We all got up bright and early for saturday's medical clinic.  I didn't realize it but Kompot is on the water. It was a great drive - Cambodia is sooo pretty! We had breakfast once we got there at a little restaurant where they had incredible vegetarian fried rice! I loved it! Then we went to the site.  I didn't realize it but it was on the mosque grounds! It's been so interesting - we had a medical camp on the Wat grounds and now on the Mosque grounds! How cool is that! :) It was one big room and my students quickly made a registration vitals area, the clinic, waiting area and pharmacy in no time! :) As we saw patients and precepted them (YAY! tharanga was able to join us so we had two preceptors instead of one) we realized that there still needs to be a lot of training done and a lot for the students to learn. We saw a few great learning cases - a man who might have interstitial lung disease, a man with a murmur and lots of derm stuff - clear case of scabies and so much more! We got to make our makeshift spacer and I loved it! At lunch we got to go to the village. I didn't know but this is the village they have come to before and it is filthy because of flooding from the sea.  The host had prepared the crab,shrimp and prawns for all of them and I had my vege breakfast! We had stolen a papaya from the government officials house (with his approval) and so had that for dessert and then we took pics while looking at the sea and then off for the afternoon to see more patients.  
then off to Sihanoukville.  We arrived at the place and went directly to a restaurant where we sat on the beach and eat while a hotel was found :) End up playing uno, walking the beautiful beach and having fun till we all were exhausted and then off to the hotel! I have to say - um, next time I'll have to give them a budget for their retreat because our hotel room was um... not ok :) but anyone can do anything for a night :) hehe! The hotel was soon forgotten as we got to the beach! the beach was pristine, the water warm and I could have stayed there forever. however after lunch and more crab/shrimp/prawns (apparently they bought a bunch when we arrived and so they had that for breakfast lunch and dinner for 5 meals straight! Sometimes it's great it be a vegetarian.  :)
Came and home we went to our favorite cafe as a treat to us :) hehe! monday we were up bright and early for the next medical camp.  We got there and there were a ton of people already lined up and waiting. There was a ceremony to give away the equipment and then the medical camp started.  It was really sad. The medical camp was being held in the health center and people were so desperate for care that they were climbing through the barbed wire instead of coming through the front door. I was trying to keep them back but some made it through anyways.  Soon we had a crowd of people surrounding us and I was so thankful for having worked with crowds in india.  I sent them all back to the covered area where they had seats next door and we did registration there.  There were the most aggressive patients I have ever seen and even though I was a little annoyed at their belligerence and refusal to go back and do things as we asked them to, like 2 patients I had to ask to leave 5 times and wait in a seat in a seated area instead of right outside our pharmacy.  They kept refusing until they realized I wasn't going to stop till they left :) But honestly in hindsight I guess even though the health center is right there, they must get such bad medical care that they are so desperate.   :( 
So we had 1/2 new students this time. I was a little worried, with a crowd that was already so much and new students, all the training from the past was going to have to be done again :( but hehe! they were so good, I was actually so glad they were there by the end of the day.  I was talking to one of them and he is the younger student being trained by Rithy (our leader in cambodia) to start taking over the medical school portion or recruiting students and do our school outreach in the countryside.  When I heard that I was so happy! I am soooo blessed by working with such great people.  A lone girl went to cambodia with a desire to follow God and look who God has put her in touch with.  I have michael who I can trust with my life and now these medical students who I can  trust not only with my life, but to take care of everything and keep helping the people of cambodia long after I am gone, because of their great love and passion for their people.  Pray that they find God so that all that they do isn't just in their strength but leaning on God.  The medical camp was great. Saw great patients and had teaching moments and although I had asked to stop registration at 100 patients, we saw 180 despite starting late because of show of giving (heheh! Can you tell I hate that kind of stuff :)) that was made in the morning.  
We came home late and exhausted and of course we went to java to celebrate a well deserved hard work day and an early goodbye dinner with michael and pert just in case. One thing I have learned is that you have to seize every moment because you never know what will happen at anytime and your best laid plans fall at the wayside, especially when it comes to your freetime. :)  hehe! And even the dinner was cut short because Michael had a patient he wanted me to go see in the hospital. So off we went.  Didn't come home till 11.  6am-11pm was our day :) 
So the next day was supposed to be a free day, but just while sitting having dinner my day started getting so packed I had to say no to some things because I didn't have time.  In the morning however the plans all changed again.  I had to cancel the goodbye head massage with pert because my friend came late and the medical student meeting got cancelled because they got called away to do something, but it was all so perfect.  My Cambodian friend came over and she really needed to talk and honestly in all the years I have known her, we have never had a serious conversation, but she came wanting to be mentored and talk.  We usually spend our whole time laughing, but today we actually talked and she cried and we prayed together at the end.  I love how God's timing and ways are so perfect.
Then we were off to prepare for the two ktv medical camps (fronts for prostitution).  We went to the new one and they weren't expecting us but when we told them we had prearranged it they suspiciously let us sit in the front waiting area and see three people and slowly more as they realized we weren't dangerous! In the beginning they said they needed to ask for permission for us to come back.  By the end they said i could come back anytime.  They weren't open to anyone else coming yet, but next time, I'll take students with me.
