Post from Steph

I am really enjoying my time in Cambodia so far! I think it is very different than Canada though.

I am getting used to the weather, and think anything around 20 degrees Celsius is freezing!

One thing I really miss from Canada is milk! The milk here is weird! I usually just end up drinking water.

I have my own room, a bathroom with a cold shower, and a pink mosquito net. The first months here I was eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I am getting bitten less and less, so that is good. (

One thing I really love here is the markets! (Besides the fact that I am always getting ripped off.) I enjoy walking around and looking at things. Sometimes it is as if the market never ends; it is really big!

As I see lots of poor people every day with no home, I often keep thinking I don’t need anything for Christmas. It is true, I think. I have a loving family, a home, an education, food, and clothing. What more do I need anyway? There are kids down the street from us that are fairly poor. They are so sweet, though. There is a little boy, one year old, Lim. He is adorable! There are also two girls, somewhere around mine and Julia’s age. Julia and I gave them candy-canes the other day. Lim was so dirty that the candy-cane drooled down his chin, and the slobber/candy-cane juice was brown with dirt. We have set aside too-small clothing to give them.

I am quickly learning the language here, Khmer. Like you probably have heard before I am really enjoying it. Mony, our neighbor, is helping Julia and I learn by giving mini-lessons on some weekends. We regularly play with her. Hacky-sack, soccer, and volleyball we usually play together. While we play, we have usually seen a rat that runs by on the fence surrounding our property; today we even saw a small snake!

I can’t believe that it is 4 days to Christmas!!! It feels nothing like Christmas here. (Which is kind of sad.) Sure we have a tree, Christmas cookies, school spirit, but it still doesn’t feel anything like Christmas. It must be the weather…

Have a merry Christmas everyone!!!

Love Stephanie

Stephanie's story

Steph has written a Christmas story for her english class. I enjoyed it very much and wanted to share it with you all. She is a gifted writer. And her heart is large. Enjoy...

With My Brother’s Hand in Mine

It was a rather cold, Cambodian night as my eye let go of a tear. I wiped it away with my thick, black hair. Christmas was coming soon, and there I was, thirteen years old, lying under my mosquito net on the street. My two year old brother sleeping soundly next to me, his dirty, little hand in mine. Two years ago, since my mother lost her job, Christmas has always been the same. On Christmas morning, my mom would wake up early and go sweep the streets. There, my brother and I were left.

I didn’t go to school anymore. We couldn’t afford anything more than what we had. For just one Christmas, I wanted to be happy or receive something like the other kids do, but I knew that could only be dreamed. As I lay thinking about what a real Christmas would be like, my eyes drooped and I fell asleep.

The sound of a car horn rudely awakened me. It was a normal Cambodian day, and everyone was out and about. My mother had already left to work, and I almost got up without noticing the card lying by my feet. “A card?” I thought. I quickly opened the envelope and it revealed the most beautiful card I had ever seen. It had sparkles, ribbon, bow and lace on it, and in what looked like perfect handwriting, this is what it said:

“To my beautiful child, S’rey Lin.

I would like to invite you to my church on this coming Sunday. It is the New living Church. I am sure you’ve heard of it, since it is nearby. Bring your brother, as well as yourself. I’ll be there.

Love, Your Father.”

“My father?” I accidently said aloud. My father had left my mother when she was pregnant with my brother. How could he go to church like the good men do? I was confused, but I decided it wouldn’t hurt to go, and it would pass the time, so I planned to.

My brother woke up and stared at me with his large, brown eyes, as if they were asking me for food. I started to cook the rice to share for breakfast. We continued our normal Saturday, and went to sleep, excited for the big day tomorrow.

When we arrived, many people were there. It seemed like a busy day and I wondered if it was always like that. I remembered to look for my dad, and I tried to find him. I didn’t exactly know what he looked like now, but I had a funny feeling I would find him soon.

As I entered the church, I got smiles from some, and stares from others, so I just sat in the back, not knowing what to expect. During the speaking of the man at the front, I suddenly felt tremendous peace. I had no idea how or why, but when it was over, I wanted to come back. I tried to look for my father, but I didn’t find him, or anyone who looked anything like him.

