Each morning I am awakened by one of two sounds, one representing life and the other death. It is customary here in Cambodia to blast music from large stacking speakers placed in front of ones house for all within a 10km radius to hear from 5am until 10pm, on two occasions...weddings and funerals. The music of each is quite different from the other as one might imagine. The sound of monks monotone prayers and, to be honest, somewhat eerie sounding instrumental tones marks a nearby funeral; where as some bizarre translation of Khmai techno music relays to the city that there is a wedding will transpire. Both events last for a duration of 2-3 days and tend to occur consecutively; for every celebration of life, there is a somber reminder of our temporal existence on this earth. Reflection upon such has led to a renewed perspective this week and challenged me to be intentional with my time and relationships here.
I was very sick this past week and therefore was forced to spend 5 days in bed with a temperature of 103 and a grave illness that remains a mystery to the medical professionals here. I am well on my way to recovery now and finally getting back into the routine of things. I’m still teaching 2 English classes, a study on Injustice and tutoring a couple students in grammar 5 days a week, while studying the Khmer language with a private teacher myself. In the rare amounts of free time that I have during the week, I have been working on an interior design project...it must be genetic or perhaps just years of training in my mothers footsteps! A new YWAM school, called School of Biblical Studies (SBS) is opening next month and I have been asked to decorate the house that the school will soon be moving into. It has proven to be a worthy challenge thus far as typical resources are non-existent here, making creativity and abstract thinking a must! I have found myself painting rice mats for art pieces and constructing my own decorative frames from scrap lumber...surprisingly enough things are coming together quite well.
I was blessed to be able to reconnect with one of the girls from the soccer team that I worked with last year, this past week and was troubled to learn that the orphanage that they had come from had been closed down this past year, forcing many of the girls to separate into available housing in other villages. A few of them have still managed to join other teams and are doing well. The girls were part of the first ever, registered girls soccer league in Cambodia last year and in the brief time that has lapsed since then, 3 of them are now playing on the first girls National team and competing against girls in neighboring countries! Its incredible to see how far they have come, not only as individuals, but even more so as a once oppressed and often forgotten facet of Cambodian society. These once insecure, shy girls from an orphanage that would kick a soccer ball around once a week are now representing young women of Cambodia on a National soccer team and are teaching children's groups in their churches. Their lives are an amazing testament to the restoration and redemption occurring here.
Please know that you are in my thoughts daily and I am grateful to have each one of you in my life. Blessings to you and yours!