For the next camp, we prepped, went to gateway to get our volunteers and off we went.  Theary -one of my favorite medical students.  I apparently taught bible study to her back in the day when I lived here and last time I had the privilege of her going to a medical camp with me, she ended volunteering to pray with patients and they were saved, healed and it was what I have been praying for.  This time having her there was a blessing as well - like what I have been dreaming of! So first of all patients didn't come with just the usual problems of heartburn and vaginal discharge. It's super sad but these girls drink 20-40 beers a day and its no surprise they all have vaginal discharge.  The first girl Theary took aside after I was done and she talked and prayed with her, led her to God and the girl was crying and wants to come out of this life! YAY! She talked to another who didn't even get to see me because she got called away, but not before she found Jesus :) Claire on the other side started talking to patients as well and Rang Sey - one of my original 4 medical students came and he helped out as well. He drove 2 1/2 hours to see me and all for 30 minutes of which only 5 minutes of it were with me alone :( I was sooo touched and again I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such great people who love me so much! 
As we all gathered at gateway to say goodbye to each other the head girl there came over to me after I had my 5 minutes with Rangsey and asked if I wanted a coffee. I said no, cause I had been called to have dinner with the government official (and had to cancel dinner with pert and michael), but she got all teary eyed and said she wanted to treat me to a coffee because of all I do for the cambodian people! :) I couldn't refuse that! And the coffee was so good too! I really don't know anyone who is so blessed with so many people who love them so very very much.  
So I was sad to be missing dinner with pert and michael but when a government official who is helping you wants to have dinner with you, you dont say no :) But it was such a blessing. I love this couple.  As soon as I walked in the wife took me by the hand and took me back to the kitchen where I saw R - one of our original students there cooking food. After hugs I found out she has been working next door for a year :) and they hired her to make food for me today.  I had seen her at the center learning english (which made me so happy because she had dropped out after a year and it had made me sad because she had so much potential. When I originally met her we said good morning to each other only.  When I met her a year later after she had been learning english in our center she could translate for me!) and then she had dropped out.  Last time I had been in town I had encouraged her to go back and start learning and hehe! I was happy she was back) Now R is a great cook and last time I was here she had cooked for us and when we were coming back on monday from the medical camp Michael had asked me if we wanted her to cook for her and I had said no, but later on I was thinking, I should have said yes and look at God, even that desire was fulfilled.  What I loved was instead of treating her like the help, they had her sit with us on the table and eat dinner! :) I went with the wife to drop her off at her "house" (a one room rental) and the wife and I got to talk a lot.  I didn't even realize she spoke so much english and so it was great! Got back and we all chatted a little longer before I left.  
There is a doctor they were working with that I really didn't want to work with but they seemed to be so excited to be working with him that I didn't want to say anything.  That night the whole night was them and the government official talking about how they didn't want to work with him and the reasons why and I was so happy that they didn't want to work with him, but at the same time felt I was defending him all night because 

I haven't written in ages, but a lot has been happening.  The work always continues without me in cambodia so I never have to worry about a thing. Of course I should be better about posting and will try but here is a little of what has been happening since I have been here!  I arrived exactly 1 week ago friday.  
I got dropped off at my hotel and was up bright and early to meet up with Michael and spend the day doing whatever.  We went to Gateway - our old favorite hangout and met a new girl who we invited to our medical camp on sunday.  We went to our old KTV outreach place and they were delighted to have us come back and said yes to a medical camp the next day! We met up with missionary friend and then it was time to meet up with Pert and Chandra. Pert is our awesome 6 month volunteer and Chandra works for a local ngo/shelter.  So we sped off in the rain, with michael insisting I wear his rain jacket and me still managing to get really really wet and arrived only to find out that they were stuck in traffic! So we went up to the movie theater and as we walked through there was a free showing of a japanese movie for the film festival and so we sat and watched it! :) Free movies are always great! Dinner was great! Something about being in a foreign country where you bond so easily and well with people who speak english! So by the end of the night I felt like I had known Pert forever! And Chandra invited us to do first aid training for her girls.  The night started with Michael and Pert not being allowed to it ending with them being able to come :) YAY! 
I had planned to sleep in the next morning and found out that the students needed help with prepping meds for the camp the next day. So I was ready by 8 and over there prepping meds with Pert and the students.  In two hours we had sorted everything and even hopefully gotten my optometrist friend to come teach us stuff next year cause we have all these glasses and don't know what to do with them! :) 
So sunday despite checking twice to see if I set my alarm, I failed to see that I set it on the weekday alarm, so when I woke up at 605 and was supposed to be there by 6 I couldn't believe my eyes! But soon I was ready and Pert and Michael had brought khmer coffee! and so I wasn't going to be hungry and off we went.  We got there before the bus arrived and only 2 students there so it was great! The camp was in a buddhist temple.  Which was kind of cool! we started with first aid training and then started seeing the patients.  1/2 way through the morning I saw a woman who caught my eye. We prayed for her once - nothing. Prayed again - nothing.  The third time though she got better and was so happy!!! After lunch had claire and pert do vitals and pack meds and the medical students all got to see patients.  203 patients :) 
Came home so exhausted and even though I hadn't showered since the day before because I got up so late, I fell asleep on my bed - knocked out - and two hours later we were waiting for jennifer to arrive.  I fell asleep talking to michael on the tuk tuk while we waited for her delayed flight! 
