Huh?

So, this week I had my first kind of frustrating experiences.  Those of you who know me, know I am verbal... I like to communicate.  I like to know what it being said TO me also!  In my explorations thus far, I have been able to find what I want, nod politely, hand over my yen, and say thank you in Japanese.  I've felt quite successful.

Then came Ikea.  I mean, y'all - Ikea.  You should be able to do that in any language, right?  Actually, as my boss reminded me today - it's hard to find what you want in English - much less a foreign language.  He thought the fact I made it out again in one day without needing a search party was something to celebrate.

But I digress.

I'm a tad bit on the independent side.  (you can stop laughing now).  Moving to Japan is squashing that like I take on Palmetto Bugs.  (not missing those, for the record)

So - to be in Ikea - a known entity - and to not be able to read or understand ANYTHING... well, let's just say it was a growth opportunity kind of moment.  Special.  Very special.

I did survive - and even came home with most of what I went to find.  And my teammate, Lou, also survived.  :) 

Another trip to the local grocery store - with total inability to communicate left me with the very real desire to take some language lessons.  So, stay tuned for more adventures from Japan - and hopefully I'll have some pictures in my next update also! 

Glimpses of Glory - Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania didn't disappoint - it was glorious driving through the countryside!  If I'd stopped for every picture I wanted to take - I'd still be in PA!!  :)

Glimpses of Glory - Virginia

Virginia in November was gorgeous!  I had forgotten what fall looks like when hardwood trees are involved!  Add water and sunrises - and God's fingerprints were everywhere!

Glimpses of Glory - Georgia

Georgia was gorgeous in October - and here are a few pics capturing God's creation!

Glimpses of Glory from Alabama

I've had the privilege of traveling around these last few months - and where-ever I've been, I've seen glimpses of God's glory!  Here are a few pics I captured.  Enjoy!

Thai Time

Hard to believe I'll soon be heading home!  We've had a delightful couple of days surrounded by people in the same "business" as us...  it's been restful and refreshing - and a great place to process all I've seen and learned these past two weeks.  Enjoy the sights!

planes, trains & automobiles

Ok - so it was really more tuk-tuks, busses and mini-busses - but that doesn't have the same ring to it now, does it?

It's been several days - and I feel like there is so much that has happened!  That coupled with my lack of internet connection has been double trouble!  With that in mind, I will try to keep this to the highlights, so that you don't grow weary prior to getting to the photos!

Speaking of which - I'll start with the one that is first (well, at least as I have them ready to load - I'm working with an app that doesn't always post the pics in the same order I place them...)  So, there is one pic of the worship service we attended Wednesday night.  It was at the YWAM base - and was in Khmer but with English translation (for the sermon and announcements - praise music was a bit more challenging!)  It was a great service with a good message, and made me wonder if that would be a bit like heaven - since we had multiple nationalities all worshiping together.

Thursday was busy!  We started the day off at the Green Mango - a restaurant operated by a Christian organization where a trained chef teaches workers how to do safe food practices, set up a restaurant, etc.  We had  AH-MAZING Nutela crepes (see picture) - and I also had a pretty fab iced coffee.  Breakfast of champions, people!

From there - we headed to lunch.  Just kidding, sort of.  We actually headed to meet our country leader for a meeting that would include lunch.  Our two hour meeting turned into five - and I wish I could tell you even some of his stories... for those of you on my email updates, you'll get to hear some.  For now, I'll just say that the Lord has done some amazing things!  We met up with some YWAM missionaries for dinner (Indian food) and called it a night!  Especially since we had an early start the next day.  And that's where the multiple modes of transportation come in...

At 7am on Friday we were picked up by a tuk-tuk and hence began our journey to Thailand.  Here's the break down of our 15 hour trip:
  * tuk-tuk to bus station
  * bus ride to Sisaphone
  * transfer to bus to Poipet  (we passed by the town near the Minefield Village -and the main road was flooded - see pic with elephant)
  * tuk-tuk to border
  * 1.5 hour wait to pass through customs
  * tuk-tuk ride to bus station
  * bus trip to Bangkok - passed through more flooding (see pics)
  * transfer to mini-bus and head to downtown Bangkok to Victory Center (rush hour traffic - quite interesting!)
  * dropped at wrong connection spot - hauled our suitcases up stairs for pedestrian overpass and down to the other side and correct spot. I'm a little sore today.
  * mini-bus to final destination

The last trip was probably the least comfortable, but most exciting or entertaining.  Imagine rush hour traffic in Atlanta or LA or some place REALLY big.  There are two lanes of traffic and a shoulder on the road.  Well - Asians have figured out how to make the traffic go more quickly...  make three lanes out of two (see pic).  Keep in mind - we are in a 15 person mini-bus.  Deedra and I are sitting the row behind the driver, which is like stadium seating, for some unknown reason.  I kept losing circulation in my feet because they couldn't touch the ground.  Our luggage is occupying the third seat in the row (and yes, you buy an extra seat for your luggage). 

