I forgot to mention two very important things. We got a chance to see Joel Reimer and crew this past Monday. They DROVE in from Poipet, just to give us books that they brought back for Logos from Canada! So kind. Josh Peters is out helping for a few weeks, a YWAMer named Jason was along for the ride, and we got to meet Rochelle Schellenberg! (Joyce take note!) What a great girl. We have an open invitation to the Schellenberg family who is coming out around Christmas, to stay at our place if they want, for as long as they want. We all went out to dinner with some Logos staff to thank them for making the trips, just for us, to bring the books out. It was great to see them all. Joel is well and working extremely hard. They could only crash at our place one night, then get back to business, but they sure treated our kids great--Josh horsing around with Maya (she fell in love, I think), Rochelle chattin it up with Steph (and LEs) and Joel playing volleyball with Julia. These are truly great people who are all our here for the SOUL purpose of serving JEsus. We were blessed to have them for a short visit.
ALso, this is a big thing for our family: Maya is officially swimming. She got brave in the weeks before school, putting her head under, working with Dean, she finally took her waterwings off, and no lifejacket, and really swam to him. Mostly all underwater, but not touching on the bottom! If any of you know what her swimming history has been, I've honestly wondered if this day would ever come, and it's really nothing short of a miracle for her to lost her fear. Littly Suzie's growing up!
Anyways, wanted to mention those two things as well, considering their importance. Please keep reading as I posted a new blog last night, underneath this one, so don't miss it.
L
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Crying kittens, terrible termites, and weariness...
Subtitle to this blog entry: You know you're tired when losing a bowl of popcorn is traumatic...
Hi everyone!
Lesley here, wanting to say hello to loved ones, friends, ANYONE who will listen! whew, I'm wiped: Maybe the following is why.
Just completed our third week of school. Last night was Back to school night. Open House type of deal. Parents come to visit teachers. Teachers present their classrooms and course outlines. Some parents come, some don't. Teacher's get mildly stressed. Lesley was there as a parent and a teacher. Kindergarten presentation was excellent. Maya had work in her desk. She is actually doing stuff there! Mr. Bridell loves teaching Julia. Is having a bit of trouble keeping her organized. Welcome to the club! Lesley normally goes to bible study on Friday's after school. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Had to cut short Bible study because of Back to school night. Short supper, long evening. During the introductions, the elementary music teacher was not introduced as part of the elementary staff. Lesley not impressed. Dean was fine with it. OK, moving on...
Dean and Dan trying to get Sureyah ( Logos Grad) into Canada, to study at Trinity Western University. Scholarships in place. Funding in place. many doors open. This week, Sureyah goes by himself to Bangkok, to Canadian Embassy. First time out of Cambodia and he's on his own. More paperwork needed. Needs health check up. Embassy wants to send him back to Cambodia for doctor. Dan says get medical done in Bangkok. Dan tries to Pay hospital with Credit card. Won't work. Tried to send money through Western Union. Machine eats his card! Sureyah needs cheaper lodging. Finds cheaper lodging. Embassy says it's a 4 week wait for medical and all papers! Sureyah is crushed (school starts in two weeks. Plain ticket to Canada booked for one week.) All this is still currently unresolved. Please Lord, let him be in Canada for the FIRST day of school!!!
Househelper Sokhom has had a bad week. Can't work Wednesday, as Brother is sick. Didn't know she had a brother. Thought she had 4 sisters. One sister died last year. Thursday she comes to work. Says brother has died. Needs friday off for funeral. Is very sad. Cooks two meals for us, for THursday and Friday, and still does all our laundry. I tell a Khmer friend at school that Sokhom is in mourning. She gives me money to give to her. I find out that one is supposed to do this for funerals. We did not give any money when her sister died. She was dropping hints at the time. We give money for this funeral. She was probably hoping to get paid Thursday (early) to help cover costs. I did not think of that. Sokhom made some other small and miniscule slip ups the week before. Was frustrated with her. She offers to pay for the mistakes. I will not take her money. Lesley needs to not get frustrated over a few dollars and double purchases. Deal with it.
The Gr. 1 class is very busy. Very loud. Gr. 1's talk alot. I encourage new Teacher Ms. Cole and we work together. Thursday, there is a kitten lodged somewhere in the ceiling above Gr. 1 room. Kitten cries. And cries. Cries alot and long and very loud. The kids are distracted by the crying. Kids make crying cat sounds. Friday. Kitten cries again. Alot and loud. One of the guards tries to find kitten. It is in the roof, and cannot be reached. Kindergarteners hear the noise all day too. Stuck kitty. Crying kitty. A High school class goes on a field trip to see how silk is made. Student Dipan buys silk. Seller gives him a free kitten. A kitten so young, it's eyes aren't open. This kitty may not make it. Dipan brings back to school and whole school loves small kitten. Next day, Dipan rescues kitty in Gr. 1 ceiling. Dipan now has 2 kitties, he is feeding by syringe. He carries them around school. To class. Kitties cry alot. Everyone wants to hold small kitty. Kitty doesn't look well. By Saturday, the news is that the small kitty has died. Crying kitty from ceiling? Still with Mommy Dipan, so long as we know.
Lesley loses her voice 2 weeks ago. Still enjoys birthday party. No voice all week. Teaching music by CD. Hand actions. Lots of hand signs. Trying to read stories in Library time. Getting frustrated with inabilities. Sunday, Lesley starts to feel sick. Monday getting a cold or flu. Tuesday, too sick to go to school. Stay home. Sleep all day. Maya home too with the runs. Not fun for Kindergarten. Mr. Hein takes over as substitute. Wed. make it to school. Flu/cold moves into head and sinus. By weekend, try to swim underwater. Pressure is intense. Head might explode. Voice gaining, but not strong. Still trying not to talk. Cold moves into chest. Coughing up phlegm. Gross. Sorry for the details. Starting to feel better if only the sore muscles and intense fatigue would go away. Heat not helping. Week three of poor health. Operating at about 80% Driving Lesley crazy. Want to feel rested and wondering how.
Cold and throat causing choking spells. First, in a music store on Saturday. Got a tickle that couldn't cough out. Choking badly. Crying tears from inability to breath. Needed water immediately. Tried to drink. Freaking Stephanie out. can't talk. Eventually catch my breath and try to explain. Second, at choir practice. (Trying to join an adult choir in PP. Can't even sing due to laryngitis. Go anyways.) Take a sip of water and it goes down the wrong tube. Immediately start to cough and choke. Run out of rehearsal. Can't get air in AT ALL. Chest is heavy with phlegm. water is now also in lungs. CAN"T GET AIR iN AT ALL, and I'm not kidding. Outside, by myself, choking. Almost pass out. Wheeze in air for 20 seconds. Life flashes before my eyes, seriously. Start to get oxygen. Sit outside for 10 minutes. Breath in. Breath out. Thankful to breath. Traumatized and shaking.
Working at and enjoying new Library job. Teacher comes in looking for DVD's from last year. Can't find DVD's. Slightly upset that we can't find DVD's. Start to search the cupboards. Ly climbs up to top cupboard with boxes. Ly starts to cry "oh no!" Brings down boxes. Termites have eaten textbooks. LOTS of textbooks. Brand new, hard cover, Microsoft office 2007 textbooks for this year. Eaten. Some completely. Pages chewed up. Covers off and crumbling. 10 books salvagable. 20 in the garbage. A tremendous shame. So hard to get textbooks out here. So hard and so sad. What a waste. Took pictures of bugs, bugs and more bugs. Termites crawling all over them, everywhere! More than maddening. And unbelievable.
There is no air con in the library. Actually there is, but if we run it, it blows the power for the whole building. 2 librarians, one fan. Get a second fan from music room. It sort of works. Stops and starts. Only blows on my legs. I'm sweating all the time in the library. Putting away books is a work out. Ly never seems to sweat! The kids come in. They are hot. Need the fan on them too. Our library also has the staff photocopier in it. Very distracting to run library while photocopier is copying...