Later that night, my mom and I were sitting together on the street talking about the day. We saw the motos and cars drive by, and heard the faint chatter of the other Cambodians. It was a peaceful night. My stomach growled as I smelled the food cooking from the little restaurant across the street. I talked to her about church, and the letter I had received. She was very surprised it was from her husband. My mom told me about her day, and how she had swept up one thousand riels! ($.25) I was just about to ask her to spend it on the food across the street, when I caught my tongue and realized we needed to save it. As much as I wanted food that night, I couldn’t. I said myself a little prayer, and went to sleep. I wanted to go back to church and learn more about the God the man was talking about.

I returned the next week, and during the speech, I felt even more at peace than the last week! My brother had fallen asleep, and I thought a quick prayer to God.

“God, please make this Christmas a good one, one that I can smile and laugh for real.”

I meant that with all of my heart, and needed it more than anything.

At the end of church, I was about to leave when the man that spoke called me. He had very black eyes and said that his name was Sokha. He asked my questions like where I lived, and why I came to church, and how I felt about life in general, and about my family. After about twenty minutes, we finished and he said, ”It was nice to meet you, and if you don’t mind, I would like you to bring your family here on Christmas Eve, I think I can do something for you.” I thanked him and left, wondering if he was my father. I carried my brother out the door, although it felt more like someone was carrying me.

I was really tired. I had already talked with my mom about the church on Christmas Eve and she had agreed to come. It seemed as if she really wanted a change in her life too. I fell asleep, my brother’s dirty, little hand in mine.

Three days passed, and it was Christmas Eve. We arrived at church, and the only person there was the man.

“Hello, S’rey Lin, is this your mother?” He asked me.

I answered yes, and it looked like he was ready to give good news by the way his eyes sparkled.

“Well, I know your position in life isn’t the greatest right now, so I’ve talked with the church and made some arrangements.”

My heart was leaping.

“The church can support your family with a small apartment for now, and we’ve opened a new job for your mother to work here. We’ve also gotten new clothing for you all, as well as toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and other items like that.”

My eyes filled with joyful tears and my mother and I thanked Sokha so much that I thought he would pass out from being ‘over-thanked.’

He drove us to our new apartment, showed us around, and left. There was even a Christmas tree inside! Even my brother smiled, and that was something that didn’t happen on a regular basis! We all had showers and cleaned ourselves for once in a long time. We had two beds, one for my mother, and one for my brother and I. I prayed, “Thank you so much, God, for everything!!!” We fell asleep easily, my brother’s clean, little hand in mine.

It was only until after many other visits to church that I realized who the letter was really from. It truly had been a Christmas miracle.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to all of our Family, School and Church Family, and Friends.... The Lord Bless and keep you all under His guidance and blessing. Well we just want to let you know that we are so thankful for your support. Your kindheartedness is very evident to us as a family. Although this process has not been stress-free, it has been made easier with your prayers and generosity. Moving to a new country, culture, and job with our family has been an interesting process to say the least, yet we have experienced such a blessing from our family, our church, school family, and our amazing friends. Your encouraging words, your worries and concerns, are all meant with such care, and they do not go unheeded.

As we have completed half of a year here in Cambodia time is flying by. We are slowly figuring things out here and so I thought I would share with you a few tidbits we have gleaned in the short time we have been here…

What tidbits are we and have we been learning?

1. When people tell you to Drink water, what they mean is….Drink water, water and more water otherwise you will be dehydrated by noon and passed out by 3pm.
2. Simple tasks back in Canada are not very simple at all. (Like turning off your water in your home, or changing your light bulb- give yourself at least a day or three to get it figured out)
3. Sudocream is the best weapon against Chaffing! (Thanks to Mrs. Mobach for that tidbit. Did not understand that until we got here.) (PS I am learning that there is a difference between Canadian Chaffing and Tropical Chaffing)
4. Tupperware may be one of the best things we brought with us to Cambodia to prevent the worms from getting into the rice, and all other bugs from getting into the rest of the food.(Thanks Lynn C)
5. Weighing the Pros and Cons of using and breathing residual RAID BUGSPRAY everyday indoors or potentially getting Malaria, Denge Fever, or Japanese Encephalitis is not as enjoyable as you may think. (Thanks Ruth)
6. Pop-up tent style mosquito nets are easy to use and a necessity.(Thanks Kara)
7. The hose sprayer beside all the toilets in Cambodia need to be a standard addition to Canadian bathrooms. Very useful!!! Maya really likes them too.
8. Don’t leave your moto helmet outside overnight because by morning your helmet will be filled with about 200 mosquitoes that will fly out and attack you when you pick your helmet up.
9. 
   
