So I came back to restart the center but no matter what I have done so far and how close things seem to get, something always goes wrong.  I had a teacher all lined up, infact, waiting for me when I got here and last minute backed out.  The last week we have been doing outreaches into the beer gardens and they all seemed so excited. Michael and I had a medical camp all set up for them, even went in the morning to buy more meds, I had my nails done and dressed up so I wouldn't look scrubby for these beautiful girls and NO one showed up to our medical camp for them! It was free. We had 3 volunteers show up to help but no one to actually see.  Disappointing.  Michael was actually more disappointed then me.  So I have been wanting to go to the graveyard slum and suggested we just go and see if we can set up a camp for then.  And lo and behold, we can! They said yes without hesitation and it will be in the government office there.  Took a lot of pics because it wasn't raining. Kids were enjoying playing on the graves and it didn't bother them at all.  It's so weird and sad and wonderful at the same time.  I hope a lot come! 
So there was a threat of rain all day long everywhere we went and of all the days to wear a dress, this was not a good one. I had to ride side saddle with an extra girl who wanted to see the graveslum (3 to a motorcycle) and michael took my helmet cause he couldn't find his.  40 minutes going, 40 coming back in the blazing heat but praise God I didn't get rained on or fall off :) Just made it home despite my stopping at gateway to do a medical consultation on the way home and meeting an old khmer friend who is going to do something similar to shakina in cambodia! YAY!

Talked to michael and despite other options which involve more money and my okay with it, he is adamant on not wanting to give the girls any gifts for participating in the research we are doing. He's like me on everything else. I refuse to give more just cause they want it when we are already giving so much.  In this case, I actually see a thank you gift as ok, since we are just taking and not giving, but he's not ok with even a 50 cent gift of fruit. :) We make such an awesome team :) always disagreeing with each other but never getting anything done without the other :) Gotto love God and how he does things.  Can't wait to show you all the pics from our recent outings. :0

Please pray for us, we are trying to figure out the best way to reach these women. I hope the pics will give you a better idea of what a beer garden really is.

So we just did another medical camp.  Last week I met up with a fellow missionary.  We had met at the good friday service just before our last medical camp and he had said he wanted to merge medical camps with his evangelism.  I of course was very happy to meet with him.  We had a couple of discussions and on Thursday night he was telling me sunday we would have a camp.  He didn't know how many would come, maybe 10 maybe 75.  My students couldn't come unfortunately because they work then and so it was just michael and me Mr Smith's cambodian counterpart.  As we drove there it started to rain - the typical monsoon rain.  Luckily we got rain coats but unfortunately my pants were still soaking wet. We didn't know exactly how to get there but as God would have it, we ended up at the wrong place, a place michael has been wanting to minister in for a while.  A slum amongst the graves.  When he first said that I just thought it meant near the graveyard, but it's literally in the graveyard with homes built in between.  We arrived and thought it was the place. There are plates on the graves.  We sat in the chief's house and waited till we figured out where to go and the rain stopped.  And then we were gone again.  The funny thing is that 2 families - the arranging family and the family whose house I stay it both went there, knowing it would rain and knowing Michael and I were coming and neither offered us a ride, but only because we were in a moto did we find this place, because in a car you would never see it.  So God is great.  A guy actually waited to give us directions to this place when we were lost.  Our little angel from God. :) 

We got to the site and it was chaotic. There were 10 non patients using all the chairs sitting in the clinic :) No one was listening to what I had to say about crowd control.  I missed the students. It runs so smoothly with them in charge :0 But we soon got everything going smoothly.  Michael got to be a "doctor" and by the end I wasn't second guessing everything he said cause he could use the cheat sheet I had created and was learning quickly.  I didn't have time to pray with my patients like I wanted but it was a great camp.  We saw about 40 people in 4 hours - not bad for a solo doctor if I do say so myself :) If I stayed here I think I could do clinics all over cambodia continuously, there is such a need. I had "patients" over all weekend :) But it was nice. Keeps me busy.  There is so much to do in this country and so little time :)  Please pray for cambodia

