God is sooo good! When I was planning this trip, I didn't think it would go so fast, nor that God would do so much! It was just fantastic and as I left cambodia  I was just soooo happy with all that God did.  I really didn't think everything would fall together so fast and easily! God you are so good!

So after two weeks of mission trips, everyone needed a vacation! I hadn't spent enough time with Michael and Pert and so we all planned a vacation to Pert's desired spot of Koh Rong.  Two days earlier we had a surprise visit from one of Rithy's friends and so we were able to get some info about what to do and expect.

We dropped off Jeffrey and took a van and just got the last ferry and then got to koh Rong and caught a boat to SokSan - our desired destination.  There was one beach cottage left so us girls took it :) YAY! But not so yay at night when we heard the loud crashing waves at night.  We slept in a mosquito net and there was a strange creature making noise at night as well as the loud pitter patter of rain on the tin roofs next door :) hehe! we didn't even have a sink in the place! But it was all good! Once we officially woke up and went out to explore.  It was sooo beautiful.  I wanted to be able to snorkel and see the glow in the dark plankton, but really just swimming all day would have been ok :) The boys were ready to go before we were and so we just planned to catch up with them once we were ready.  It was so hot that we almost didn't make it to Michael, but because we did we found a spot to eat pizza for dinner!  The water was blue, the sand so soft and white and we swam for an hour or two after taking lots of pics :) I LOVE the water! And then we were off to our $10 adventure of the day - snorkeling, fishing, island dinner and watching the sunset followed by swimming with the glow in the dark plankton.  It was an amazingly fun time.  Hehe! ok, the snorkeling was horrible, but good for the newbies, the fishing made Tiffy sea sick, the island and sunset was beautiful but I had to leave my camera behind because the water was too deep and we had to walk to shore and we didn't get to spend enough time with the plankton but I loved it!!! We got back and had horrible pizza and I think I have been officially declared a food snob heheh! But it was sooo great to be eating pizza! :) The boys and me left early the next day and girls decided to stay behind for two days.  It took us all day to get home, but because of all our  snafoos we were able to have their return all worked out smoothly! we got stuck on the other side of the island for a few hours and got to hang out and just relax, our van ride was delayed as well so I got to get a not so taste by desired sandwich and passion fruit drink and be happy :) We made some friends on the way over, but mainly I just slept.  hehe!

Got home and was debating an upgrade for my two days alone and hehe! Guess what! they gave me one for free! so I had two days in a nicer room doing what I wanted, when I wanted and without anyone to worry about! YAY! The first day off was a blur, but my first day of real vacation! hehe! I loved all the people on the trip, but I was always disappointing someone by talking to someone else and didn't have time to meet everyone I wanted to because I didn't want to bore the group! hehe! So, I met up with Kimmy and it was great.  We have been friends now since 2009, but until the last visit we never talked about anything serious ever.  We just always had fun and laughed a lot together - watching movies, sight seeing, or just laughing at a restaurant.  Last time I think I become her mentorish.  This time as we lay on my bed chatting in the air conditioning she said I was the only person she could talk to about stuff.  Kind of shocked me, but I'm so glad God put us together! Wish we had more time but we were both too tired to talk more than a few hours.  Went to java with the boys and their gang and that was fun hehe though I was hoping it would just be the three of us :) hehe!  Tuesday Rangsey - one of my original students who is no longer part of the group due to family health issues came to see me.  Last time he drove 3-4 hours total to see me for 20 minutes and this time he drove 1 1/2 hours one way to see me for 30 minutes!  I almost started crying when I was talking to him.  It's such a blessing to be sooo loved.  And as he told me his future plans (stuff he hasn't told anyone but his mom) I again felt soooo sooo privileged.  I'm so blessed that people share so much of their life with me.  I don't even understand why they do it, but all I can say is I feel so blessed!
The girls came back just in time to go off to the government official's house with us! It was a fun night. We got to invite Tharanga last minute too and so we all had fun! :) we got our ekg machine working and Tharanga had a great idea for my feeding program and although Rithy had said he wouldn't do the garden program earlier, that night he said he would and confirmed it the next day!  He doesn't want to do it, but he thinks its a good idea so he will! heheh! I love him and HIM!!! God really is the best! Makes all your desires and dreams come true - one of my favorite verses Psalm 37:4!

