ahh?

I just buried my puppy.

One of our dogs died tonight. Vothanak, Rachha and I went out into the back yard with a shovel and a flash light and made a big hole. It's now filled. It's also right outside my bedroom.

Ick.

We don't think Sheba will make it through the night either. It's so sad. The dog that died tonight left behind a brother. He's healthy and running around. But we might be short two dogs by morning. I have no idea why they died. They were sick this morning, and by tonight one was dead.

=(

On a happier note - my birthday is almost upon us!!

=)

I expect all of you at home to get together this weekend and celebrate my birthday together.

I'm not kidding.

For me, I am actually going to a 5 year olds birthday party on Sunday. We have the same birthday. It's our principal's son's birthday, who is also one of my students. His name is Pun Lou. And Vothanak is Pun Lou's uncle. We're all tightly knit here at SLM. So I'll be celebrating my birthday on Saturday. I plan on going for a walk with Kong up the mountain behind our house, then maybe a little swim in the ocean. In the evening my students are planning something for me. All I know is that I need to be home around 6-6:30pm.

I'm pumped!

little girl big city

I just had a great weekend!

It was a big holiday in Cambodia and I went to Phnom Penh to visit my friend Rachel. I was also going to see my good friends Alila and Akum. It was the Water Festival. It's one of Cambodia's biggest holiday's.

Friday morning Tongpang, myself, and 3 other Naga's caught the bus headed to capitol city. There was a lot of confusion when we arrived, but it all got sorted out. I went directly to a home where I ate the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner! Oh goodness you have no idea how wonderful it was! They even had cranberry sauce - not that I eat cranberry sauce, but they still had it! It was a really good afternoon! We played apples to apples!! I love that game!! I always play it at Andrew's house. I thought of him and his mom all afternoon while we played. There was also a two week old Cambodian baby there! He was such a little peanut!! The family that hosted the dinner is a foster family. This little guy was looking for a home. Let me tell you, if I had a husband, we'd be parents!

From that home we went to another turkey dinner. This one was a little extra speacial - the turkey's were sent in from America! No Cambodian turky for us! All in all it was a great evening spent with white people. Very refreshing!

Saturday morning Rachel and I met Alila and Akum for breakfast. It was so great seeing them! They are from Nagaland which is in India. It's found in Northeast India, and I have many friends from there. Akum and Alila live in a different part of Cambodia, so I don't see them very much. This was a great treat! I attached a picture of Rachel, Alila and myself.

Later in the afternoon Rachel and a few of her teammates and I went down to the river side to watch the boat races. I have to admitt, it was mildly boreing. I have also attached a picture from the festival.

Saturday evening Rachel and I went to a birthday party, only it was more like a Cambodian wedding reception. Huge party! Lot's of food, lot's of dancing! We spent the night at her Khmer teachers home. Her name is Nida. She's really fantastic! I spent the night in a little mud/stick hut. It actually wasn't bad. I had a good solid nights sleep.

In the morning Rachel took me to her church. It's just a small little house church. My friend Tida translated for me. Oh!! Tida!! Let me tell you about him! He lived in Winnipeg for a year about two years ago!! He was there for school. It was an exchange program. I can't even begin to tell you how good it was to be able to talk about my home town with a Cambodian who actually understood!! Anyways, after church Tida and Rachel dropped me off at the home Tongpang was staying at for the weekend. He was there for a Christan Naga Fellowship Weekend. That's why I was able to see Alila and Akum. I also was able to see my friend Molo. I'm going to go up to Siem Reap for a few days at Christmas time to see them. I am very excited!

The ride home was unepectedly pleasent. I sat with Aduoo (one of the Naga's I don't know very well) and we ended up talking for almost 5 hours straight! It was great! I learnt so much about Nagaland.

I just feel so rejuvenated and peaceful after this weekend. It was really great. Just great...

*sigh*

I have so much to share, I don’t even know where to begin. I guess I’ll start with my trip to Phnom Penh last week to see the Secretary of State, Siphan Phay.

Tongpang and I caught the 7:10am bus, planning on returning the same evening. It was an uneventful ride. When we arrived in the capitol city I called Siphan Phay and asked if he had time to see me today. He said yes, but not until 4 o’clock. We were hoping to be on our way by then. But ok, we’ll wait. So we went to a mall, which is really a glorified market. BUT! I did get to eat a hamburger, and it was one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted. Or at least it did to me at the time. I bought a bunch of DVD’s because they were so cheap. Either $1 or $2. And a watch. At around 3:30 (when he asked me to call him back) I called Siphan Phay to arrange a meeting place. He told me that the immigration office was now closed for the day. I would have to stay the night and see him first thing tomorrow morning.