Trying to get to school everyday on time. Need to be there at 7:30 for devotions. Must leave the house at 7:10. No problem. 7:00. Finish eating. "Clear your dishes." 7:01. Gather snacks, get vitamins. make sure all have water and waterbottles. 7:05. Brush teeth. Pack bag. get keys out to unlock gate. "Julia, where are you?" Call again for Julia. Julia is looking for something. Steph is waiting. Maya needs hair brushed. 7:07. Try to unlock gate. Julia calls if we know where her something is. No, we do not. You should have packed the night before. Put water into bag. Make sure Maya's snack is in bag. Find out who hasn't eaten vitamin. Yell at Steph to clear her spot. Milk is still out. Put cereals away. 7:10. Need to leave now. Julia can't find her runners. Steph runs upstairs for something. Maya waiting. Put on your helmet, Maya. Maya tried to wear runners. Change your shoes Maya. Dean shaving in the bathroom. "Maya have you been to the bathroom?" Maya needs to go to the bathroom. Take shoes off. Dean brushing teeth while Maya using bathroom. Julia still not down. "Hurry up Julia!" Julia comes down. Needs to brush teeth, but bathroom busy. Mom unlocks gate and starts to move bikes out. 7:15. "If we do not leave now, we will be late." Steph gets on bike and waits. Maya waits for Daddy on the moto. Julia is almost ready. Still needs runners. Julia needs snack. Julia gets her water bottle. 7:18. I'm not waiting anymore. Dean leaves on moto with Maya. Julia gets packed on bike. Mom gets off bike to lock gate. Sokhom shows up. She needs to ask questions. 7:21. Start pedaling like a madperson to get to school on time. Traffic is busy. Cross busy street successfully. Arrive at school 7:29. Miracle. Park bikes. Wait for girls. Enter school property. Go directly to devotional room. Sit down and listen.....
Our new car. It's a love/hate thing. Love having a vehicle for the rain, and long distances. Hate actually having to drive it in PP traffic. Very stressful. There are no lanes. Motos fly around you. You get stuck waiting all the time. Apparently no working fuel gage on car. It's been on empty since we got it. I fill it up. so empty, have to stop at $50 on fill! Not impressed. (seems like nothing to North American folk, but when a fill on the moto is $2.70 at best, $50 is a big chunk of money!!!) Gauge goes up! maybe it does work--just needs gas in the tank to register! Car gone for 2 weeks, getting body work done. Ok, didn't need it anyways. Not sure if we'll ever get our car back. 2 weeks later, no phone call, no warning, two guys waiting outside our gate. Car is returned and fixed. They want money. I won't pay. Dean is not around, he's made all the deals, I have NO idea who these two guys really are. Sorry, you have to wait until my husband comes home. They're not impressed. Been waiting a long time already. Well, maybe you should PHONE that the car is ready, or let us know you'll be "delivering" it back. Strange. They get their money next day.
Car is finicky. Battery troubles. Miscellaneous times it won't start. All because I'm taking the key out the wrong way, and leaving lights on in car. Got it. Next time it barely starts on way to bible study. Turning over, won't catch. Car stalls just outside our gate before I park it. Not impressed. Dean comes out and starts it. Is it me? Today, we drive to mall for supper and groceries. I drive for practice. Car working fine. Air con good. Everybody happy. We turn into parkade, I stall car, and it DIES, completely. No life at all. Won't turn over. No click, nothing. Dean pushes wife and 3 kids into nearest parking spot. Dead. Look under the hood. Looks fishy with battery wires, but no solution. We decide to eat enjoyable burgers and not think about car for a half an hour. Eat. Half an hour is up. What to do? Look in mall for jumper cables. Sorry, no Canadian Tire. Go back down to car. Nothing. Decide to push it out to see if it starts on the run. Julia and Les (complete in skirt) push as HARD as they can, backing Dean up. Stephi directing traffic! Once, twice, three times a charm. Car starts. Les jumps up and down in parkade in glee. No electrical. I mean, not a lick of headlights, guages, air con, nothing. nada. dead. We decide to forget groceries and just try to make it HOME. (Sorry, no BCAA here!) Dean drives home with no lights. IT's a good thing that's not necessarily illegal in Cambodia. Follow other cars for lights. Keep opening doors at stops to get in air. Air is not fresh. It is a about 80% carbon monoxide from all the idling exhaust at stops. We all choke in car. Maya is sweating. Falls asleep. Half way home, all the electrical kicks in! LIghts! Air con! Definitely the battery. We make it home (PRAISE GOD!). Car will not start in driveway. At least, home. Will work on repairs and new battery tomorrow. Sigh....
Weary. Feeling weary. Everything seems to be a big task, takes lots of time. School is enjoyable, but collapse in exhaustion every day at 8;30 pm. Monday after school: staff meeting. Lesley ditches kids. Tuesday after school: 2 piano lessons: Les asks another teacher to watch Maya. Wed. after school: Aerobics. Can't get out of library in enough time to get to 4:30 aerobics. (still no energy for exercise.) Thursday after school: race to orthodontist. Steph needs adjustment to her appliance. Come back again in an hour. Take all kids home, run back with STeph. Dentist fiddles for 30 minutes with adjustments, only to finally realize have to start all over again with new appliance. Must come back in a week. Friday after school: bible study, shortened, run home, pick up bread on way home. Guy doesn't speak english. Won't sell me bread off his cart (only sandwiches). Finally sells me two baguettes. I'm ticked. Home late, back to school for open house/parent night. Kids home alone, AGAIN. Hmmmm....
Finally get home, tired out but the evening went well. Clean up the breakfast and supper dishes (No Sokhom, remember? Real life!) Finish dishes. Craving popcorn. Found kernels a few weeks back at a store. Hard to find out here. Must make popcorn. Use oil in pan. First batch ok, second batch burns a bit. Kids come down and start eating my popcorn. I, as a good mother, share. Make a bit more popcorn. 20 minutes making popcorn. (This is going to be so good!!!) Salt it up, pour beverage for Dean and myself. 2 beverages = no hand to carry the popcorn. "Steph, would you carry the popcorn upstairs?" Sure. Turn my back. Hear the sound. Crash. Popcorn all over the floor!!! We all freeze, and stare, just like in the movies, with mouths open. Can't say a thing. I just walk away and go upstairs.
Eventually we laugh. It was pretty funny. Steph felt so bad. Seems like these small difficulties add up over time: Health, transportation, work, kids, marriage, technical difficulties, cats, termites, popcorn! It's all working together to build character. Praying about it? Not enough, I'm afraid, and there the problem really lies. Oh for more quiet time, proper priorities, rather than good intentions. Good thing we're all a work in progress.
I hope you've read this and had a good laugh. If you can relate to anything today, I understand your pain and meet you there! It's all true, every last word of it. It's just that kind of a place out here. Everything takes enormous amounts of energy, that the heat alone can drain out of you quickly, never mind short term illness, cultural frustrations, mechanical difficulties, you name it!
Anyways, thanks for listening and letting me vent. Sorry if it sounds like complaining. It's not meant to. Please stay in touch with us. I know many of you are enjoying your last few days and weeks of summer holidays. I hope they are enjoyable. Please send us e-mails if you can, we love to hear from you all. I know it's a two way street, we need to do more reaching out, too. But if you got the impression from us this summer that we're doing "great" and we're handling stuff real well, so now we don't "need" you, THAT WAS A MISTAKE! Please, we need our loves ones and family to stay in touch and pray for us! thanks for all that you do. Take care all!
Hi everyone!
Lesley here, wanting to say hello to loved ones, friends, ANYONE who will listen! whew, I'm wiped: Maybe the following is why.
Just completed our third week of school. Last night was Back to school night. Open House type of deal. Parents come to visit teachers. Teachers present their classrooms and course outlines. Some parents come, some don't. Teacher's get mildly stressed. Lesley was there as a parent and a teacher. Kindergarten presentation was excellent. Maya had work in her desk. She is actually doing stuff there! Mr. Bridell loves teaching Julia. Is having a bit of trouble keeping her organized. Welcome to the club! Lesley normally goes to bible study on Friday's after school. Wouldn't miss it for the world. Had to cut short Bible study because of Back to school night. Short supper, long evening. During the introductions, the elementary music teacher was not introduced as part of the elementary staff. Lesley not impressed. Dean was fine with it. OK, moving on...