God is a good God! The talks went off soooo well after the initial hitches! We basically spent the entire day at gateway. As we were leaving I saw Rina and went to say hi.  She had the unfortunate experience of having her bag snatched while still on her moto! She actually fell from her moto and had her stuff stolen L Her whole right side is scratched up, bruised and swollen.  L  Luckily otherwise she is doing well.  Seeing that I think put how benign our purse snatching was J We were very blessed

Went home and over to my favorite house for movie night and to meet the girls.  Mr R wanted to talk about tongues. I was kind of surprised and he shared how he’s been a little skeptical of the whole thing and the point of it, but apparently last night while on vacation he was praying and it just happened!!! YAY! I love what God is doing in this family! First Mrs R has started going to ICA and now Mr. R got filled with the Holy Spirit! God is sooo good!  He knows how to reach His people! J

I feel so very very blessed!  On the Philippines note it looks like Archie is going to help me arrange and figure out everything! I feel God is just doing everything for me so well! WOW GOD!!

It’s been quiet since the girls left.  I’ve been over at the rhea’s everyday enjoying life there and spending time with the girls.  They are a great group and I feel so blessed to have met them.  Thank you Michael!

Since it’s been the holidays there is nothing I can do so it’s been nice to rest after the frenzy of the “team” Been doing things I never had time to do and have popped out two children’s stories. Maybe if I work on them enough I can use them to fund my work :) so I have been looking at how to publish or at least try :)

My meals have been interesting – cheese and crackers :) very refined :) I have only one mango left. Can’t wait for the holiday to stop so I can go shopping at the market againf or more :)  Need to get air in my bicycle tires so I can be mobile and not feel so restricted at home, but for now I am happy to be stuck at home just enjoying my time here being creative.  I know it will be busy once Michael gets back.  Honestly part of me thought he wasn’t interested in the work this time but while he’s been away he’s called and emailed to say he wants to help! I think he actually misses me now J Praise God! It’s so hard to get things done without him.  Michael  really is God’s gift to me – like an angel sent to help me. 

The ants are back.  I had forgotten about them but even placing my lunch plate out on the top shelf of the little table thing was teeming with them in just 1-2 hours. :) For some reason my backpack keeps getting them as well.  But less and less everyday, so that’s good.  I think I really like this life of a missionary and being back has been really really good.  Not a fast paced thing like in January where you love it but you know it’s temporary but this drawn out period where you love it and it’s life.  God really does give us the desires of our hearts. Thank you Jesus!

So I have been here nearly 10 days! Wow how time flies and it's been amazing to see how God works.  I have a little team with e this time and so it's always busier because there is sight seeing you have to do as well, but in the midst of that, as usual God continues to work and even use that to promote His work!
the first day after the team arrived we went to my favorite cafe and location of our old center.  Right when I walked in the owner came upto me and said he has someone who came here and is interested in working with trafficking! I had had a slight worry that with the busyness of a team, i would get delayed in my true purpose of coming back but as usual God showed me as I love others, God continues to provide for me and my desires and I love how He does it early on so that I can just enjoy and bless (or kill the team by booking them to the point of exhaustion) :) 
So we met the guy and he is soooo wonderful. we all just immediately loved him.  He's a young 21 year old who is onfire for God and has a real passion. He is here volunteering with another organization but just happens to have 1-3 - the time we would need free :) How God is that! :) 
We just got back from ho chi mihn city yesterday.  We went for only 1 1/2 days.  The first night there I got an email from a girl saying how she saw our site and would love to help.  I mailed back in the morning and said I could meet her and so we got to meet for 30 minutes! She has such a heart of gold and just wants to help people. She's learning culinary arts and we were talking about how she could train the girls in cooking once she is done and then I started sharing the other stuff we do and she was interested in medical training in vietnam! I am so excited. I have been waiting for the time and person to start the work with and she seems like an answer to prayer and so random and so perfectly timed! Is God good or what! I love how He works! 
On the side, we were so blessed in vietnam.  We booked a nice hotel but I really wanted the suite :) Of course our budget was limited and so I just did an extra bed for me.  BUT when we got there we got a free upgrade to the suite.  This was a hotel my sister and I looked at but I think it it was full when we went.  So I got my swimming in, the breakfast buffet was like that of a 5 star hotel - the cheese, yogurt and everything else I was thinking I wanted the night before just "happened" to be in their buffet! I love the little things God constantly does to bring a smile to my face :)
We have our MOU now with the government so we are official! After months of waiting and not paying bribes we got our Mou and did our first medical camp with the government the next day! It was great! I know our medical students put countless hours into making it happen.  I praise God for them! Our greatest cost in medical camps in the transportation and the government provided us an air-conditioned bus for free!  And they provided the food! So Meeral and Jennifer got to taste an ants and bee soup - the local food of the area.  We saw over 250 people.  There were toothbrushes and toothpaste given out too. Our fabulous Dr. Tharanga was there too help. 
On a personal and very dear note, we are going to have a baptism :0 It was my hope and desire that it would happen but I can't tell you how happy I am that it is happening and with no pressure by me! :) God is a good God.

