Dear friends and family,
After 5 long but wonderful weeks, it is finally time for me to go to Mesang and start working with ODOV (the organization to develop our villages). My Khmer lessons are officially over, and I am amazed at how much more I can communicate with my host family now compared to when I arrived a few weeks ago! One of my host sisters in particular has made an effort to try to communicate with me. She speaks very slowly, is not too shy to use gestures, and is familiar with the extent of my vocabulary, so now when anyone in the family has a question they get her to ask me. But our communication is not limited to "what time are you going to the office?" She has been teaching me to learn to read and write, and I have taught her some words in English, and I brought out my store of colourful floss and we've made bracelets together. It's been so much fun! I am especially grateful for the help learning to read and write. In Khmer, the grammar and pronunciation is not so difficult, but reading is so complex that most foreigners that are here for a short time don't bother learning. Does it surprise you that I took that as a challenge? I have to admit that it is very difficult- there are so many letters, the vowels sound different after different consonants, and there are no breaks between words in a sentence. But it has been great having something to do in my spare time, and I'm sure most of you know that there is nothing I love better than learning and a good challenge!
In other news, I have made two new friends this week. The first was in Prey Veng. His name is Laza. He is a cat. I wasn't sure at first if cats were just rat-evicting devices, or if they were pets. I'm still not sure if "pet" is the right word, but the cats are the only animals allowed in the house, and they are mostly friendly. They even get first dibs at the leftover fish bones. Did you know that all of the animals (cats and dogs included), are fed rice? It seemed strange the first time I saw my host mom scooping out left-over rice indo a dish for the dog, but why not? They eat what we eat I guess. The second new friend is the ODOV office kitten. Well, I suppose she is technically a farm cat, but she wandered inside, I picked her up, and she started purring like crazy! But enough cats.
I started writing this blog a week ago, but things got crazy busy when I moved to Mesang this past Monday, and when I did have time alone, I was so exhausted that I just wanted to sleep. I finally have time to write and surprized to realize I have already been here for 3 days! I’ll save more of the details about Mesang for my next post so this one doesn’t get much longer than it already is. I drove my motorcycle out to Mesang on Monday, Kirsten and Mok followed me in the truck with all of my stuff and to make sure I didn’t get lost on the way. Even though they had air conditioning in the truck, I wasn’t a bit jealous. The roads were treacherous for large vehicles! I started work at ODOV that afternoon. I have been learning more about the organization, what they do, and what areas I can help with. My new host family is great. There are 2 daughters- one in high school and away studying a lot. The other is younger, old enough to understand that I don’t understand what she says in Khmer, but not really old enough to understand WHY I don’t understand. When she has to repeat herself to me (and I STILL don’t get it), she gives me this great look with her big brown eyes, like I am the dumbest person in the world. But I suppose, when you consider her world, it might not be that far wrong. It is really exciting to be here, and I can’t wait to tell you more about the village and my host family next time.
I want to finish this message with a follow up from my previous post. At the end of my last post, I asked that God would show me his faithfulness in leading me here, gifts he has given me to use, and ways that he is teaching me and I am growing. God showed me all three of these things in one verse last week. I was flipping through my bible before church and came across 2 Timothy. “I know that you sincerely trust the Lord…[and] have faith… This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” This verse stood out to me in several ways. First of all, it was a verse shared with me by Jeremy Simpkins at the Meeting Place Church a year and a half ago. It spoke a lot to me then, and has stuck with me ever since. I can have confidence in doing the work God has prepared for me to do, even if it is outside of my comfort zone, knowing that I am empowered by the Holy Spirit. Secondly, it talks about fanning into flames the spiritual gifts God has given us. I am here in Cambodia to learn, but also to serve. I think that my joy, eagerness to serve, and my passion for the work to be done in Cambodia are all a part of that. But I look forward to God continuing to teach me about the spiritual gifts he has for me to use here. Thirdly, it reminded me how much I have grown since Jeremy first shared that verse with me. At that time, I never dreamed that I would actually be going to another country to serve and help people! I think at the time it was a secret hope of mine, but I never thought I’d ever have the guts to do it. But it was by reflecting on verses such as this that I really felt that if God wanted me to come to Cambodia, he would give me the courage and strength I need. And as ever, God has proven faithful.
Much Love,
Rebecca
 Me with my host sister in Prey Veng  |
| Visit to village model farm in Mesang with ODOV |
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