We are driving, most of the time between 50 and 75 mph (and that required REAL math , people, since everything is in kilometers here).  Anyway - no one is wearing seatbelts - we are doing the whole "make your own lane" thing - amidst tour busses, trucks, etc - and the driver's phone rings.  He answers and is chatting away when his OTHER phone rings.  So, 70 mph and our driver has a phone to both ears and is now driving with his elbows.  mmmhmmmm.  But wait, Mr. Multi-tasker can also talk on one phone while texting on the other.  He showed us that trick a little later.  I was wondering if we might meet Jesus!  We did finally make it to our destination, where we will be enjoying a few days of rest and refreshment before I make the long journey back to the states.  

Still processing so much of what I've seen and heard.  More to come on that later... 

Tanks

We woke on Tuesday to a downpour which turned into a torrential downpour.  We headed to breakfast in hopes that the rain might let up - and after a VERY leisurely breakfast - it finally did!  Bible study is held outdoors under a mango tree, so you can imagine that attendance is a little slack on rainy days.

So, a few notes about Cambodian dining...  it is pretty much ALL open air.  Cats and dogs might wander amongst the tables - and no one gets too concerned.  If a little trash can isn't provided at your table, it is perfectly acceptable to throw your trash on the floor.  The napkins are very small and it is not uncommon to use 5-7 in a meal.  Quite interesting.  Oh - and when it rains - patio umbrellas (you know the kind you put up on a patio table) - are what are used to escort you to and from your car.  Good coverage.

We headed to Tanks - the village named for the military division that operates - you guessed it - tanks!  As we wandered back into the country - we passed the boy with his cows, the statue in the middle of the traffic circle (who says you can't bring culture to the country??), the tanks, and the house of the lady with seven demons who won't let her attend Bible study (per her own testimony).  We parked next to a church under construction and hiked the rest of the way to the mango tree.  Two ladies and a handful of children joined us.  Harley (Deedra's dog) might get credit for attracting the children.  Whatever.

After some discussion about logistics, I was able to share about my family and my relationship with the Lord.  One of the women had just lost a baby (miscarriage, we think), so I was also to share a bit about our losing my niece, Kathryn, back in December.  It's hard to know via translator, but it seemed like we had a good connection with the women.  We were also to give out some of the dresses my sweet neighbor, Carol, had sewn and given to me to take.  The girls were delighted, and modeling and a photo shoot commenced. 

The rain started up again and we took that as our cue to head home.  Home, as in Deedra's home in Battambang.  The heavy rains worked a number on the road, so it was a bit of a bumpy ride.  We passed "mechanical bulls" (not the rodeo variety - but motorized plows), lots of motos (I keep trying to catch a picture of a family of 4 or 5 on one moto - you'll have to settle for 2 - and if I can just digress a bit - it has already ceased to phase me that babies and children ride along - and only the  driver is required to wear a helmet.) Oh - and the picture that looks like litre bottles of soda  - that's fuel for the motos.  Roadside stands abound galore.

We made it to Battambang and stopped at a "Western" restaurant - The Sunrise Coffee House for lunch.  Imagine my surprise to see my Gamecocks memorialized on the wall! 

After lunch, we headed to Deedra's and got settled in for a few days.  Open air doesn't just apply to the restaurants around here - and much of the population live in huts or houses where at least part of the house is "open".  Turns out even the "closed" houses are a bit more open (courtesy of cracks and gaps) than we westerners usually prefer.  This allows for an ebb and flow of nature that is also a bit more than most of us prefer.  Deedra's kitchen is really more of an enclosed porch, so sometimes a gecko will join you, or a frog.  And ants, well, they are just a part of the decor.  This requires that all the food be tucked away in special cabinets or the refrigerator.  It doesn't eliminate the issue, but certainly deters them a bit. 

My room is lovely, and I have my own bathroom with a waterfall feature.  Deedra hasn't yet fully explained to me why this feature is only available during the rain.  I think it may have something to do with the aforementioned cracks and gaps.  :) 

Today has been more of a "normal" day.  Laundry done, household chores accomplished, language lessons (for Deedra - but I have picked up a few words!) - and lunch/internet at the Sunrise Coffee House.  Tonight we will join some fellow believers for a Khmer worship service (with English translation).