I don't want this week to end!

I'm not sure I can put into words what it is that has made this week, and today specifically, so great, but it just has been!

It's just after 5pm and has finally cooled off to about 95 degrees as the sun sets here around 6:30p.

It's another gorgeous day with the sun shining so brightly, I just biked back into town from the orphanage and am enjoying a mango shake before heading to shower off the think layers of sweat I have accumulated today (I know, probably too much info).

A few highlights from Thursday and today (so far)...

It was just Leng and I that headed out to the village schools yesterday afternoon.  We had GREAT conversation and he shared with me about his past and losing his father to Khmer Rouge, and told me so many fascinating stories about his life since then.

And as we were talking, it occurred to me that he is quite the entrepreneur!  I mean think of this...  10 years ago, he set out to start an orphanage after marrying his wife, Sry On.  They felt the urge to help children who were left without parents (for one reason or the other), just as he was when he was a child. Since then, he has had more than 40 children live through his orphanage, graduate high school and move on to have careers and families of their own.  He currently has 27 there now, caring for them so that they may all do have a life of their own.

He purchased land and built the orphanage, and soon discovered the enormous need for English classes in villages 15-20 miles outside of town.  I know I have written it before, but there are only jobs for those who speak English in Cambodia, and government schools only teach Khmer.

So, he found older children who knew English who lived in these towns, and started holding classes for local children underneath houses (they are build on stilts).  He then found a sponsor, and took a leap for this project by buying more land and building his own building to hold classes.  To date, he has 3 finished school buildings, 1 in progress, and still 2 schools taking place under houses.

It doesn't stop there.

Behind the schools building he has built, he is creating a fish pond with the help of all the older boys at ODA.  They dig the pond, build up the foundation around it so the ground doesn't spill into the water, put up a barbed wire fence to keep animals (and probably other villagers) away, and have started to grow catfish to help provide for the children. WOW!

Needless to say, my mind was going a mile a minute as we were talking and I was trying so hard to make sure I would remember every detail.  I was so sad when the 40 minute drive at the end of the night was over!

So that was one very big highlight - long winded, but necessary! Here are a few others:

*I had a great class with the teachers of the village schools yesterday...we went over some fundamental pronunciation, sounds they have a hard time with and lessons for the week.  I definitely made a fool of myself when elaborating the sounds. Ha! Glad no cameras were around!  


I taught them Red Rover (for them to teach to the kids) and HOLY COW we had a blast.  I haven't played that as an adult, and although it could get dangerous, I highly recommend trying it with a group of friends. 

*I love the monkeys and the scenery on my ride to work!!!

*I painted with the kids yesterday, and they are so good!  It's been quite a while since I have done anything with watercolor, but I painted a butterfly and I think they all had a lot of laughs at my abilities.  Tiff definitely got the artist gene in the family.

*I met a couple last night who were form Australia and they were awesome.  They travel out of the country 3 times a year and have so many good recommendations. My list just got longer!  The guy also happens to be in a band, so once they found out about my job back home, he lit up with curiosity.  If we ever do a cruise out of Australia, I promised him we'd book his band. :)

*I have become a regular at 'my spot' for coffee!  They recognized me today and it in a strange way made me feel a little like home (Joe's in EAV and Stone Soup both know my order!).

*Did I mention I love the monkeys?!?!

*I am determined to find the best masseuse in town (why would I challenge myself to such a hard thing?!), and have gotten 3 so far.  I could get massages every day while I am here and still not spend as much as I would in Atlanta for one.  So, I am up for the challenge and will report on my findings!

*I have heard some amazing things from all of you back home! Misty and Kelly found out they are having another girl (YAY!), Tiffany booked her ticket to Thailand (YAY!), Charlie started his first day of high school (what? how is that possible?), we got a letter from Logan at boot camp (he is doing well, and misses us more than he thought), and so many other things!

*I am having dinner tonight with 2 girls who I met, one while I've been writing this blog (very sweet from Holland), and the other who came to visit the orphanage.  I am being presumptuous that it will be a highlight, but I love talking to other people and hearing there stories. This trip has reminded me how much I love to listen!

*When I left today, the kids asked if I could come back tomorrow instead of Monday.  I haven't stopped smiling.

There are many more, along with some lowlights that I am certain are highlights in disguise, but you'll have to hear them in person.  Lots of self learning going on over here...

Praying for ALL of you and wishing you a safe and happy weekend.