responsibility at English Camp and taking care of the short term teams. The team that we gal interns stayed with at the dorms were an interesting bunch. God really surprised me with the situations I faced throughout the Camp. The debrief we did with our teaching groups were... interesting as well. Also, as I'm praying and asking if God is leading me into overseas missions, I've been impatient with God's silence, but I've come to realize that I should soak in whatever He's showing me now and wait for His final piece of the puzzle. I wish I could go into greater details about all this, but I'm pressed on time. I'm going to give a quick update on what happened and what will happen in the next week. God is good though! :-)
Three of our interns left this morning (Natalie, Elijah, Stan). It was a sad teary morning for us... and Jessica will be leaving tomorrow morning. Ohhhhhh, Phearum and his family and Moch from Siem Reap came for the week of English Camp!!!!!!!!!!! We had some nights together to hang out (I even got to sleep over with them at the guesthouse one night with Jonathan and Elijah! Rocio, I know you're jumping up and down screaming right now in jealousy and excitement! It was awesome! Oh, and Heng was here for most of the Camp, and then Seyha came over for a couple days! Heng was crying when they left on Sunday after church, *sniff sniff*.) Phearum and family and Moch will be leaving tomorrow morning as well. Gosh, it will be a very hard goodbye!
Jonathan and I will be staying in Phnom Penh until Thursday morning. We will take a bus at 9 A.M. to Battambang to visit the Strong's. Dave told me to wear some clothes that can endure some muddy activity. Here we go!!! We'll go back to Phnom Penh on Sunday, and leave for Kampong Saom the next morning with Kim and her Vietnamnese youth group. She told me they're on a low budget, so we'll most likely stay in huts near the beach... which is right across from the Jasmine Hotel where we stayed during Field Forum. After that, we'll most likely return to Phnom Penh for a couple days before heading to the outskirts of PP to visit Akphirin and his Bible College.
One highlight from English Camp was the visit to an orphanage with our students. There was a student who gathered a bunch of the young orphans and taught them the song "I Walk By Faith." One of my girls from my teaching team pulled my camera out and took a video of it. I was really touched by the way he worked with the orphans. I still remember his eagerness in teaching them the song and telling them about his great friend, Jesus. *thumbs up* Too bad time ran out at the end, and we had to leave. He left his English Camp book with the orphans, so hopefully they can read the lyrics to the songs we sing at Camp and seeds will be planted in their young and precious lives.
God has truly blessed my stomach so far, although I've had some tummy issues today, but nothing too serious, I think. And although I've been surviving on an average of 6 hours of sleep everyday, I'm still alive and doing fairly well! Thanks for all your prayers and I'm sure glad God is watching over Jonathan and I! Y'all take good care! Oh! I heard about the earthquake! Keep me updated on that please! Chum reap lea!
In Christ,
Em
PS- Oh, we caught a baby rat the other night at the dorms!
PPS- Sorry, no time to do personal emails, so here goes:
Mom/Dad: no worries, i will be alert. thanks for taking care of my fish, it's ok that one of them passed away. hope it didnt scare you too much, ma. i will keep my bags clean so no rats will get to it. i'll try to check my registration. the layout of the school website changed, and I'm having a hard time navigating through it and remembering my password @_@ i might have to try again next time, because i have to make the 930 curfew at the dorms i'm staying at for the last night. i'll be moving to a guesthouse tomorrow and staying there till thurs morning. oh yeah, IMPORTANT- now that our flight has been changed and re-confirmed, do we need our tickets??? We had tickets for our flights back, but they're the cancelled ones. Please check for us! Thank you! Wow, Uncle's here to visit?! Say hello to him and his family for me!!! Show them the pictures from our team blog and email updates!!! And Ma, I will be praying for you on Aug. 7 and 8. Don't worry, you stay strong and take care of yourself, OK? Love you and miss you both very much!!!!!!!
Dad, leave us a message on our team blog! http://sgvac-cambodia-stm-08.blogspot.com/
Rocio: Keep us updated on how it's going back at our piggy place!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm always thinking about you and what's going on at your place, update me on what's happened since last weekend! miss you like crazy!!!!! Oh, and hey, it's Veerak's BD today (aug. 4) and Dara's school exam! I will try my very best to write my journals about our time w/ Phearum, Heng, Seyha, and Moch!
Yvonne, Jackso, and PPaul: If I don't get a chance to email again, happy early birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keiko: Not sure if you're back from your Serbia missions trip, but hope you're doing well! and i'll be praying for a smooth re-entry for ya!