Dean and Dan trying to get Sureyah ( Logos Grad) into Canada, to study at Trinity Western University. Scholarships in place. Funding in place. many doors open. This week, Sureyah goes by himself to Bangkok, to Canadian Embassy. First time out of Cambodia and he's on his own. More paperwork needed. Needs health check up. Embassy wants to send him back to Cambodia for doctor. Dan says get medical done in Bangkok. Dan tries to Pay hospital with Credit card. Won't work. Tried to send money through Western Union. Machine eats his card! Sureyah needs cheaper lodging. Finds cheaper lodging. Embassy says it's a 4 week wait for medical and all papers! Sureyah is crushed (school starts in two weeks. Plain ticket to Canada booked for one week.) All this is still currently unresolved. Please Lord, let him be in Canada for the FIRST day of school!!!
Househelper Sokhom has had a bad week. Can't work Wednesday, as Brother is sick. Didn't know she had a brother. Thought she had 4 sisters. One sister died last year. Thursday she comes to work. Says brother has died. Needs friday off for funeral. Is very sad. Cooks two meals for us, for THursday and Friday, and still does all our laundry. I tell a Khmer friend at school that Sokhom is in mourning. She gives me money to give to her. I find out that one is supposed to do this for funerals. We did not give any money when her sister died. She was dropping hints at the time. We give money for this funeral. She was probably hoping to get paid Thursday (early) to help cover costs. I did not think of that. Sokhom made some other small and miniscule slip ups the week before. Was frustrated with her. She offers to pay for the mistakes. I will not take her money. Lesley needs to not get frustrated over a few dollars and double purchases. Deal with it.
The Gr. 1 class is very busy. Very loud. Gr. 1's talk alot. I encourage new Teacher Ms. Cole and we work together. Thursday, there is a kitten lodged somewhere in the ceiling above Gr. 1 room. Kitten cries. And cries. Cries alot and long and very loud. The kids are distracted by the crying. Kids make crying cat sounds. Friday. Kitten cries again. Alot and loud. One of the guards tries to find kitten. It is in the roof, and cannot be reached. Kindergarteners hear the noise all day too. Stuck kitty. Crying kitty. A High school class goes on a field trip to see how silk is made. Student Dipan buys silk. Seller gives him a free kitten. A kitten so young, it's eyes aren't open. This kitty may not make it. Dipan brings back to school and whole school loves small kitten. Next day, Dipan rescues kitty in Gr. 1 ceiling. Dipan now has 2 kitties, he is feeding by syringe. He carries them around school. To class. Kitties cry alot. Everyone wants to hold small kitty. Kitty doesn't look well. By Saturday, the news is that the small kitty has died. Crying kitty from ceiling? Still with Mommy Dipan, so long as we know.
Lesley loses her voice 2 weeks ago. Still enjoys birthday party. No voice all week. Teaching music by CD. Hand actions. Lots of hand signs. Trying to read stories in Library time. Getting frustrated with inabilities. Sunday, Lesley starts to feel sick. Monday getting a cold or flu. Tuesday, too sick to go to school. Stay home. Sleep all day. Maya home too with the runs. Not fun for Kindergarten. Mr. Hein takes over as substitute. Wed. make it to school. Flu/cold moves into head and sinus. By weekend, try to swim underwater. Pressure is intense. Head might explode. Voice gaining, but not strong. Still trying not to talk. Cold moves into chest. Coughing up phlegm. Gross. Sorry for the details. Starting to feel better if only the sore muscles and intense fatigue would go away. Heat not helping. Week three of poor health. Operating at about 80% Driving Lesley crazy. Want to feel rested and wondering how.
Cold and throat causing choking spells. First, in a music store on Saturday. Got a tickle that couldn't cough out. Choking badly. Crying tears from inability to breath. Needed water immediately. Tried to drink. Freaking Stephanie out. can't talk. Eventually catch my breath and try to explain. Second, at choir practice. (Trying to join an adult choir in PP. Can't even sing due to laryngitis. Go anyways.) Take a sip of water and it goes down the wrong tube. Immediately start to cough and choke. Run out of rehearsal. Can't get air in AT ALL. Chest is heavy with phlegm. water is now also in lungs. CAN"T GET AIR iN AT ALL, and I'm not kidding. Outside, by myself, choking. Almost pass out. Wheeze in air for 20 seconds. Life flashes before my eyes, seriously. Start to get oxygen. Sit outside for 10 minutes. Breath in. Breath out. Thankful to breath. Traumatized and shaking.
Working at and enjoying new Library job. Teacher comes in looking for DVD's from last year. Can't find DVD's. Slightly upset that we can't find DVD's. Start to search the cupboards. Ly climbs up to top cupboard with boxes. Ly starts to cry "oh no!" Brings down boxes. Termites have eaten textbooks. LOTS of textbooks. Brand new, hard cover, Microsoft office 2007 textbooks for this year. Eaten. Some completely. Pages chewed up. Covers off and crumbling. 10 books salvagable. 20 in the garbage. A tremendous shame. So hard to get textbooks out here. So hard and so sad. What a waste. Took pictures of bugs, bugs and more bugs. Termites crawling all over them, everywhere! More than maddening. And unbelievable.
There is no air con in the library. Actually there is, but if we run it, it blows the power for the whole building. 2 librarians, one fan. Get a second fan from music room. It sort of works. Stops and starts. Only blows on my legs. I'm sweating all the time in the library. Putting away books is a work out. Ly never seems to sweat! The kids come in. They are hot. Need the fan on them too. Our library also has the staff photocopier in it. Very distracting to run library while photocopier is copying...
Trying to get to school everyday on time. Need to be there at 7:30 for devotions. Must leave the house at 7:10. No problem. 7:00. Finish eating. "Clear your dishes." 7:01. Gather snacks, get vitamins. make sure all have water and waterbottles. 7:05. Brush teeth. Pack bag. get keys out to unlock gate. "Julia, where are you?" Call again for Julia. Julia is looking for something. Steph is waiting. Maya needs hair brushed. 7:07. Try to unlock gate. Julia calls if we know where her something is. No, we do not. You should have packed the night before. Put water into bag. Make sure Maya's snack is in bag. Find out who hasn't eaten vitamin. Yell at Steph to clear her spot. Milk is still out. Put cereals away. 7:10. Need to leave now. Julia can't find her runners. Steph runs upstairs for something. Maya waiting. Put on your helmet, Maya. Maya tried to wear runners. Change your shoes Maya. Dean shaving in the bathroom. "Maya have you been to the bathroom?" Maya needs to go to the bathroom. Take shoes off. Dean brushing teeth while Maya using bathroom. Julia still not down. "Hurry up Julia!" Julia comes down. Needs to brush teeth, but bathroom busy. Mom unlocks gate and starts to move bikes out. 7:15. "If we do not leave now, we will be late." Steph gets on bike and waits. Maya waits for Daddy on the moto. Julia is almost ready. Still needs runners. Julia needs snack. Julia gets her water bottle. 7:18. I'm not waiting anymore. Dean leaves on moto with Maya. Julia gets packed on bike. Mom gets off bike to lock gate. Sokhom shows up. She needs to ask questions. 7:21. Start pedaling like a madperson to get to school on time. Traffic is busy. Cross busy street successfully. Arrive at school 7:29. Miracle. Park bikes. Wait for girls. Enter school property. Go directly to devotional room. Sit down and listen.....
Our new car. It's a love/hate thing. Love having a vehicle for the rain, and long distances. Hate actually having to drive it in PP traffic. Very stressful. There are no lanes. Motos fly around you. You get stuck waiting all the time. Apparently no working fuel gage on car. It's been on empty since we got it. I fill it up. so empty, have to stop at $50 on fill! Not impressed. (seems like nothing to North American folk, but when a fill on the moto is $2.70 at best, $50 is a big chunk of money!!!) Gauge goes up! maybe it does work--just needs gas in the tank to register! Car gone for 2 weeks, getting body work done. Ok, didn't need it anyways. Not sure if we'll ever get our car back. 2 weeks later, no phone call, no warning, two guys waiting outside our gate. Car is returned and fixed. They want money. I won't pay. Dean is not around, he's made all the deals, I have NO idea who these two guys really are. Sorry, you have to wait until my husband comes home. They're not impressed. Been waiting a long time already. Well, maybe you should PHONE that the car is ready, or let us know you'll be "delivering" it back. Strange. They get their money next day.