Not impressed.

I don’t much care for Phnom Penh. It’s too big and busy and dirty and scary. But none-the-less Tongpang and I set out to find a cheap guesthouse. We succeeded. $5 for the night, and we got what we paid for. It was a bucket shower, no toilet seat, burn holes in the curtains and bed/blanket. We spent most of the evening watching TV in Tongpang’s room. I called it a night early, and set off for my own delightful room…

I can’t remember a more sleepless night except for when I’ve been sick. And sick is something that I thought I would get if I stayed any longer than I did. All night long I heard men’s voices out side, doors being knocked on, whispering, high heels clicking down the hallway. And I mean all night. It was going on at every hour and I could barely get any sleep.

I called first thing in the morning and Siphan Phay picked us up at 8:30. We went to his office only to have him say that I needed a letter from my employer. I didn’t have one and Jonah was not at SLM. He was in Koh Kong province. He made a few phone calls and it was arranged that I would meet with the immigrations officer at 2 that afternoon.

We had time to kill.

Tongpang has a friend in Phnom Penh so we called her up and spent the day with her. Her name is Rachel and she’s from America!! This girl is really, really awesome!! She’s 24 and from Buffalo, NY. She is very much a combination of Sharon and myself. It makes me miss Sharon SOOO much, but at the same time I feel like I’m getting my Sharebear fix!! =)

She took us to a coffee shop that screamed Asian Starbucks!! No kidding. I loved it. Iced vanilla latte, coming up!!

Eventually Tongpang and I made our way back to the offices, and we were told that we would have to wait another day.

My heart stopped. My eyes welled up. I wasn’t going to cry. I wasn’t going to cry. I don’t want to stay here one more minute!!

But then this beautiful, beautiful man told me he’d take care of things and have my Visa delivered to me in Sihanoukville when it arrived. Plus, he’d taken care of it so that I didn’t have to pay my late fines.

I cried.

I thanked him again and again, with the occasional tear slipping out. I was going home!! THANK GOD!!!

We took a taxi home, it cost $30. In Winnipeg, $30 for a taxi won’t get you across the city, let alone 3 hours through the country side .

Unfortunately, I still have not received my Visa, but I was never told how long it would take, and it’s only been a week. I’ll call him this weekend when I’m in Phnom Penh and see if maybe I can pick it up.

The next day Rachel was coming to Sihanoukville with her team for the weekend! Yay! I spent Friday evening and Saturday with her. It was such a blessing! We are so alike, it’s a little freaky at times. We went for lunch at Holy Cow, one of my favourite restaurants!!

Saturday night I went to a Khmer wedding! It was so much fun!! I danced like a Khmer girl, and ate the Khmer food. It’s very interesting. They have many of the same traditions as North America, but yet have so many of their own. The bride wore like 6 different ball gowns throughout the day! The day begins with people carrying fruit trays to the brides house. Then sometime in the morning they have the actual ceremony. They are married by monks. Lunch is served. Then there is activities and games and hanging out for the rest of the afternoon. In the evening you show up for dinner. The bride and groom greet you at the entrance to the most brightly decorated tent you’ve ever seen. It’s hilarious! They also present you with a gift. You go sit down and only once your table is full will they begin serving you your first course. There were many. Many fish and rice and peanuts, duck, noodles, soup, you name it! After we’ve all eaten, the bride and groom walk in. As they enter we all throw confetti and ribbons and what appears to be fake snow (?) from a can at them. Then they cut the cake, drink Champaign, serve the parents and grandparents do a kissing thing (not like making out) and then they have their first dance as husband and wife. They also make a short speech to thank everyone for coming and inviting all to come and dance. And dance we did!

I also went to another wedding on Monday in Kompot province. Vothanak’s brother was getting married. This one was a bit different. The one on Saturday was a city wedding. A bit more glamorous. This was a country wedding. It was kind of tucked away in a village sort of setting. But there was still the bright tent and all the food! I spent part of my afternoon sitting in a mud and stick house. It was neat. I could see the people sitting in hammocks through the floor boards. There were some mighty big cracks in the floor.