   
   There ARE two different states of living here: there is heavy sweating state (as experienced in a typical summer in Canada) and then there is the Cambodian tropical sweating state!!! (Where every part of you sweats and drips like a small rain storm and you can’t really tell if you were to enter or leave a shower or not).
10. These are good years for our Family
11. When you go to the market or need to buy anything for that matter, you need to accept that you will pay 5x more than a local Cambodian. I love that feeling of getting ripped off!!YES!
12. Termites like wood beds.(ALOT!!)
13. Stomach issues are a regular and common quandary here (even for the long termer). So you just gotta grin and bear it.
14. Don’t count or rely on your power or internet to work when you need it most.
15. Don’t touch dogs. They may contain every single disease, worm, and virus known and unknown in Cambodia.
16. Don’t eat the Rat meat offered on the menu- you never know where it has been (actually you probably do… but you don’t want to let your mind go there)
17. Rats do grow to the size of small Canadian Beavers.
18. Cockroaches grow to the size of small bats.
19. When a bat flies into your office, don’t wave your arms and swing at it wildly in panic, you will only look like an idiot to the rest of the office staff.
20. Whether you like it or not, you share your kitchen with ants (and I mean a lot of ants).
21. You have way more Geckos in your house than you think.
22. When someone says your street floods… they aren’t kidding and it also means your house floods too!
23. All bicycles here are made for people under 120 pounds. That may explain why I blow my bike tire every time I bike. OR the other explanation could be that all bike tires are simply made from a melted conglomerate of the many plastic garbage bags lying around the street.
24. Packages sent to us may or may not arrive to us. Sorry Inga, we have not got your package, but Steph and Jubes did receive the Xtream package.
25. Many Cambodians think Christmas is about a Western white God who needs gifts and presents.

Merry Christmas. FYI: We are off to Thailand for Christmas for some R&R. We are using monies from our parents to fund the trip and we will let the girls spend some of their Christmas money in Bangkok. We are then off to the Thailand coast (Hua hin) to try out the beach. It sounds good to me! PS the pics are from the puppet show street ministry.

Christmas time!

Hello everyone! We hope and pray you are all well. Well, the stress is over, the concerts are finished, we are finishing up this last week of school, trying to catch up on missed curriculum for all the rehearsals, and well, also the Christmas parties.
The elementary concert was a great success! After all the different glitches with the rehearsals (ie; our last rehearsal before the actual dress rehearsal--we had no speakers, they were away getting fixed and were supposed to be back but weren't, the cd player was not playing the burned cd properly, yada yada yada) the evening ran really smooth, all thing considered. The students were all really excited to be in costume and to have their parents as an audience, the gym was pretty full, the crowd was very happy afterwards (heard lots of great compliments) sand quite frankly, it was fun. I was super at ease, not sure exactly why ( well, because if anything went wrong now, there was nothing I could do about it--haha) and of course, I was very excited to be wearing my khmer dress. The kids were so funny... "You look Khmer!" was the stunned expression. One girl said, "You look like my mom!" Then she thought about it for a second and exclaimed, "No, you don't!" Not sure how to take that! haha. Then, they presented me with roses at the end of the concert, which was a huge blessing. They also gave flowers to Karen Kimber, the Gr. 4 teacher who did all the sound. She had a big job, and it went off really good.
So, Friday was Ok with the middle and high concert (I was only accompaning a bit) but didn't flow as well as some would have hoped. Saturday night, relatively the same concert took place at a different venue and it was much better--acoustics were better, and the drama worked better with a "back stage," something they didn't have in the gym on the Friday performance. All in all, Sat was a great success, as well. The high school choir sang a number of really great choral pieces, which they sang really well, and was it a blessing to just sit there and hear "O come, o come Emmanuel" sang a capella, in a non-Christian nation like Cambodia, where organized choral, or classical anything is pretty few and far between. It was even more special for that reason--to hear that name sung out in worship! really great. Kudo's to the high school choir who seem like a great bunch of kids.

