You Feeling Lucky?

Well every now and then there are moments in Cambodia where I feel very fortunate. One of these such moments happened while on our Staff Retreat last week on the border of Cambodia and Thailand in Koh Kong.

From Staff singing at our 2nd staff retreat held in Koh Kong, Cambodia

Although this particular "moment" may come across as superficial and unspiritual and may disappoint some of you because I just came back from a "spiritual retreat", nevertheless, this particular moment I felt lucky to have been there. What am I talking about?
Although, as a staff, we slept at a different lower end place as our regular accommodation (Apex Hotel) while in Koh Kong, one particular afternoon we ventured out and had a nice beach and swim time at this very nice pool area called Koh Kong Resort & Casino on the border. When you see the pool and beach you will understand. This is the kind of place that many people pay alot of money to go to for a holiday, and here we (Les and I) were lounging for a relaxing afternoon.

From The Koh Kong Resort & Casino on the Border with Thailand.A beautiful ocean and pool view. We didn't stay here, we just came for a relaxing afternoon

Although a large hotel and casino, the pool area is completely empty and left for our staff to enjoy for the hot sunny afternoon. Why? Because everyone is busy gambling of course!! And of course like any good casino, they require all swimmers to traipse through the casino area hoping to entice and distract the swimmer to stop and perhaps drop some Baht or other monies into the machines. The casino itself is not very big inside and looks kind of cheesy, and mainly attracts Thais who are not permitted to gamble in their own country of Thailand. We were not deterred and headed to the beach area.

Now getting back to my "moment", I guess it was a bit more spiritual then I first noted. At numerous times on that afternoon, I just felt really in awe of God and his amazing design of the planet. I also felt really lucky to have seen this small beautiful corner of the world too. I just love looking at the different tropical plants, the amazing jelly fish, schools of barracuda swimming in the ocean water, and the whole ocean view. As a Canadian I am also amazed that God makes very warm ocean waters to swim in too. (Thats right Canadians, Ocean water can be HOT! No shock value entering the waters! Ha Ha!) I can't help but think that God is so creative and how we are blessed to be interact with His great design.

Well, on the staff spiritual retreat side, no matter if it is in Cambodia or not, it is always good to get together with staff to pray and worship the Lord.

Many Blessings to you all,
Dean

From Tim (new teacher to Logos this year) sipping a freshly cut Coconut. You just got to love the tropical plants here in this part of the world.

Koh Kong Teacher Retreat- Click here for all pics

Just a little bit 'o information...

Hi all.
News bullitan on Weiss life in Cambodia. STOP. Over next 9 days, kids only have 2 days of school. STOP. Parents are going to Koh Kong for teacher retreat for WEd, THurs and Friday so kids will stay at friends' house. STOP. Kids very excited. STOP. Not sure if friends' parents are. STOP

Just KIDDDING. But it is true. We are heading into a 2 day school week this week, which is a blessing on many fronts. A nice break for the kids, a nice break for the staff. It's been a steady go from Day 1, so this is an opportunity for a change of pace.

Our friends the Friedbergs, kids Jordan and Micah, have once again graciously agreed to "sit" our lovely children while we are away. THey're busy people here too, with ministry and language, so we are very thankful for their unhesitant acceptance of the task. Maya can still throw a bit of a good fit if going to bed does not fit her prescribed pattern (ie, the parent of her choosing, the song of her choosing, that sort of third child, spoiled rotten, stuff!) so please join us in BEGGING God in prayer that for just 2 nights, while we are away, she will be co-operative. Plan B: Gravol...

ANyways, the parents are very much looking forward to the retreat. ALl this even though the planned speaker, in true "unpredictable" Cambodian fashion, has just cancelled out last minute this past Saturday. Well, I guess God has something else up his sleeve, just no one knows what it is yet. It's SUnday night. The retreat starts Wednesday. Yikes! Times like these, I'm glad I'm not the boss, and am just married to him.

Speaking of the boss, he spent most of the weekend sick again. Like, fever, chills, lots of sleep all weekend, some kind of virus, cold type deal. So, if anyone's over there in Canada is sick, please don't breath in Dean's direction, cuz he might just catch it, flying over the ocean currents.... Really, the rest of us are fine.

Today at church, Dean spoke to another opthamologist contact of ours who used to have a student at our school, about Sokhom and her condition. This doctor was quite surprised at the diagnosis of the $400 treatment being her only option, and thought that perhaps it came about because there was a Westerner in on the appointment. He agreed that such treatment is not sustainable even in a Western situation, let alone out here. He's going to look into getting some glasses for SOkhom to try, as incorrect glasses and/or poor perscriptions can often cause squinting, and aggravate the problem. SOunds so simple, why didn't I think of that? ANyways, we'll look into that this week. Otherwise, we're very willing to help her out with the $200, on the hope that it will last as a longer term solution, rather than just the 6 months.