Elijah Stan, and Natalie: Elijah, you'll have to forward this to Stan and Nat for me! I miss you guys already. I'll have to admit that it was a sad morning at the airport, but it was kinda funny seeing you break down and cry right before you headed in, Elijah :-P Praying for all your flights back to the States and Canada!!!!!! Email me and Jonathan!!!! Intern email!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Sharon: Got your email. *hug* Praying with ya about what God's been doing in your life! Will you go to the church retreat later in Aug???
D: HOW ARE YOU?! Jon has a lil notebook he journals in just for you, hahhaa!
Dear friends and family,
Wow, where should I start after a busy week of English Camp in Phnom Penh? God just doesn't stop surprising me with the way He teaches and stretches me! I learned a lot about having a servant attitude and being a leader this past week. The interns had a lot more responsibility at English Camp and taking care of the short term teams. The team that we gal interns stayed with at the dorms were an interesting bunch. God really surprised me with the situations I faced throughout the Camp. The debrief we did with our teaching groups were... interesting as well. Also, as I'm praying and asking if God is leading me into overseas missions, I've been impatient with God's silence, but I've come to realize that I should soak in whatever He's showing me now and wait for His final piece of the puzzle. I wish I could go into greater details about all this, but I'm pressed on time. I'm going to give a quick update on what happened and what will happen in the next week. God is good though! :-)
Three of our interns left this morning (Natalie, Elijah, Stan). It was a sad teary morning for us... and Jessica will be leaving tomorrow morning. Ohhhhhh, Phearum and his family and Moch from Siem Reap came for the week of English Camp!!!!!!!!!!! We had some nights together to hang out (I even got to sleep over with them at the guesthouse one night with Jonathan and Elijah! Rocio, I know you're jumping up and down screaming right now in jealousy and excitement! It was awesome! Oh, and Heng was here for most of the Camp, and then Seyha came over for a couple days! Heng was crying when they left on Sunday after church, *sniff sniff*.) Phearum and family and Moch will be leaving tomorrow morning as well. Gosh, it will be a very hard goodbye!
Jonathan and I will be staying in Phnom Penh until Thursday morning. We will take a bus at 9 A.M. to Battambang to visit the Strong's. Dave told me to wear some clothes that can endure some muddy activity. Here we go!!! We'll go back to Phnom Penh on Sunday, and leave for Kampong Saom the next morning with Kim and her Vietnamnese youth group. She told me they're on a low budget, so we'll most likely stay in huts near the beach... which is right across from the Jasmine Hotel where we stayed during Field Forum. After that, we'll most likely return to Phnom Penh for a couple days before heading to the outskirts of PP to visit Akphirin and his Bible College.
One highlight from English Camp was the visit to an orphanage with our students. There was a student who gathered a bunch of the young orphans and taught them the song "I Walk By Faith." One of my girls from my teaching team pulled my camera out and took a video of it. I was really touched by the way he worked with the orphans. I still remember his eagerness in teaching them the song and telling them about his great friend, Jesus. *thumbs up* Too bad time ran out at the end, and we had to leave. He left his English Camp book with the orphans, so hopefully they can read the lyrics to the songs we sing at Camp and seeds will be planted in their young and precious lives.
God has truly blessed my stomach so far, although I've had some tummy issues today, but nothing too serious, I think. And although I've been surviving on an average of 6 hours of sleep everyday, I'm still alive and doing fairly well! Thanks for all your prayers and I'm sure glad God is watching over Jonathan and I! Y'all take good care! Oh! I heard about the earthquake! Keep me updated on that please! Chum reap lea!
In Christ,
Em
PS- Oh, we caught a baby rat the other night at the dorms!
PPS- Sorry, no time to do personal emails, so here goes:
Mom/Dad: no worries, i will be alert. thanks for taking care of my fish, it's ok that one of them passed away. hope it didnt scare you too much, ma. i will keep my bags clean so no rats will get to it. i'll try to check my registration. the layout of the school website changed, and I'm having a hard time navigating through it and remembering my password @_@ i might have to try again next time, because i have to make the 930 curfew at the dorms i'm staying at for the last night. i'll be moving to a guesthouse tomorrow and staying there till thurs morning. oh yeah, IMPORTANT- now that our flight has been changed and re-confirmed, do we need our tickets??? We had tickets for our flights back, but they're the cancelled ones. Please check for us! Thank you! Wow, Uncle's here to visit?! Say hello to him and his family for me!!! Show them the pictures from our team blog and email updates!!! And Ma, I will be praying for you on Aug. 7 and 8. Don't worry, you stay strong and take care of yourself, OK? Love you and miss you both very much!!!!!!!
