Dear Friends,
Well here I am in Cambodia, finally I am able to write to you and tell you a little of what has happened so far on my journey. I think it has sunk in now that I am actually here!
I arrived at Siem Reap on Monday, 3rd February at 7:50am. After taking some time to sort out my visa I was able to walk outside of the airport and meet the Wat Preah Yesu volunteers who had come to get me. They were very welcoming and lovely! On the bouncy trip back to the school and orphanage, driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road my eyes were glued to the scenes around me – tuk tuks, motorbikes, smoking piles, multi-coloured buildings, cattle and lots of olive skinned beautiful looking people. When we arrived at WPY I was shown where I was to stay, a rustic little building called the ‘wooden’ house. While settling in I met my other house mates who are lovely girls, and one, a girl from the US, took me for a tour.
Now in my flip flops, as they call thongs here, I felt the dust between my toes. All of the sights, all of the smells, the entire atmosphere was like a fantasy. But it wasn’t. I was really, truly, fair dinkum here. A missionary. Was I prepared?
Emily, who was showing me around, took me to the school – a rectangle shaped complex with grass, trees and a flag in the middle. The sounds of little voices reciting their lessons, the playing of guitars and recorders as music class commenced, a teacher instructing her students – these things made all I had ever read in missionary books real to me.
I met Wendy Maddocks in the library. She was very kind and since it would be one of my duties to take over the library, she explained to me some of the ropes of running it. The room was filled with little grade 4s.
My heart melted at the sight of their little, petite figures, soft yet sharp brown eyes, and shy smiles. Right then and there i fell in love with the children of Cambodia.
I found out I had to teach class that very afternoon.The word ‘scared’ just didn’t do how I was feeling justice. I prayed to the Lord constantly that He would be close by and give me wisdom, strength and would put his words in my mouth. I know He answered that prayer, and knowing all of the prayers of my family, church family and friends for me were also being prayed, gave me added courage. Because I had no time to prepare, I spent the class period telling my grade 9 English students about myself and learning about them. I must say I despaired at first that I would never be able to pronounce and remember their names. How they laughed at my attempts to repeat their names back to them. But its now day 3 and I think I am improving 🙂 I finished off by playing “I’m going on a Holiday” with them to help them with their English and then the period was over. I thanked God that I’d survived!
Now I’m just in the process of managing my time preparing for classes and catching up on what I need to do. There are so many more experiences which I would love to share with you and hope to when I have the time. Right now I’m just praising God for His strength in my weakness. He has not let me down once. Once again, thank you all so much for your prayers and support, it certainly makes a difference.
The Aussie country girl in me has adjusted quickly to the bucket and dipper showering and hole in the ground toilets ;). I’m looking forward to riding in the back of the trucks to market!
God bless and keep you all,
God’s Wanderer
God's Wanderer 