That's about it for now. Steph, Maya and I had a fun afternoon Saturday going to the mall, while Dean slept off his illness, and Julia went to a cookie baking party with her middle school youth group girls. (They were really good by the way.) I so wish I had had my camera with us for the drive to that mall excursion. Not only did we see the standard live pigs tied to the back of the moto, we also saw and went in to "I KEA." Yes, didn't you know? There's an "I KEA" opened up in PHnom Penh! Ha ha. Yes, it had furniture, but not a stitch of it was from IKEA. WIll take a picture of that sign and store another time. Then, just today, was driving past one shop that looked like it was selling tombstones. For the life of me, I can't remember exactly what the shop was called, but I can tell you, the words "miserable corpses" were in it! Something like "the shop that sells for the miserable corpses." It was dark and funny all at the same time. IF I shoot it one day, I'll send it along.

Finally in the news, Logos Middle School girls handed down a season openner victory this past Friday after school, where they beat the Hope School girls, in a landslide win of 12 - 5. Top scorers included Julia Weiss, who laid claim to half of the Logos girl's 12 points! Fans are surprised and excited that Coach Roberts has not lost his voice yet this season for all the yelling and cheering! Next game, two weeks away. KEep up the great work, girls!

Happy Anniversaries go out to many: Mart & Alf, Rod and Rose-Ann (11), Har & Clar, Mom and Dad Boucher, Scott and Michelle...
Birthday Greetings to: Sadie, who's 5 on Monday! Love you sweetheart! KEep knocking out your brother's teeth! He's still got alot to go!

Love yous. Talk to y'all later.
L
:)

The Good News and the Bad News....

What do you want to hear first?

Sokhom, our faithful househelper that has cared for our family for 2 years, is currently ill and unable to work. I have shared some details here, but basically she's been unable to open her eyes well, and has had a diagnosis of glaucoma. SHe has been to many cambodian clinics, has spent much money on drugs, and a trip to vietnam, she cannot work because of her condition, and she is flat broke. She is also the only Christian in her extended buddhist family.

Well, you're going to get the good news first. Dean was able to get her in to see a qualified opthamologist here in town, (He picked her up on his moto and took here there personally just last week) and she had a check up.

Sokhom does NOT have glaucoma, and she is NOT going blind. This is praise God, halleluia news for me! THere is nothing wrong with her eyes themselves. That in and of itself is a miracle!

What she does have, however, is "Aquired blephauspasms", which if I'm spelling it right, is the uncontrollable twitching of the muscles around the eyes. We all get them, when we're tired, or under stress, you know that twitching that you can't stop??? Well, I guess her case is more severe, as she can often not keep her eyes open, as the muscles contract to close the eyelid. There is no known cause according to the doc and the websites we visit, stress and fatigue play a part, and there is possible genetic issues involved.

However, here is the daunting bad news. There is no cure, as such. But there is a treatment: Botox. She can get injections around her eyes, which are said to calm the muscles and provide relief only temporarily, for anywhere from 3-6 months. THe doctor has the botox and could do the treatment tomorrow if we wanted. THe price?

$400 US.

That's an unbelievably exorbant price here in Cambodia. That's more than three months wages for Sokhom, and like I said, she's not been working. She literally has nothing, but what family has been providing for her.

Well, we got the call today. She phoned us to say she would like to have her job back, she wants to work, but would we lend her money for the treatment. She has somehow raised some of the funds, and has only asked us for $200. I don't know yet where the money came from, but I can bet it's church or her Christian community. I'm sure even if her extended family wanted to, they don't have that kind of money, either.

SO, now we're faced with a decision. Dean has dealt with this so much in his area of work. Cambodians who want to borrow money, pay it back off their salary, which is already meager at best. In some cases, employees disappear after the loan has been paid out, leaving no payback off a salary. It's a constant stuggle to know which money's to borrow, who to say yes to, and who to decline. There are so many factors involved. There is no shame in begging here in Cambodia, it's just seen as something people have to do. There is also no real social issue with asking for money either to borrow or have (to my knowledge, which is also meager.)

