Last days, not quite what I had planned...

First, off the last blog I posted somehow my computor thought it knew best and posted it as oct 12, so if you want to read it you have to scroll down thru dates to find it.. I dont know how that happend hoping this one gets posted right...
    My time at Sovanapoom got shortened by 2 days, had to leave there on Thursday morning, for 2 reasons, the government was closing Russian Blvd and I think Noradom blvd plus several side streets that join them (at least sections of them) so they were predicting seriuos traffic issues, for Friday thru Monday.. So John suggested I get to closer to airport side of town thursday. Halls offered to let me stay with them, I so appreciated them, and their generosity :-) the problem was I had enough projects to do to fill all the days, now I had to get them done in 1 day Wed...! Praying hard for my back to hold up, & thankful for pain pills, I put whatever capable kids that were around me helping, to finish projects or at least get quick lessons in how to finish, Christmas costumes, mending, a boys sewing projects, a teacher who I was teaching to sew a shirt,  had to show one of the girls what she needed to teach the teacher to do to finish... and pack ect!! What a day & night, a couple of girls wanted to stay the night with me, so of course I let them! I spent the night tearing apart a pair of pants I was sewing last minute for Ra, and in my rush realized I had sewed them wrong... grrrrr the saying "the hurry you go the behinder you get" is so true! But by thursday am I was as ready..as I could be... God was graciuos and gave me stregnth for the day! never ready to say goodbye tho!
    John got word that the rice was needing to be harvested, so to save on fighting traffic with 2 trips across town, he loaded up a few of the older boys, some had never gone up ther  before:-) and dropped me off on his way to the farm.  He also was able to purchase a Harvestor, to take up to help get the rice harvested easier. Cheaper to do that then pay for so much labour cutting it all by hand and faster.
   I enjoyed my time with the Halls, a bit of an adjustment, from super busy, to not at all..... friday, enjoyed going to Logo's school with Darlene to watch the boys in the jog a thon, a fund raiser the school was doing to raise funds for a generator. The enjoyed a nice lunch at "Gateway" a coffee shop type  ministry to university students. That afternoon I had to spend laying in bed because the back was again not cooperating, praying for the travels on Saturday...
   My trip is coming to a close, I feel bad that I had to say good bye a couple days early to the kids at Sovanapoom, but Gods in control of this trip, so He must have a reason for this also,. See you all soon.  Lori
  

Musings on life' s happenings

Saturday, I probably shouldn't admit this but, feeling a bit weak in my spirit today, praying for God to keep me strong,I know that He has me here for a reason, and I don't want to weaken now! God directed me to 2 Timothy 4:7 & Hebrews 12 :1, He knew we as humans would have days like this,  so He had words to encourage ready for us.

  Bopar's mom had baby number 15... weighs 2kilo & 7 gr. Which I think converts to, 4lb 2oz., still in hospital, pray for mom & baby,  she doesn't have milk for the baby, we purchased formula for him, but she had to have ceaserean, and isn't doing real well.
    Today, Monday,  I took Nita to a local "salon" nearby, and we enjoyed getting a, manicure together, its kinda fun sitting on our little plastic stools, listening to the chatter around me, as we waited our turn, picking out a word here and ther that I understood trying to piece together what the conversations were about, I knew that they discussed my hair for a bit :-)
   This afternoon, Debbie wasn't able to make it over so I filled in as " substitute teacher" worked on some reading comp. Worksheet then watched a "planet earth video on the artic. Had them draw pictures of what they learned. Interesting pictures...
  Then time to put the 2nd new shelving unit in the storeroom and organize the rest of the stuff with Betty.
   The 1st grade khmer teacher asked me to teach her sewing last week, so last week I began working with her on sewing a shirt, this afternoon,  after she was done teaching we worked on her shirt until dinner, its nice to work with an adult, even tho we don't speak the same language! Today Seena's older brother and family came to visit, tonite Seena came to me with their 2yr old girl she has fever and all around her neck and a few on her back looks almost like hives, or just tons of bug bites?? I went to the medicine cabinet to see what we had,  I was relieved to find liquid benedryl, hopefully it helps, When we were walking to the office for medicine Seena asked me if I would please pray for her, Of course! I am pleased she thought to ask, her family isn't Christians,  so Seena & I prayed for her together. You never know what window of opportunity God will bring along, I just have to do my best to obey, and let God do the work!
  Tomorrow I will be meeting SreyLeark & Sokim for lunch, trying to keep in touch with the older girls that are working in Phnom Penh, also need to do a little shopping for supplies for sewing Christmas play costumes, hoping to find some furry fabric for sheep & a donkey.... thats ask ing alot tho, will seee.