Car is finicky. Battery troubles. Miscellaneous times it won't start. All because I'm taking the key out the wrong way, and leaving lights on in car. Got it. Next time it barely starts on way to bible study. Turning over, won't catch. Car stalls just outside our gate before I park it. Not impressed. Dean comes out and starts it. Is it me? Today, we drive to mall for supper and groceries. I drive for practice. Car working fine. Air con good. Everybody happy. We turn into parkade, I stall car, and it DIES, completely. No life at all. Won't turn over. No click, nothing. Dean pushes wife and 3 kids into nearest parking spot. Dead. Look under the hood. Looks fishy with battery wires, but no solution. We decide to eat enjoyable burgers and not think about car for a half an hour. Eat. Half an hour is up. What to do? Look in mall for jumper cables. Sorry, no Canadian Tire. Go back down to car. Nothing. Decide to push it out to see if it starts on the run. Julia and Les (complete in skirt) push as HARD as they can, backing Dean up. Stephi directing traffic! Once, twice, three times a charm. Car starts. Les jumps up and down in parkade in glee. No electrical. I mean, not a lick of headlights, guages, air con, nothing. nada. dead. We decide to forget groceries and just try to make it HOME. (Sorry, no BCAA here!) Dean drives home with no lights. IT's a good thing that's not necessarily illegal in Cambodia. Follow other cars for lights. Keep opening doors at stops to get in air. Air is not fresh. It is a about 80% carbon monoxide from all the idling exhaust at stops. We all choke in car. Maya is sweating. Falls asleep. Half way home, all the electrical kicks in! LIghts! Air con! Definitely the battery. We make it home (PRAISE GOD!). Car will not start in driveway. At least, home. Will work on repairs and new battery tomorrow. Sigh....
Weary. Feeling weary. Everything seems to be a big task, takes lots of time. School is enjoyable, but collapse in exhaustion every day at 8;30 pm. Monday after school: staff meeting. Lesley ditches kids. Tuesday after school: 2 piano lessons: Les asks another teacher to watch Maya. Wed. after school: Aerobics. Can't get out of library in enough time to get to 4:30 aerobics. (still no energy for exercise.) Thursday after school: race to orthodontist. Steph needs adjustment to her appliance. Come back again in an hour. Take all kids home, run back with STeph. Dentist fiddles for 30 minutes with adjustments, only to finally realize have to start all over again with new appliance. Must come back in a week. Friday after school: bible study, shortened, run home, pick up bread on way home. Guy doesn't speak english. Won't sell me bread off his cart (only sandwiches). Finally sells me two baguettes. I'm ticked. Home late, back to school for open house/parent night. Kids home alone, AGAIN. Hmmmm....
Finally get home, tired out but the evening went well. Clean up the breakfast and supper dishes (No Sokhom, remember? Real life!) Finish dishes. Craving popcorn. Found kernels a few weeks back at a store. Hard to find out here. Must make popcorn. Use oil in pan. First batch ok, second batch burns a bit. Kids come down and start eating my popcorn. I, as a good mother, share. Make a bit more popcorn. 20 minutes making popcorn. (This is going to be so good!!!) Salt it up, pour beverage for Dean and myself. 2 beverages = no hand to carry the popcorn. "Steph, would you carry the popcorn upstairs?" Sure. Turn my back. Hear the sound. Crash. Popcorn all over the floor!!! We all freeze, and stare, just like in the movies, with mouths open. Can't say a thing. I just walk away and go upstairs.
Eventually we laugh. It was pretty funny. Steph felt so bad. Seems like these small difficulties add up over time: Health, transportation, work, kids, marriage, technical difficulties, cats, termites, popcorn! It's all working together to build character. Praying about it? Not enough, I'm afraid, and there the problem really lies. Oh for more quiet time, proper priorities, rather than good intentions. Good thing we're all a work in progress.
I hope you've read this and had a good laugh. If you can relate to anything today, I understand your pain and meet you there! It's all true, every last word of it. It's just that kind of a place out here. Everything takes enormous amounts of energy, that the heat alone can drain out of you quickly, never mind short term illness, cultural frustrations, mechanical difficulties, you name it!
Anyways, thanks for listening and letting me vent. Sorry if it sounds like complaining. It's not meant to. Please stay in touch with us. I know many of you are enjoying your last few days and weeks of summer holidays. I hope they are enjoyable. Please send us e-mails if you can, we love to hear from you all. I know it's a two way street, we need to do more reaching out, too. But if you got the impression from us this summer that we're doing "great" and we're handling stuff real well, so now we don't "need" you, THAT WAS A MISTAKE! Please, we need our loves ones and family to stay in touch and pray for us! thanks for all that you do. Take care all!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
New School coming along nicely
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| click here to see pics of the New school progress as on Aug 21 |
I really never thought I would do something like this. Here I am, in Cambodia, helping with all the goings on of building a new school. That has been a crazy part of this job, and at the same time it is a really great thing to see happening here. (Even though the practices of Cambodian construction and safety are completely foreign to me). As some of you have asked a few times, I will post this link above to the latest pics I took on Friday of the new Logos school being built out in Phnom Penh Thmei. This building really is an amazing story for Logos. In short it goes something like this.
As Logos is currently now occupying three homes side by side as it's current school, the quarters are cramped (mind you there is a charm about the lack of room). Logos is facing the constant increase in rent costs as each home is owned by a different home owner and each owner knows the school needs his building to keep going. Rent increases are going up way beyond affordable for the school. For example, one building the rent is $700/month. However, when the idea of re-negotiations came up, this home owner now demands $2200/month (for her house only!!!) The other landowners talk and see how much the other is charging and try to extort more from the school. Even the basketball court land is a problem. That homeowner has told us he won't even rent it to us again because he wants to put up a different building and charge more rent.
Along comes a Cambodian developer who, two years ago, says he will build us a school the way we would like, as long as we sign a long 25 year rental agreement. Excuse me?? Could this be too good, or perhaps God is involved here?? The rent is all scaled and predetermined. Logos school has not even had to pay most of the building costs.So we asked the developer for certain thingslike, we would like a pool. The developer says "OK". We then say, we would like a basketball court. He again says "Fine". We then say we would like a small playing field. He says, "no problem". Wow, this really is incredible! However, as we are going through this project we are noticing that the developer is still trying to cut costs wherever he can and that is leaving us to pay for certain things.
One of the desires for the school has been to get a covered roof on the basketball court to help keep the blazing sun off the children. Thanks to a gentleman in Manitoba, that is going to be a reality. He has donated $18,000, half the cost of putting up this roof structure (a real answer to prayer).
There are other costs that we are responsible to cover like, We are also looking for a diesel generator for the school (I am thinking this is about $20,000)- we have not got this one figured out yet.
We also need a computer lab (need 25 laptops here because the power goes out for a many hours/day). The laptops have the built in UPS and also a built in power supply. Some of the newer laptops can last over 3 hours, which would be great. The laptops also draw less power, a real plus in an area where power costs alot.
We have a field, and it is going to be a mud bath or a dust bowl- I am dreaming big and praying for some turf! Dream Big right?
Anyways, take a look if you are interested. This project does take a fair bit of my time here.
Blessings,
Dean
P.S. We also took the staff to the site around March of last year and we prayed and sprayed Bible verses all over the building. The Khmer workers thought we were crazy because they said they were going to paint over it. We told them that is exactly what we wanted to have happen.
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| From march 28 cambodia |
P.S.S. Below are some of the old pics from before.
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| Logos building from January |
Saturday, August 15, 2009
First days and birthdays!
Hi all! Much love to you.