This wedding was a bit more on a smaller scale, the family was poorer. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay for the dancing and cake cutting and all that jazz because we had to drive two hours home and Jonah wanted to be home by 8. I was surprised when Vothanak told me he wanted me to stay and dance with him. That I should just spend the night. I almost did, but decided against it. Vothanak is pretty quiet and doesn’t often express major emotions. I didn’t even think he would dance!! He’s not the type. I was very honoured that he wanted to dance with me. I told him we’d dance at another wedding someday. Maybe at his or mine!!

Friday I am heading to Phnom Penh again. I will be spending the weekend with Rachel.

Tongpang is going for a Naga Christian Fellowship weekend. All the Naga’s from India that are in Cambodia will be gathering for a get together. I’m tagging alone because I A) want to get out of the house. B) Go see Rachel. C) Visit my Naga friends that I don’t see much of because they live a 9 hour drive away. And D) it’s the Water Festival this weekend. This is one of the biggest holidays in Cambodia. There will be an extra 2-3 million people in the city. I’ve never been around so many people. Although I need to be very careful and watchful of myself and belongings. I don’t want anything bad to happen!

OH!! And the absolute best part of the whole weekend is that Rachel and her team are celebrating American Thanksgiving!!! I’m eating turkey this weekend!! I was told that they’ve imported American turkey’s and everything!

My mouth is watering already… Mmmm, turkey….

Remember how I said I can get into trouble sometimes?

I’m in big trouble.

I forgot to renew my Visa. I am illegal. It was up as of Sunday and I didn’t even realize it.

Tomorrow I am going to Phnom Penh to meet the Secretary of State, Siphan Phay. Jonah pulled some strings for me and he will pull some weight around there to reduce my fine and make sure
I get a 1 year working Visa.
Shoot. I feel terrible. I can’t believe I forgot. I never forget! I never write things down because I almost never forget. But I suppose I’m also usually in my element. My own playing field. I’m totally unprepared here. Tongpang is going to escort me. I’m sure he doesn’t want to go. We both have to miss morning school. Probably evening classes too.

Ugh.

Please pray for me.

..............................................................................................................................

Ok, so it's much later in the day now. Almost midnight actually. First thing tomorrow morning Tongpang and I are heading out to Phnom Penh. Our bus leaves at 7:10am. I think it's about a 4 hour drive. Jonah has arranged it so that when I get there I will be meeting the Secretary of State. He's going to either come with me or write me a letter to make sure I get the right Visa and hopefully reduce my fine.

I'm kind of scared. I shouldn't be. But I am.

What was it that I preached about two days ago...?

holy adventure batman!!

Yesterday I went to a village. It was the adventure of a life time! The day began with Rachha asking me to join him, his father and his little brother for breakfast. We just went to a little place right beside SLM. Rice, BBQ pork, and soup. Breakfast, huh? It was good though. We all left around 8am. There were six of us total in the taxi car. That’s what Rachha’s father does for a living. It’s a very nice car. I got to sit in the front seat because I was the only girl. There was Rachha, his father (Mr. Nget), his little brother Thea (pronounced tear) who is 5, Jonah, myself and an American named Dan. Dan is a retired man who is living out the rest of his days in Cambodia. He is originally from Oregan.

We set off and drove for a while, maybe 1 hour, and then stopped in a small town, which is basically one big market. Phil (my leader from back in May), this is his favourite place in all of Cambodia. He loves the little town. After the town we drove for about another ½ hour before we met up with the pastor from the village. He was going to guide us the rest of the way. We drove up and down and around in the mountains for another ½ hour. Then we turned off the main road to a dirt/sand road that didn’t look too traveled on. The car barely made it about 8 - 9 km before it couldn’t go on. The road was terrible! While we were driving we had to stop at least 10 times ( I was counting) and get out of the car so that it wouldn’t bottom out on the road.

Finally we stopped at someone’s home and ate our lunch. They were very nice people. A young couple with two little boys. While we were eating a parrot came by. It was a pretty green. I took pictures.

Jonah and Rachha kept going with the guy on his motto. Shortly after we left Dan and I decided to walk on foot. The man said it was only another 3 km from here. We could walk that no problem. It was beautiful! I felt like I was walking through the plains of Africa. Only it was the plains of Asia! There were many mountains in the distance. As we walked we realized that the car would never had made it. It was a good idea that it just stop and stay where it was.