So had a great meeting with the medical students after a morning at the russian market with pert and the girls and michael of course.  We grabbed lunch with tharanga and just made it back in time for my meeting! I have to say, I was so tired, I wanted to drop, but just talking to them brought me back to life.  As soon as we were done with our productive work meeting we were off to Pert's goodbye party on the boat.  As I watched him with the students, it brought back memories of my goodbye party.  My parents were there. I actually unexpectedly started crying at mine.  I hate crying infront of people and I hadn't realized how much I loved them all till that moment. The next goodbye party of Pert's was the next day and that one reminded me of my second one too!  This time his students were crying and he was barely holding it together.  My second one my students had surprised me by crying, even some of the guys - maybe cause the same realization hit them cause they were talking.
But I am getting ahead of myself. During the party I found out Pert hadn't been to diamond island, so all you really have to do is tell Michael - which I did and off we went.  We all got on the ferris wheel, hung out with the kids and then headed off to eat.  Nothing was sounding good and suddenly Pert remembered a place he wanted to try and there we were.  We were just talking about bkk and we ended up there eating at a really really good pizza place! YAY! It was a day where you could see God loving Pert and fulfilling all the little desires he had had and talked about but hand't happened! :)

The next day was the shelter.  There is a great shelter in cambodia that I met  3 month into my year in cambodia.  I had my very first team coming and I was nervous.  I didn't have anything for them to do and they were coming for 3 weeks.  Of course I had told them that and they had said they just wanted to come see me, but I hated them wasting their time.  When I was at class the first day after they arrived, I somehow started talking to a person and she found out why I was there and told me about her friend who ran a shelter.  That same day I think we were talking to the director and soon the girls were doing art and dance therapy there! And we have had a great relationship since.  Last time I went and did first aid training and saw all the girls.  So Chandra wanted me back. That's where Pert and Christine ended up volunteering as well. So we were there bright an early and started seeing the girls.

I had to leave early to see Rithy on the radio!!!! I was so excited he was taking me!!! I took 125 pics of him in the 1 hour he was on the radio! hehe! My day off I had prepped for his talk, but not good enough :( next time I will do better.  But I'm sooo proud of that guy! I felt like a proud mom hehe! and I had nothing to do with it.  I feel like I am living my dreams through him. hehe! Came back to the shelter and saw Pert's party and we finished up with the girls and then came home with Chandra.  I feel missionaries everywhere struggle with isolation - I saw it in Japan and I see it here too.  I've been blessed by the ability to travel home a lot and so it's always great to be able to bring fresh joy and love to people who have to stay in one place and sometimes are a little burned out because of it.

Went to meet another NGO who is interested in home gardens and had a great talk with them and got a lot of ideas.  Almost didn't make it home cause my moto driver was crazy!!! My backpack got hit by another moto and it was all our fault!  Never prayed the whole way before! We did our diabetes teaching the next morning and then dropped Pert off at the airport. Sadness :( but hehe then we celebrated.  Sharon went off to siem reap for a couple of days and Tiffy and I went to the salon to do our nails.  It took three hours!!! but they were beautiful and only 5 dollars for hands and feet with designs! :) I even found super glue for my sandal that was falling apart again! And good thing too because the next day I ended up climbing a mountain in them.  But before that we all decided to hang out and watch a movie. When we brought the movie to the hotel even the staff wanted to watch it, but they were in the middle of a party. So hehe! it didn't quite work, but there was popcorn, mango and fun! We ended up playing spoons till bedtime and everyone had a great time.

The next morning we were up bright and early for the school outreach.  Rithy arranged it just cause I wanted it. The poor students who taught weren't even trained, they were given the curriculum the night before! And with that they did great! hehe! then we went to a mountain to eat.  Rithy is so sweet. It was super hot that day and it was 1pm by the time we got there. He told me it would take 10 minutes to climb to to the temple of the top where there was a great view.  So of course after a few minutes in the hammock, I went.  It wasn't 10 minutes hehe! but it was certainly worth it and although I can't trust the guy, I know this, that he loves me and he always has my best interest in mind.  I am just sooo blessed with such super people in my life! so we took pics an then got shaved ice and then walked back down :) Ate lunch and we were off to the place where they are keeping all our stuff.

There there was drama. Someone was there trying to take stuff away.  So I tried to be the bad guy but in the end Rithy had to take charge and say they couldn't take anything without the proper paperwork and even then Rithy would have the final say.  It was tense for a few minutes but I'm so proud of that guy. hehe! Can't you tell how much I just love Rithy! The more I get to see him in action the more I love him and feel like I trust him and his judgment.  4 years ago he was just a kid but now he's a leader! hehe! So the other day he messaged me and said how I am his idol.  I found this out last time I was in town, but what really made me so happy was that the guy he is training to take his place said Rithy was his idol on facebook! :) YAY!