Monday we went to the shelter to teach.  I was waffling between letting Pert teach vs michael and me teaching and went with the latter and it ended up being great. Although I trained pert, he never got to see it in action and so I think it really helped him know how to do it well cause Michael and I are such a stellar team! :)  And Pert and Jennifer recorded it for me for future training.  We got invited back to do a medical camp for the girls in the shelter.  Then we ended up at what I think is the best place to eat in all of PP! Java cafe. For all of those who know me, you know how much I dislike the food there, but this cafe - although a little pricier then most is fabulous! 
Tuesday we had lunch with a volunteer nutritionist to figure out the feeding program idea.  So as we talked she recommended education more then anything else and I remember thinking, "Oh :( " but we kept talking and then a new idea came to me at the end of the conversation.  While I was in N..K.. earlier this year I saw each house had a garden and I was thinking I haven't seen that in most of the villages we go to.  The students had pointed out that a feeding program is not sustainable and so I had been thinking, what can I do that is but doable and I asked, "how about a garden!" We will teach each person how to have a garden and provide the seeds.  Although all the khmer are initially against it - though I don't understand why, especially cause I am a new gardener and find it sooo fun, I think it's doable!  So then the students asked me to go with them.  While our stuff was stuck in customs they met a government official who is helped them and wanted to meet me because I am christian! so we met and got to test out the equipment that was originally sent for us but now we are donating to a provincial health clinic so that in the future our custom can clear easily. We refused to pay a bribe and the medical camps we held although enough to get our stuff through, weren't enough I guess to be in the good graces of the people in power. So although I was super sad to see we have to give two ultrasound machines and an ekg machine away to people who probably won't even be able to use it :( I am hopeful that if God brought us an ultrasound machine so unexpectedly, He'll do it again! and this time it won't be an old model but a new one! :) Pray for us!  But on the bright side, with this new contact we can do medical camps anywhere, anytime - no more need for long drives back and forth trying to get permission! YAY! God is sooo good. While I was there I was talking to him about my desire to minister to muslims and my heart for them and so he said, come to my home town and suddenly a medical camp was arranged for thursday and we had our saturday one changed to a new location! All so fast! All so God.
Wednesday we did first aid training at our hotel! :) they loved it! Simply loved it and I got to see Pert try his first time and he was awesome!!! They loved him and I don't have to worry about a thing :) And showing him how it's supposed to be done instead of the awkward way I trained him helped him too! Then we were off to the shelter where it was so sad to see what health care here is like.  Jennifer wanted to cry the whole time because of what she saw and it made me so happy to see my sister in law's heart :) She's so awesome
Thursday was a medical camp at Kompong Chnang. It was my favorite so far! The people were so sweet and although sometimes I feel our medical camps don't really help a lot -this time I felt the patients really really needed a doctor. My heart just went out to them as I saw the lady with metastatic cancer or one that I was convinced the colon cancer, or the kid that probably has TB and was so cachetic it was sad to see....  I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in Cambodia and to make a difference.
On sunday Pert had asked me if I felt proud to see what I had accomplished with the students while the medical camp was going on.  And I honestly said, that I don't feel like it's me.  I honestly feel like it has nothing to do with me.  But as I was at the camp on thursday at one point I just got teary eyed because I realized, WOW GOD! I remembered when I was on my knees praying, having given up and how the next week the medical students showed up wanting to learn and now they are doing such amazing work! hehe! just writing this makes me want to cry. God is soooo good! I KNOW I didn't do this, but I feel soooo blessed that God allowed me to be a part of this. I feel so very very privileged!
Friday -  we were supposed to go to the province at night but Rithy is so great - he's just as tight as me with money.  So instead we are getting up early and leaving so that we can save money on a guest house and the van for 1 day :) I so love my students! So today we went to three different ktvs to try to solicit them to let us do a medical camp :) 1 said yes, one said no and one said maybe.  So tuesday's plan is two ktvs (our usual where they love us and apparently everyone recognizes us) and maybe one more! But since plans changed and we had some free time and we weren't able to do the medical camp at the ktv as planned :) someone got their nails done :) Can't beat 6 dollars for a mani and pedi :) and we had time to chat with Claire - an amazing missionary from singapore I was wanting Jennifer to meet but I didn't think we had time to! God is good and has everything perfectly under control.  I was supposed to meet up with one of my original medical students today and he wanted to come to the ktv outreach and I felt bad telling him it had to be postponed cause the manager was out and it turned out last minute he had got busy too! God really is perfect! 
Tomorrow we are off bright and early and gone for the weekend.  I'll write more when I get back. God bless you all.  Pics are on our facebook page - Save each one.
​please pray for us!