Thailand Update

Dear Friends,
Here in Cambodia this computer has a mind of its own. I will not fix anything. Just think of being in a strange country and not knowing anything.

I have learned two important words, AU Koon, which means ‘thank you’. The people appreciate that you can say that much. Many People here know some English, especially those in the gift shops. Today at the airport, a two year old came up to us and said, "Hello, hello."

Wednesday we flew into Cambodia. We spent the morning visiting the daycare by the slum and touring the flats that had been rebuilt after the slum fire this past February. The people are very appreciative.

We left Bangkok after lunch in the airport. We, Edie Jorns and I, ate at Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop. They played American popular music in the restaurant, just like Lukas and I listen to in the car at home, only Lukas would have made me switch it when Taylor Swifts song came on. I had just heard Paul and Jessie's wedding dance song in another shop as we passed by in the airport and I got to really missing my kids!

We had just flown in from Northern Thailand the day before and now we were on the plane again to Cambodia. That is the way you have to do things when you have lots to see and not much time. We stayed at the Le President Hotel. There is lots of new construction since I was there two years ago. Most of the buildings have a beautiful style architecture, a kind of European influence. LOTS AND Lots of motorcycles!!! They are using more cars also and parking is done with leaving the car in neutral so that they can move your car down to get another one out. It is like a huge sliding puzzle. I was glad that I did not have to park or drive.

When we arrived, our host Pastor Vanerith told us that his wife had just given birth to a baby girl on Tuesday. He took us to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia office and gave us an update on their activities. It is really exciting. They just had ordination for several pastors and deaconesses a few months ago. These were students that we had in our classes two years ago.
After we had a wonderful supper, served family style of typical Khmer dishes, Pastor took Jeff and his wife Cheryl and me to see his new baby daughter. They were in kind of a clinic, where they had some support but not what we think of as a neonatal unit. Mother and daughter, little Ruth, were doing fine. Grandma was staying there with them.

Yesterday we drove down to the south of Cambodia and visited two churches. It took all day because of the road construction, but it was worth it. We saw lots of the country side, houses built on stilts, children in uniforms riding bikes to school up dusty county roads, two to a bike, skinny cows, rice paddies, and lots and lots of motorcycles.

At the first church we visited, about 30 people there waited for us in a cement church that also serves as a school. Many of my former students were there and we had a great reunion. I gave out many of the crosses that our children had colored. Three of the people gave their stories of their faith and ministry.

After a wonderful lunch at a restaurant that was built over a channel, we went on to the other church. It was nearly dusk when we arrived and we learned that 70 people had waited to see us but had to leave as we were hours behind schedule. We had a great visit with three former students. They asked when I could return and teach again. I said that only the Lord knows His plans. We arrived back at the hotel at about 9:00.

This morning, we went to a high school that had been used as a torture center during the 1976-1979 reign of the Khmer Rouge, a communist revolt. We saw a movie explaining the sad time where 2,000,000 Cambodians lost their lives at the hands of their own countrymen. We then traveled to the killing fields where the soldiers put to death and left tens of thousands in mass graves. It was very somber.

It gives perspective. The Cambodian church is really growing as the people search for joy and meaning in life. This afternoon we got on the plane again and traveled to Seim Reep, Cambodia. We will visit the Ankor Wat tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers. It is a full trip. I can’t wait to tell you all about it and show my many photos. Much love, Dawn