Reflections ~ Part 1

Hi Everyone! We made it back to this amazing country where we have so much to be thankful for late Saturday night. Most of us cried our eyes out as we left Cambodia. As much as we were anxious to see our loved ones back home, leaving a place in such need AND the amazing friends we made, like Theara Sath, was like tearing our heart out!

I was super intentional on making notes of culutral differences in Cambodia with the plan to share with you all. I love learning about other cultures and maybe some of you do too:

1) In the rainy season, it pretty much rains every evening. It rained every evening while we were there. There was one night that it didn't rain until after we were in bed.

2)Very warm and very humid every day. The girls at the FREEDOM CENTER (Halfway House) did an Asian straighening thing on my hair, but it only lasted an hour in this humid climate! BUMMER!

3) It is beautiful. There were banana trees, coconut trees, palm trees, rice fields, and exotic fruits and flowers everwhere. The people live in such sad conditions that there is such irony in what we saw with extreme natural beauty and extreme poverty and filth.

4) Their potties are typically "squatties" with no toliet paper, trash cans, soap, or towels. To flush, you simply scoop up some water and pour into the toilet bowl that is inset into the ground. Voila! Needless to say, we used LOTS of germX. We were fortunate enough to have western toilets most places we visited. We only met a few squatties.

5) Their "napkins" for eating were basically sectioned toilet paper squares and I am not talking Charmin either.

6) There is very little sanitation in this country. There was trash on the ground everywhere. Trash cans were very difficult to find anywhere with the exception of the hotel rooms and airport.

7) They fish by getting into the water with nets. We saw lots of people up to their necks in flood water fishing away.

8) Most Cambodians seem to make their livings by selling something either from their shanties or in a market. Children are expected to work and sell things as well. The first born daughter is supposed to support her family.

9) The roads: There is no order to their driving. Most folks drive MOTOS which are a cross between a motorcycle and a moped. I think I saw ONE stop sign the entire trip. If you want to turn, you just honk and go for it. I am pretty sure that my attemp at driving in Cambodia should be considered a suicide attempt.

10) The food was ok. They eat a lot of rice, fish, and chicken. Pineapples, mangos, dragon fruit, fruits that I don't know the name of that we called eyeballs and hairballs, papaya, passionfruit, etc. My favorite things I ate that was Khmer was banana chips, passionfriut juice, and a very crisp pancake.

11) The coffee was not good. It tasted instant almost everywhere. I had a lot of hot tea! I also loved lime juice drinks. Fruit smoothies are everywhere and many team members loved them!

12) The electricity was pretty sketchy. It was not uncommon for the power to go off and on at any given time.

13) The government owns most of the land in the country. To own property, you have to be wealthy. Most families squat somewhere.

14) The water has a very different smell to it. After we got our clothing washed there, our clothes smelled just like their water. I don't even know how to describe it. It wasn't overtly offensive, but it was very strange. The smell of their cooking had a very unique smell as well. I am not sure if was the cooking oil or the gas they used to heat with that created the smell, but it take a lot of getting used to.

15) The inside of any building (business or otherwise) was very bare basic. The people really seem to appreciate very intricate and fancy details when it comes to furniture and sculptures, but that is it with decor. Walls in the evenings were usually decorated with live GEKOS! Gekos are everywhere there!

16) The country is 95% Buddhist. No matter the sad state of their homes, they all had these large decorative structures called SPIRIT HOUSES sitting out front. They would put food, flowers, incense and other offerings on these. Inside many business, they had a fancy set-up with a Budda on the floor where the same type of offerings are given.

17) In the towns, there was constant chanting and dingly music.

18) Throughout the country there was all poverty with a big fancy PAGODA (Buddhist Chapel) every so many miles.

17) There didn't seem to be any health codes when it came to restaurant cooking. We saw pots being washed with hoses in the back allies and thousands of things that would be instant violations here in the states. Because of God's grace, we only had a few instances of tummy problems.

18) Clothing for children is optional. We saw lots of naked babies and children. It's not like they need it to stay warm.

19) It is their custom to remove your shoes before entering any structure.

20) When you greet a Khmer, you put your hands together and bow your head.

21) The people loved having their pictures taken.

22) When you shop, bartering is customary.

23) The cows and chickens are a sign that your family is making it ok. They are the skinniest chickens and cows I have ever seen.

24) A fun thing for kids seemed to be riding water buffaloes which are everywhere!

25) They siesta in the afternoons. Most of them had a hammock for that.

26) Cobras are revered in the country. Almost every town has a huge cobra structure with either 5, 7, or 9 heads.

27) Many girls were wearing long sleeves, sweat suites or even turtle necks! I think this was all in the name of fashion. Girls will be girls everywhere. The children loved to wear pajama sets as daily outfits. They think they are quite cute and fashionable!

28) After struggles with my feet not fitting on the stairs many places, bonking my head mulitple times multiple places, and being rejected at a shoe market, I realized Cambodia is not designed for tall people!

29) You can get an amazing massage for $5!! I ended 3 days of ministry with one. I will have massage withdraws! The Thai massage was the best.

30) HUMAN LABOR and SEX TRAFFICKING is everywhere, on every corner, affecting nearly every family. It is rampant and a problem we should all be aware of as it is happening here in the USA more and more everyday. Men from all over the world fly into Cambodia just to have sex with young girls. Children as young as 3 are selling wears everywhere in Cambodia. These children are obviously slaves working for some labor-lord. Several of us were asked to purchase children by mothers! Things are desperate in Cambodia which causes the slave laborers to be continually successful.

Before I wrap up, I want to say personal thank yous to:
Chad Burghart (you are the husband God designed for me. Thank you so much for your support and being the best daddy ever.),

My mom and dad (Thanks for spoiling the family while I was gone and for not laying down in front of the airplane during take-off. I know you worried, but it was a trip meant to be.)

My in-laws (thanks for all the support and all the help while I was away. I am sorry I missed the birthday celebration.),

Susan Roberts (I know you serve the kids because you love them and it is one of your talents and gifts, but I whole-heartedly say prayers of thanks for you daily.)

Joshua Foster and Tyler Copp (You are very good boys. You make every Sunday bright and your willingness to teach these kids about Jesus is beyond impressive. I love you both!)

Jennifer Siebert and anyone else who likely stepped in and covered gapping holes I likely left behind! LOVE YOU!