Sorry no pictures, next time:-)

Team work is the name of the game!

This week started off with no Khmer school for Monday or Wednesday, so what to do?? So I planned a cleaning game:-) make things into a contest, they instantly become more fun :-), during morning Bible study, I divided them into 5 teams & told them after breakfast, we would meet & get instructions. I divided the rooms up told them 2 wash the walls & windows, they would be judged on how they worked as a team, not just on how good a job they did. One team went above & beyond their given area & took on the ceiling & stage area!  The prize was chocolates & homemade icecream at my house. So the 1st place team got ice cream on Monday, & since everyone did so good each team is getting ice cream, so everyday a differant team comes over for ice cream:-)
    Tuesday, I went over to phnom penh to pick up contacts I ordered, much to my dissappointment, I was told they couldn't make my perscription:( then off to the market to get some sewing supplies & school notebooks, & power strip. Then to Lucky for icecream ingred. I was glad that Mr.D the moto driver I know was available, just makes it nice when you feel a little safer with a safe driver.... He was nice & brought me all the way back, rather than dropping me at the ferry, without me even asking him to:-)
   Wed. Debbie & Nigel came in the morning for english school time, since no Khmer school.. Tonet assigned a few boys to help with the storage room cleaning project, & He taught the rest of them in the afternoon, keeping them busy. Earlier I had asked Tonet & Bong to build a shelf for the storage room to help with the organizing, they did a nice job:-)
  All I can say is, Wow! I'm glad we tackled that project! It looks nice & clean, & organized with the new shelf, a big job! But with Betty & the boys it went good.
   Today Ra isn't feeling well so I'll be helping her daughter in the kitchen,
Today, Tonet & I decided another shelf unit would be good to help get more things off the floor in the storage room. So Tonet & Bong got the steel & wood ect.  to make another one:-)

So now what, I'm sure I'll come up with something:-)

Stretching.

Today "Saturday", was an exciting day in someways, a bit of  background to this, Before I left to come to Cambodia, Stan was wanting to highlight or at least bookmark the Romans Road to salvation and a few other essential verses, in a Khmer Bible & present it to a special friend the "Headmaster" who is 80yrs.
   Not knowing the language well enough to recognize letters ect. to read it proved a bit daunting when trying to find the verses.... After arriving here, I learned that the headmaster was very ill, & not looking to good. I was feeling that time is of the essecnce!
  So I had Tonet go over the verses,  writing them in khmer, and prepare a khmer Bible. This morning Tonet & I went to their home to visit them and present it, We had a very nice visit, found that he was feeling much better, he had gone to 3 differant hospitals in Phnom Penh, with no answes, but last week he went to Vietnam to the hospital, got some answers & medication that seems to be helping. Is very frail, but was in good spirits & said he can now eat so hopefully he will put a some weight on & get his stregnth back!  After visiting, about all this, Tonet explained Stan' s gift of the Bible & basically, how to find verses, the meaning of the verses that Stan wanted to share wih him ect. He & his wife both seemed very attentive & interested, I left with a good feeling, about how our visit went. This was a first for me, in alot of ways, I've never gone to someones home with such a feeling of urgency, to make sure they hear the salvation message.....  Tonet did a great job, doing the talking since I'm a long ways from talking much in khmer "thanks so, much Tonet" (He is a natural!)  

I don' t feel comfortable, in the position of leadership I guess is the word,,,for lack of knowing what other word, I've always been much more comfortable in the "kitchen" where no-one notice 's.. but this trip has kinda thrown me into a lot of "uncomfortable" jobs! Some I learn about at the time they need to be happening!  I guess thats Gods way of stretching me,  making me grow...
   I don't always know what the proper technique to approach people, like my visit this, morning, I just know in my naive way that if God is giving me a prompting or burden about something, I had better do something, and just pray that its right!
   Saturday afternoon Ra, Betty, & Ra's daughters went to Phnom Penh for lunch of pizza, then to Oressay for shopping, boys needed long pants for church, shampoo, fabric ect. Was on the list.. I realized that afternoons aren't the best time of day... hot, stinky & way to much traffic!! Coming back to the ferry, & getting on a ferry proved a bit daunting, it took waiting thru 3 ferries before we got on one, so many people!!  getting off work & school.. note to self, wont try the ferry at that time of day again...
  