So, basically, we have to decide. Say yes, or say no. Yes, means we give Sokhom, (perhaps loan her $200, but I can't really see it ever coming back to us), and she gets a treatment that may only last, worst case senario, 3 months. THen what??? Another $400? What does her future hold? Saying no, of course, seems so wrong, as $200 to us, even out here, is really expendable money that we won't miss in the long run! We'll still eat, which is more than many here would say with the prospect of losing $200. We have been so blessed with financial security out here, that $200 in the reality of it all, is really just money. We would hardly bat an eye. But, will it really make a difference? WIll it be the right way to help SOkhom? Is giving her the treatment the best way for her to be financed? Does "loaning" her the money even give her a chance to get ahead, when she has to pay it all back? There are so many questions, we really need to seek God's council on this one, which we are.

ANd then the question has to be asked, Can't GOd handle calming a few eye muscles??? Of course He can, it seems like such a small problem! Maybe faith and prayer is the answer here, not money. How long do we wait then, seeking healing???

We will keep you posted on the outcome of this situation. It's a big deal, as I feel like we have Sokhom's quality of life in a delicate balance here.

So, if you were faced with such good and bad news, what would you do???
GOd Bless, we'll talk to you later.
L
:)
L
:)

Confessions of a Fairweather Blogger...

Hi all. Lesley here.

I have finally made time to write to all of you.

I have no problem admitting that I am a fairweather runner. In Canada, if it was too early in the day, it was too cold; if it was too late, it was too dark, or I was too tired. HEre in Cambodia, it's even worse. It's always too hot, unless you get up at 4 or 5 in the morning. I just can't keep that up. I't dark at 6pm every day, all year long, so running after the school day, means either just before or just after the supper hour, and I'm either too hot, too tired, too hungry, too full, or just plain old too lazy to do it. Plus, there's nowhere "nice" to run, people are always staring at me, or I have to say hello to about a hundred people along the way, as if I'm in the world's shortest, white-woman-amongst-thousands-of-cambodians-marathon, and in lieu of them cheering me on, they just stare, so I wave and say hello. The kids always yell out, "what is yo nam???" Running here, for me, takes alot of mental energy.

Well, that is also precicely how it's been for me to start this year back in Cambodia. I haven't posted a blog lately, not so much because of a few technical difficulties with our home comoputer, nor the fact that it's been a good busy getting back into work and school. But mostly, it's because I think I'm a fairweather blogger. When things are going well, oooh, aahhh, I'm funny, love to tell the crazy stories, brag about the kids, even the "great efforts" going on at the school. But when things are a bit harder, like they have been for me personally this year, i just tend to make excuses and not bother to share or connect with loved ones. I think it's a little like hiding.

I do this in my prayer life too. While others fall on their knees even moreso during times of trial, I tend to find it easier to talk to GOd when I'm in a good space. I can connect with Him from my end, alot better, and everything makes sense. But when the going gets troublesome, for whatever reasons (big or small), I tend to back off, and fatalistically convince myself that, "ah, what's the big deal. God knows everything anyways--he'll work it all out in the end." And I don't confide in Him the way I should.

So, Coming back to Cambodia this year was a bit hard, not for reasons that may seem obvious or reasonable to others. For me, it was a coming back to my place of comfort. Seriously. Here, I know who I am and what I am doing, and back in Canada over the summer, between all the visiting and reconnecting, I just find I sort of get lost again. It's weird (can anyone relate to this?) I have to come back to the safety of Phnom PEnh, my home, having my family all to myself, (selfish, I know), the wonderful community of staff and friends and families at Logos, where I can pray openly, share my faith without hesitation, live freely. Even physically, it doesn't matter what you wear out here really. Most are happy to just have clothes. I can relate to that, I resonate so much with life out here, the necessity to survive amongst needing so little. It makes sense to me.

Ironic, isn't it, that in a place where most consider life here challenging or difficult in various ways, I find comfort.

So that makes me think that in returning to Cambodia, I am running away from some of the difficulties and challenges I face spiritually in Canada, in relationships with others, in the lifestyle that exists there. I am h i d i n g in my life here. SO then, I start to feel guilty: Being an international worker in a missions context, shouldn't I be so strong in my faith, that I can handle the pressures any situation, and not need to run screaming to my "comfort zone" in order to function??? Negative, untrue thinking produces poor fruit. I am at least aware of this, even if I cannot control it yet. Maybe I've just been thinking too much, lately.:)

So, if you're looking for fairweather, funny stories of cambodia since returning, yes, I have a few. WE had a rat living in our car engine when we returned from the summer. When I'd asked Dean why the rat was still there, he commented that he was glad it was there, and at least not in the trunk. (?) (Why not just get rid of it??) Then I found a gecko in my cracker container, staring up at me with beady eyes when I went for a snack. Last weekend, we killed a mini tarantula in our house, and these suckers are huge! Way too big for a spider. That was gross. ANd since it's rainy season, there's been a lovely assortment of flood-type stories, rain that comes down in such droves, it soaks our school gym floor. We always have a big lake on the road right outside our house gate, as a new house that went up has blocked our previous drainage pattern. I have to choose different routes to pick up the girls sometimes, to avoid driving through a foot of water.

