This morning we all rose early and the kids did chores so that we could go into Phnom Penh for the day. The truck and van arrived around 6am and then we got on the road! Our family as well as Kit and Ream's family, Jason and Katlyn's family and Caleb and Courtney rode in the van. Nineteen people in a 14 passenger van :) I really enjoy driving around and seeing the sights and way things are done in Cambodia. Life in this village is very different from life in Phnom Penh.
For those of you who gave us money to bring to the Orphanage, because of your gift we were able to gift the kids this fun day! They thank you :)
This is the truck that the kids ride when they get to go someplace different. They stand the whole time and it was 1 1/2 hours into the city this morning. They are tough and so gracious!
I'll post some blurry photos of things we saw along the way and these aren't even the tip of the iceberg!
We saw lots of monks. There were two in particular that had individuals bowing down in front of them. I asked Kit and he said the monks wander the streets, begging and people will bring out money or food and then ask for a blessing from the monk.
All the market places along the way were packed with people getting their food for the day. Meat is not refrigerated in the market so in the morning is the best time to buy it. It will often still be warm from the slaughter but you know it's fresh then.
Our first stop was a big park in the middle of the city. That was a great plan because some of the girls had gotten sick from the truck ride. It's very dusty and fumes from the vehicles make it rough.
Took a picture of the guys taking a picture of themselves :) If you look behind them behind the play equipment there was sort of a little homeless type town set up. Several families live in that area of the park and some sell snacks during the day is what it looked like.
Here their clothes were drying out on the bushes.
Alfven and I even played :)
Our family picture from this trip. The matching shirts are so that it's easier to pick out our kids in a crowd. Which worked well when one got separated from us at lunch. I did start panic praying because it was for about 10 minutes and the stories that were just told to us about people being picked up for trafficking and never being seen again started playing through my mind. Faith is a funny thing. It seems we can walk in faith in some hard circumstances and then a random thing happens and we cry out in panic to our Lord who has been with us the whole time.
After a while we left the park and headed to a place called Kid City, which is sort of like a science center/play place. There were different floors for different activities. Kit suggested the Clip and Climb which was a room full of rock climbing towers for the kids to do. That was for the older kids and there was a big play area with nets and slides for the younger kids who wouldn't be climbing. The kids had a blast at the rock climbing!
Alfven made the funniest joke about Benjamin and Joseph getting their safety instructions in Khmer :)
This one was pretty cool! Sorry about the lighting but in-between where the girls are climbing is clear plexiglass so that you can race and see each other.
This was a favorite! The green tubes were like steps in a circle and when you get to the top you jump off. It was a leap of faith!
Anna loved the climbing too! All of our kids enjoyed it and sharing it with the Orphanage friends!
After the climbing walls we headed to the Bumper Car floor. When asked what they liked best of the day, several liked the driving :)
Lots of the kids kept getting stuck in this corner of the track. It was at the bottom of a little hill and they didn't turn quick enough.
One time one of the girls even drove off the entire track into the walking area :) It was a lot of fun for the drivers and those waiting their turns!
By this time all of us were hungry! Courtney bought everyone a snack that was rice crackers with a little sweet something on top. They were delicious and I am going to find them in the States when I get back.
We piled back in the van and truck and took the kids to the Aeon Mall to the food court. They broke into groups and bought a lunch of their choice.
After lunch we headed to the mall arcade for a bit. Some of the kids had saved money to play games. They save their $1 a month for special things like this. The exchange rate is $1USD for 4000 REIL. The games cost 100REIL.
The little ones enjoyed the rides more than the games.
When we loaded up for the ride home, we discovered some of the workers had loaded some snacks into the truck the kids were riding. There was not enough room for about 20 kids. We rearranged in our van and Kit brought in the smallest ones to ride with us. Courtney and Caleb went on the truck after the truck went to an apartment in city that the Orphanage keeps for their college students, to drop off some of the snacks. The kids then rode back in the truck and it rained a bit near the end but they didn't get soaked. We had 22 people in the 14 passenger van but most of them were smaller.
When we got back I saw this cow in the field next to the Orphanage and just thought it was neat. These are what Cambodian cows look like. This one looks well fed.
After dinner tonight the kids all came up and thanked us for the day. Again, it was because of a team effort of giving that we were able to treat them to this! Then somehow it got started that On put some of her earrings in my ears. Then she did my hair. Then she wanted Alfven to propose to me like he did when we got married. So they would put dress up things on us and would pose us the way they liked and take pictures with Alfven's phone. It was so much fun for them! I wish you could see the other side of the camera! They were crowded around laughing and squealing! It was totally worth it! It was hilarious and lots of laughter!!!
This is my favorite! It goes with Alfven with the pink lip lollipop from last trip :)
We headed to bed shortly after for some much needed sleep so we were ready for church in the morning.
Please continue to pray for Kit, Ream, the staff and the kids at the Orphanage as they work, play and share Jesus saving love with those around them.
"And He shall be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure." Isaiah 33:6
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