Saturday afternoon was the staff party at our house. We had lots of time to get ready for it, as we had the whole morning, and Sokhom had helped clean the roof and made the pastry for my meat pie (My donation to the buffet luncheon.) It is still feels sheepish for me to have so much help, but we invited Sokhom and our landlords to the elementary concert, and I think they enjoyed watching the show, and maya. So, at least I hope she can see that her work is helping me to work out here. I asked her to trim down a table cloth that I bought at the market that was a bit too wide for our table. She brought it back to me all gorgeously serged! I asked if she had the serger, and she said no, she didn't like how her maching was hemming (too bulky) so she took it to the market, and they serged two long sides for a buck! (How much time did she spend on this one simple request??) And If I had gone and asked for the same thing, easily $5. That's just the way it is here. I got my toes painted at a little shop, a minor pedicure, and they charged me $2. I was thrilled (although it's still no great job, and it is easy to do myself.) Anyways one of the more "mature" gr. 5 girls ( if you know what I mean) was enquiring about my toes, and asked how much it was. (That is the world's most common question out here for EVERYTHING, next to "how old are you?" It's great!) When I told her $2, she gasped! "That's so... " I was sure she was about to say cheap, cuz I've paid $7 for a pedicure out here. But she exclaims..."expensive! 2000 riels! That's what it should be. (That's 50 cents.) "But, you're a foreigner, so I guess they charge you more." EVen the kids know how it runs out here.
Bye the way, I've yet to meet one single person here, who does NOT know how to make change for any amount of money, whether it's child or adult, american to riels. Not a single one yet, who get's lost in making change. And it's really confusing, when 100 riels is 2.5 cents. So 4, 100 bills is 10 cents, etc. Our kids can't figure it out yet, but everyone here knows the value of money way too much, so market, store, no matter where you are, you are getting correct change the first time, and quickly, and all counted out for you, and handed usually with two hands, very carefully. Not like North America!!!
But I digress....
Sunday was our coworker Sokcha's wedding. I had only met his fiance once recently before. He invited alot of the staff, and because and his wife are Christians, and the wedding was at the Adventist Mission Church, it was actually quite Western, rather than Khmer, so we didn't experience some of the traditions. But it was still an adventure. Lots of clothing changes. The entire wedding party, bridesmaids and the groom wore white for the service, then the bride was actually in ivory, with a pink veil, so it was interesting. (The groom had a red tie!) THen they changed for the dinner which was held immediately following the service down in the parking lot. It seems most weddings out here set up tables and chairs in parking lots or just right out on the streets, outside someone's home. A big tent goes up, lots of music. Very fun to see them all (apparently right now is the big wedding season, when the weather is tolerable, and there is no rain.) We ate a number of dishes that were served to us by the caterers. That part is interesting. I can't really describe all the food, cuz I don't know the names of everything, but lots of rice, stir fry, lots of meat, because that shows in Khmer culture that you are rich (if you eat alot of meat.) and a complete fish, steamed, head intact (no eyes, though. good thing). It was quiet tasty, but the food is cooked similarly to the wedding--under a makeshift tent, with people just chopping, cuting, cooking, all outside, with little sanitation. So far we are well, but our brother-in-law Adam, who is a health inspector, would shut ABSOLUTELY EVERY WEDDING DOWN if he were to come here and inspect. So, we ate cautiously, but it was good. People got up and left inbetween courses. There was no head table, but a mic and a mc, and the bride and groom did not sit down and eat--just the guests did. THey had to go around the tables and greet people, in yet another set of clothing. Very beautiful traditional gold Khmer dress for the bride. ANyways, it was fun, and a good experience, and we were pleased to be invited. THe girls came with us too.
So, that brings us to this last week of school. Sorry, we have no news officialy about anything for Thailand yet for Christmas, due to the last nature of the timing, and us looking for something cheap enough for our family of five, in just the right location, etc. We will go, but nothing is actually booked yet. Today or tomorrow, I guess.
I have baked my first batch of Christmas cookies, mostly for gifts for my teacher friends who were so helpful with the concert. Other than this real batch, I haven't baked anything from scratch except once, I think, scones. However, I've been collecting ingredients, and got everything I needed for some shortbread. Hope they like it, because it seems like such a big deal for me to get it done! haha
Also, I have to say that things are flowing so different now than in our first few months. Me personally, I'm definitely not so tired, as the first few months--that is one sign of culture shock. I can actually stay up some evenings and do stuff, like bake, instead of crashing at 8:30 when the kids go to bed. Nothing is strange anymore, or so unpredictable. It is normal now for things to take a long time, messages to get mixed up, workers not to show up when they say they do, things to break down quickly, or be made cheaply. Stuff like that doesn't surprise us anymore. Seeing things on the streets, loads on motos, the garbage, the people. It is just so natural now. If any of you have even lived abroad, maybe you know what I mean. I am so enjoying this time in my life. I am so thankful for it. I think I can safely say we all are, all 5 of us, enjoying our time here.
We are also getting better at getting around. Once you know your way, and have a few instructions in Khmer, it is SO much easier to direct drivers, either tuk tuk or motodop. I am duping a little more these days, only for short distances, usually in the Toul Kork area, where we know some of the drivers around the school, or by our house. There is one kind "uncle" (that just means he is older than I) who we see everyday (actually, there are many on our route to school we see everyday and say hi to) but he will drive me around. If you don't know much about motodoping, (dup, dop, I don't know) then google it and find out. I'm not going to tell you more, save my mother have a heart attack! haha.
So, we are doing so very well. Had so many compliments lately about us at school as a great addition to Logos, kind words for Dean's leadership (and they are well deserved) and lots of compliments about our kids, who, of course, are great kids (well, Maya will be one day --JUST KIDDING!) When they say nice things about the girls, I always agree, and say we are blessed to have them in our family, and to have been given stewardship over them to raise them. That is really how we see it. They are certainly a gift to us. Maya is just the baby of the family and ready for a break! (haha)
There are a couple last things I want to say:
Thank you X-Stream. Your PARCEL arrived today! Dec 12! Looks like you posted it on Dec 4? that's amazing time for out here. We opened it gleefully and took pictures, so we will put them up soon. Everything was great, except all the teasing with the Tim Hortons stuff. That is just not nice. We get some good coffee out here, but nothing like Tim's and definitely without the ease of Tims. Lots of people have iced coffees, full of sweetener. When Dean sends the guards to pick up iced coffee orders, they are charged 2000 riel. (50 cents) When Dean goes himself, $1.25. So, he often sends the Khmer to get it. Same with getting stuff for our Christmas concert. There is one "nekru" on staff, she's been with Logos since the start and was invaluable with getting government paperwork done for the school. Anyways, she