This is the long awaited update on the first week of school for us all. It was generally successful. The big kids did well, Steph easing into Gr 8 with a few course changes in the week, including a move into Algebra 1, which is a Gr 9 course. It was that, or do alot of repeated work, so she's going to enjoy the challenge. Julia started Gr. 6, and with that comes a new schedule, still a full classroom much like elementary school, but a few different teachers, different starting times, different lunch time, different uniform (from last year.) She was late for a couple classes the second day, just playing too long and forgetting that she is no longer lined up by teachers, but is expected to keep track of time and show up on her own. Her teacher was very gracious, as he was late for some things that day too. We all needed the week to get used to things. Julia's teacher is Mr. Bridell, who came from the St. Paul area with his Cambodian wife who is also on staff. He has provided an excellent first week for Jubes, so we are thankful.
Maya had her first week of Kindergarten. It was very exciting the first day. At the end of the second day, when I was talking to her after school, she recounts to me that today she got "kicked out!" ??? Kicked out of Kindergarten??? Already? I had to stifle a laugh and try to get to the bottom of things. It sounded like she was "removed" from the carpet area for not doing as she was told, playing instead of listening, something like that. She said her teacher was mad at her, but I don't think that was the case. It was quite cute and she improved over the course of the week (or the class in general did) but it was just really funny to hear thos word "kicked out" coming from her mouth! She was pretty tired some days, but we just keep going to bed as early as possible.
Things ran fairly smooth for Dean and admin. The usual beginning of the year stuff to deal with, assemblies, class list changes, etc. I had a terrific week due to so many factors, but with my new position, I find I am really enjoying it and loving the library work. Ly is training me in alot of the computer stuff, I'm getting more used to the type of work it involves (which I really like) and my music classes were great! So much fun for me to teach. If I didn't mention before, our school, thanks to some fundraising by an elementary school in the States (Trendell?) were able to order some Orff instruments for the elementary music program. I came back from Canada to find they had ALL arrived! We openned the boxes, and WOW, it was like Christmas. A few soprano, alto xylphones, and one big bass xylophones, a couple metalophones, and if that doesn't mean anything to you, just take it as a tremendous improvement to our classes! There are about 12 new instruments, and they won't even fit in our music room to actually use, until the new school. I can't wait to introduce them and use them! So much fun.
What was a lovely surprise for me, was teaching middle school music. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but so far, it's been one of my favorite classes. Super kids, with great hearts, and good intentions, AND we are going to pursue an instrumental emphasis in class! What this means is that we have enough band instruments and electronic equivalents to make a bit of a "band" program a go! It's exciting. Logos officially has 3 clarinets, 2 flutes and one trumpet for students to use, and we have a drum set, two students who can bring their own electric guitar and bass, AND we have a few keyboards and a piano that can fill in parts! So, this is an answer to prayer, that I have been asking for since last year. We are still looking though, for more instruments, of course. ANyone reading this who is currently IN Cambodia, and has a flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto saxophone or trombone that they could loan/donate/sell cheaply to Logos??? We would still take anything more we could get! I'm going to make one last call on some of the internet sights that advertise and see if we could get any more. ANyways, the whole time has been a great week and very exciting with the promise of great music learning!!!
Monday was Aug 10. I sang and taught and towards the end of the day, I felt my voice tender and starting to go. Well, I had lost my voice quite significanty by TuesdayAugust 11, and for the rest of the week even up til today! I am not sick, don't feel the least bit ill, but I have a very bad case of laringitis, and have attempted to teach all week with it, but it's not been good, and what I really need to do is rest it. I'm prett sure it's just using my voice and being out of shape, probably the air quality doesn't help it, but I'm a little concerned at this point, cuz I was sure it would start to improve by later in the week. I see myself playing charades all next week to try and heal it. From what I've heard, you're not even supposed to whisper when things get this bad (is that true SLy?) but I've tried to talk all week, reading kids stories in library, in the music class. So, I must pray that this goes away quickly, because teaching in general without a voice is virtually impossible, but teaching MUSIC without a voice pretty much IS impossible! We'll see how this goes...
Lesley's Birthday:
Well, Aug 11, the day I lost my voice, was also my 40th birthday! ha ha. God has a great sense of humor! I guess the message is "shut up and listen!" I hope I can learn that this year! I would love to tell you what my birthday (week) was like. SO many of you have e-mailed, sent wishes and so many kind words and blessings. This was my amazing day!
I woke up at 5:30 am to go for a run. I've learned that early morning runs are the only way to do it here, with the temperature outside (did I mention that it's been VERY hot lately? Really hote!) Anyways, I've wanted to keep up with the running I got back into this summer in Canada, so I've been doing it as much as I can early in the morning. Well, I get downstairs very early, no one else is up, and everywhere I look, there are signs posted ALL over the house! It started with one on my pillow "40 reasons why I love you. #1 You are the Love of my life!" GULP! It was all from Dean, 40 reasons, stuck up all over the walls and other places in the house, stating reasons why he loved me! I started to cry, and pretty much cried for the rest of the day! haha. (It was rather pathetic!) But it was so nice, mostly because the reasons were very well thought out, like "23 of 40. Your ability to backpack when you were yonger even though it wasn't the "funnest" thing." Or 13 of 40 "The way you try not to laugh at my stupid jokes" (My sister Cathy will like that one!) And it just went on and on! Most of them were things I never even thought he noticed or realized, let alone cared about! Some were even at school and I didn't find a few until later that night upon going upstairs! So, it was an unbelievable way to start the day. I don't even know why, the night before, I didn't go downstairs, as I usually do! But i was in our bedroom (aircon!) reading some school work and just didn't go downstairs, for some reason, providing him and the girls time to put everything up! I was in shock, and headed out the gate with tears in my eyes.
5:45 am, I went for a run around the quiet streets of Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, at the dawn of my 40th birthday! How many people can say they that? What a priviledge!!!
Well, School was fun that day, because everyone knew it was my birthday, and I started receivng "40" of things, from gum, to instant coffee, stickers! A couple lists of 40 reasons why we love you! My good friend Casey met me at the gate with a card and 40 "choco chex cereal" (really good!) and a long list of 40 things her and her family like about me. The tears just continued! Really, I had to pull myself together! Lots of well wishes, and people were just so very kind!!!
Then, Dean interrupted one of my classes with a bouquet of 40 red helium balloons! Tied those up in the library! Not an hour later, He comes in with 40 Roses! Where did this guy come from and would you please bring me back my husband?!! Finally, the best surprise, I had actually found out the day before. We had staff meeting monday after the first day of school, and Dean announces that since there is no way to surprise me because I'm so suspicious (I prefer it to be "aware") everyone is invited to a party, Friday night on the third floor of the FCC, a great restaurant on the river front , from 7-9, appies, beverages, and lots of 80's music!!! I went completely red, as this was a huge surprise to me right then. I also found out that he had sent out e-mails letting people know, but just took it that far to surprise me! It was great, cuz it was something we could all look forward to to celebrate getting through our first week, which was a hugely monumental thing to do for many of us, especially the new teachers, or new to cambodia teachers!
We even went out to a simple supper on my birthday, and came home to birthday cake. It was lovely. The family all gave me a card, and Steph wrote some really beautiful things to her mom. Wow. How many mom's can have those kinds of loving words come from their 13 year old? Once again, I was reminded of the life of priveledge I lead. In fact, that is what was so reflective about my birthday--There but by the Grace of God go I. Why me? Why a healthy life? Why a lasting, quality marriage and three beautiful, healthy children? Why did I get to have the utmost of priviledged childhoods, with two loving and sacrificing parents who made sure I had green grass and a safe yard to play in, who insisted I get a good education and never made university an option, but made sure I got the best of everything! I think of that so much now here in Cambodia, where education, especially a good one, is elusive to so many, and there are so many parents who don't or can't value education and need their kids to work to bring home money. 1975-1979, while there was a war ravaging this country, I was a happy-go-lucky kid, playin going to school, eating, sleeping and living in a safe, priviledged country. These are the things I thought of all day long and could not stop the tears!
