Friday, February 12, 2010
Becky is now sick, too
Hello this is Isaac, I hacked moms email in order to send out a prayer request for her, she seems to have the same thing that I do, pleaase pray for her as this is not good, and well being sick is never good, but in a foreigen country is even worse, thank you all for your prayers
Isaac Update
Glory to God! Isaac is muuuuuuch better this evening! We went out a bit late this afternoon as kind of a test run & he did fairly well, just weak & sore. After more rest he was able to eat. He's still sore & tired, but a good night's rest should solve that. Thank you all so very, very much for your prayer help. God has heard our pleas & granted mercy. Thank You, God!
His~
Becky
His~
Becky
PAY DAY
Isaac was terribly sick all thru the night, but, praise God, he is better this afternoon after sleeping most of the morning & occassionally sipping 7Up & water.
With Isaac laid up I was on my own this morning. What an adventure! The first part sounds like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. On the way to the orphanage I noticed something that looked like a US dollar bill in the road. It was $100! It lay near an open gate, so I called in to the people to let them know they dropped a HUGE chunk of money. The woman whom I tried to hand the bill to was either very honest or didn't recognize what I had in my hand because she refused to take it. I looked around to see if anyone else was around. Not a soul. So, I pocketed the money & walked on. I didn't get far before I found another $100 bill. I laughed out loud & said, "Lord, are You kidding me?!" I pocketed it thinking how much help $200 can provide in the slums of Cambodia. I hadn't thought long when I stepped on another $100 bill!
I pocketed it as well & prayed, "Lord, what is this about?" I was reminded how this trip was made possible. People just came to me with money saying something like, "God told me to give you this money," or "We really want to help out on this mission." I didn't ask for anything, it just came to me by God's people. I realized that here in Cambodia there are no believers to come to me in such a way, so God used a different tack to accomplish His desire. Now I think I have an inkling how Peter felt when Jesus provided cash in a fish's mouth.
I've given $100 to Ruth & trust God will show me what to do with the other $200. Please pray with me for clear direction & quick obedience.
Yesterday I noticed the children's hair was quite a mess. They said the comb was lost, so I set about to provide a few combs. I took seven in this morning thinking that would be plenty to share. Truly, it is plenty. However, the children suckered me into getting a new comb for each child. Straightaway I headed for the market & being in a hurry I accepted the first moto offer (motos are the Cambodian answer to taxi cabs-a moped with a large seat) thinking the man spoke some english. I soon found out that all he understood was "market," "English," & "OK." Unfortunately, the market I was referring to was not the market he headed for. Long story short: we were able to get enough combs for every child & after stopping at every store begging, "English? Please, english?" the driver finally gave up & went back to where we started not realizing that's what I'd been trying to tell him for about 30 minutes. Hahahahahahaha!
I also learned to do laundry today, but that's a story that will have to wait until I return because the lesson came mostly in pantomime.
With Isaac laid up I was on my own this morning. What an adventure! The first part sounds like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. On the way to the orphanage I noticed something that looked like a US dollar bill in the road. It was $100! It lay near an open gate, so I called in to the people to let them know they dropped a HUGE chunk of money. The woman whom I tried to hand the bill to was either very honest or didn't recognize what I had in my hand because she refused to take it. I looked around to see if anyone else was around. Not a soul. So, I pocketed the money & walked on. I didn't get far before I found another $100 bill. I laughed out loud & said, "Lord, are You kidding me?!" I pocketed it thinking how much help $200 can provide in the slums of Cambodia. I hadn't thought long when I stepped on another $100 bill!
I pocketed it as well & prayed, "Lord, what is this about?" I was reminded how this trip was made possible. People just came to me with money saying something like, "God told me to give you this money," or "We really want to help out on this mission." I didn't ask for anything, it just came to me by God's people. I realized that here in Cambodia there are no believers to come to me in such a way, so God used a different tack to accomplish His desire. Now I think I have an inkling how Peter felt when Jesus provided cash in a fish's mouth.
I've given $100 to Ruth & trust God will show me what to do with the other $200. Please pray with me for clear direction & quick obedience.
