Katie in Cambodia

What's today? Thursday! Wow! Time flies at retreats. :)

It's my third day at Sihanoukville--one of the popular beach towns in Cambodia. Right now I'm sitting at a beach side cafe/restaurant--yes, beachside! My friend had her laptop and shared her wifi time with me. So, if I look up from the screen I can see the blue-green ocean and lots of boats waiting to take tourists to the nearby islands. It's beautiful!

I got to come along with the Hope program and Country Office staff for a four day retreat. They do it every year as a time for the staff to get away and have some spiritual refreshment. It has been a great conference so far with lots of chances to get to know some of the Cambodians better. (There are about 150 people here!) I'm learning the language, but just know a little bit right now. Thankfully many of the staff speak English, so we can chat a little!

There is a couple from Norway, Erik and Kjersti, who are serving as missionaries in the Phillipines. They are friends with Joke Van Opstal, the director of Hope and the acting country director while Tim Amstutz is away. She invited them to come for a second year to lead the retreat. They are a fantastic couple with a great love for the Lord and a passion to teach and disciple people in the Truth of God's Word. I have been so blessed by the worship and teaching. A large part of the sessions are only in Khmer (Cambodian language), but most of the songs (while sung in Khmer) have the English words on the screen as well, so I'm able to sing along with everyone the songs that I know! The teaching is done in English and then translated into Khmer, so I can follow that as well! Cambodians are quite passionate in their worship, prayer and singing. While the worship time has made me a bit homesick for church at home, I am thankful that God's Spirit is everywhere on the earth!

The week has been great so far, but many people became very sick last night, perhaps from some bad seafood at dinner last night. I have been somewhat picky in my eating and thankfully I did not eat whatever it was that made everyone sick! I am praying that I stay healthy--this week and for the rest of my time in Southeast Asia!

Some other news:
-Last week was a Cambodian national holiday, the King's Birthday! Everyone gets three days off! My roommate, Kirsten, and I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand for 5 days! We stayed with the Miyakawa Family (from College Park) and had a lovely time with them and getting to know Chiang Mai! We took a day trip up to the highest peak in Thailand and I thoroughly enjoyed getting out of the city for a little bit! Thai food is amazing and I even got in a trip to Starbucks! (I know! I'm a tourist and a hopeless froufrou coffee lover!) I must say that my Raspberry Mocha was just perfect!

Even though I've been in Cambodia for just one month, the vacation was nice timing. My first few weeks were full of "orientation" and some touristy things to get to know the city and culture. It can be exhausting to be a tourist--and to start a new job at the same time! Now, it's time to get to work! The time off was a nice transition for that.

In the second week of June, the teams will begin to arrive for Summer ESL (English as a Second Language). World Relief Staff in Cambodia have the opportunity to study English for 8 weeks this summer as teams from our partner churches in the US. Ashley Weselo from College Park will come the first of June to serve as the ESL Coordinator for the summer! I'm looking forward to having a friend from home here for several months!

Please pray!
Immediate prayer request: Please lift up the 50-70 WR staff who have been struck ill from some bad food. There are many at the local clinic or are held up in their hotel rooms. The schedule today was altered because of so many people being sick; the soccer match that was planned for the afternoon was canceled. Please pray that everyone would recover quickly and have a chance to enjoy the rest of the retreat. Pray that those who are not ill would be faithful to attend the remaining sessions and have their hearts and minds open for what God might teach them.

1. Pray for Kate Pieper and me as we prepare for the Summer ESL program; that all would go smoothly as we copy materials and organize the sites.

2. Pray for me as I continue to adjust to life in Cambodia. I don't have a "routine" yet and I don't know if I will, but please pray that I would be disciplined in spending time with the Lord each day and really meditating on His Word. Also, pray that I would learn the language well and really remember all the things that I am taught! I am taking lessons in the afternoon will two other girls in the office. Our teacher is wonderful and makes learning Khmer quite fun!

3. Please pray that God would be glorified by my being in Cambodia. I desire to shine with His light and grace in all that I do here. I want to have eyes to see people and circumstances as Jesus does--and then respond in a way that demonstrates His love and care for others.

you all so much for your prayers and fun messages and notes on Facebook and email! You are such a blessing to me!