Time has really really flown! I can't believe it's my last day here!  But God is perfect! I mean absolutely perfect! Everything He does is incredible and good and His timing never ceases to amaze me.  This trip was just what I needed. I think it's so easy to get stuck in in the structured way of doing things, but once again God has shown me that I have to go with the flow and let Him lead and put my plans and good desires aside.  Like yesterday, I really wanted to take this girl to get a massage as she has never had one and my heart was just saying do it.  I emailed her and she said yes and then I found it the timing wasn't going to work, but Michael made it happen! Of course I already had promised someone that time, but that feeling wouldn't go, so I said ok, let's do it.  And it was perfect.  I got to share with her about God and it was great but coming back - 3-3.5  hours later than planned I asked Michael to go via the beer gardens and slow down as we get there so I can take pictures.  Well, we slowed down and for some reason Michael had taken his helmet off.  I thought this was not a good idea cause I didn't want anyone to recognize him for later and cause trouble, but because he did it, B - our old student saw him and recognized him and approached him.   I was sooo happy to see one of my old favorite students!!! So he is now working at a beer garden as the head usher or manager or something - all dressed up in a suit.  Of course I am sad he stopped studying because he is soooo smart and so nice and sweet, I wanted to give him a scholarship to medical school in the future, but... BUT we talked to him and he is going to talk to the 60 girls who work there and see if they want to come to english class! YAY!!!! is God good or what.  The one thing that has made me sad on my return is that the center is no longer there.  Michael's classes consist of poor people but not of the girls that I so want to reach.  Mary and her sister are the last ones.  Part of me was just sad that that whole thing has died and I was trying to convince myself maybe it is time for something new, but that sadness wouldn't go away. Then last week I got to talk to this man who works at the rhea's center and he said he and his wife would be interested in helping and they could maybe get other women to help as well!  So YAY! God put together the team and now it looks like He is going to provide the people again as well! And with the Rhea's starting the work they are, then we can train them for jobs as well! All together! God is perfect in all that He does!
Also the research project that Michael wants to do... We met someone, a friend of Deelan's and he said it's a great idea and he will get us into the homes of the girls so we can talk to them and interview them! YAY! God is perfect in all that He does! 
So my trip here was wonderful and fantastic! I am just soooo happy! :) For all of you who pray for us and support us even by thinking about us, thank you soooo much for helping us help these women.
Oh, also, I did my video shoot with Javier yesterday and so we are going to get a donation video! and with the center starting, maybe he can shoot some stuff there as well! YAY! 

