Moto Day

We went to sleep last night to very loud music at a neighbors house.  There was a wedding tent in the village that we could see when digging for crabs so that might have been carry over from the party.  The weddings here last 3 days and have different scripted ceremonies in them.  

This morning we got up and went to the flag ceremony at the school.  This happens at the beginning of the school days.  We got there and enjoyed the kids just running around playing, the chickens in the play yard and the teachers riding in on their moto's.  The kids really like coming to this school!

They line up according to grade and size.  Then they do some exercises in unison, raise the flag, sing the anthem and then head into worship to start their day.

After we saw the kids school day start, we hung out at the snack place where the ladies were cooking the waffles and vegetable cake again.  Below is Pow and I hanging at the table just chatting.  I've found that if you just sit next to the kids they will start talking very sweet and quiet.

While we were hanging out, Alfven was up in the office with Kit.  There was a woman who had come in to try and get her kids into the school.  She has three children.  One in 1st grade and one in 3rd grade and an older child who wasn't with her.  None of the three children could read or write.  The classrooms are packed but there was space for her youngest in the pre-school room.  The others will go on a wait list but there are many parents who realize this is the best education for their kids.  A lot of the kids in higher grades in public school can't read or write.  Teachers just pass them to the next grade because they get paid by how many kids pass.  The primary grades will cost the mother $7.50 a month and after grade 4 it will be $10 a month.  Kit is not sure the mother can afford it but that never keeps the kids out.  The deciding factor is always not enough room.

Kit and Ream are praying to buy a new larger land and be able to build a larger school for more children to come, hear and about Jesus and get a wonderful education in order to change Cambodia's future.

These are the two houses directly across from the school.  There are many, many houses that look like these.  Most look very similar up and down this street to where the market is.  I was able to take the pictures from behind the wall of the school.  I hate making people feel like a spectacle by my taking pictures.  So Joseph laughed at my skills and said I was that freak hiding in the bushes :)

The picture above is Alfven practicing the Cambodian way of loading a bunch of family on the moto for a ride :)  I'm not quite sure what to say about Benjamin's scarf!  Kit gave them to us to keep the dust out of our mouths and nose but somehow he wound up looking like Red Riding Hood :)

Kit, Ream, Ream's father who is the pastor of the church and all 6 of us went around to many houses to visit with local farmers in the village.  Ream's father tries to go visiting the neighbors so that he can help any way he can as an outreach of Jesus love.  The families that we met were so gracious and hospitable it was amazing.  People don't call ahead for a visit here.  Below is the first house we went to.  We saw many catfish ponds where people raise catfish for personal consumption and for market if they do well enough.  I loved the way this family grew the plants (herbs and lettuce and vegetables) around the pond in white rice bags.  The Cambodian people try to use and reuse everything!

Ream pointed out that this is a traditional Cambodian kitchen.  The heating elements and fire were in the back which is sort of hard to see but you get the drift.

Grace and I rode on one moto.  She was slightly worried at my skills but she eventually said "This is awesome!"

Sorry about the post right down the middle of the man!  This was a very sweet house of people.  They are the only house of Christians that we visited and Kit said that this was a distribution for the Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes last year.

This girl and her niece lived at this house.  She was a very sweet girl who spoke English very well.  She is 15 and we chatted a bit.  But the most precious thing she said was "Thank you for visiting my house".

Kit took Joseph on his moto.  We were mainly on the back dirt roads but we did have to get on the main street with all the crazy driving for about a block.

We swapped around for the kids to be most safe so Anna rode with Ream and her Dad who are excellent at the moto!   As you can see she was very happy for the adventure too!  This was a grand adventure!

When we got back it was time to do the laundry again.  I think Benjamin's expression tells it all :)  They did a great job though and are keeping their clothes clean.

Between laundry, the playground and chores I helped Selena with getting ready to teach her CPR class.  She has a kit and the blow up dolls to teach the staff at the school some basic CPR skills.

While out in the yard today I noticed that Kit had put paper around some fruits.  It's to keep insects off.  I found it a very interesting way to grow fruit and keep insects away.  These farms are truly organic!  They don't use chemicals because they don't have any.  So lemongrass and basil keep bugs away from lettuce and other leafy vegetables.

I hang out a bit on the front steps of the house watching the kids play and hanging with the older girls.  The girls gave me a wood apple to try.  It was okay but I wouldn't eat it again with all the other delicious fruits around here.  They are always kind to offer me new foods.

In the yard, the girls loaded up on each other's back for a game of Chicken and the boys were playing something where they were at war.  It was great to see them running around playing and having fun!

Grace was riding Chanrea and trying to stay away from the goat.

This is Benjamin playing with the guys.  I was able to catch him in mid fall.

Anna spent a lot of time with the rabbits.  They are definitely her favorite!

Well a storm has rolled through and now it is a nice steady rain to sleep by.  We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us tomorrow.