Heading To Thailand

Dear friends and family,

Kari is feeling better, but now Elizabeth is sick. Rick stayed “home” with Karli yesterday and John stayed today. I think the break was rejuvenating for the two introverts in our family.

I thought I would share some of the frustrations I am experiencing. I know that these experiences are what cross-culture living is all about. I also realize character and creativity are developed; but, it is not without tension and a constant reminder to me to live and think outside my normal patterns.

The hotel will only give us one bath towel each—no hand or wash clothes and barely any toilet tissue. Any type of tissue is very thin and very small. As a matter of fact, everything seems smaller here. I’m starting to think we have “super-sized” everything in the U.S.

I emailed a specific supply list before we arrived, but it wasn’t looked at very closely and some items are impossible to buy here and/or incredibly expensive. Cambodia makes strong plastic bags, but no paper bags are to be found ANY where. Thankfully, we made card stock copies of frog face and mouths and instead of gluing them to a paper lunch bag, we just color them and fold the mouth so it opens and closes. (Thank you, Judy J.) We then glue on colorful styrofoam cut outs I threw in my luggage at the last moment.

Overall, items are expensive, lower quality, and harder to find in quantities over 5 to 10 items. You have to hunt around many areas of the city and from many little stalls. Although entertaining, it is time-consuming and a bit frustrating trying to adapt. By the time I learn where things are located and the least expensive, I will have returned to the U.S. Even when we have shopped with Cambodians or Bridget so much gets lost in translation. I think I am being clear about what I need and I get taken somewhere else. For example, I am taken to a sterling silver shop where Samantha says have the best quality and price instead of a place for craft supplies. We did want to go shopping for gifts: I just didn’t realize it was going to be right then. Another time, I asked what the name of an unusual fruit was called and received a bag of them because they misunderstood and thought the kids loved them (which was not the case in this situation). I am enjoying the journey even when I do not know exactly when or where I am being taken..

We are the trial run for other Bible clubs in the future. AIM is figuring out how this can work best to help the 700 plus new churches Moses has started all over Cambodia. The goal is to adapt and continue to offer other groups the opportunity to incorporate Bible clubs into their visits.

The food is delicious here, but there have been some interesting experiences. We anxiously ate fish fried for us (from a questionably clean pan in who knows what oil) picking the bones out of our mouths thinking we are doing well just to have eaten it. Instead we were asked in astonishment why we didn’t eat the entire fish, head, bones and all. John obediently ate the fish head: I just couldn’t do it after the toilet, heat, and everything else. I promptly offered it to any one who wanted it. Even in my clumsiness to speak Khmer and understand the culture around me, I mess up. You definitely have to keep a sense of humor.

I never think of myself as having a ton of energy, but yesterday I ran three translators, 20 years younger then me, into the ground. I am positive that translation is exhausting. It is difficult for me because the three young men that are working with us are so passive. They enjoy the kids and are very helpful, but need to be instructed how to act in every situation.

With Rick and Karli gone yesterday I felt I needed to split myself into four people. We had 50 plus kids and many older boys. I would give them the stern “Teacher look” and many would stop and obey, at least for a few minutes. John, Daniel, and Elizabeth worked amazingly hard. I would drag one translator or another with me through music, story, craft, games, more music and another review bible story. The transitions between activities are always the hardest to maintain control. However, I am passionate about what I am doing. I did not travel half way across the world to share about the greatness and uniqueness of Jesus—the Way, the Truth and the Life--to let heat, a language barrier or undisciplined children stop me.

I have the privilege of laughing, playing, singing and teaching in a place where evil has reigned. One of the greatness moments for me was turning on our c.d. player and singing at the top of my lungs “Shout to the Lord” and “We Want to See Jesus Lifted High” as I looked around the beautiful, restored former brothel. I know there will always be evil in this fallen world. However, for this short moment in time, in this small little place, I can see the power of God and His goodness in action.

Today the girls were all over me. As I hugged them and played “duck, duck, goose”, I prayed for each precious one. I would high five the boys as a bamboo soccer ball zoomed by or clap their hands with them to the beat of the music. All of these children are caught up in a part of society that sees them as expendable and valueless unless making money for the family. It is hard to comprehend. I have a delayed emotional reaction to the whole situation once I return to the hotel every afternoon. It is sobering and exhilarating all wrapped up together.

Love,
Becky

[Agape Restoration Center – From Daniel]

Hey everyone! This is my first update so far. Sorry for not writing more e-mails or updating more than I am. This trip has really kept me busy, so lots of the time I am working.
So far, this trip has been fun. On Saturday, we all went to the ARC. That’s where they take care of all the girls that have been abused. They also live at the ARC. At the ARC the girls learn to read, write, understand, and speak English.
We went to the ARC on party Saturday. Party Saturday is a huge party held every month. The party is for every girl with a birthday that month. Right when we got there, I was all of the sudden hounded by girls who wanted me to do something with them. I was such a novelty to them because they only see Americans ever so often. And on top of that I was a boy. (Isn’t that cool? Just for being a boy a get the attention of thirty girls for just saying hi to one of them. And if I was playing a game, every girl thought that it was necessary to play with me for me to have any fun at all. All of them also wanted me to dance these weird Cambodian dances with them.) So I took out my cards and ten other girls played Go Fish with me. The reason why we played Go Fish was because they didn’t know enough English for me to teach them a game. Then, we ate a HUGE meal and danced until we couldn’t dance anymore. We must have done the Macarena five times. After that, everybody followed the counselor and did something, but I didn’t stick around too long to find out. So, I just sat on one of the tire swings enjoying myself. Then, all of a sudden, ten girls came up to me and wanted to play cards. So I, out of the goodness of my heart, (not really I was getting kind of bored and I like to play cards) played cards with them. The next thing everyone wanted me to do with them was swim. I didn’t agree though because first of all, the water was tap water and if I got to much water in my mouth I could get a disease. Second, I didn’t want to get wet and have to dry off the old fashion way. Third, I didn’t feel like swimming. So, I just sat in my tire swing and waited until they were done. When they were done, they wanted to play cards yet again, so I played for a little bit then we had to go. Overall, it was a great experience and I’m glad I went.

Daniel