God is sooo good and each and everyday He just works His wonderful works and I think we miss so much of it in daily life, but when we stop to see what He is doing, it's simply amazing and wonderful, how even the smallest thing is under God's control.  hehe! So this morning I went to take a shower and thought, I think it's time to wash my towel. I guess I'll do it in a few days since I did the laundry yesterday.  Well, I walk into the bathroom and my towel is missing and when I go to the towel closet, there it is, washed and ready to be used fresh by me! Is God good or what.  Yesterday also, I could just see God's sovereignty at work down to little details.  I wanted to meet with one of my former medical students. He's one of my favorites and he has had to stop working with us because he needs to take care of his family.  But since I love him I wanted to see him.  So it was great cause I messaged him in the morning yesterday and he messaged me right back, saying yes. Apparently he had decided to come and meet me that day just before he saw my message! I love how God works! His timing is sooo perfect. we had such a great talk and since it was just one on one he actually spoke a lot and I loved just being able to listen.  While we were talking Dr. Dale came by and talked to us.  I had been encouraging him to come to the medical talks at gateway and he was reluctant but when Dr. Dale came and talked to us he felt so comfortable after that that he wants to come the following week! YAY! It's interesting how the quiet people have so much drive and passion. He's all set to open a huge hospital in the future! 
So the last few days have been so amazingly good. I could just live here forever, but I know that's not God's plan.
The day we came back I went to talk Mary about the scholarship. I think she was stunned.  Then went off with michael to find out how to make his dream a reality. After that we had time to even go and talk to Mary's future school.  you know that for less than 2000 dollars a person can get a 4 year degree here! you can change a life for just that much! That is incredible! Kind of has me wondering if the center wants to just offer scholarships instead and it might actually do a lot of good :) Lot's to pray and think about.
Anyways came back and Rithy had asked me to meet his doctor and so I I went with him, super tired, but went. I had thought it was a one on one, but as I was going I heard it was a group teaching.  Oh well, I was ready to sit through a medical talk, but instead it ended up being a bible study! BIBLE STUDY! and both Rithy and vasna have been going for months now because they want to know about the bible. Rithy even brought a friend.  What I had wanted to do, is being done.  As I listened to the bible study I just thought, wow, it's so simple, but it's impacting lives. And how God uses the entire body of christ.  My desire is to have christian medical camps - where we pray and see people come to God, but with my head medical students being nonchristian, I haven't been able to do that.  But here God is already working on that! He is soooo good! :0 I really wanted to cry. I love cambodia and everyone working here.
At night I made it back just in time to take Mr. Rhea to the airport. I had been hoping I would make it back but since I am not in control of my time, it was left to God and God never disappoints :)  So we all went, even his students and it was great.  I had been wanting dessert and we were all treated to dq heheh! God even takes care of the smallest desires.  
I see one of the other girls bonding as well. I love her cause she's soooo awesome and just have been telling her that and although she apparently doesn't like anyone touching her, she came and held my hand and walked with me.  I am so glad to be here for all these girls and just love them cause they are sooo special.  She wants a one on one time now too :) 
As for the other special girl :) she is getting better day by day.  Yesterday she even said she was happy :) I'm so glad God is working in her heart. She wants to be a doctor again.  I think she is going to be a great doctor and lover of people.  We even started bible study 2 days ago and have read two chapters. yesterday we read one on the stairs at midnight so as not to disturb everyone.
Speaking of yesterday, it was a busy busy day.  got up and had an 11 oclock meeting with 2 girls who want to volunteer.  Didn't really know what to expect but as we pitched our new idea they actually have contacts to make it happen! I am so excited! and so are they.  had lunch with kimmy and as always we spent the whole time laughing.  As I left she said she always enjoys talking to me cause she forgets all her worries.  I enjoy it too!  It's amazing how God knits hearts together and friendships that last forever and start so strangely -  in an orphanage talking about indian movies instead of playing with the kids
After lunch we met another potential volunteer. She quit her admin job in vietnam to come to cambodia to volunteer.  She has been volunteering at a school and now is here and wants to volunteer.  talked to her for a bit and I think she may be a great fit for Mrs. Rhea, also gave her the name of an organization that may connect her to other groups. I feel we aren't the best fit for her but she is always welcome to work with us.  Got to pray with her and she was touched.
Came home exhausted with 30 minutes prior to the next appt.  But praise God He was late and I got to eat and rest a bit so that when Rang sey came I was ready to talk.  AFter meeting with him I wasn't tired at all.  I had been thinking of grapes for some reason and guess what he brought me as a gift, grapes!
we went to gateway and Matt was there. Apparently we had to move out of there when he wasn't there, but he said they are open to us being there forever now! I loved seeing him.  Theary, a nursing student who I used to teach bible study to was happy to see me and wants me to come to do outreach next monday! :) so I might just do that.  Dr Dale was there too. it was great! i got to see everyone!
came back and the girls were watching tv so we all hung out and watched.  It was great. One by one almost all of them came down. The house was so peaceful and it was perfect. 
This morning I got a message from grace. I messaged her yesterday. She apparently leaves tomorrow so we get to meet today! Again, God's perfect timing! I love Him
Gosh, i just have to say, if you ever have had doubts or are worried about following God, don't be, it's the best thing in the world!