Dad, leave us a message on our team blog! http://sgvac-cambodia-stm-08.blogspot.com/
Rocio: Keep us updated on how it's going back at our piggy place!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm always thinking about you and what's going on at your place, update me on what's happened since last weekend! miss you like crazy!!!!! Oh, and hey, it's Veerak's BD today (aug. 4) and Dara's school exam! I will try my very best to write my journals about our time w/ Phearum, Heng, Seyha, and Moch!
Yvonne, Jackso, and PPaul: If I don't get a chance to email again, happy early birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keiko: Not sure if you're back from your Serbia missions trip, but hope you're doing well! and i'll be praying for a smooth re-entry for ya!
Elijah Stan, and Natalie: Elijah, you'll have to forward this to Stan and Nat for me! I miss you guys already. I'll have to admit that it was a sad morning at the airport, but it was kinda funny seeing you break down and cry right before you headed in, Elijah :-P Praying for all your flights back to the States and Canada!!!!!! Email me and Jonathan!!!! Intern email!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Sharon: Got your email. *hug* Praying with ya about what God's been doing in your life! Will you go to the church retreat later in Aug???
D: HOW ARE YOU?! Jon has a lil notebook he journals in just for you, hahhaa!
Monday, July 28, 2008
a very bad joke...Election Day...New Jerusalem Church
Friends, Family, and other people,
Well Election day has come and gone. There was widespread rioting and mass looting in the more developed middle-class sections of Phnom Penh. Small fires broke out the damage was not too severe. The military came into the city and marshal law was declared. There was some concern among the short term teams since we are all spread out between three different locations and out of contact with Bill, our host missionary, but then I woke up and realized it was time to get ready for Church. Haha...OK maybe that was a bad joke.
In all seriousness election day passed by quietly and people were going about their business as usual in the city. Websites are saying that this is Cambodia's most peaceful election yet. There were fewer shops open at the Russian Market this afternoon but it was no where near the total shutdown of the city that the missionaries were predicting based on their experience during the last election. No word yet as to how the chips fell but there is little doubt as to which party is going to win. You can read more here.
All 60 of the short termers attended the New Jerusalem Church this morning, we outnumbered the members in attendance by about 3 to 1. Granted fewer people were around since many returned to their home province to vote. But church was good, Bill preached, and we had lots of time to talk to the people afterwards. We met a girl named Da Lin and her brother San Dee. I totally misspelled their names but you can see their picture attached to this email. They will both be attending English Camp so we look forward to spending more time with them.
Speaking of which English Camp starts tomorrow! As I have already mentioned there are 60 (give or take) short termers ready to teach and spend time with the students who will attend the camp. The girls, Emily Nat and Jessica are staying at the student dorm with about 20 other people from Nebraska crammed in there. It has been a bit of a culture shock for them to experience an American environment again after spending the last month adjusting to the culture of Cambodia. Pray for patience and grace as the girls adjust and the Nebraska team adjusts.
As we have mentioned before we are expecting a 60 to 40 ratio of Christian to non-Christian students to attend the camp, pray for open hearts and the opportunity to establish lasting relationships. Emily would like to make a correction, she previously stated that there would be 200 students in attendance but the actual numbers will be somewhere around 120. Either way, we know that everyone whom God wants at this camp will be there.Continue to pray that even outside of English Camp that we will be able to share God's love with those we come in contact with.
I discovered on our way back from the Russian Market that our tuk tuk driver is a Christian and that his wife and two children used to attend the New Jerusalem Church. Since the arrival of their third child about a month ago they haven't been to the Church but it sounds like they have been Christians for a while so I am hopeful that when things settle down at home they will start attending again. Our driver (as I am typing this I realize that I never asked for his name...) said that he does not go to Church often because he is usually working on Sundays. After he dropped us off he asked for 6 dollars instead of the 7 that we agreed on before setting off because we are all part of the family of Jesus Christ. We insisted on giving him 7 and told him that since he made a little extra money that he should show up to church next Sunday. I really hope to be able to talk to him again.