And to be 40 years old, serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ here in Cambodia, is beyond my wildest dreams, literally, for anything I ever had for myself. And to be here with my family, willingly serving, just doing a job we believe God has set out for us to do at a time such as this... Ah, I cannot fathom the priveledge, or what it ever was I did to deserve this. I am beside myself even now thinking about it. And I can only be thankful and reflect and say THANK YOU to those who have enabled me to have this life of priveledge. Besides God, to whom I give the glory, I have to say thank you to my Mom and Dad. They loved and still do love me so much, they showed me what a strong marriage should look like, and they showed me the value of hard work and discipline. And they cared for me, loved me, sacrificed for me and my sisters to a level that not many parents are willing or able to go. Thank you, M & D, for giving me the life you were able to give me, and for letting me go to Gimli Bible camp, where I first heard, really heard, about what a friend Jesus could be for me.
Then, of course I cannot list everyone I think of who played a merciful role in my life right here, but the fact that we are in PP right now, is thanks to people who support us. People who give money, say prayers, gave us a meal, think of us, read out blog, send an encouraging message our way. I mean, honestly, the priviledge we have (ok, I know I sound like a broken record) but honestly, to be out here is HUGE! There is absolutely no where else I/we would rather be right now but right here, doing what we're doing, and it would not be possible without the support, in all forms, of people who love us! It blows my mind, and turning 40 just highlighted everything so much for me. SO sentimental and reflective, but I don't care! Throw my stallworth-ness (is that a word?) to the wind! It was GREAT to turn 40! Something I didn't think I would ever say! Good to be thankful! Good to be alive and healthy and living life!!!
The best was yet to come: The party!!! I write on Saturday, so last night, Friday night, was the big bash at FCC. First of all, it's a lovely restaurant, frequented by foregners almost exclusively, but it's really the happenin place to be (and now that I'm 40, I'm happenin, right?) THe history of the "Foreign correspondants Club" is it was the place journalists went during the war to get information in and out of the country. SO, it's full of pictures of the war, it's all open air too, overlooking the Mekong river, and the most touresty part of the city.
Dean had reserved the top, third floor, a whole section that came with a speaker system, and had invited our whole staff to come out and celebrate me and completing the first week of school! Tons of people came. Staff, our couple friends, Dean even had Jordy and Micah come to hang out with Steph and Julia, and Kara Dedert brought Sophie, to chum with Maya. There were tables to sit at, appies to eat, a little dance floor, and with all 80's music, what else could you do but dance??? It was a blast! I never knew that I would dance the night away on my 40th birthday! (Too bad it wasn't my wedding!!) Great tunes, good food, great people, all adds up to a good time. 7-9 we "partied" then had birthday cake. I swear, I sang every word to every song that was played that night! Too bad my brain can't memorize like that anymore, or maybe it really still can! It was so fun! Lots more "40" birthday presents too, like 40 almonds for "acid reflux" 40 lychee nuts, 40 100Riel bills (that's a whopping $1US). A huge card signed by everyone, and lots of little cards, letters, well wishes, nice things said! Casey and matt Friedberg agreed to pick up cakes, as did the Suh's and they were very yummy. The kids even eventually got up and danced with some of their teachers, which turned out to be just, again, so much fun.
We went home around 10 in a tuk tuk, tired, VERY sweaty and with big smiles on our faces. What's funny is my Dad has always said my birthday in August, has always been a nice day! Well, officially, this birthday was the hottest! I don't know what the temp got up to cuz no one ever seems to know, but let me tell you, it was a dripper! The restaurant has fans, but when you're dancing up a storm, it's still just a sweat fest in that temp! haha. So, it was fun. Maya fell asleep in the tuk tuk, which was not the first time that's ever happened, and I'm sure it won't be the last!
Well, that about sums it up, it was awesome, I felt very special and loved every minute of the laughs, even if no one could actually hear what I was saying because of my voice! Still, as we drove home, one little child came up to us, seeing us carrying the cake box home, and pointing from it to her mouth, begging for food. It breaks your heart and a part of me thinks that there are so many people in this country who will NEVER experience the priveledge I have had even that night, of a nice place to eat, nice clothes, a fun, safe party to celebrate just them, a quality education, a loving family. I can't list all the things people don't have out here. I guess the key is to be aware, be thankful when we do have times of priveledge, and did I mention be thankful??? That's the key!
Well, great writing to you all, and hope to hear from you soon via e-mail. Lots of love, lots of Thanks, and Cheers to God, without whom, non of this life is possible!!!
xo,
L
Wed, THurs, and Fri, without my voice, I thanked people for the well wishes! It was a full birthday week.
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| From the girls head off to first day of school (20) pics |
This is the long awaited update on the first week of school for us all. It was generally successful. The big kids did well, Steph easing into Gr 8 with a few course changes in the week, including a move into Algebra 1, which is a Gr 9 course. It was that, or do alot of repeated work, so she's going to enjoy the challenge. Julia started Gr. 6, and with that comes a new schedule, still a full classroom much like elementary school, but a few different teachers, different starting times, different lunch time, different uniform (from last year.) She was late for a couple classes the second day, just playing too long and forgetting that she is no longer lined up by teachers, but is expected to keep track of time and show up on her own. Her teacher was very gracious, as he was late for some things that day too. We all needed the week to get used to things. Julia's teacher is Mr. Bridell, who came from the St. Paul area with his Cambodian wife who is also on staff. He has provided an excellent first week for Jubes, so we are thankful.
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| From Maya showing off her new uniform |
Maya had her first week of Kindergarten. It was very exciting the first day. At the end of the second day, when I was talking to her after school, she recounts to me that today she got "kicked out!" ??? Kicked out of Kindergarten??? Already? I had to stifle a laugh and try to get to the bottom of things. It sounded like she was "removed" from the carpet area for not doing as she was told, playing instead of listening, something like that. She said her teacher was mad at her, but I don't think that was the case. It was quite cute and she improved over the course of the week (or the class in general did) but it was just really funny to hear thos word "kicked out" coming from her mouth! She was pretty tired some days, but we just keep going to bed as early as possible.
Things ran fairly smooth for Dean and admin. The usual beginning of the year stuff to deal with, assemblies, class list changes, etc. I had a terrific week due to so many factors, but with my new position, I find I am really enjoying it and loving the library work. Ly is training me in alot of the computer stuff, I'm getting more used to the type of work it involves (which I really like) and my music classes were great! So much fun for me to teach. If I didn't mention before, our school, thanks to some fundraising by an elementary school in the States (Trendell?) were able to order some Orff instruments for the elementary music program. I came back from Canada to find they had ALL arrived! We openned the boxes, and WOW, it was like Christmas. A few soprano, alto xylphones, and one big bass xylophones, a couple metalophones, and if that doesn't mean anything to you, just take it as a tremendous improvement to our classes! There are about 12 new instruments, and they won't even fit in our music room to actually use, until the new school. I can't wait to introduce them and use them! So much fun.
 |
| firstweekofschool_lesbirthday |
What was a lovely surprise for me, was teaching middle school music. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but so far, it's been one of my favorite classes. Super kids, with great hearts, and good intentions, AND we are going to pursue an instrumental emphasis in class! What this means is that we have enough band instruments and electronic equivalents to make a bit of a "band" program a go! It's exciting. Logos officially has 3 clarinets, 2 flutes and one trumpet for students to use, and we have a drum set, two students who can bring their own electric guitar and bass, AND we have a few keyboards and a piano that can fill in parts! So, this is an answer to prayer, that I have been asking for since last year. We are still looking though, for more instruments, of course. ANyone reading this who is currently IN Cambodia, and has a flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto saxophone or trombone that they could loan/donate/sell cheaply to Logos??? We would still take anything more we could get! I'm going to make one last call on some of the internet sights that advertise and see if we could get any more. ANyways, the whole time has been a great week and very exciting with the promise of great music learning!!!