We walked about 3 -4 km before the man returned to pick us up on the motto. Then we drove another 10 km to get to the village. I’m told Cambodians have no sense of distance. Apparently so. 3 km turned out to be closer to 15 km. Event the motto had troubles in some areas. But it sure was a beautiful ride. I had mountains on one side of me and plains on the other. After a few km the plains disappeared into a huge rolling ocean of blue. Here I was on the back of a motto on my way to a tiny remote village in Asia with mountains on one side, and the Indian Ocean on the other.

Huh…

We pulled up into the village and every one stared at us. As I approached Jonah and Rachha all the men and women of the village pushed their way through the crowd to come and bow to us. It was surreal. I bowed to all these people in return, feeling like I was in a movie. They were smiling like I’d just brought the cure for the common cold or something. They were overjoyed to see me. Dan and I walked around the village for a bit. I took some video footage and pictures. After the medical clinic we had church. I was the key speaker. I cut it very short because we had to get going soon. It took much longer than we expected to get there. The sun was beginning to go down and it looked like it was going to rain. We still had to go all the way back through all we came through with the car. I didn’t want to do that in the rain. I don’t think we would have made it otherwise.

I spoke some words of encouragement for them. I took everyday normal negative thoughts people have and rebuked them with scripture. We say things like it’s impossible, but Luke 18:27 says that all things are possible. I had 10 points but only did 5. I used thoughts such as:

It’s impossible - Luke 18:27
I am tired - Matthew 11:28
Nobody seems to love anyone - John 3:16
I can’t do it - Phil 4:13
I am alone - Heb 13:5
I am afraid - 2Tim 1:17
I am sad - John 16:20
I have no home - John 14:2
I am no good - John 1:12
I doubt. Where are you God? - Matthew 28:20

It seemed to go over well. Rachha was a fantastic translator.

After church we went outside to scout out an area to put a well. We also brought about 100 baggets with us to give out to the people. Thanks to many people at home who contributed money, this village will have another well. It doesn’t have enough fresh clean water to sustain itself. It’s going to be right in the center of the village. I played with the children for a little bit. Took pictures of the people. Then we had to get going. The sun was going down and fast. I said my goodbyes and was on my way. Part of me was sad and part of me was happy to be leaving. I’m sure you can understand why I was sad, but I was happy to be out of their constant gaze. The people were gawking at me!! I’ve never been stared at like that. I didn’t like it. I had hundreds of eyes on me at almost all times. They weren’t judgmental stares, just studying me. Jonah told me later that I was the first woman to ever publicly address that village. He thinks I might have even been the first white woman to ever enter that village too. Wow. That’s huge. That would explain why they were staring at me. They’d never seen anyone like me before. I’m still a little bit in awe of the whole experience.

I took many pictures and videos on the way home. We made it out safe and sound, but as soon as we were on the main road again it began to pour.

All in all it was a really great day. I hope Jonah takes me with him every time he goes to a village.

key to my heart

It’s 7:30 Monday morning, I’m up and dressed, makeup on, hair done. As I was brushing my teeth I realized I couldn’t hear the kids laughing and screaming outside my window. I usually wake up to that. I looked out my window.

No children.

“Hmm. Weird.” I thought.

I continued to get ready and was running a little bit behind (I slept in for the first time since I arrived). I still couldn’t hear any children. They should have been in chapel by now.

I text Tongpang to ask if there was school today. The reply, “No class”.

I was sooooo tired!!! I can’t believe I didn’t sleep in!! Baahhh!! Oh well. Maybe I’ll go back to bed. Probably not, but maybe.

Saturday afternoon I went to watch my boys play football (soccer) and they really sucked. I think the score was 5 - 1. After football Phi Run (pronounced Perron) wanted to go to the beach for a quick swim. I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity! So we took off on his motto to Independence Beach. He knows everyone in this town! It’s crazy! He takes me to all these new interesting places, and we either end up not paying for anything or we get it for cheap cheap (my WEFC friends will understand why I said cheap twice. =) ). The only thing about all of this is that the sun begins to set in the afternoon and is down by 6. When I was in the ocean it was dark. Me. I went swimming in the dark. And not just any swimming, swimming in the ocean where there are many scary things!! If you know me, you might know that I am terrified of swimming in the dark. I don’t like the unknown of the dark water. If I have problems with swimming in lakes, or even pools for that matter in the dark, this was a huge step for me!! I was very excited.

We had dinner on the beach. French fries, fried rice and egg. It was good. There was vegetables and BBQ beef mixed in with the rice. Everything was going great until I realized that my room key wasn’t in my pocket anymore. Shoot!! Where did it go?