Emily and I have enjoyed the blessing of good health this past week. Please pray that this continues as it will be crucial as English Camp begins. For those of you who are wondering, Emily's spider/random insect bite is completely healed and there is no more swelling or soreness on her hand. Emily is also going to be telling a Bible story during the main group session some time this week, pray that God will use her and speak through her. I think I have to do MC. Bill is really kicking back this time around. Heh.
Internet shop is closing soon, thanks for reading.
Also, many thanks to Rocio and her tireless efforts to keep the team blog updated, for taking these update emails and posting them on the blog. Really appreciate that you continue to partner with us and support us even though we are on the other side of the world! Don't cut out this section when you post it on the blog. (=
Because He loves us,
Jonathan
Well Election day has come and gone. There was widespread rioting and mass looting in the more developed middle-class sections of Phnom Penh. Small fires broke out the damage was not too severe. The military came into the city and marshal law was declared. There was some concern among the short term teams since we are all spread out between three different locations and out of contact with Bill, our host missionary, but then I woke up and realized it was time to get ready for Church. Haha...OK maybe that was a bad joke.
In all seriousness election day passed by quietly and people were going about their business as usual in the city. Websites are saying that this is Cambodia's most peaceful election yet. There were fewer shops open at the Russian Market this afternoon but it was no where near the total shutdown of the city that the missionaries were predicting based on their experience during the last election. No word yet as to how the chips fell but there is little doubt as to which party is going to win. You can read more here.
All 60 of the short termers attended the New Jerusalem Church this morning, we outnumbered the members in attendance by about 3 to 1. Granted fewer people were around since many returned to their home province to vote. But church was good, Bill preached, and we had lots of time to talk to the people afterwards. We met a girl named Da Lin and her brother San Dee. I totally misspelled their names but you can see their picture attached to this email. They will both be attending English Camp so we look forward to spending more time with them.
Speaking of which English Camp starts tomorrow! As I have already mentioned there are 60 (give or take) short termers ready to teach and spend time with the students who will attend the camp. The girls, Emily Nat and Jessica are staying at the student dorm with about 20 other people from Nebraska crammed in there. It has been a bit of a culture shock for them to experience an American environment again after spending the last month adjusting to the culture of Cambodia. Pray for patience and grace as the girls adjust and the Nebraska team adjusts.
As we have mentioned before we are expecting a 60 to 40 ratio of Christian to non-Christian students to attend the camp, pray for open hearts and the opportunity to establish lasting relationships. Emily would like to make a correction, she previously stated that there would be 200 students in attendance but the actual numbers will be somewhere around 120. Either way, we know that everyone whom God wants at this camp will be there.Continue to pray that even outside of English Camp that we will be able to share God's love with those we come in contact with.
I discovered on our way back from the Russian Market that our tuk tuk driver is a Christian and that his wife and two children used to attend the New Jerusalem Church. Since the arrival of their third child about a month ago they haven't been to the Church but it sounds like they have been Christians for a while so I am hopeful that when things settle down at home they will start attending again. Our driver (as I am typing this I realize that I never asked for his name...) said that he does not go to Church often because he is usually working on Sundays. After he dropped us off he asked for 6 dollars instead of the 7 that we agreed on before setting off because we are all part of the family of Jesus Christ. We insisted on giving him 7 and told him that since he made a little extra money that he should show up to church next Sunday. I really hope to be able to talk to him again.
Emily and I have enjoyed the blessing of good health this past week. Please pray that this continues as it will be crucial as English Camp begins. For those of you who are wondering, Emily's spider/random insect bite is completely healed and there is no more swelling or soreness on her hand. Emily is also going to be telling a Bible story during the main group session some time this week, pray that God will use her and speak through her. I think I have to do MC. Bill is really kicking back this time around. Heh.
Internet shop is closing soon, thanks for reading.