is still on staff, pays bills for the school, runs errands, etc. and she got a ton of stuff we needed for the Christmas concert. I don't know what she paid for some costume materials, and I don't want to know, cuz it would have cost me a fortune.
Also, Steph has written a great Christmas story for her english class. I'm going to post it today or tomorrow. Her friend Alisha gave her this Christmas card with the following poem. This dear girl doesn't have things easy in her home. I hope it is a good reminder for us all this Christmas Season.
Merry Christmas from the Weisses!!!

"Like the waves that slowly cover the sand,
God covers our life with His grace and love...

Like the moon that watches the earth from above
God watches over us from the heavens...

Like the water that picks up the sand and washes it away into the sea,
God picks up our sins and washes it away into the light...

Like the creatures that build a home in the sand,
God builds a home in our hearts...

Just remember that God is ALWAYS there for and with you through Everything in Life....
He will always be by your side no matter what....."

Alisha Escarez.

Thank you X-Stream!!!

Hello everyone! Well, we got some big news this past week on e-mail! Steph and Julia's middle school group from church at Seven Oaks Alliance in Abbotsford, has been supporting us in prayer since we left, staying tuned in with our blog (THANKS, GUYS!) and NOW they've raised some $$$ for us! A bottle drive drive, a silent auction, some personal tithing! We're so excited--not for the money as much as the way you guys are caring for us, praying for us and now this! Well, we are thinking of some great ways to share this money around Cambodia, so stay tuned, and we'll let you know some of our ideas--if they pan out! You are a great group of kids with some superb leaders, and I hope you all say a special prayer for those leaders tonight, cuz they go all out for you guys! Thank you for everything, X-Stream. You guys are so awesome.