We got home tired and the next morning we had the engagement party! That was fun! Rithy had said he'd call me 1 hour before it was time to go.  So I get a call at 7:30 and he asks if I am ready! I'm like what! and he he said he called earlier and I didn't pick up. So I rush to get ready and run to the party with wet hair and not ready! only to find out when I got back that he had called 5 minutes before! that guy!!! I would strangle him but I can't, hehe! he too sweet.  When someone loves you more than you love them and always is looking out for you, even in the smallest things, like lying so you will eat the fruit both of you want, how can you be mad at them at all! All you can do is laugh.  I guess that's why it says in the bible we love him because He first loved us.  Once you feel God's love for you - that unconditional love, how can you not love God back.  He's just so good!

We came home and I slept for a few minutes and woke up hungry.  I decided since everyone is always saying to try something new that I try something new at java. Big mistake. Couldn't even eat it and had to order my original.  Should have gone with Pert and his positive reinforcement of my wanting the same thing - the heart knows what it wants.  came back and then it was time to go out to meet Chandra at the night market.  We had fun chatting and the girls got to see the night market, the palace at night eat at hummus where we had a great time eventhough the food was horrible and come back full of joy.  Tiffy and I stayed up till 5am talking - what I know she has been wanting to do since she got here.  Work up 2 1/2 hours later and were off to drop of Sharon.  Off to Java, hung out with Tiffy and then off to airport with the Tiffster! tears :( and then then dinner with Michael hehe! I wanted to help him celebrate his getting the job he's been wanting for 6 months hehe! but he doesn't want it now! :) i thought we would go to the intercon - our old spot for cheap fine dining, but we ended up at java hehe! said my goodbyes as he had class the next day but to my surprise he missed class.  I really am soooooo loved! Michael never misses his class.  I love that guy!

So I was hungry the last morning. Didn't have time to eat, but went to the lounge and wow! the remodel is amazing! And they have so much vegetarian food!!!  On the flight I got two seats to myself and got to sleep! And the next flight I got to be on the top part of the flight and there was sooo much leg room! YAY! God is sooo good!

Oh my goodness! so much has happened and its been so amazingly good! Week 1 was tough hehe! I'd forgotten how many different personalities come to mission trips, but each and every person was amazing and did great despite how hot it was and the tough schedule we had.  I am so glad I insisted on a day off for them all! I think next year we will do two. :)

The first day of medical camps we were up bright and early and ready to go.  Everything kept changing so we weren't even planning to go to this place.  It was right behind a mosque and I was excited! Of course I would love to be in the mosque but I'll take what I can get.   It was a super busy day! There was so much going on at once, a children's area with them drawing and hearing about God, the dental area, the medical area, the myotherapy area, and even a toothbrushing time! I loved it.  The only thing missing was prayer.
I had not planned on overnight trips but we had two with the dental team.  So I took advantage of the first one.  We had a lovely dinner after a hard day's work. And although I hate to do meetings after medical camps, we really needed one.  Julianne and Tiffy led worship and then I shared about my heart about a prayer team and miracles that had happened in the past.  Just before starting I had talked to the leader of the myotherapy group and she had agreed to help with it! So I shared and then I held the medical students back to go over medical stuff to make the next day easier.  I felt bad for keeping them till 11:30pm only to find out that some of them went swimming afterwards! They have so much energy! I would say it's cause I'm getting old, but I'll blame it on jet lag :)

The next morning everyone was all smiles and taking pictures.   The myotherapy group was super happy because I guess they are all christian and they didn't know I was. Had a great breakfast with some of them that morning and we swapped testimonies.

Our camp was in a open church! It was so breezy it was almost hard to hear heart and lung sounds! It was an amazing setting because we never overheated! The dental team hadn't seen a lot of action the day before but they did a lot better this next day.  :) Still not enough but better. The medical side was great, but I had concerns about a certain volunteer doctor.  :( I talked to our head student about my concerns and when I said I need to talk to you about Dr. ..... He said I know.   :) I love how these guys have grown so much and even they can see good and bad medicine.  He had been fixing it on the pharmacy side but now we are fixing it from the beginning and hopefully training another doctor and helping the people of cambodia :)

The next day was our feeding program. I have been wanting to do this since I heard about it in Kenya in august and Rithy brought it up himself soon after as we chatted on facebook.  When I came in november we talked about it and I had this brilliant idea that we should do home gardens in the provinces and that idea got nixed by everyone! hehe! Since I can't do anything without help, I just had to wait - story of my life, but it makes the ending always so much better because you see God's better plan unfold before you and such a  beautiful way.   So when the team told me they had money for it, I was excited!  But due to miscommunication I didn't know they were actually wanting to do it till they got here! We had 4 days to put it together.  I say we, but I mean Michael had 4 days to put it together and like everything he does, he did it and did it well.

