It's kinda hot....

Hello all. I can't believe it's been 9 days since our last post and more than that since I wrote. Time flies out here. To save a bit of my time, I'm going to copy an e-mail I sent to SOA who's X-streamers are following our adventures and praying for us. After I just copy that, I'll write a couple extra comments.

From meicambodiateam

E-mail:

Here's two interesting developments that have happened recently. last weekend, the X-Stream equivalent out here, the Gr 6-8 youth called "Solar", was on a retreat to the beach. They were driving at night on a small highway ( that's all there is out here!) and a moto that was coming the other way, swearved to miss hitting a cow that had wandered onto the highway. (that is common)> the moto swerved right into the bus carrying the 30 middle schoolers, and the two guys on the moto died. It was rather horrific. They had to wait 3 hours for a new bus. A number of the kids in the front of the bus saw the whole accident and got trauma counselling, and the whole weekend was overlaid by this tragedy. A teacher friend of ours was chaperoning and let us know God was very present and a great provider of help and healing, but it was still tough. Steph was not interested in going on this retreat at all, even from the get go, and I don't know if I would have let her go anyways, as just not that comfortable with the group and not sure of the leaders, etc. etc. (Cambodia is unpredictable enough even without letting your child go on a trip without you!). and I thank God that she was spared the situation. Hwoever, many in her school were not and were on the bus, so it's had some rippling effects. Pray for the kids, the solar leader Christina, and the families of the two men who were killed. Who knows if they'd ever had the chance to hear about Jesus???
Also, Monday after school, our senior boys were playing basketball against another International school, Northbridge, and apparently they came with an attitude against Logos. They don't like that we use our own refs. (Is there even a ref league out here???) Anyways, things got pretty ugly towards the end of the game, and after a call by our ref (who is a teacher and a friend of ours) one of the rich Cambodian students from the other team, turned to his "bodyguard" (yes, he had a bodyguard there watching out for him) and pulled up his shirt and pointed to where his gun would be, and shouted in Khmer, "SHOOT HIM!" (refering To the ref) The game was called. Apparently out here, all theKhmer we talked to said unfortunately that we had to take this threat seriously, and the teacher and his wife were ready to leave

From meicambodiateam

the country that night. Almost seriously. They ended up going into the care of a high up government official who's daughter goes to Logos, and there was a big meeting with both sides. Dean was involved with that. Anyways, it was messy, but the emotional stuff Karie and Brian are going through is pretty heavy as it is. This is Julia's teacher actually, (Gr. 5 Karie Bourdet, and Brian teacher some computers, and was the ref.) They had signed a two year contract just as we had, but have felt it is too difficult out here, so have bowed out and are going home after this year. Back to California. It's a tricky situation. Anyways, prayer for safety for our school, for good repor with this other school, for Logos to be a witness to them, for the Bourdet's to have safety and peace. NISC (Northbridge international school) is, by the way, the school that Melanie Ens goes to, but this was the high school students, and not the elementary. The student who made the threat has realized it wasn't smart and things are getting dealt with. Just another work day.....

From meicambodiateam

I don't think there are any bug stories, but there is a bat that lives in our carport roof, it dropped something on Dean the other day and we got a really good look at it. The geckos are out in force, as are the ants, and the mosquitos are mild.(for out here.) There are goats that roam the street eating grass, as we drive to school everyday--they are new, I don't know where they come from, and there a sheep a few streets over. Kind of like abbotsford, I guess. haha.
i am very overtired today, lots on the go, and I'm really cranky tonight, and realized with all the fans on, as I write this at 7:30 pm in the evening, our thermometre in the house reads +32. I guess you could say I'm hot and bothered!

From meicambodiateam

The mei team brought us out some goodies, like cheerios, muffin tins, licorice. yay, it was yummy and very kind of them. Nice to have, for a treat.
They went to the garbage dump, to spend some time with the kids out there, who live, play and eat in and on the garbage dump. Now that is an experience. I didn't go, but Dean did. I should send you a couple photos to show the kids. Be thankful you live where you do, and eat what you eat, is all I can say. How do people survive living in garbage??? (end of copied e-mail.)