IN more news, it appears to be Christmas even here in plus thirty Phnom Penh. THere are Christmas trees up and around in "western" friendly coffee shops, etc. The main bookstore here is called IBC, (International Book "Something") and it is loaded with tons of fake Christmas trees. Well, we were going to pass it up this year, and decorate a palm tree, but the kids were really longing for that sense of "hominess" you get from setting up a tree. Anyways, we splurged, spent the $34 and bought a fake tree that we will donate somewhere when we leave. IT helps, it really does. It is 2 metres, and decorated with a few strings of lights and some stars from the market, but it really does feel more Christmassy, at least in the proverbial sense.

So, we have delved into that. For those of you who want to pray about this, we have all our concerts coming up in a few days. Thursday night is our elementary one, which I'm in charge of. We've been practicing and my mind has been doing nothing but "Christmas concert" for a few weeks now, but you know, there's always technical problems, ironing out costume details (quite literally in some cases), finding out what props we have here, designing a stage, getting kids on and off it in a timely matter. THe basic premise for our show, is 5 friends who get together and decorate a Christmas tree, using decorations that are symbolic of the Christmas story, while a nativity and scriptures play out. Each class is featured on stage with a special song, costume, theme, and they perform and go back and sit in the choir. I really don't know what to compare it to before at Logos, but I'm really hoping for a great message--there will hopefully be alot of Khmer there, and a quality performance.

I've been warned, though, that the Cambodian audience is not what it is like at home. THere is lots of walking around, standing, phone answering and just general talking and noise while the show is going on. THis is very much like how my classroom would be if I didn't work so hard (often unsuccessfully) at keeping kids quiet. THere is just this general sense that conversations can keep right on going into a class, and that visiting can take place whenever it feels like it! Sociable people or not, a classroom is a place of learning, even the music classroom, and there need to be boundaries.

But I digress. SO, I have told the kids much about paying attention, not getting distracted with all that is going on, but I have my doubts, and it's going to be a big learning curve for me. Quality, is all I ask for! I just want to do a good job!!! So, hopefully, things will swing well. Even if they don't, I hope that parents are pleased and visitors blessed. (Please, God!)

In other exciting news, I decided I wanted to get a traditional Khmer dress made for the event!!! When I say traditional, it is the kind of dress that a women would say, wear to a wedding, or for a special holiday--not traditional like a costume. I would probably say it's a Khmer style dress, instead of traditional.
Anyways, Sokhom our helper has been working dilligently on it for me. She is an unbelievable seamstress, and I've been thinking alot about my Grandma Boucher because of all this pinning and alterning! It is made to my measurements, and is fitting just lovely, and is probably the prettiest colors in the world for me. I tried it on today, and it's really probably the most beautiful thing I've had on since my wedding dress. She'd done hand bead work on it and really, it's stunning. I can't wait to wear it for the concert, take pictures and let you all see. You will agree with me, that it is just lovely!

Then, we've been invited to a co-workers wedding this Sunday. IT's our first Khmer wedding, so I'm all excited to go to it, and maybe wear my dress again! haha.

So this is Lesley's week. Today, as I write, it's Monday night. We've had a rehearsal this morning, another practice tomorrow morning, no students on Wed. as it's human rights day--that am. I have an am rehearsal for accompaning with the High schoolers, THursday aft will be our dress rehearsal, THurs even our concert. Friday aft will be another rehearsal for the Friday evening concert for the middle and high. (I'll be doing the piano playing). Saturday at 1:30 in the afternoon is the STAFF Christmas party, at, you guessed it, OUR HOUSE (Cuz we have a great roof to go up on, and lots of room for entertaining. Our Landlords are great about it--actually, they're great about everything!) and I have to be at another accompaning concert at 3:45, until around 7. Whew. Then, Sunday is the wedding in the morning, and all day.

