On the Road with God

Good Morning to you all, Yesterday was another full day. We finished the health & hygiene seminar in the morning. The Cambodian students went out into the neighborhood surrounding the church. There purpose was to meet people and assess the needs for the hygiene materials and to pass out tickets for the medical clinic to be held on Mon. & Tues. They went out in 5 groups. Then returned and gave reports on what they found. They were even overwhelmed my the need out there. We Americans are use to being shocked by the conditions we see in 3rd world contries. It is never suprising to see our reactions. It suprised me greatly to see the Cambodian's reactions. One by one the groups reported on families they met, the conditions people were living in, and the need for them to teach and train on hygiene and health matters. On story was of a family of 4 living in 1 small room. There was no extra space in the room. They had their area for sleeping and a toilet area. When the asked where they cooked and prepared food the answer suprised even out Cambodian friends. They placed a board across the toilet for an area to prepare food. Then they could use the water in the toilet below to wash things. Yes, you read correctly. They are using the toilet for dual purpose, toilet and kitchen sink. But that is all they have. They make do with it. Story after story was told of unsanitary conditions and illness in the households. Praise God though. Our Cambodian brothers and sisters are ready to put their new knowledge to work. I have no doubt lives will be changed. It may be just a few drops in a bucket but it is a start. They are also catching our vision for taking these seminars out into the provinces. One of our students was from Kampot at the southern end of Cambodia. She very much wants help from the other students to bring this training to her province. Watch out! The Cambodian Christians are fired up to take Christ out into the communities and change lives. I have no doubt they will do it. It is humbling to see the fire in their eyes. I have to ask myself, "Do I have that same fire to changes lives around me in the US?" Our last remaining team members arrived yesterday. And we started their trip with a exciting tour of Phnom Penh for Craig, Rosemarie, and Margaret. The plan was an early dinner for the team, then let the new arrivals rest. We left for dinner at a restuarant not far from the house. It is on road 288. Since we have so many people, we used a tuktuk to transport some of us while the rest road with Steve in the car. Steve and Carolyn use the same drives most of the time. The usual driver sent a cousin to pick us up. So into the car and tuktuk and off to the restuarant we went. We got there in the car and met up with Lois and the Van Winkle family. Then we waited...and waited...and waited for the group in the tuktuk. Steve got the original driver on the phone and he tracked down his cousin. He had taken them to road 88! He dropped them off knowing it was the wrong place and said he had called a new driver to pick them up. Long story short after many phone calls and directions given, Lois was able to get the driver to the Lucky Market where she met them and escorted them to the restuarant! Unintentional, but the got a great tour of the city from one end to the other and back! All is well though. We got dinner and made it back to the house for a good nights rest. We are all preparing for church service now. It starts at 8:30 with a social time. It was asked of the team, that someone preach this morning. I'm still not quite sure how it happened but I was chosen. Unfortunately I have developed quite a cough since arriving here. But it is an advantage traveling with a medical team. They tell me it is most likely allergies and a reaction to the bad air here. Gaylyn got me some cough syrup and has been pumping me full of antihistamines. I think she's just trying to get me healthy because she's the next in line to preach! We have been praying and if God's willing and thinks I have a message to give, then I will be able to speak without coughing this morning. I'll let you know. Right now I'm going to get some breakfast before we go. May you enjoy a blessed Sabbath. Even though time and distance separate us, we can still worship our Lord together in our hearts.