September, 2009

Well, this is almost it for Cambodia and last few days in S.E. Asia...Frans leaves me here Sun. afternoon, and I stay here in Phnom Penh(PP) til Tues. afternoon, fly to Kuala Lumpur, have a whole day and nite there myself, then fly to Brisbane, where I have a day and half (one nite) and then fly to Auckland Sept. 18 late.
What a week it's been!!! We bussed over to Siem Reap (6.5 hours) on the far west of country to spend a day (2 nites) visiting the ancient temple sites (AngKor Wat, Angkor Thom etc.) and that day was about 8-9 hours of walking in damp, humid, very warm temps thru out day, thru amazing stone structures, really quite staggering and fascinating...took so many photos there, Frans esp. So worth the long trip. Our guest house was very nice...low season now, so our rates were $8 a nite for two, and that included a very nice breakfast, and transport to and from bus, internet, plus we could make all our temple tour plans from there and the bus back too. What a deal...great meal there too Mon. nite.
Tues. after the temple day, we went to a buffet dinner and traditional Kamai dancing. Such a amazing culture here, quite taken by it, and the music is definately a part of it...and here in Cambodia we have experienced the culture in probly the purest forms, over Philippines and Malaysia.
Yesterday, I was to sing and preach in a village, about 2.5 hours travelling from here in PP, we left in the a.m. in pouring rain(it's monsoon season and so much of the land is flooded, more than usual), in a squashed-full van, barely roadworthy....and we 3 of us all crammed in the far back with no opening window, and guitar and bags with us...another 3 rows of seats in front of us, all full, and then they filled up the aisle with folding seat...so we were hemmed in...and I hated it...couldn't stand it, and let it be known...so when a seat opened up a few rows ahead, I grabbed it even tho there was no way of fitting your legs in the row, (the seat in front was way too close). Then when I refused to move over for others, cuz I couldn't straighten my legs (I sat sideways), they moved me up to the front seat passenger side...no seatbelts and nothing much working on this vehicle, but we set out like that for 2.5 hours, got let off on the highway, where the village was..walked down a long road, and get this (it was great!), the road was flooded, so they said, take off your sandles, and we waded barefoot thru muddy, filthy, knee deep flood water, guitar and bags and all, for about 200 meters, to the church building, surrounded by water, where about 40 mostly young folks were waiting for me. Well, just got thrown into it, without warming up or any prep, and did an hour and a half with them....meanwhile cows wading past the church. Got some great photos on way out...Kids were swimming in it, I think houses dumping their waste in it, and of course the cows and animals doing what they do in it. Quite a hi-lite. So we waded back out, and jumped barefoot onto the next bus going back to PP, another 2.5 hours...so a long day and no food and little to drink for about 10 hours. But a great day. One to remember for the extenuating circumstances around this ministry event. Also very special to speak life in Jesus name to these precious souls who've known the shadow of death over their land.
Well, that's the week...little email chances this week, but as I said, wrapping up this chapter here soon. Shared at AOG Bible school this a.m. for about 60 students (Cambodian and Vietnamese). Will sing and preach Sun. yet and then fly Tues.
Love and blessings to you all...praying each day for you's...grateful for your prayers...rob