OK, I know just how busy the Christmas season gets for all of you-please remember, I haven't forgotten, so if you want to write me back with your crazy schedules, I'd love to hear it. But, I thought I'd let you know what this week is going to be like (It's a little more like therapy for me, I guess) and then I can let you all know how everything went, and show you pictures of my dress! (OK, enough with the dress, already!)

Steph is good, and has had a "dress down day" and free ice cream for having great effort marks, at school. She has absolutely nothing to do for any concert, so is having a stress free December so far. She loves playing with small kids, babysitting or helping out, and there are kids on the street that we visited with as they had a new puppy, and Steph just played with the little boy for the whole time. He is very cute, and she loves cute kids.
Julia has a scripture reading in the concert that she has memorized, and she is doing soccer and basketball afterschool, but is finishing up karate, as her teacher is leaving after december. She spent all last Saturday at a friend's place with a birthday party, her 3rd party this year.
The other day at school, Julia's retainer in her mouth BROKE, meaning the metal split right off her tooth, the molar came out, and we had to get her to the dentist. Turns out the dentist can make another retainer for her, so she can still keep wearing her mask! That is great news, as the mask is really helping with correcting her underbite (steph wants to go back on it as her underbite is growing back just a bit!) So, tomorrow afterschool I will take Julia to the orthodontist and we'll get everything corrected.
Maya is good, but did have a tough week last week, with some crying about wanting to go home. However, so far this week, so good. She gets very dirty at school, playing in the "sand" that is realy dirt. But at least she is having fun!. Lots of crafts in PRe-K 4, and her class is singing a really cute song for the concert, about the cows, sheep and donkey all mooing, baaing and hee hawing at the baby Jesus in the manger. She won't stop singing it, so I'm actually looking forward to the concert being over. Haha. Actually, most of the pre-k's, when they see me at school, break out in song to show me what they know. IT's very cute.

Dean is VERY busy, as always, with work. But, we are trying to book Thailand for Christmas. Looing for cheap, a room big enough for a family of 5, and in walking distance to the ocean (hua Hin) is proving to be a challenge. But we'll let you know our plans.

I have to go, but thanks for reading, writ us a note or two, and let us know how you are doing!
PS Two cambodian moments: 1. I had just started teaching Gr. 1 the other day, when we heard a crash, and the air conditioner that is over the carpet area, where we sit regularly with the kids, the cover just "fell" off! I guess the vibration of turning it on caused the fall. Good thing we weren't sitting there. It landed right where the kids sit. There are some days where we do not have to use our airconditioner in the classroom at least for some of the day. It saves alot on the school energy bill to turn it off whenever we can. 2. We have to "raid" our Christmas tree, as mosquitos hide in the darkness of the branches. Never thought I'd be bug spraying a fake Christmas tree.
Have fun, y'all!

How to BBQ Khmer Style

Well Rich Balzer, who needs a Weber BBQ anyways? I am finally trying to BBQ out here for the first time since we got here. Hotdogs are on the menu- not too difficult right? As an aside: The dogs don’t taste the same (maybe that’s because it is dog? I hope not!) In the picture, this is the typical BBQ pot that people will use out here. I tried to get it going and thankfully my neighbor realized I had no idea what I was doing with this wood coal stuff. She helped me out and probably had a good snicker in the process. BBQs seem to sit low on the ground. In general, the Khmer people have no problem getting low to the ground to BBQ or anything else for that matter. I on the other hand seem to make that look rather difficult. Needless to say, I burnt the hotdogs (I am out of practice I guess). However, it was nice to BBQ in about +29C and sunny. The weather is much nicer now, we don’t sweat in the house too much.

The rainy season is now over. Right after Water Festival in the 3^rd week of November they(not sure who they are) just announce the rains will stop. I found this hard to believe but sure enough there was one big storm and since then there has been no rain. We found a crab moving up and down our dirt street and we couldn’t understand why it was there. We found out that it came from the lake and that means the rainy season is over. How does that crab know that?

Random: One of the pics is with our neighbor Mony who is in grade 5. Steph, Julia, and Mony play in the back court area when they are all not doing homework. Mony has school 6 days a week. Maya likes to hang out with the older girls too.

We are going to try and support a street ministry puppet show that some of our staff and students have put together. Steph is helping out too. I offered to take some of the pics. Will show that later.