Also, many thanks to Rocio and her tireless efforts to keep the team blog updated, for taking these update emails and posting them on the blog. Really appreciate that you continue to partner with us and support us even though we are on the other side of the world! Don't cut out this section when you post it on the blog. (=
Because He loves us,
Jonathan
Saturday, July 26, 2008
a student says "I HATE THE WAR"
Hey guys, I can't help posting our students emails, sorry if that bothers you, but maybe their emails can shine some light on what they think, what they're going through. It's one thing for me to update you all with my own words, but I don't think that will have the same impact as it would coming from our own students. Here is one's prayer request:
Hey how are you now? it's very happy to hear from you. Do yo know now my country have a big problem with Thailand about the temple on the mountain at the border. Thai placed their arm force around the border about 1000 armsand cambodia also we place about 1000 arms around the border. Do you know i don't want to have the war again because we just finish the civil war in 1993. it's very difficult to develope the human resource again after Pol Pot regime and the war with Viet Nam very most of the student in the university even though the student in high school was killed. after we finish the civil war it's hard to find the techer to teach in the public school.so the student learn in grade 12 come to teach the student in the primary school and the student learn in grade 7 or 9 come to teach the children. during 1988-1993 whick guide that learn or teach english or french the police and the arm force will kill or take them to jail. But from 1995-Now it's free for us to learn english or other languages or believe to jesus and others. in 1991- 1992 you live in USA very safety and eat enough so you get healthy and you can go to school without any problems But for me you know? i live in Battambang Province which nearest to Khmer Rough camp and it's the point that Khmer Rough force and Viet Nam and the government force meet and fight each other so i can not go to school and the teach too. the teacher hidded in somewhere avoid from killing. when i was a child i think that i don't know which day will i die? i can die every second because we have alot of gun around us i live with frighten. I HATE THE WAR. please pray to god about it.
Hey how are you now? it's very happy to hear from you. Do yo know now my country have a big problem with Thailand about the temple on the mountain at the border. Thai placed their arm force around the border about 1000 armsand cambodia also we place about 1000 arms around the border. Do you know i don't want to have the war again because we just finish the civil war in 1993. it's very difficult to develope the human resource again after Pol Pot regime and the war with Viet Nam very most of the student in the university even though the student in high school was killed. after we finish the civil war it's hard to find the techer to teach in the public school.so the student learn in grade 12 come to teach the student in the primary school and the student learn in grade 7 or 9 come to teach the children. during 1988-1993 whick guide that learn or teach english or french the police and the arm force will kill or take them to jail. But from 1995-Now it's free for us to learn english or other languages or believe to jesus and others. in 1991- 1992 you live in USA very safety and eat enough so you get healthy and you can go to school without any problems But for me you know? i live in Battambang Province which nearest to Khmer Rough camp and it's the point that Khmer Rough force and Viet Nam and the government force meet and fight each other so i can not go to school and the teach too. the teacher hidded in somewhere avoid from killing. when i was a child i think that i don't know which day will i die? i can die every second because we have alot of gun around us i live with frighten. I HATE THE WAR. please pray to god about it.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Jon's skills to the test: Product Design in Cambo
Written by Jonathan 7-25
Today's story:
So Chris Manfred has been asking me about design stuff ever since we had dinner with them at FF and I told them about my previous involvement in Product Design. So the other day when she dropped by the CAMA guest house I was chatting with her and asking her how the office was coming. (Though they've started using it the building is not completly up to standard and the guesthouse behind it is still under construction.) She was like you want to help me design some architectural elements in the guesthouse? (She's the team's lay architect, she designed the new CAMA office and drew up the plans for them) I says sure! So she asks me to draw up ideas for recessed false window areas in a breakfast nook. The next day I show her the sketches and imediatly picks one and says "This is it! I'm putting this one in. So when you come back as a full time missionary you'll be able to see your design in the building." "OK" I said with a sort of yea sure attitude. "I'm serious!" She says. "You should come work for us, that's an invitation, it really is." Haha, so it looks like I'm gonna be in Cambodia sometime in the future. =P That and I think a whole lot of people are praying that God sends me to Cambodia. We shall see!
-Jon
Today's story:
So Chris Manfred has been asking me about design stuff ever since we had dinner with them at FF and I told them about my previous involvement in Product Design. So the other day when she dropped by the CAMA guest house I was chatting with her and asking her how the office was coming. (Though they've started using it the building is not completly up to standard and the guesthouse behind it is still under construction.) She was like you want to help me design some architectural elements in the guesthouse? (She's the team's lay architect, she designed the new CAMA office and drew up the plans for them) I says sure! So she asks me to draw up ideas for recessed false window areas in a breakfast nook. The next day I show her the sketches and imediatly picks one and says "This is it! I'm putting this one in. So when you come back as a full time missionary you'll be able to see your design in the building." "OK" I said with a sort of yea sure attitude. "I'm serious!" She says. "You should come work for us, that's an invitation, it really is." Haha, so it looks like I'm gonna be in Cambodia sometime in the future. =P That and I think a whole lot of people are praying that God sends me to Cambodia. We shall see!