I looked in the sand, in the dark, for about 15 - 20 minutes. I checked every where!! I couldn’t find it. I was horribly sad because it was Saturday night and we wouldn’t be able to call a locksmith until the next day, or maybe even Monday. All I had on was my wet salty bathing suit, jean skirt and tank top. Did I really have to sleep in all of this? Where was I going to shower? What would I dry off with? I can’t sleep out in the living room with all the rats and mice. Rachha and Vothanak don’t have a spare bed in their room. Tongpang does but I’m not sleeping with him alone in his room. I know he wouldn’t be ok with that, and I wouldn’t be either. I’d be terrified to sleep in the spare room alone. I’d never fall asleep in there. What was I going to do?!!?!

Phi Run kept making fun of me looking in the sand. He said I looked pitiful and I was embarrassing him. I told him I didn’t care, I needed to find my key!! He helped me look for couple minutes, but told me it was no use and that we should just get going. Reluctantly I left. I prayed so hard that God would work a miracle here. Maybe I didn’t even take it! Maybe my bedroom is unlocked right now and the key is sitting on my desk. Yeah, maybe. ..

Not. I knew that was impossible. I never leave my room unlocked, and I remember putting my key in my pocket and then checking it again when we arrived at the beach.

I as we drove home he kept asking me if I was still thinking about the key. I told him yes, of course I still was. I always try to cause as little trouble as I possibly can (I can get into lots of trouble at times) and here I just caused big trouble. I told him I was very upset with myself. A little sad too. He said he was going to take the long way home. I said fine. I told him I was texting Tongpang about it. I was asking him to break into my room for me. Phi Run laughed. He told me he wished my key had jumped into his pocket so he could make me happy. He said he was sorry for me. I said I wished that as well. Then I straight out asked him if he did have my key and was just playing a joke on me. He became defensive and said he didn’t have my key.

When I arrived home Tongpang and Kong had just about broken the lock to get into my room. As I approached them telling them they were wonderful brothers, Phi Run laughed and put my key in my hand.

I was filled with several emotions. Joy. Happiness. Annoyed. Angry. Upset with Phi Run. Tongpang said a very nasty word to him, and I told Phi Run that that wasn’t funny. He took the joke too far. Never do that again. That wasn’t cool. He didn’t know I was that upset about loosing my key and still thought it was a funny joke. He apologized. But for the first time I was upset with him and he could tell. He didn’t like it.

I don’t think Phi Run will pull that with me again.

Going to the country

I just arrived home from a walk with my little brother Kong. He really knows where to take a girl!! I can't believe how BEAUTIFUL Cambodia is!! We walked for about two hours. We started out walking through town and then down to a rich part of the city. Then we walked by the ocean, where I was able to take my sandles off and walk in the water. Once away from the beach we past probably hundreds of coconut trees that lined the street. The street over from it was covered with mango trees. There was a tree that had the most beautiful flowers on it, so Kong picked me a boquet of them! From there we walked through the mountains/country side to get to his home. He has 7 brothers and sisters, and they live a in a very tiny home where they have a shop out front. I was very honoured that he took me. I've told him many times before I would like to meet his family and see his home, but I think he is embarrassed of it. I've spoken to a few other Cambodian's and they have told me about their struggles of being embarrassed of their homes and taking foreigners to see it, but now they are proud. These people are now in their mid 20s. Kong is only 16. We literally stayed maybe 2 minutes, but it was great. I asked him if it would be ok if I came back with my camera and took pictures of his home and family. He seemed genuinely pleased about it. Kong is a Christian, and so is one of his brothers. But the rest of the family isn't. He confided some family problems to me during our walk. I love this boy very much. He has stolen my heart. I see so much potential in him!! I want so badly for him to succeed in life and to be happy. I need to remember that God wants that for him more than me. I need to be praying for him and his family. One of his little brothers, Kadol, is one of my grade 1 students. He is too cute. I am so blessed to be surrounded by these people. Kong told me he is going to buy me pizza for my birthday because he wants me to be happy and not want to go home. I told him I miss the people at home, but I want to be in Cambodia. I'm not going home anytime soon. He asks me many other questions about different things I like. I think he has some other things up his sleeve. He mentioned something about a friut salad. Mmmmmm....