Michael prepared everything and we got there in time to help a little.  He had Rina and his students helping and it was great to chop up stuff and talk to them as we all worked together to help those less fortunate. I had been so tired I wanted to fall down.  I had even stayed behind when the team went sight seeing, but once I got there and started chopping veges while the team ate their dinner and talking to all the students helping out, I came alive!  I guess I really am a converted extrovert :) Michael had gone to the local slum and invited them to come and eat.  They had to walk to come and it's a little far so we figured only those really interested would come.  To our surprise over 50 showed up, even though we thought 25  would and if we were lucky 40! We had enough food and extra so it was great, noodles, fish, rice, veges and fruit! Michael really is the best! I had been trying to get someone else to share a welcome - like the people who brought the money, but they refused and so I got to, and I have to say I am so glad I did. As I stood in front of all of them, my heart just melted and I almost started crying as I realized what a privilege and honor it was to be able to provide them food.  Sometimes I get so caught up in the administrative part and overseeing everything I forget to see individuals and it always bothers me.  I love one of one time with people but now I just get it with the students and they get it with the patients.  But as I stood there and shared with them, I loved that I actually loved and cared for these strangers as individuals.   So the dental team nicknamed me heartless (I'm not quite sure why) but I'm glad God can put a heart in anyone :)  After that they had worship night and we stuck around and had fun!  I know the team was super tired, but I was so glad we stayed and they willingly agreed because I love hanging out with the khmer - it makes me happy :) Jolie from next door's salon kept poking her head in so I had Tiffy give her a song sheet.  It was a great nice with a simple message and then we walked home :)  I wanted to say and hang out with the students, but I didn't want tire out the team who I could see was ready to leave! At least during the worship night I got to hang out with a few people.

The next morning we had to pack and be ready because it was another over-nighter.  The one thing about cambodia is that you have to be willing to go along with whatever comes your way :) I had been told only 1 away trip.  The team had two.  The first one we had a very nice hotel but the second was what I had been afraid of :) and so some of the team didn't sleep all night.  The good news for me was that I woke up during that trip and was able to start really being myself again and hang out with the team and communicate.  There was one team member I really didn't know and it was great cause I got to spend a couple of long bus rides getting to know this amazing person with a heart of gold.

 One of the places we went to, I went to last time I was here.  I remember as I sat and watched the "program" and a dentist being the chief guest I remember thinking how one day I would love for me to be the head person. hehe! Well, little did I know it would be answered so fast! :) Exact same place and me sitting at the front desk giving my short speech. hehe!

The dental team left sooo fast.  Our poor member whose only desire had been to get a massage, didn't get one :(  and so next time! :) Also next time maybe 1 day off isn't enough a week, we need two :)  I thought they all hated the trip but they have already recruited another member and our 12 year old star has decided she might become a doctor! I love how God works. I was so tired, I just wasn't able to be there for anyone on the team that first week but despite that (because it really is God who does everything) He still made there time worthwhile.

They left at night and the next morning we were ready for the next "team" of one.  At the airport of course Michael introduced me to more amazing people/missionaries as we waited for our respective teams.  Although the first team got to take it easy the first day, poor Jeffrey started off busy and running. He got back, had his food and got to sit and meet Sharon and Tiffy and then we were off to not just one, but two ktv's.  Michael and I had gone out the night before to secure our spot for the next day.  At diamond now they know us so well they let us come even when our guy isn't there! :) YAY! For the other one, it was our second time, but they liked us and said we could come back without hesitation!  It was sad, a few of them were pregnant and they are drinking 20-40 cans of beer in their first trimester :(  We gave out a bunch of our cards and hopefully they will call in the future.  And then off to Java.  I think for new people who haven't been in Cambodia long the pull for java is mysterious, but by the end of the trip Sharon and Tiffy were all looking forward to it just as much as me :)

The next day bright and early we took off for the province.  Another overnight trip.  The camp was good.  Lots of old people came and were all smiles as they got their glasses and sunglasses.  Our old donations of people's old prescription glasses from the container even came in handy :) I guess there really is nothing you can donate that doesn't have some use on the mission field and God honors the desire you have to bless to truly bless people even if on paper it doesn't sound like it will work.  We got surprised by a 20 minute trip to the beach after the camp and dinner on the riverfront :) The students pulled out their guitar and played and were quite good :) I'm always impressed how talented they all are.  Intelligent, super sweet, caring and musically inclined too!  I got to stroll the area I had been wanting too when we drove by 10 days earlier.  Even though I didn't get to eat, I was a happy camper :)

