Wednesday, July 28

Limited time and computer access to write about our days. Monday we went to the genocide museum and in the afternoon to the Killing Fields. I had not been there before. It has been over 30 years since the events of the Khmer Rouge, and there are still bones, teeth and clothing fragments in the earth where mass graves were uncovered. It was difficult to see but necessary to understand the Cambodian people and the country that they are having to remake.

Tuesday was a very long but fun day. We went to the Cambodian market - huge Walmart only no big box - hundreds of little boxes of vendors selling everything. We bought fabric and paint and then went to each of the Prek Eng homes. Between 12:30 and 8:00 pm we did well-clinics, played games and did hair, and used our paint to create a banner for each home with every child and staff member's handprints on it along with their name. Great day! Very tired.

Today we rode a bus for 6 hours to the northern part of the country where Angkor Wat temples are that we will see tomorrow. This evening we took a boat ride - similar to the Jesus Boat - out to the Floating Village - people too poor to own land live on these boats in the lake. Amazing - I need to pass on the computer. One of the computers that was brought on the trip died. So there aren't too many chances to share this around with our schedules. Thanks for your prayers and for your comments. I love to hear from you.

Sunday, July 25

Church this morning was at the Asia's Hope Christian School outside of the capital city. All of the children from the 4 homes in Prek Eng attend church together there. Today they offered a medical clinic for the neighborhood following the morning service. They estimated that about 30 neighbors came to the service and about sixty were seen in the clinic. From 11 am until a little after 2 pm three nurses and several other volunteers helped the people that had come. I was a pill counter:) We spent two hours at Prek Eng 4 - this was one of the homes started by Momemtum last year.
We went to lunch at around 3:00 to a Khmer restaurant and tried several dishes and soups. Home to the guesthouse for one hour and then back to the school for a party. The kids wanted chicken wings and soda. So that was the kid meal followed by an hour plus of crazy dancing. I only tried one dance - I still have the elephant feet. I just can't get the swelling down.
We have the chance to sleep in tomorrow morning and we are all anxious to do that before we start another busy day. Tomorrow will be a hard day emotionally with visits to the Killing Fields and to the museum that describes the Cambodian genocide.
It was a good day. God is working in the lives of these kids as evidenced by their singing, their sharing, their entire countenance.

Saturday, July 24

Feeling much more rested, we ventured to a village far outside of the city today. The idea was to take some of "our kids" from Asia's Hope and give them the chance to serve in ministry to these kids in the village. We bagged treats for each child that contained toothbrush, toothpaste, candy, flavored milk and soap. We prepared 120 of them and we were 80 short. So we guessed that we had over 200 children there. We are making arrangements to get bags to the other children who gave their names to the people at the village church. They all sat patiently on the floor of the church while we waited for everyone to get there and begin their time together. Some of the kids gave their testimonies. There was a craft and some relay races and everyone seemed to enjoy their time together. Our kids were really helpful with the English translation as we moved from event to event. After the very long ride back we went to the National Museum that holds findings from many centuries past. We had an English speaking guide -NOT! The girls didn't even know she was speaking English!! It was interesting. Contrasts are everywhere. Here is this beautiful Asian-looking complex, lush with greenery and outside the walls there is little beauty in the surroundings. We dodged some rain today a couple of times. We did supper later - more very good fried rice with bacon and shrimp and a large fried egg topping the dish. Please pray for church tomorrow with the kids. Also please pray that the swelling will go down in my feet. They are still very uncomfortable. Everyone is healthy and working well as a team.

The Flight is Complete

Good evening from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The team arrived around 10:00 am this morning after 22 hours in the air and several hours of waiting in Dallas, LA, and Taipei. We are housed in a beautiful guesthouse that is run by the pastor of one of the churches here. We are all on one floor (with air in the bedrooms). There are two common areas with minikitchens and a beautiful open courtyard of plants between the two house areas. I am blessed with my own room complete with a bath AND a tub! We rode through the busy city today. Think about Red-White-and-Boom and all the people there. Put half of them on motorbikes and you can get the idea what this city is like. After time to shower and unpack, we went to lunch - great shrimp fried rice. Then we rode out to Asia's Hope Christian School. The kids were waiting at the gate and they smother all of the guests with hugs. Most of the kids from the four Prek Eng (suburb of the city) homes were there. Of course, each home did a musical dance presentation. Prek Eng 3 boys were all wearing their new tie dye shirts and bandanas made with the last Vista team. We are all very tired but we are trying to get on Cambodia time so we're waiting until 9 pm to sleep. Tomorrow we are doing outreach, taking some of the kids from Prek Eng with us. This is the first time they are trying this venture with some of the Asia's Hope kids. Pray that it will be a blessing to those that go and to all of the kids that should be there.

Heading out.....

This is the team heading to Cambodia! :)

From L to R (top row first)

Sherrod Fields, Tim Richardson

Judy Bechtel, Emily Richardson, Aaron Richardson

Jenna Caudle, Carol Richardson and Rachel Fields

They flew through all the checks at Columbus and have safely arrived in Dallas, TX. They will spend about an hour there before heading to Los Angeles, CA and then to Taipai, Taiwan. Their flight from Taipai, Taiwan will take them into Phenom Phen around 12AM on Friday. Please continue to pray for safe travels and quick sleep on the planes!

My last trip was in June to the Dominican Republic. We did not take computers and even though there was internet access on the school compound, we did not have the availability to use the computers. So June 2010 is history.
I should be sleeping now in preparation of today's flight to Cambodia. It's 12:45 am. I can never sleep the night before a trip - too excited - afraid I've forgotten something important - who knows? We will be weighing and packing supplies at Grace Worship Center at 11 am followed by lunch and transportation to the airport. July 20-Aug 7 - Cambodia here we come! Thanks for prayers for a good flight without complications.