While we were walking I asked him many questions. Mainly about the land and homes we were seeing. I was literally walking with my mouth open at times I was in awe of the beauty around me. And the prices of a home. There were homes that in Canada would easily cost at least $250 thousand. Kong says that they are around 15 - 20 thousand here. I am very seriously considering - God willing - that I want to buy a home out here. Not right now. But maybe within the next 10 years. I wouldn't live out here all the time. Maybe 4 - 6 months of the year. But this is a BIG dream. I have no idea if I will be married with children or what I'll be doing for a living. This may not be possible. But. There's always retirement! Think about it. I could retire in Canada and live moderatly, or I can retire in this paradise where I would live like a queen and I can help the people at the same time. Cambodia will always be in my heart. It will always be apart of my life.

I feel as though I have alot to be thinking and praying on.

Phi Run just came banging on my door, I have to go to their football game now (soccer). Every Saturday the boys here at SLM and a bunch of others play football. They aren't very good, but they just play for fun. I like cheering them on.

Tomorrow I head to a village to hold a medical clinic and I am also preaching the sermon!! Eeek! Here we go!!

Today I walked to Independance beach. Today is Cambodian Independance Day. It's a good walk. About 5 - 6 kms - one way. I wasn't planning on going that far, or even to the beach, but that's where the walk took us. I went with Tongpang. Can I just say I love the ocean?

21 days until my Birthday!!! That means only 43 until Christmas!!

oh dear...

I just found out that this Sunday I am going to a small village to conduct a medical clinic. Doesn't sound so bad, right? Well, I am also preaching the sermon! Gah!!! What am I going to say to these villagers? I don't want to preach! Idon't feel it's my calling!! But maybe God says otherwise....

*sigh* This is going to be quite the weekend...

learning to count all over again

Yesterday I ate peanut butter and jelly for breakfast. I’m not kidding you when I say that my mouth was literally watering as I was spreading. I long for North American food. It’s really not that bad, I’m just having problems with the rice and I’m not sure why. I can only eat a small portion before I start gaging. Yep, I gag. One night Jonah told me I had to eat everything on my plate. I tried really hard, but on one of the bites I gaged so severly that I actually vomited in my mouth a little. I swallowed it and made myself finish the bite in my mouth. That is a typical dinner for me. Ugh. We eat at weird hours too. Breakfast is during “recess” at 9:10. Then lunch is anywhere between 1-3. We eat dinner when I finish teaching at 8:30. Some evenings we don’t get to dinner until 9:30 - 10:00. I eat a lot of bananas and crackers and usually skip lunch so I don’t have to eat any rice. If you’re reading this, please, go to your fridge and have a big glass of cold milk, and something delicious to eat. That is what my body has been craving lately. That and coffee…..

I finally have internet in my bedroom. The catch, we only have access to the internet between 6pm and 6am. I teach from 6:30 - 8:30 and then I am usually having dinner and praying with the other residents of the house until 10. Last night was closer to 11. I think I might begin to lose sleep.

I`m Having trouble believing that it`s November already. My birthday is on December 2, and it`s coming up in like three weeks!! I can`t even comprehend that right now. It`s hot and sunny. That does not equal my birthday. But!! It does however, mean that I can for the first time in my life have, not only a swimming party, but swimming in the ocean. The Indian ocean at that. It really is the warmest ocean. Some days the water is like a lukewarm bath. It`s only mildly refreshing. When you`re sweating and hot already, you want cold or at least cool water, not bath tub water. But hey, I shouldn`t complain - what`s the temperature in Winnipeg right now?

I was invited to a wedding! It’s on November 17th. I can’t wait to see what a Khmer wedding looks like.

There are many holidays here in Cambodia. Today is Thursday November 8th, and once again there is no school tomorrow. Last week there was no morning school on Monday and Wednesday. The week before my birthday is the Water Festival. I believe we get three days off. Yay for Cambodian holidays!!

I would really love to hear from you!! If you ever want to send me mail that would be wonderful!! My address is:

Samaritan Love Mission
c/o Brianna Siis
POST BOX 9401
CT Road, Sangkat 3, Mondol 2, Khan Mittapheap
Sihanoukville, Cambodia

If you have any Christmas pictures/cards of you and yours, I would be ecstatic to receive them here and show them off!

yikes!

Ok, so I haven't posted anything in quite some time. SORRY!! I have been pretty busy lately. Jonah arrived home from Inida yesterday, so hopefully we'll have internet at SLM before the week is out. Then I can write in here much more often!

I'll update before the week is out!!