We were short on hotel rooms so I had to share a stinky sewer smelling room that didnt have a lock or ability to close the bathroom door with Jeffrey.  I was not looking forward to the night, but there were no other rooms and I felt bad swapping with Vasna, although he offered.  So after finding out there were no more rooms, I adopted my usual motto of "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   I didn't get dinner cause my first meal had eggs in it and the 2nd didn't have salt :) Things were just not going my way :) hehe! But you just got to go with the flow and smile because God is in control.  So when Rithy found out our room smelled he said he was staying in a different hotel due to lack of space and was going to see if there were two rooms for us!! :) There only ended up being 1 room but it was huge, had hot water, even the partition between the toilet and the shower that Jeffrey had really wanted, two huge beds, and no smell!!!! I felt soooo blessed and happy! :) So when lunch the next day had eggs in it again I couldn't be upset.  hehe! And I had a back up :) I now carry my peanut butter with me on these trips as back up :)

The mosque outreach I think was everyone's favorite.   First of all how cool is it to do a camp in a mosque!!!  Not in the building next to the mosque but in it!  They insisted we use their prayer rugs as desk covers and I felt bad not wanting to ruin them but they insisted.  We kept an area for their regular prayers but no one ever came.  Everyone was just happy, the kids were adorable, the community was all smiles and enjoying their glasses and there was good air flow and ventilation and a lot of sick people (especially TB - praise God for good ventilation).  We went home with a huge smiles that day.

The next day we had planned lectures but no one could come so we did speed sight seeing :) hehe! We managed to see everything in PP - the killing fields, toul sleng, royal palace, river front, wat phnom, independence monument and the prime minister's house even and ended the day at java cafe! :) Came home and had an unexpected visit from Rithy and his friend who proposed some interesting ideas for our future and helped us out in planning our vacation.

Next day was teaching.  We had planned to get pics at a cambodian photo studio before the lectures but while looking for a deal we ran out of time. On our way back we saw an accident and stopped. The guy had had a head injury and needed to have his skull drilled and blood drained.  It was kind of cool to be able to take charge and run after him and bring him back to safety as he wandered on the street with no one bringing him back. Michael's contacts were able to tell us where to send him and I was able to tell the family what treatment he would need.  I think us missing our photos saved his life.  God is sooo good!  That's the first time I have been able to really help someone in a traffic accident.  My first year here I helped clean a wound, but nothing serious.  This guy would have died.  A few years ago, I think I wouldn't have had the confidence to know what to do and to take charge, but now I felt so blessed to have michael there to make the phone calls and me to just have no problem trying to take charge to help this guy out even though no one understood me or listened to me.  It was kind of scary when he almost made it to the road and I had to run after him, but I was so happy when he came back with me.  All I could do was pray the whole time.  I was so focussed and kind of excited as I helped him and made sure we did everything we could for him, but after we got into the tuktuk, I wasn't really happy as I realized that there was a good chance he wouldn't get the treatment he needed.   I even prayed for him.  But praise two days later although initially I was told they hadn't drilled a hole, I found out later that they did and he was talking and back to normal! YAY God!

We went off to the lectures from there and they were sooo good!  I learned so very very much.  They wanted to see a temple after lectures and we walked there to find out it was closed :( but the next day guess where we ended up having the camp - in a temple! not next to it as we have had in the past, but in it! It was wonderful! :) So beautiful! We woke up that morning and Tiffy wanted to pray.  Her last day at prayer team.  This was the day that she saw a lot happen. She has 16 pictures of people who got healed and others gave their lives to God.  Some had already been going to church but with her made a decision to follow God forever.  One guy was brought over by the myotherapy team because they couldn't do anything for him due to his high blood pressure.  He had a leg discrepancy - meaning one leg was shorter than the other.  She had seen legs grow out before but when she prayed it actually happened and she was amazed! He came with a came and left without needing one!!! I love God!

This trip has been full of things happening that I have wanted to see for some time.  We have a prayer team that has started.  Still have to work out the kinks but it has started.  We have someone who wants to do the ktv outreaches.  Now I just need a doc who is interested.  We did our first feeding program and have money to continue it. We have a bunch of donated stuff we can start a clinic with. We just need docs who want to do it.  My students graduate this year! And we are starting secondary school outreaches! God is sooo good! So amazingly good!