God is good and I just love how He works everything out so wonderfully! So on day four here, I was trying to arrange my schedule and facebooking a local friend to see if he was coming to pp over the weekend only to find that he wasn't.  I told him I wanted to visit his place in mondulkiri and he said come tomorrow, i will be there! So michael and I booked van tickets and off we went early the next morning.  It was wonderful.  I thought I would be in an overcrowded van sitting uncomfortably for 5 hours or more, but the van ride was seated and airconditioned.  Michael and I talked business the whole ride there.  One of my main issues in my relationship with Michael has always been lack of communication.  But now it's so easy, he shares his thoughts so clearly and it's so wonderful to be able to understand and work on things on the same page :) So we have a new project in mind (he does I will try to support it the best I can).
We arrived early and so decided to eat.  We went to a couple of shops and I was starting to think I wouldn't be able to eat anything in Mondulkiri, but there we found a bakery! And it had the tastiest non egg breads - a taro stuffed and a coconut stuffed. Next we went to eat where Michael could eat and while sitting there I saw people leaving with glasses of sugar can juice! YAY! I have been wanting it for over a year and got to have my glass of sugar cane juice.  Scoped out the city after that  and then Tharanga arrived.  We went to an old tribal village and then off to his house.  So when I lived here he went to mondulkiri for a forced vacation and when he arrived he didn't have a place to stay so he ended up staying with a tourguide.  His mother was sick and tharanga saw her and soon the whole village showed up.  So he started going regularly and they asked why he doesn't just build a house.  He said he didn't know how and they said they would build it for him! :) So he has a house on the top of a mountain! :) I heard about it on my last visit and just wanted to go see it!
We drew water from the well, watched the sun set, admired the 360 degree view and then had dinner with the tour guide. Apparently there are different prices for dinner for the locals and tourists but since he picked it up from the city we got the cheap price.  He shared about the village, culture and his life.  He grew up here but has always been different, blessed with foresight.  He used to walk 1 hour one way to get get to school everyday, but despite that he wanted to continue his education after his father wanted to pull him out of school after primary school and have him work as a farmer with him.  So he ran away from school and went studied and eventually did two years of studying as a teacher as well, where he met his wife.  Now he has come back and is slowly trying to educate his people in a different way of life.  
There is elephant trekking here where you can ride an elephant for 3-4 hours.  What he shared with us is that by riding the elephant as a tourist we are actually shortening the elephant's life - they apparently live for nearly 120 years but because of the tourism there life spans are decreasing to 60 years.  Also this culture doesn't breed their elephants because they believe the elephant must be married prior to breeding, but marriages cost so much they can't afford it.  So in another 60 years this people group will lose their major source of income :( unless they are able to understand what is happening.  They have a unique system of beliefs that is unfortunately based on fear and makes them poor.  Every marriage you must sacrifice animals for each family that comes.  If you don't sacrifice and something happens to them, then they blame you.  So even this man's mom initially refused to come to his wedding because he wouldn't sacrifice a cow for 1000 dollars.  In terms of health, they have a traditional healer who asks for animal sacrifice for their healing. He blames the animal for going to someone's house and bringing back an evil spirit and so it has to be killed and eaten by the family and himself.  If someone goes to visit you while you are sick, you are required to kill an animal and sacrifice it for them.  People lose so much money with all this sacrificing and can't stop it because of the fear and lack of education.  so it's great to have a local there who can see and work with his community to help bring change. And it's amazing to see how tharanga ended up out of all the people in the world, at his house! :)