Monday was Aug 10. I sang and taught and towards the end of the day, I felt my voice tender and starting to go. Well, I had lost my voice quite significanty by TuesdayAugust 11, and for the rest of the week even up til today! I am not sick, don't feel the least bit ill, but I have a very bad case of laringitis, and have attempted to teach all week with it, but it's not been good, and what I really need to do is rest it. I'm prett sure it's just using my voice and being out of shape, probably the air quality doesn't help it, but I'm a little concerned at this point, cuz I was sure it would start to improve by later in the week. I see myself playing charades all next week to try and heal it. From what I've heard, you're not even supposed to whisper when things get this bad (is that true SLy?) but I've tried to talk all week, reading kids stories in library, in the music class. So, I must pray that this goes away quickly, because teaching in general without a voice is virtually impossible, but teaching MUSIC without a voice pretty much IS impossible! We'll see how this goes...
Lesley's Birthday:
Well, Aug 11, the day I lost my voice, was also my 40th birthday! ha ha. God has a great sense of humor! I guess the message is "shut up and listen!" I hope I can learn that this year! I would love to tell you what my birthday (week) was like. SO many of you have e-mailed, sent wishes and so many kind words and blessings. This was my amazing day!
I woke up at 5:30 am to go for a run. I've learned that early morning runs are the only way to do it here, with the temperature outside (did I mention that it's been VERY hot lately? Really hote!) Anyways, I've wanted to keep up with the running I got back into this summer in Canada, so I've been doing it as much as I can early in the morning. Well, I get downstairs very early, no one else is up, and everywhere I look, there are signs posted ALL over the house! It started with one on my pillow "40 reasons why I love you. #1 You are the Love of my life!" GULP! It was all from Dean, 40 reasons, stuck up all over the walls and other places in the house, stating reasons why he loved me! I started to cry, and pretty much cried for the rest of the day! haha. (It was rather pathetic!) But it was so nice, mostly because the reasons were very well thought out, like "23 of 40. Your ability to backpack when you were yonger even though it wasn't the "funnest" thing." Or 13 of 40 "The way you try not to laugh at my stupid jokes" (My sister Cathy will like that one!) And it just went on and on! Most of them were things I never even thought he noticed or realized, let alone cared about! Some were even at school and I didn't find a few until later that night upon going upstairs! So, it was an unbelievable way to start the day. I don't even know why, the night before, I didn't go downstairs, as I usually do! But i was in our bedroom (aircon!) reading some school work and just didn't go downstairs, for some reason, providing him and the girls time to put everything up! I was in shock, and headed out the gate with tears in my eyes.
5:45 am, I went for a run around the quiet streets of Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, at the dawn of my 40th birthday! How many people can say they that? What a priviledge!!!
Well, School was fun that day, because everyone knew it was my birthday, and I started receivng "40" of things, from gum, to instant coffee, stickers! A couple lists of 40 reasons why we love you! My good friend Casey met me at the gate with a card and 40 "choco chex cereal" (really good!) and a long list of 40 things her and her family like about me. The tears just continued! Really, I had to pull myself together! Lots of well wishes, and people were just so very kind!!!
Then, Dean interrupted one of my classes with a bouquet of 40 red helium balloons! Tied those up in the library! Not an hour later, He comes in with 40 Roses! Where did this guy come from and would you please bring me back my husband?!! Finally, the best surprise, I had actually found out the day before. We had staff meeting monday after the first day of school, and Dean announces that since there is no way to surprise me because I'm so suspicious (I prefer it to be "aware") everyone is invited to a party, Friday night on the third floor of the FCC, a great restaurant on the river front , from 7-9, appies, beverages, and lots of 80's music!!! I went completely red, as this was a huge surprise to me right then. I also found out that he had sent out e-mails letting people know, but just took it that far to surprise me! It was great, cuz it was something we could all look forward to to celebrate getting through our first week, which was a hugely monumental thing to do for many of us, especially the new teachers, or new to cambodia teachers!
We even went out to a simple supper on my birthday, and came home to birthday cake. It was lovely. The family all gave me a card, and Steph wrote some really beautiful things to her mom. Wow. How many mom's can have those kinds of loving words come from their 13 year old? Once again, I was reminded of the life of priveledge I lead. In fact, that is what was so reflective about my birthday--There but by the Grace of God go I. Why me? Why a healthy life? Why a lasting, quality marriage and three beautiful, healthy children? Why did I get to have the utmost of priviledged childhoods, with two loving and sacrificing parents who made sure I had green grass and a safe yard to play in, who insisted I get a good education and never made university an option, but made sure I got the best of everything! I think of that so much now here in Cambodia, where education, especially a good one, is elusive to so many, and there are so many parents who don't or can't value education and need their kids to work to bring home money. 1975-1979, while there was a war ravaging this country, I was a happy-go-lucky kid, playin going to school, eating, sleeping and living in a safe, priviledged country. These are the things I thought of all day long and could not stop the tears!
 |
| From firstweekofschool_lesbirthday |
And to be 40 years old, serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ here in Cambodia, is beyond my wildest dreams, literally, for anything I ever had for myself. And to be here with my family, willingly serving, just doing a job we believe God has set out for us to do at a time such as this... Ah, I cannot fathom the priveledge, or what it ever was I did to deserve this. I am beside myself even now thinking about it. And I can only be thankful and reflect and say THANK YOU to those who have enabled me to have this life of priveledge. Besides God, to whom I give the glory, I have to say thank you to my Mom and Dad. They loved and still do love me so much, they showed me what a strong marriage should look like, and they showed me the value of hard work and discipline. And they cared for me, loved me, sacrificed for me and my sisters to a level that not many parents are willing or able to go. Thank you, M & D, for giving me the life you were able to give me, and for letting me go to Gimli Bible camp, where I first heard, really heard, about what a friend Jesus could be for me.
Then, of course I cannot list everyone I think of who played a merciful role in my life right here, but the fact that we are in PP right now, is thanks to people who support us. People who give money, say prayers, gave us a meal, think of us, read out blog, send an encouraging message our way. I mean, honestly, the priviledge we have (ok, I know I sound like a broken record) but honestly, to be out here is HUGE! There is absolutely no where else I/we would rather be right now but right here, doing what we're doing, and it would not be possible without the support, in all forms, of people who love us! It blows my mind, and turning 40 just highlighted everything so much for me. SO sentimental and reflective, but I don't care! Throw my stallworth-ness (is that a word?) to the wind! It was GREAT to turn 40! Something I didn't think I would ever say! Good to be thankful! Good to be alive and healthy and living life!!!
The best was yet to come: The party!!! I write on Saturday, so last night, Friday night, was the big bash at FCC. First of all, it's a lovely restaurant, frequented by foregners almost exclusively, but it's really the happenin place to be (and now that I'm 40, I'm happenin, right?) THe history of the "Foreign correspondants Club" is it was the place journalists went during the war to get information in and out of the country. SO, it's full of pictures of the war, it's all open air too, overlooking the Mekong river, and the most touresty part of the city.
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| From firstweekofschool_lesbirthday |
Dean had reserved the top, third floor, a whole section that came with a speaker system, and had invited our whole staff to come out and celebrate me and completing the first week of school! Tons of people came. Staff, our couple friends, Dean even had Jordy and Micah come to hang out with Steph and Julia, and Kara Dedert brought Sophie, to chum with Maya. There were tables to sit at, appies to eat, a little dance floor, and with all 80's music, what else could you do but dance??? It was a blast! I never knew that I would dance the night away on my 40th birthday! (Too bad it wasn't my wedding!!) Great tunes, good food, great people, all adds up to a good time. 7-9 we "partied" then had birthday cake. I swear, I sang every word to every song that was played that night! Too bad my brain can't memorize like that anymore, or maybe it really still can! It was so fun! Lots more "40" birthday presents too, like 40 almonds for "acid reflux" 40 lychee nuts, 40 100Riel bills (that's a whopping $1US). A huge card signed by everyone, and lots of little cards, letters, well wishes, nice things said! Casey and matt Friedberg agreed to pick up cakes, as did the Suh's and they were very yummy. The kids even eventually got up and danced with some of their teachers, which turned out to be just, again, so much fun.