On my own Again....

Well as most of you probably know my partner has left for home, back to her snowy mountain and wonderful husband & son, I am ever so gratefull that they loaned her to me for the 2 weeks we had. IT was a wonderful to share what God is doing here in Cambodia with her.
   For Ronda' s last night, we had a game night,gave them glow sticks, played flyng dutchman,  & indians & teepees, the thunder & rain was so loud along with the kids yelling we literally couldnt hear each other :-) & we were yelling!! If only i could figure out how to put a video on here you could hear how loud it was:-) maybe I'll get it on facebook!
  Then it calmed down & the kids sang Ronda their special goodbye songs & the Lords Prayer in khmer, of course ther were many tears......
  It poured all night making for a muddy trip to the boat the next morning... slipping down the hill, with heavy
Suitcases, at least we didnt fall & make a scene! Our faithful friends Dave Hall met us on the other side, to drive us to the airport, with the heavy morning traffic, it was a project, making it with time to spare, tearful goodbyes... then Dave took me to their home where his wife made delicious banana muffins with coffee, They have been more then generous helping us out here, spoiling us:-) then Dave returned me to SP on the moto, back to work, in time for afternoon  school & sewing.

      One of the older girls is anxious to come "stay with me", she also wrecked on the bike for the second time,, each time taking all the hide off her knee, well at least they match now! 
   Today another bike wreck, this time a younger girl, split open her forhead, scared the kids, because for a small cut it sure bled!
They are keeping me on my toes, for sure, making sure chores are done. After lunch rests taken for younger kids, .sewing, school lessons. Bible lessons,  ect.
Until next time, God Bless you all, Lori
PS: Yes Cheryl, "ginger pork:-)" for dinner. Favorite

Awesome sunday!

   Saturday, I took Ronda & Nita to town for shopping trip, needed to stock up on fabric & Ronda needed a few things to take home, so off to Oressay market. We also had to get a sewing machine repaired. Oressay was a very busy place after being closed for week, due to the "pchum Bun" festival. We got
Our exercise, walking from the sewing machine shop to market dodging traffic,  then thru  around  the market searching & finding what we needed  which can be a challenge!!  Back around the market dodging traffic... to the sewing shop, .its hard to describe... nothing quite like it!
Lunch at "Daughters"  was a nice break... back home for the afternoon, the "Halls" came over for a visit their boys seemed to enjoy playing on the playground with the kids:-)
   Sunday, we had a fairly full house for the morning feeding program ministry, then for the 9am service David Hall came to speak.
    We had about 25 local's show up for church service :-) the kids all did very good setting up chairs, making sure everyone was ok, and sitting still during the service! David did a good job preaching in Khmer the kids said the visitors enjoyed listening to what he had to say.:-)  it was so encouraging and nice to have such an interest from the community. I think the kids were very encouraged by it:-)

  

Fried fish egg fritters anyone?

Its been a challenge figuring out how to do this blog with out a computor, but we may be gaining! Thank you all for your patience while I
learn & experiment...
   Life is going smooth, considering.... teaching kids at 6am for their morning worship time,  if anyone has any topic suggestions it would be appreciated.  I've been teaching on  Christian character.
   Its been on the warm side,  hot nights make for not good sleep.
   Thank you all for your prayers for here and for my mom! It was difficult knowing she had to have a major surgery and not being there to help out.
   Thursday Ronda & I planned on attending a cooking class together, but Ra had to go to an important meeting, so Betty, Ronda, & Seena went & i stayed home to cook lunch. Fish egg fritters was on the menu so I learned a new recipe to share with you all,:-)

   Sewing, knitting, crocheting keep us busy whenever the kids have a free, moment as those who have facebook may have noticed.