Yesterday I noticed the children's hair was quite a mess. They said the comb was lost, so I set about to provide a few combs. I took seven in this morning thinking that would be plenty to share. Truly, it is plenty. However, the children suckered me into getting a new comb for each child. Straightaway I headed for the market & being in a hurry I accepted the first moto offer (motos are the Cambodian answer to taxi cabs-a moped with a large seat) thinking the man spoke some english. I soon found out that all he understood was "market," "English," & "OK." Unfortunately, the market I was referring to was not the market he headed for. Long story short: we were able to get enough combs for every child & after stopping at every store begging, "English? Please, english?" the driver finally gave up & went back to where we started not realizing that's what I'd been trying to tell him for about 30 minutes. Hahahahahahaha!
I also learned to do laundry today, but that's a story that will have to wait until I return because the lesson came mostly in pantomime.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Isaac Update
As I type it is 7:20am here. Isaac has been up & down most of the night, but has been able to rest the last few hours. He requested 7Up this morning & altho' he only took a few sips, it's staying down. Hallelujah! He is wisely taking bedrest & sips of 7Up & water for the day. I will give him the rehydration salts when he wakes later this morning. Now that he's finally sleeping, I hate to wake him.
We're fairly convinced it was the curry he had for lunch yesterday. We did eat in the tourist section of town (safer food there for us "farrangs"), but suppose the soup was not boiled long enough. We'll not risk curry again just to be safe.
Please continue to pray for Isaac's full recovery. I will keep you all posted on his condition.
The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.
We're fairly convinced it was the curry he had for lunch yesterday. We did eat in the tourist section of town (safer food there for us "farrangs"), but suppose the soup was not boiled long enough. We'll not risk curry again just to be safe.
Please continue to pray for Isaac's full recovery. I will keep you all posted on his condition.
The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.
Another day
Today has been difficult for us as Isaac was struck ill suddenly this afternoon. We were going to take the afternoon off to see some of Cambodia's beauty starting with the king's palace, but we were barely in the palace gates when Isaac began to feel queasy. We cut the tour short & returned to our digs just in time for him to get sick full blast. I do mean full blast.
We immediately sent out prayer requests, then Isaac laid on the cool tile floor sipping (& vomiting) water for a hours. Please continue to pray for quick & complete recovery.
Before Isaac's episode, we visited one of the Love In Action orphanages. As usual, the children lit up when we knocked on their gate & climbed all over us as soon as we were thru it. These children do not wish for toys or games or outings like most of the children we know. They have no idea what a vacation is, have never had a birthday party, wouldn't know what to put on a Christmas wish list even if they could conceive of the idea of making such a list. They deeply desire acceptance & affection. They are mostly shunned by this society simply because they are orphaned or abandoned. Just to have someone look them in the eye & offer kind attention is more than they expect. Some like to play & climb on Isaac while others like to be snuggled, kissed & whispered to by me.
While visiting we discovered the one hair comb there had been lost sometime yesterday, so I set out to find combs at the local market. By God's grace, I hit the jackpot! I was able to purchase seven sturdy combs, some colorful hair ties & bobbypins, & a shuttlecock like I've seen children playing with in the streets. All this for less than $2! The children will be so very pleased when we bring these things in the morning.
Know that we are praying for you & are counting on you praying for us. Your prayer support is absolutely essential to this mission. This is most assuredly a team effort, so please don't give up. Of course Isaac's restoration is of the utmost importance right now, but there are other needs as well. The oppression here is thick. The depression here is sickening. The hopelessness & immorality spawned by hopelessness is at times overwhelming.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day Two
We spent a few hours this morning walking around the neighborhood taking photos. The scenery is such a mishmash of wealth & poverty it's confusing to the eye. Across the road from a palace (yes, a literal palace) is a three-sided shack. As we were moving out of the way of a Lexus SUV backing out of his drive, we had to step over waste oozing down the side of the road. One house has razor wire & a security guard, the next house doesn't even have a front door.
After our little jaunt around the neighborhood we treated ourselves to a tuk-tuk ride to the tourist side of town for doughnuts. (We really can't eat from the neighborhood market anyway.) Our driver Vandeth began to speak to me of his childhood as we passed the king's palace. Vandeth was nine when the bombs came followed directly by a communist reign of terror. He hid in the forest with his family during that time. He saw many, many people killed during his boyhood years. Rather than become fearful or bitter, Vandeth chooses hope. He works very hard & encourages his children to "study, study for good future, so no one can trick you in lies like Communism." Vandeth learned to speak English by watching TV & learned to write in English by looking at local papers written for tourists. He gave us his phone number so he can be "our" driver while we're here. We loved him up good & gave him a generous fare.