From meicambodiateam

So, that's a bit of what's been going on lately. I'm super busy at work getting ready in a few weeks for another concert, so that consumes all of my brainpower. Dean has his documents now officially sent off for the ACSI Accreditation, and boy, is that a load off the shoulders of Dean and the Principal Dan. It is very good to have that done.
As mentioned, We are just off of hosting the MEI missions team this past Monday and Tuesday. OK, they didn't sleep at our house, only ate one meal, so it wasn't really hosting, but they were around the school for 2 days, did a chapel for the m iddle and high, and was it a blessing to have them at our school! Their drimes were very good, and the message at the chapel was so real and honest, and to the point. I really respect the Reimer family that took the team out. And I got to FINALLY meet Joel Reimer, as he and his helper buddies were out for the couple days too. He's really doing some mega faith things out there in Poipet, so keep praying for him. I'm sure he must have some sort of website or blog, so if you're interested, try googling it. I haven't yet, but will.

The team wore these bright green t-shirts and some of the boys were so very tall, that they really stuck out mingling with the kids at lunch times, etc. They were super friendly to all the little kids and students that were their peers, and many asked me about them, and asked if they were coming back. Those t-shirts were sure full of sweat after not such a long time, as some of the boys even played a big of hoops with our guys over one lunch hour. I hope and pray their ministries in Poipet will be as fulfilling for other and them, as their trip here to see us was for us and Logos!

Our kids are good. Dean had a decent fever and weird illness last THursday before the team arrived, but got over it in about 2 days, so that was good. He was pretty sick there, though. Julia is still busy with soccer and basketball afterschools, and Steph is also on the middle school soccer team, which is great! Maya plays with her friends all day and then wants to play more after school. When we get home, she is often very busy doing "homework." Her teacher, Mrs. Injeeli, is just great and we are so thrilled that Maya enjoys Pre-K 4.

So, as I mentioned at the beginning, it is now hot out here. I mean, really hot. I'm not comoplaining, I like heat, but it is very different now than it has been for the last few months. It gets very, very muggy, and you just constantly sweat, all the time, from the moment you hit the heat. Our air cons run at night, so we sleep great, and the air cons run in the classrooms, so we teach well. Anything other than that though, is a big sweat show. It's really, really, hot. I hope I'm making my point. Quite amazing. Over +30 in the house in the evenings. Really hot.

Finally, thanks to the MEI team for bringing us gifts! I hinted to that a while back, but i'm going to give you the complete list of how they blessed us:
Dean got NICE basketball runners from Pete, and the school got some good balls! They also carried over textbooks we needed for the school.

Our family got, are you ready for this, Costco size of all the following:
Red Licorice, chipits Chocolate chips, 2 Edwards decaf coffee tins, 2 bread knives, notecards, from House of James, 2 huge blocks of Cracker Barrel orange cheddar cheese (!), and there's more. They brought out Claire's old trumpet for Logos to use, and I've already played it and showed it to classes as part of our study on instruments of the orchestra. What else, oh yes, 2 muffin tins!!!, CHEERIOS, lots of them, a massive pack of Kraft dinner, and 2 huge tubs of Peanut Butter! we are STOCKED, and have lack of nothing! Tough life we're living, honest, it was way overboard! Just tonight, I made my first batch of chocolate chip muffins in the tins, with the real chocolate chips and let me tell you, I am now officially up for the running of Mother of the Year! haha I admit, they were tasty. And yes, I am baking indoors with a hot oven in way over +30. I'm sorry, but it is a necessity! haha

From meicambodiateam

So, how are you all? E-mails are always welcome, as are comments on the blog. sorry it often takes so long between posts. I need to get Dean to put up pictures, some of the MEI team, the garbage dump, them eating at our house. They brought some nice thank you gifts for Sokhom, who of course, made all the food to feed to them. It is weird hosting people for dinner and not have cooked it. Can't say it's a bad feeling, but still a weird one. We will be paying it forward for years to come, that's all I gotta say!!!

Take care all, and we'll hopefully write again soon.
Lots of love,
Les