Beginning of the "Last week "

    First off, I have heard that this is baby #10, not sure really how many but I am correcting myself, I shouldn't have quoted a number because who really knows? They are home from hospital,and I hope to go visit them this weekend.
   Due to waking up Sunday am with a horrible migraine type headache, I didnt get to visit baby yet:( but I got some nice snuggle time with little Nita, She seemed to need it with the new baby & all, kinda struggling..
    Monday am, off to get the sewing machine fixed one last time, needed a few things to finish the Christmas costumes, then I'm meeting Dave & Darlene Hall for lunch. Then back for school & sewing. After the rough bouncy tuk tuk ride, my back was hurting a little,
      Soon as I got back, Bopar took me to visit her mom & new baby, so cute & tiny, i tried to find a newborn size outfit for him, but the smallest was a 3mos. The shop insists its small enough... wrong! Oh well growing room..:-)I got to  feed him, and hold him for awhile, amazed how these tiny ones survive the harsh realities of their lives.
.I've attached some pictures:-)
   Monday night I was sitting on the floor working on packing, when I went to get up, well lets just say, the back & right leg wouldnt cooperate, so crawled to the bed, lucky for me, some of the boys stopped in to put water in the freezer & brought me some pain meds, water & computor! I must have been a sight! Crawling to the top of stairs to tell them what I needed··· chooey pong!! "Help" it was a long night to say the least..praying that Ide be able to get down the stairs in the am, & get dressed, not a small problem!
    God was good, I got myself ready, just takes longer and got down the stairs, good thing for hand rails! Then ventured out to teach the kids, wasnt going to miss my last morning:-) (John gets back tonite). The kids prayed for me, then Nita helped me get back to the house, where I spent the rest of the day on the couch, Thanks so much for all the prayers:-) tonite feeling a little better, I can walk with extreme caution. At least Im not crawling tonight:-) hopefully tomorrow I can get back to work, i have   a lot to do and only 2 days to get it all done since I lost Sunday & now Tues.!
   Also pray that I can get to the airport with out problems, they have closed the 2 main streets & several side streets that go between here and the airport! Because Obama is coming this weekend, ggrrrr, creating all kinds of problems for the people here.

This week has come to an end and we have just finished our first  Sunday here at Sovanapoom. Things have gone smoothly considering... A few challenges, but over all kids are doing good. Peta came over today for church, and stayed for lunch, enjoyed some homemade fresh coconut icecream, together before she had to go back home. Wed. she will be bringing Anzac here for me to babysit:)
   Ronda, Seena, and Betty and I made a quick trip to Phnom Penh to get sewing machines repaired & we purchased another machine, due to the fact that one of them seems like its on its last leg.... This Monday no khmer school, because of PchumBen, so we felt the whole country is on holiday so we had a fun afternoon of games, and then a walk to the lake,
   My house looks like a knitting club/shop with projects, yarn &; needles everywhere. the girls have enjoyed coming over and spendimng time with teacher Ronda learming new crochet skills including me:) I crochet my first flower last night!
   We need to be constantly praying against satan, as he would like nothing better than to destroy the work here, Pray for Ra, as she has some personal  struggles, she and her family are trying to deal with. Also pray for John &; Tess while they are in Ausstralia.

Mama Lori, back in Cambodia

greetings from Cambodia:) I Lori have returned to Sovanapoom care center to help out for the next 5 weeks or so. John & Tess have been asked to return to Australia to speak at various meetings and also to enjoy visiting family.


   I have been blessed to have Ronda Thornburg, a special friend join me on this trip. We flew out on Sunday Oct 7th, arriving in Cambodia on Tues. Oct 9th. Our flights were good, long but
( better than expected ) John picked us up at the airport, and we have been busy getting orientated to what needs to be done, running of Sovanapoom while they are gone.
  Our 2nd night neither of us could sleep due to time zone adjusting, and the thunder began, and the rains poured down!!  so silly us we were up enjoying the cool rain! and killed a spider that thought he would share the house NOT! as of this evening we killed spider #2! in less than 24hrs... not a good sign.....
  Today Thursday Ronda and I went to Phnom Penh for a few supplies and of course I had to take her to the Russian Market. then we went to the Hall's for a wonderful lunch and nice visit, catching up since we were here last in July. the visit was to short, we had to get back to Sovanapoom for afternoon school.
     The country is in the middle of their festival that is called Pchum Ben its where they let the ancestors spirits out for 15 days and the relatives have to go to differant temples to feed them....needless to say traffic is bad and shops are not guaranteed to be open. (this an extremely brief overview) kinda weird. The monks start in between 3 & 4am. We asked if they understood what they are saying, they said "no, its blah.,blah,blah". we got a laugh out of that.
   This morning I'll be doing morning Bible Study with the kids, Tree & I'll be sharing the days, so pray that I'll be sensitive to what the Lord will have me do.
I appreciate all the prayers, thank you everyone for the tremendous support,

Welding the Ripper

Thought I would share some picture Stan took of the boys welding up the Ripper, and the younger boys wishing they were welding ;)

If all goes well, we will have pictures of the finished product by Monday! Stan and John and Tree hauled all the parts they welded together to the farm to finish it. 