-Jon
Pics!
Emily learning to ride a moto! And Nat, Emily and I take refuge at a drink stall during a heavy downpour. Thanks for visiting!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rats in Cambodia!!!
Written by Em on July 24:
Running out of time, but the thought of sleeping in the student dorm with rats for more than a week deserves a quick prayer request back to the states, don't y'all think? :-) We cleaned out the dorms for a couple days mopping the floor, cleaning out the kitchen and showers/bathrooms... and setting mouse traps. I think we got about 8 rats the next day, but there are some more hiding around. Eeks! The funny thing was the six of us interns split up into two groups to clean out the dorms- Jon, Natalie, and I cleaning the showers/bathrooms and the other three doing the mopping in the rooms. Suddenly, we hear a high pitched scream and we start laughing because we knew our intern friends must be having some visits from the rats. When we all got together an hour later, we were told that Elijah was the one who screamed. Jess and Stan were up on the chairs the whole time, while poor Elijah was left on the floor screaming! To his defense, he said the rat touched his foot. The three of us gals will be sleeping on air mattresses during the whole week of English Camp, because the other short termers will take up all the bunk beds.
(On a sidenote, I think, or Jonathan thinks, I might have had a spider bite on my pinky. It hurts when I bend it and itches when I stretch it, and it was pretty swollen for a couple days. It's doing better now, no more swelling, just very itchy still. But I'm alive and I don't need to amputate it!)
The first team of 10 has arrived tonight. Two other teams arrive tomorrow, and the last one arrives on Saturday. Since Jonathan did a devotional at the Siem Reap ECamp already, the rest of us have to share one this time. Pray for me as I decide which Bible character to share and that it'll totally be God speaking through me! I'm getting a little nervous about it!
Sorry, I don't know what Jonathan's prayer requests are. We (the girl interns) are living at different places from the guys from now on, and I forgot to ask him if he has any prayer requests :-( Oh! Chris Manfred asked him to help with some interior design a the new C&MA office, so y'all could pray for that :-) The six of us spent some time working there today. We're both getting excited about this upcoming camp though! Gotta go, take care, y'all!
Finding courage in Him,
Em
PS- I don't think we'll be able to send any updates any time soon as more STMers are arriving and we'll have to take them around. Thanks again for your continuous prayers!
Running out of time, but the thought of sleeping in the student dorm with rats for more than a week deserves a quick prayer request back to the states, don't y'all think? :-) We cleaned out the dorms for a couple days mopping the floor, cleaning out the kitchen and showers/bathrooms... and setting mouse traps. I think we got about 8 rats the next day, but there are some more hiding around. Eeks! The funny thing was the six of us interns split up into two groups to clean out the dorms- Jon, Natalie, and I cleaning the showers/bathrooms and the other three doing the mopping in the rooms. Suddenly, we hear a high pitched scream and we start laughing because we knew our intern friends must be having some visits from the rats. When we all got together an hour later, we were told that Elijah was the one who screamed. Jess and Stan were up on the chairs the whole time, while poor Elijah was left on the floor screaming! To his defense, he said the rat touched his foot. The three of us gals will be sleeping on air mattresses during the whole week of English Camp, because the other short termers will take up all the bunk beds.
(On a sidenote, I think, or Jonathan thinks, I might have had a spider bite on my pinky. It hurts when I bend it and itches when I stretch it, and it was pretty swollen for a couple days. It's doing better now, no more swelling, just very itchy still. But I'm alive and I don't need to amputate it!)
The first team of 10 has arrived tonight. Two other teams arrive tomorrow, and the last one arrives on Saturday. Since Jonathan did a devotional at the Siem Reap ECamp already, the rest of us have to share one this time. Pray for me as I decide which Bible character to share and that it'll totally be God speaking through me! I'm getting a little nervous about it!
Sorry, I don't know what Jonathan's prayer requests are. We (the girl interns) are living at different places from the guys from now on, and I forgot to ask him if he has any prayer requests :-( Oh! Chris Manfred asked him to help with some interior design a the new C&MA office, so y'all could pray for that :-) The six of us spent some time working there today. We're both getting excited about this upcoming camp though! Gotta go, take care, y'all!
Finding courage in Him,
Em
PS- I don't think we'll be able to send any updates any time soon as more STMers are arriving and we'll have to take them around. Thanks again for your continuous prayers!
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