Cambodia and Thailand...

CAMBODIA
My first stop was supposed to be Cambodia but I ended up sleeping in the Bangkok airport first. Tara and I missed our flight to Cambodia so we were stuck in Bangkok. We ate lots of good food, had starbucks (oh, how I miss starbucks) and slept in the airport for 12 hours until the next available flight. We finally made it to Cambodia where we were met by some friends our ours whom we met at MTI training last February. It was such a blessing to be with them and see how Dad is using them there. They run a boys home where they are basically parents to about 12 Cambodian boys. The boys were our tour guides while we were there. We got to see all the sights in Phenom Penh but also got to be a part of their workthere. It was such a blessing! While there we went to Tuol Sleng, where the genocide took place by the Khmer Rouge. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen – but at the same time fascinating to be somewhere that I have only read about in a history book. We went to the Royal Palace, the waterfront, the national museum and most of the other tourist sites. It was great! Next, we boarded the plane to Siem Reap, Cambodia where we were for just a couple of days. We got to see all of the famous temples and learn a lot about the history of Cambodia. We also visited a small village and got to see how people lived there. While in the village, we learned the entire process of how rice is made and I now have a new found respect for rice because it is a LONG, hard process – we helped for five minutes and were tired – they do it every day all day. The people in the village live so simply –no Wal-marts, no stores at all really; they have everything they need right where they are. Their houses are made from trees, everything they eat is found in their backyard. I could go on and on about the experiences and history of Cambodia all day because it was incredible.

THAILAND
As you know, the entire reason for this trip was for the regional staff conference in Thailand. It was better than I could have ever expected. The speaker was a woman from Wales. She was very down to earth and vulnerable about her life. The theme of the conference was “Come Home to The Son”. Each day there was also a mini theme – for example, the first day was an invitation for the thirsty to come home, the second for the brokenhearted and so on. When she spoke she made the Word come alive – it was incredible. After four hours in a conference room – most people need a break, but I think most of us could have sat there all day and listened to her speak about the Word. After she spoke, we had thirty minutes to an hour to reflect on our own and just spend time with Dad – which was especially great for the mothers in the group. For myself, I just felt like Dad really met me there. Of course, I know that He is always with me, but sometime in the past three weeks I feel like He’s taken me to a whole different place in our relationship – I really don’t know how to describe it – I just feel His presence and that of His Spirit like I’ve never felt it before. The conference really fed my soul and I am so thankful that Dad brought me to it!

I’m sure most, if not all of you have been to conferences and know that with all of the serious times – there has to be a little bit of fun as well. Let me set the scene. I have been in Kazakhstan which at the moment is dark, snowy, smoggy and cold. Right outside of the hotel in Thailand is the BEACH with warm, hot, shining sun so of course I spent much time there. Also, I have a bucket list (things to do before I kick the bucket) and one of those things is to ride an elephant. Tara and I rode one in Cambodia but it just wasn’t all I hoped it would be. We rode it around a street block (yes, in the traffic) with motorists driving by taking pictures. When the opportunity presented itself in Thailand, I had to give it another go. This time – it was all I hoped it would be! I even got to ride out of the seat – on the elephants head, behind its ears!!! We did a lot of shopping and wandering around the city - had a lot of fun with old and new friends! Another great part of the conference was being able to see great friends and make many new ones! It was really encouraging to hear what people are doing and how they are being used all over the world!

BACK IN KAZAKHSTAN
We arrived back in Kazakhstan last Monday at about 4 in the morning. At 2:00 pm on Monday I began the move into my new apartment! Talk about a long day! I love my new apartment. It is very open and roomy! I will do another video tour with my new roommate, Jessica, soon and post it here for you! We are well settled into our new apartment and loving it! Other than the new apartment, life is getting pretty busy around here. I am getting very involved in KELT (Kazakhstan English Language Theater). Jessica is the director and I am the stage manager –sounds fancy doesn’t it? We are doing a play called David and Lisa. It is about a teenage mental institute focusing on a boy named David with severe obsessive compulsive disorder and Lisa who has multiple personalities. Rehearsals begin tonight and will be 5-6 days a week. I am really excited to be involved in KELT so heavily. I also still work with students at another University amongst a few other things! Anyway, all this to say that life in Kazakhstan is getting busy but it is exciting!