We also visited the Love In Action orphanage today. All the children wanted their photos taken & to take photos of each other. Isaac said all total about 200 pictures were taken. (Thanx for the cool camera, Andrew!) All the children also wanted to be hugged & held. Fortunately they're very small, so we could hold two or three at a time.
Ruth, the "Mommy" of Love In Action has wisely maintained the orphanage in a very simple fashion. She reasoned that giving the children "more & better" would only lead to heartbreak & resentment as they have no way to maintain such a lifestyle when they move out as adults. She says she is raising them to be Cambodians, not Westerners. Smart woman that Ruthie is.
Our goal here at Love In Action is to love on the children as much as possible & to see to the needs of Ruth & the volunteer staff. We feel certain our time is to be invested in ministering to the ministers as well as the children.
Thank you so very much for the prayer support. We can definitely sense your help. We are also sensing God's direction in our decisions & know He has made wonderful provision for us. We're praying for you too!
After our little jaunt around the neighborhood we treated ourselves to a tuk-tuk ride to the tourist side of town for doughnuts. (We really can't eat from the neighborhood market anyway.) Our driver Vandeth began to speak to me of his childhood as we passed the king's palace. Vandeth was nine when the bombs came followed directly by a communist reign of terror. He hid in the forest with his family during that time. He saw many, many people killed during his boyhood years. Rather than become fearful or bitter, Vandeth chooses hope. He works very hard & encourages his children to "study, study for good future, so no one can trick you in lies like Communism." Vandeth learned to speak English by watching TV & learned to write in English by looking at local papers written for tourists. He gave us his phone number so he can be "our" driver while we're here. We loved him up good & gave him a generous fare.
We also visited the Love In Action orphanage today. All the children wanted their photos taken & to take photos of each other. Isaac said all total about 200 pictures were taken. (Thanx for the cool camera, Andrew!) All the children also wanted to be hugged & held. Fortunately they're very small, so we could hold two or three at a time.
Ruth, the "Mommy" of Love In Action has wisely maintained the orphanage in a very simple fashion. She reasoned that giving the children "more & better" would only lead to heartbreak & resentment as they have no way to maintain such a lifestyle when they move out as adults. She says she is raising them to be Cambodians, not Westerners. Smart woman that Ruthie is.
Our goal here at Love In Action is to love on the children as much as possible & to see to the needs of Ruth & the volunteer staff. We feel certain our time is to be invested in ministering to the ministers as well as the children.
Thank you so very much for the prayer support. We can definitely sense your help. We are also sensing God's direction in our decisions & know He has made wonderful provision for us. We're praying for you too!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day One
Our first night's accommodations were humble but clean. I think we both slept well enough just from sheer exhaustion. We were up & ready to roll fairly early the next morning, so we took a walk around the neighborhood. We even took a tuk-tuk (a two-wheeled wagon strapped to a moped) to the Russian Market.
The culture is so far removed from anything we Hoosiers know that it is difficult to describe. There is a strange mix of wealth & poverty here. I will say, the people are very friendly, especially the children. Although Phnom Penh is incredibly crowded everyone is pleasantly polite & easygoing.
Right after lunch we met with our contacts Ross & Rob who took us to Ruth's place. Ruth is a lovely christian sister who oversees two orphanages-one for boys & one for girls-called Love In Action. We had a great visit with Ruth & will be staying at her place a few days to help out at the orphanages.
The culture is so far removed from anything we Hoosiers know that it is difficult to describe. There is a strange mix of wealth & poverty here. I will say, the people are very friendly, especially the children. Although Phnom Penh is incredibly crowded everyone is pleasantly polite & easygoing.
Right after lunch we met with our contacts Ross & Rob who took us to Ruth's place. Ruth is a lovely christian sister who oversees two orphanages-one for boys & one for girls-called Love In Action. We had a great visit with Ruth & will be staying at her place a few days to help out at the orphanages.
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