If it's sad stories you're looking for, I've got those, too. Since we have returned, our wonderful househelper Sokhom, has been unable to work, due to the diagnosis of glaucoma in her eyes, and the inability of her to open them regularily. Many of you will know this, but you don't know that I went to visit her last Sunday at her home, and in a word, it's a very bad situation.

I've always been very afraid to see her home, as I've always expected it is one of those shacks like I see in poor areas, and I was right. at 60 years old, she walks down a narrow corridor between walls of other homes, she has to climb 7 or 8 stairs of a very steep ladder, (one of the wrungs of which is broken) to get into her 2 room home. Wood and corrugated steel walls, wood floor, a 5 by 8 kitchen with a stove, and a larger bedroom, with her bed, a fan, a tv, and another bed that was sleeping her (good for nothing) son that I don't think is helping her very much. Clothes, mess, an unuseable sewing maching siting there, old medicine, a rice cooker. Pretty much, that is her life. She seems to be laying around alot, because what can you do when you can't see??? There is no government help or agencies or aid to give her training or education on living blind. The medicines and doctors, to our knowledge, have not been that helpful and have completely wiped her out of any cash she may have had. I asked her what she needed, and she said money. TO pay her electric bill. A niece comes once and a while to cook a bit for her and help her. She is the only christian in her buddhist family, and she goes to church and they pray for healing on her eyes, yet no healing yet. It is so, so sad. We have to help her, and we will, in whatever ways we can. WE prayed and cryed together. I miss her in our home, taking care of us.

And if it's unbelievable-but-true-cambodia stories you're after, I have that for you on this blog as well. 2 weeks ago, Dean came home from school on a Friday earlier than I, to find our entire street was loaded with police and military, and they were spray painting measurement marks all over everyone's nicely painted concrete fences and gates. I came home a bit later to see all the red number markings and immediately assumed they would be paving our road. However, what I found out is unreal. Our landlord and other neighbors were all out talking. As it turns out, the powers that be were there to tell everyone yes, they're going to fix the road, but that they're going to widen it to a 20 metre road, which means the whole lot of landowners on our side of the street, are going to lose up to 10 metres of their current propery on the front of their houses, to make way for the road! Just like that.

Seriously, the proposal is to bulldoze whatever of the homes that they need to widen and put in this road. Dara, our landlord, stands to lose 7.2 metres off the front of the house, which is almost the entire front gate and carpark. Basically, the road will begin about 2 steps outside our front door. Yes, they told Dara he can have the 35 metres deep of property that he owns, but that he can just add what they take off the front, onto the back. THe back is a lake. (Maybe he'll build a dock to park his car!) It's really unbelievable.

So, for us it's not such a big deal, because the SECOND they start actual construction, we are out of here and moving. I am not living through that. But what a bout all these poor landowners?? What can they do? There is no city planning to speak of, just post-planning, and they take what land they want, when they want it. It just seems so unfair. Dara said it won't happen for a long time, that there is no money. He's going to go to the meetings. We are praying against the road going through like that. TIme will tell.

So I guess, overall, it really has been a good, eventful start to the school year and to our return for our third year. Still, my apologies for not connecting until now, until things got a little more "fairweather" in my head. I know there are many of you out there that care about us regardless of how I "feel" and appreciate the regular updates we post. And maybe I just needed to give myself some grace and get settled in. Ok. (Good thing God is not like people. Whew....)

ANyways, here's to regular writing, regular connecting to you all, regular updating on the stories of our time out here, and hopefully hearing from you too. THere is still never a dull moment, and we cherish your prayers as we continue to be a part of building Logos, building Christian education here in Cambodia, loving kids with the love of Christ that He puts in us for these precious souls, and parenting our wonderful brood. (This past weekend, between sleepovers and playdates, we added an extra 4 females to our household, and let me tell ya, Dean feels pretty outnumbered. )

Fairweather or not, God is ALWAYS good, He is ALWAYS loving us, and ALWAYS helping us. "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever: his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5) Amen to TRUTH!

Thanks everyone, for loving us and staying with us through thick and thin, Love yous all lots, too. Take care and write us when you can.
L
:)

PS. Many of you are now back at school, and we wish you all the best for your school year!