Welcome to Cambodia

Zach and I are currently on outreach in Battambang Cambodia. We left from Kona on Sunday, June 26. The journey to Cambodia was very different from our last adventure to India. This time Zach and I had 11 other people relying on us to get them from point A (Kona) to point B (Cambodia). We flew from Kona to Honolulu to Seoul to Phnom Penh. For the most part the trip was uneventful. We arrived in PP on Monday, June 27 at 9pm...very tired! An hour later after going through the Visa process and customs we soon exited the airport to find our PP contact Kimson standing on the corner in the midst of chaos. I immediately felt like I had revisited India but on a smaller scale. Cars and motos were whizzing by as we hurried to pile 13 peoples luggage into a 12 passenger van. We packed ourselves in the van and soon found out that our plans had changed. Before arriving Zach and I had been in contact with the Phnom Penh base and were told that we would be staying on their YWAM base for 2 days before traveling to Battambang. Upon arrival we found out that the PP base was full and we would be staying in a hotel for 2 days. Zach and I both were somewhat uncertain about this but in the end it turned out to be a blessing. We checked into the hotel and quickly discovered there was air conditioning, a real shower, and comfy beds...all for $15 a night. For the 2 days we stayed in PP we felt extremely blessed. Coming home at night and having a hot shower and air conditioning was not at all what we expected.

We spent our time in PP familiarizing our team with the culture and the recent history of the country. Our team had a great time riding tuk tuks around the city, bartering at the market and learning basic Khmer. Three of our team members walked into an amazing opportunity to go and shoot pictures at the Not For Sale factory in PP. Not For Sale is a widely recognized campaign that is fighting to abolish slavery world wide. Part of their campaign is focused on rehabilitating women into society by providing jobs and skills. Our three team members, Grace, Paul and Katie were able to meet with the CEO of the campaign, go in and shoot photos of the products the women make and sit and talk with several of the women. It was an amazing opportunity for the three of them! The photos will hopefully be visible on the Not For Sale website very soon!

Our team did spend a very heavy day visiting killing fields and museums focused on the very recent genocide in Cambodia. God really gave the team His heart for the people. We saw countless pictures of horrific killings and acts of torture. Many of our team members have spoken to several Khmer who have lost parents in the genocide. This truly brought the history to life for our team.

On Thursday our team hopped on a bus and traveled to the Battambang YWAM base. All 10 of our girls are sleeping in 1 room! The room is extremely packed with 5 bunk beds and 10 girls worth of luggage. Our 1 single token guy, Paul is rooming with YWAM staff and has a huge room. Funny how God works. He must have known that Paul was going to need his space from all the women on the team!

Since arriving our team has been extremely adventurous. The first day in Battambang, the staff sent us on a crazy scavenger hunt all over the city. We had to ride on the back of a moto, visit several various locations and barter for fruit at the market. We had a few of our teammates get a little lost and ended up missing lunch at the base...but they came home happy. On the 4th of July, the base had a “base fun day.” Our team was responsible for making 2 American desserts, which was extremely challenging in the midst of Cambodia. Finding American ingredients is a challenge in itself. Somehow we pulled together a cake with frosting and a peanut butter, cream cheese dessert. It took us several hours but I along with 4 other girls on the team managed to get it done. It’s crazy how the simplest tasks can be such an ordeal in another country. Everything in the US is all about convenience...we are quickly finding out that this is not the case in Cambodia.

The highlight of this trip has been purchasing 13 bikes from a local bike shop. Zach and I had decided before leaving Kona that we wanted each person on the team to purchase a bike so they can get around the city. Little did we know how much fun this really would be. All 13 of us spent the afternoon at a bike shop testing out bikes and finally purchasing them. Each bike came equipped with a little bell and a basket in the front...all for $35. The bikes have been such a blessing for our team...allowing them to learn their way around the city quite well and not restricting where they can and cannot go. On Sunday we went to church...all 11 girls in long skirts riding a bike down the streets of Cambodia. It was pretty challenging but lots of fun!

Zach and I have spent hours working on a ministry schedule for our students. Each week our students will have 2 consistent ministries they will visit from 9am-12. This can be a variety of things...working in the local orphanage, working with a program called Kings Kids (sharing Bible stories to children in villages), teaching English and Bible at the local Christian school, working at an AIDS home, working with a street children’s soccer program, ministering to street children and simply doing manual labor around the base. In the afternoons our team will be teaching a variety of classes at the Youth Center. Several of our students will be teaching photography, Bible, art, voice and piano, conversation and sports. Zach will be teaching a computer and English class. I will be teaching a cooking class and helping one of our team members teach hip hop. Both Zach and I are extremely excited about our team teaching the classes. This is a great way for our team to build relationships with the students and really invest in their lives.

Well I know this has been extremely lengthy...but a lot has been happening over this last week! Please pray for our team as the heat tends to suck all our energy out. Pray for protection and health and that many lives would be transformed. We pray that each of you is doing well and having a great summer!