So we were setting up for the night and I was thinking, no running water, slight mess from the construction, it' going to be a slightly uncomfortable night.  I would like to stay in a 7-12 dollar hotel, but it would be rude to ask.  And guess what! the phone rings and it's a friend of his who is there with her husband's retreat (a group of government officials) who rented out an entire hotel and they have 3 extra rooms that they want to give us for free! So are we blessed or what! :) 
We went there after dinner. The roads were pitch black.  And for the first time in my life, we had an accident and fell.  I have to say it was the perfect accident. The motorcycle was almost stopped when i fell. First me, then the motorcycle and michael on top.  But we were all ok :) I have to say, God is sooo good! I hadn't taken the motorcylce helmet with me, but God is sooo good! :)

I just love being back.  I had forgotten how friendly the cambodians are.  It's so peaceful here and everyone is always smiling.  No worries about anything at all (besides the usual - having your purse snatched while you are on a moving motorcycle, having your house broken into and being robbed from the 3rd floor, bats in the air conditionings hehe) So I moved out of the hotel to move in with the rheas at their request.  It's been good. I love their new house.  It's one of those places that is peaceful, you walk in and just like it.  It used to be another missionary's house that I knew from my last visit and I remember visiting them once and commenting on how much I loved their house.  I guess this is what people feel when they enter our house in seattle and comment on it - God's peace is truly wonderful.  
So my schedule is not my own.  I just go with the flow. I had no phone yesterday and internet was hit or miss.  So I showed up at the first place late, then the 2nd and so on, but yet everything is always perfect! :)  So I arrived at the meeting with the medical students 1/2 hour late and although i felt horrible about it at the same time, it wasn't in my control as I had to wait for my ride.  Well, God quickly put any worry on my part to rest as the 3rd medical student arrived at the same time as me :) so God and his perfect timing :)  We had a long productive meeting and I have to say, I am soooo impressed with the students :)  We now have 10 trained volunteers just itching to help! 
Afterwards we got a sim for me and I am set :) now I can communicate with all my friends easily.  It's so humbling to be so dependent on everyone and yet have everyone help you so much. Keeps you grounded.
Came home and rekindled friendships with everyone. It's so great to be gone for 2 years from someone's life and for it to feel like you never really left at all.  I used to think that happened only with family, but God has shown me it's just a heart connection that connects you to everyone.  Was up till past 1 having serious talks and now everything is perfect.  I realized last night that its so important to always think and do for others and not get focussed on yourself.  i got so busy with my life the last two years that I didn't make the time for someone here and that little girl got so hurt.  So hurt that she didn't want to even see me (as much as she was dying to see me) but as I gave everyone a hug when I arrived and she kept her head down not wanting to even make eye contact, my accidentally jabbed her with my 2 nails in the head so she was forced to look up hehe! and so the next day we were able to talk and she was able to share her heart and everything is right in the world again.  
Today I got to wake up and just have time to reflect, pray and read my bible and talk to paula and paul - locals who live and work at the rhea household.  Everyone is gone to field day.  God is good! Just what I needed, before I go to my afternoon appt.  
Please pray for the people of cambodia, they are soooooo awesome! :)

It's so good to be back. I just see God's hand working so clearly.  Leaving today in the morning was bad.  The fog was so bad in places that you couldn't see at all.  I thought we would be late but arrived earlier than even anticipated.
As I was coming over I was thinking about various things.  I would need a helmet.  I decided I would buy one, but as I was leaving the rhea's house, Mrs Rhea asked if I needed a helmet cause she had an extra one! Praise God.  Also I was thinking about my tithe money and what to do with it.  While in India my older sister had asked my younger sister if there was a hard working child who needed money for a college education.  I remember thinking when my sister named a child, that I would like to do something like that.  As Michael and I were driving to dinner we were catching up on various people and one of our best students I found out is in need of a scholarship for college.  She apparently passed a national test that only 20% of the student who took it passed and she did it without the extra coaching/classes that most kids can afford.  Seems like a worth kid to me and I know she is hard working and intelligent from personal experience.  God is sooo good! :)