Getting A Little More Settled!

We have moved apartments again! From our last post you will know that when we arrived back in Phnom Penh or driveway became an ocean. We decided that going through the puddle everyday was not worth the stress it created. Our friends Elaine and KT who are still in the States are allowing us to live in their homey apartment until they return on September 23rd. Elaine had to have surgery on her pancreas and her liver, I believe. She had a cyst that the doctors were worried about. After her surgery she found out that it was not cancerous, and that her pancreas is working just fine so there is no need for her to take insulin. Elaine's surgery was the reason that they did not get pack to PP at the beginning of the school year. They love the Lord and when we emailed them asking them if we could stay in their apartment they responded, " We have been praying that God would give us a way to serve Him even while we are still in the States so this is a blessing that we can serve Him by serving you in this way."

Unfortunatley that does mean we will be moving one more time at the end of September. Another co-worker is returning home to Canada on Sept. 23 and we will be moving in to her apartment when she has left! Please pray for us that we wouldn't be stressed with all of this moving and settling in over and over again.

We had to break the news to our landlords that we were moving and it was a bit hard. We did not know how that conversation would go. We told them that we love them. We appreciate everything they have done for us, but the flooded driveway is too stressful to deal with. They completely understood and said that they were worried for us. We know they are

understanding, but our relationship with them does not feel the same. Whenever we see them at school or if we have to run by and get some of our belongings we had left behind we do not get the same friendly and outgoing vibe from them. We are hoping that us moving did not hinder their view of Jesus. We hope that we can continue to build a relationship with them by inviting them to school events or out to eat. Please pray for our interactions with them. That we wouldn't read too much into their attitudes, but we would continue to be an example of Christ for them in whatever ways we can.

Picture Above: This is Metfone our internet service guy hooking up our internet at our new apartment He is standing on the roof outside of our balcony.

Picture Below: This is our old driveway and as the car turns left the ocean continues. This pictures is when it hasn't rained for a couple of days. When it rains the whole driveway is completely submerged.

Whirl Wind of a Start

We've gotten back into some of our old routines here in Phnom Penh. The guy who watches our moto while we buy groceries didn't recognize us for a few seconds, but as soon as we pulled off our helmets he walked over and said, " You here all the time, but not for long time." We told him we went back to the US for 2 months and he nodded his head and gave us a big smile.

Since we got back we've had to get used to an even bigger pond in our driveway, pictures to come. I haven't been brave enough to drive through it, but Gideon does a great job and making sure we don't crash. It really is quite dangerous. They, Cambodians, think it is helpful to put semi-crushed up bricks on the the bottom of the pond. Their hope is that if they put enough the pond will go away. It only makes it worse for motos because we can't see what we are driving over and makes the moto swerve back and forth. Our pond will only get worse as the rain gets harder and harder these next couple of months. We are hoping to move into a new apartment where there is no problems with flooding.

We are done with our first week of school. I have 9 precious children in Pre-K3, and out of those 9, 5 of them cried off and on for the first 3 days. On Friday they seemed to be a little more comfortable and were starting to be themselves and were having fun. The kids in my morning class have such different personalities then the kids in my class last year so it will be fun to get to know them. I still get to see my kids from last year in my afternoon class. One of my highlights from the week was at afternoon recess; I was pushing Vathana on the tire swing. He asked me to push him high. I told him, "I will, but not too high." He continued and responded, " No, Five High! Then we had a conversation about how high is one high, two high, three high etc..... :)

Gideon is enjoying his new 5th graders very much. Every day at lunch his old 5th graders come down to say hi and tell him how 6th grade is going. After the first day of school Gideon was telling me about his old class coming down and he said it felt awkward. I didn't quite understand why it would be awkward and he described it as if it was his ex-girlfriend catching him hanging out with his new girlfriend. :) His old class keeps asking how is your new class? Are they as smart as us? Are they as fun as us? Gideon's highlight from the week was surviving the week. He came down with a head cold on Wednesday, but he made it through the whole week.

We have already been back for almost two weeks, but it does not feel like 2 weeks has gone by. We have been so busy getting ready for school; and ready or not here comes week 2!