Loaded up! many hands make light work :) ready to make the trip to the farm.

 I  started this blog post July 24th, while  Stan and John have been at the farm,
   I've been busy with sewing projects and Debbie hasn't been able to make it over for school, So I've thrown together some quick school lessons, sending a quick prayer for what to have them do???
I have been reading John 15 and feeling a bit of nudging from the Lord to study the word "Abiding " and how that is such an important part of being a Christian! If we truly understand and "abide in Him" we will have joy, and true rest!!   I shared that with the kids introducing a new word to study and to challenge them with. Then I had the older kids write Psalm 23 and locate and identify all the nouns and verbs, the younger kids I had them write their memory verse and identify each vowel and how many time it was used, reviewing the vowel sounds, We then had a littte math game breaking into teams and challenged each other with addition and multiplication problems on Wed. the winner overall was Paroad and on Thursday we played again using division and subtraction. and the winner was Sok. The special champion prize was one of my coveted chocolates with carmel! They seemed to really enjoy the game!! getting all loud and silly!! Thursday we repeated our verses from Wed but the older kids had to find and identify the adjectives and the younger ones worked on finding and counting all the consonants. I also had found some other worksheets to do that reviewed the concepts that I was trying to teach.. I don't know, I'm not a trained teacher so I just do what comes to my brain in the few minutes I had to prepare!! And when school is finished its back to the sewing room with another group of kids who in all reality just really like to cut up and create whatever!
   Friday I made homemade ice cream with Fresh coconut chopped up into it, for the ladies bible study group.. Sreylin hacked open a coconut for it!! hard work!!
  The last few days (which to date is still happening going on 2 weeks now) there has been loud weird music and so I went out to investigate since it was right outside the gate... the monks are trying to raise money so they have boys dress up like a chinese type dragon and tall men and go around to peoples homes scarying them into giving money?? anyway its seemed a bit strange I just had to get some pictures...

Saturday afternoon fun time in the yard with the kids:) 

These two were loving the picture taking, ready with another pose! 

A few pictures of the yard, its really looking nice! as the tree's and flowers grow up the transformation will be fun to watch! 

Mom's & kids sharing a snack

Strawberry plants from home, starting to take hold & make some new leaves!!

  While at the farm, Stan and John decided a Ripper was a necessary implement that was needed immediately! So Last Saturday soon as they got back from the farm Stan and Tonet ran into PP to get steel. Monday (yesterday) morning sharp they began the process of welding up the pile into a "Ripper" who knows maybe it will be something that will be marketable??

On Sunday we were blessed with a visit from Mandie and the kids! :) We had a very nice visit, After the morning Outreach Service, we walked to the market for a little breakfast and coffee with Mandie, Thoen, Sopeak and Peak joined us while we were there. Then after church time Stan and I went into Phnom Penh for lunch with Mandie & Gabi. Wandered around the Sorya Mall for a little while then headed back to Sovanapoom, was a relaxing Sunday:) spent with friends talking about all the Lord is doing in Cambodia :)
    This is our last full week here, and can't end it any other way than, fill it UP!! Stan and the boys are working hard building the Ripper and Tomorrow (Wednesday Stan and John will haul what they have built to the farm to finish it there.

  I am hosting a homemade ice cream party for my sewing groups. So each afternoon I have a different group of 5 or more kids come for ice cream, then we go and sew.. whoever has projects to finish and then we have some of the older ones wanting to sew...... I already have lists of what they want to sew when I come back!!  The kids are pretty excited about it, they are always coming up to me to tell me what day they get to have Ice cream:)  
   Next Monday Stan and I have been invited to the Headmaster of the Khmer School"s home for lunch. Looking forward to our visit with them.. hopefully we can communicate at least a little....We are praying for their Salvation.
 When Stan gets back from the farm will do a "farm update''