Cambodia is so cool. Phnom Penh is actually different than I expected, it kind of reminds me of Mexico City. With more mopeds. So far, the food has been pretty awesome (as Sam would say.) At the buffet a few days ago, we even found a whole little duck head cooked just in the pile with the rest of the food. It was a little smaller than the ones at Shy Pond though. We also learned at that buffet (and at breakfast every morning) that Cambodians don't really like to wait in line. They kind of just go. Which is bad for me, because we eat breakfast at like 6:10 am and I'm not really awake.

But my favorite is the village. Riding the ferry and the mopeds there is really fun, and it's so cool to see how everything works at the orphanage/school/church. Seeing and playing with all the kids, knowing that this is probably their favorite time of the year, is really amazing. Just like in Kenya, it's especially cool to see the orphans meet their sponsors. The kids love it, but also seeing the way the members of our team who are getting to meet or see again the kids they sponsor is really beautiful.

We've been doing teacher training in the afternoons. Yesterday we kind of just asked them questions, trying to figure out what their school is like. Today we focused on multiple intelligences and classroom management. It was harder than I thought it would be, even though we tried to think around everything and change things to explain them better through the language barrier. Luckily, our translator is really great. He sometimes goes off talking for a long time, but I'm pretty sure the teachers are getting it so that's good. It's definitely putting my complaining about school in perspective.

Tonight and last night we ate dinner at the Cambodian Galleria. The pizza was really good, and the gelato was even better. We're going to try to stay up until midnight for New Year's, but I'm doubting anything will make it (except Tamara who never sleeps. I'm pretty sure she's a vampire.) Good night!!

Amy

PS I'm putting up some pictures from the ferry from my iphone. It's pretty awesome to have wireless in the hotel lobby, but it makes me feel pretty spoiled. The picture at the top is me and Haleigh, and the next one is Sam doing a news report from the ferry.

Meeting the Orphans!

Today was the day that we have been looking forward to for months now, our first day out at the Hope for Cambodia Orphanage! It started bright and early, in order to beat the craziness of rush hour traffic (which includes about 1,000,000 mopeds, a few police officers directing traffic, and TWO stop lights)...absolutely crazy, the only peace being that we were by far the largest vehicle on the road.

Before lunch we got to meet the orphans and play with some of the kids from the village that are participating in the Bible Club, it was so fun! Its amazing to see how much these kiddos really appreciated even the small things that we gave them, like coloring sheets, streamers, and bubbles. We took a break for lunch, the village kids went home, and the afternoon was dedicated to continuing the Pastors Conference, the water retention, hair design school, teacher training, and just hanging out with the orphans.

Ashley, led the teacher training, and did a fabulous job! We (Ashley, Amy, Lauren, and I) mostly found out just how primitive their school is, how it was run, and were stunned to hear the number of students. There are sixty, yes 6-0 students in the 3-5 year old class, how many teachers you might ask...one. It sure made me appreciate the resources we have back at home. But God is good, and though they are lacking in materials, the teachers have a great heart to learn and a whole lot of love for their students. God is also challenging us to be creative with the supplies and set up they have, and really showing me that no matter where you are kids are very much similar.

Difficult things:
1. the language - new sounds, new names, difficult to remember phrases
2. the food - I am not as adventurous as I thought I might be, just because I don't want to get sick and miss a day with the kids

Great things:
1. David - I got to meet David, the orphan that Michael and I sponsor. Michael got to play with him last year and warned me that he was super shy. David is about 2 years old and as cute as can be. He really started to warm up to us and by the end of the afternoon was coming to us and asking to be held!
2. Our translators - Such fun kids (college kids) They all have a really neat story to tell and are also very gifted with children, they have been a joy to work with!
3. Prices = cheap
4. Hugs from cute kids

Overall, we had a great first day! It was awesome to have the whole group together and to get to meet all the people I have heard about for a year now. Thank you for all your prayers! God is good and does good things and there is hope for Cambodia.

-Noelle

Rest Day - from Ashley

Today was a down day for us to shop, tour, and rest. We slept late this morning, and then left at 10:00 to go to the Royal Palace where the king of Cambodia lives (sorry the pictures are so small - I'm not sure what to do about that). Tamara took some pictures with her phone, so we are able to load some of them here. Amy, Micaela, Sarah, and I wore shorts to the palace, which was not allowed, so we were able to rent some baggy pants and wraps to wear over our shorts. They were very awesome-looking. Amy has one of the wraps on here.

After touring the Royal Palace, we went to lunch at a nice buffet. I thought it was interesting that you had to pay for water but Coke was free! The food was great and we enjoyed a nice lunch.

From lunch we walked to the Russian Market where we all supported the local economy (some more than others). It was very hot in there, and I never did figure out how to find my way around, but we had a good time. We got to ride Tooks for the first time to get back to our hotel - these are like buggies pulled behind motorcycles. Traffic here is crazy - I rode facing backward and just didn't watch!!

I am so excited to be here. Today has been great to rest and hang out, but I am really looking forward to going to the orphanage tomorrow to meet our children and the teachers. All day today I saw sweet little Cambodia children in the market and around town and they are just precious. I am ready to go tomorrow to meet OUR children. :)

We are going to rest a little before heading to dinner at Sokum's house. We will update as we can!! Check the post below for info about the "Standby Six!"

Ashley

The Standby Six

The Pickerings and Culverhouses, or the Standby Six as they have named themselves, have arrived in Seoul and have confirmed tickets for Phnom Phen tonight!!! They will be arriving here in Cambodia at 10:50 our time and we will get them from the airport and bring them back to the hotel so they can finally rest!!
We leave at 6:30 in the morning for the village, so we are praying for the rest that they do get to be sufficient!!! We are thankful that they are on their way to us and are looking forward to all being together again.
Thank you God for doing what the people at the airlines said couldn't be done! We praise you and thank you for your provision.

On the ground in Cambodia, well most of us...

We are all settled in at our hotel in Phnom Penh. It is almost 2am here in Cambodia.

22 of us have completed the long journey here. Greg and Kathy Pickering and the Culverhouses will be arriving late on Tuesday. Please pray for their connection from Seoul to Phnom Penh. Alonzo and Ben Casas will be joining us about lunch time on Tuesday. Pray for their travel as well.

It has been a wild 30+ hours...but praise God everything is going well. The mission trip beattitude is "blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape." We have been bent but not broken.

We are looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow. We will be slow to get going, but once we do we will tour the Cambodian Royal Palace and do some shopping at the markets.

It is so good to be here! Those that have been before are remebering the people, places, sounds and sights that they love...and those that are here for the first time are about to fall in love!

Thanks for your prayers...we will keep you updated.

Cambodian Lunch in Rosharon

The folks at Rosharon Bible Baptist Church hosted our 2010 team for a Cambodian lunch on Saturday. It was (mostly) delicious, and brought back memories that made you ready to ride the ferry across the Mei Kong TODAY and head for our village! The egg rolls were dynamite!
Pastor The Mey


No really, these are great egg rolls!


Hmmm...coconut soup for dessert!?

BPF MISSION TRIP 2010

We are just 13 days away from heading to CAMBODIA! The trip dates are December 27 - January 8. This year's mission will include:
- Pastor's Conference for 100 church planters
- Hair Training and Advanced Hair Training for 20 people
- Teacher Training for the teachers at Hope for Cambodia for 5 teachers
- Water Tank Construction for the orphanage
AND
- Bible Club for over 200 children!!! (Including our 60 orphans)

The team this year is made up of 30 people...we are going to need every single one!
God has big things in store for us...we are ready to hit the ground running!