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| From firstweekofschool_lesbirthday |
We went home around 10 in a tuk tuk, tired, VERY sweaty and with big smiles on our faces. What's funny is my Dad has always said my birthday in August, has always been a nice day! Well, officially, this birthday was the hottest! I don't know what the temp got up to cuz no one ever seems to know, but let me tell you, it was a dripper! The restaurant has fans, but when you're dancing up a storm, it's still just a sweat fest in that temp! haha. So, it was fun. Maya fell asleep in the tuk tuk, which was not the first time that's ever happened, and I'm sure it won't be the last!
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| From firstweekofschool_lesbirthday |
Well, that about sums it up, it was awesome, I felt very special and loved every minute of the laughs, even if no one could actually hear what I was saying because of my voice! Still, as we drove home, one little child came up to us, seeing us carrying the cake box home, and pointing from it to her mouth, begging for food. It breaks your heart and a part of me thinks that there are so many people in this country who will NEVER experience the priveledge I have had even that night, of a nice place to eat, nice clothes, a fun, safe party to celebrate just them, a quality education, a loving family. I can't list all the things people don't have out here. I guess the key is to be aware, be thankful when we do have times of priveledge, and did I mention be thankful??? That's the key!
Well, great writing to you all, and hope to hear from you soon via e-mail. Lots of love, lots of Thanks, and Cheers to God, without whom, non of this life is possible!!!
xo,
L
Wed, THurs, and Fri, without my voice, I thanked people for the well wishes! It was a full birthday week.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
First Day of School is tomorrow!!!
Wish us luck! This is it! Break a leg!
Whatever lovely euphanisms you would like to use, the Weiss family is ready to go for tomorrow! Some new students, but mostly familiar faces returning, some new classes, some repeated from last year. Dean has a new title, but has been working a similar job to his last year. All in all, I sure hope we're ready to go. I've spent alot of time in the library, figuring how things run. Ly (Lee) is a cambodian guy that's been in there for years and is really good, knows everything about everything (he's also been the project manager, the Khmer go-between for the new building project) so he's been helping me out. My job is to make it a little more user friendly, teach the elementary how to use the library, run the library classes, that sort of thing. Special thanks to Connie Lewis (hi!) and the gang at the MEI libraries, as I got a tour and inservicing this summer there and it was SO incredibly helpful! You probably have no idea how much!!! So, between sorting that out and getting the music room all set and plans in motion, tomorrow is the big day.
I guess I sound so very excited because in my own heart, it's Maya's "First Day of School!" We've bought her her uniform, and she is pumped. She's already met her teacher, and with all the girls having new teachers this year, it's just plain old exciting. I'm going to take pictures tomorrow and we'll put them up right away. She's just going to be so cute in that uniform!
We had a tour of the new school last friday, and it was exciting, challenging. I can't imagine it actually being done by Dec. 1, as it seemed so messy and disheveled still, but then again, there is tile on the floors, some rooms are getting painted, you can totally see what the school is going to look like. So, it's pretty cool and exciting. Everyone is just so hopeful--you keep hearing phrases that begin with, "...when we get to the new school..." so you can tell it's sort of a pie in the sky dream for most of us to get in there.
I've said about all I can for a Sunday night. I hope the rest of you are enjoying your summer breaks still. We are really looking forward to this week. It's always the first hump to get over, and I'm looking so forward to seeing all the kids and establishing a good start to the show!
Ok, love yous all and will update soon. Happy Birthday Gray and Jax, Kaelyn, Courtney Chip, Sly, and coming up Sarah!
Lesley
Whatever lovely euphanisms you would like to use, the Weiss family is ready to go for tomorrow! Some new students, but mostly familiar faces returning, some new classes, some repeated from last year. Dean has a new title, but has been working a similar job to his last year. All in all, I sure hope we're ready to go. I've spent alot of time in the library, figuring how things run. Ly (Lee) is a cambodian guy that's been in there for years and is really good, knows everything about everything (he's also been the project manager, the Khmer go-between for the new building project) so he's been helping me out. My job is to make it a little more user friendly, teach the elementary how to use the library, run the library classes, that sort of thing. Special thanks to Connie Lewis (hi!) and the gang at the MEI libraries, as I got a tour and inservicing this summer there and it was SO incredibly helpful! You probably have no idea how much!!! So, between sorting that out and getting the music room all set and plans in motion, tomorrow is the big day.
I guess I sound so very excited because in my own heart, it's Maya's "First Day of School!" We've bought her her uniform, and she is pumped. She's already met her teacher, and with all the girls having new teachers this year, it's just plain old exciting. I'm going to take pictures tomorrow and we'll put them up right away. She's just going to be so cute in that uniform!
We had a tour of the new school last friday, and it was exciting, challenging. I can't imagine it actually being done by Dec. 1, as it seemed so messy and disheveled still, but then again, there is tile on the floors, some rooms are getting painted, you can totally see what the school is going to look like. So, it's pretty cool and exciting. Everyone is just so hopeful--you keep hearing phrases that begin with, "...when we get to the new school..." so you can tell it's sort of a pie in the sky dream for most of us to get in there.
I've said about all I can for a Sunday night. I hope the rest of you are enjoying your summer breaks still. We are really looking forward to this week. It's always the first hump to get over, and I'm looking so forward to seeing all the kids and establishing a good start to the show!
Ok, love yous all and will update soon. Happy Birthday Gray and Jax, Kaelyn, Courtney Chip, Sly, and coming up Sarah!
Lesley
Golf in Cambodia
I golfed at the Cambodia Golf and Country Club about 45 minutes outside of Phnom Penh! I know, You thought I was back working- well I had a chance to do this before the school and the kids are in full session so I took the chance and played hookie. 
What an experience. Kids running all over the golf course- picking up your balls and some other kids trying to sell you golf balls and anything else they can think of. We had some caddies with us too. These girls memorized club distances really quickly. The rental clubs were from the late 70's or something. My driver head was bent and the grips on these clubs were never changed- rock hard rubber. My hands sweat so much I got extra blisters trying to hang onto the clubs. The fairways were interesting and full of potholes and other problems. The rough was really crazy. The rough in the grass was really tough and hard and it really could hurt your wrist to get a ball out from it. The greens were actually pretty nice - for Cambodia. 
I think it was some sort of bent grass- very tricky. Hard to figure out- sometimes lightning fast and other times really slow and coarse. Cost was $36 plus rental clubs for $12 (includes mandatory caddie). The weather was so hot and windy I was roasting but it was a great time and a cool experience?(wording?)
I am not sure but the club house and golf course palm trees actually looks really old and I wonder if the whole course is pre Khmer Rouge or something that they are trying to bring back. The carpets in the club house are very fancy but really old, faded, and dirty looking.
I think it looks like it needs some sort of restoration project or something like that. Not sure I will do it again, it is a bit expensive, but it is a unique Cambodian golf experience.
deano
The people in the picture are Darryl Deddert (from Ontario) and John Roberts (Colorado USA)- both teachers at Logos
What an experience. Kids running all over the golf course- picking up your balls and some other kids trying to sell you golf balls and anything else they can think of. We had some caddies with us too. These girls memorized club distances really quickly. The rental clubs were from the late 70's or something. My driver head was bent and the grips on these clubs were never changed- rock hard rubber. My hands sweat so much I got extra blisters trying to hang onto the clubs. The fairways were interesting and full of potholes and other problems. The rough was really crazy. The rough in the grass was really tough and hard and it really could hurt your wrist to get a ball out from it. The greens were actually pretty nice - for Cambodia. 
I think it was some sort of bent grass- very tricky. Hard to figure out- sometimes lightning fast and other times really slow and coarse. Cost was $36 plus rental clubs for $12 (includes mandatory caddie). The weather was so hot and windy I was roasting but it was a great time and a cool experience?(wording?)I am not sure but the club house and golf course palm trees actually looks really old and I wonder if the whole course is pre Khmer Rouge or something that they are trying to bring back. The carpets in the club house are very fancy but really old, faded, and dirty looking.
I think it looks like it needs some sort of restoration project or something like that. Not sure I will do it again, it is a bit expensive, but it is a unique Cambodian golf experience.deano
The people in the picture are Darryl Deddert (from Ontario) and John Roberts (Colorado USA)- both teachers at Logos
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