Buzzzz Off!

Mosquitoes. They love hot, humid climates. They hide out in bathrooms, in dark places (like moto helmets), and they greet me every morning when I enter the office. They are quick to bite and the bites seem especially itchy here in Cambodia! Oh, mosquito! How I loathe thee!

But, it's not just the bite that is bad; it's the potential danger that comes with the bite. Mosquitoes in Cambodia are carriers of two major diseases: malaria and dengue fever. The risk for malaria is only at night; it can be prevented with mosquito repellent and anti-malarial medication (thankfully!). The risk for dengue fever is during the day, especially in the morning and evening. There is no known medicine to treat or prevent dengue, so it is very important to wear mosquito repellent. I need to be better at this!

There are several "natural remedies" to repel mosquitoes: apple cider vinegar, garlic, citronella, etc. But, the very best way to shun those nasty little guys is with some good, strong DEET! I'm sticking with the strong stuff!

Sometimes it seems strange to spray myself with Off! Deep Woods while I'm in my air conditioned office. It's for the "deep woods," right? There aren't any woods to be seen from my window, but the mosquitoes are here and they are hungry. I think that I've gotten used to the "bug spray smell"–that reminds of camping and bonfires–but I don't think I'll get used to my flying, biting enemies.

They say that dengue fever is a high risk this summer. Ashley Weselo, from College Park!, is in Cambodia for the summer volunteering as our Summer ESL Coordinator. She came down with dengue two summers ago while she was here teaching English. She was very sick, but the dengue didn't keep her away for too long! Thankfully, she is back in Cambodia this summer with mosquito repellent in hand! Her advice: "Wear lots of bug spray!" I think that sums it up.

Note: I originally wrote this post for our Summer ESL blog. Feel free to check it out at eslcambodia.wordpress.com.

Posting Pictures!

I've been so bad about posting anything lately, I thought I should start with some pictues of my life here in Cambodia! Here are just a few from my visit to the field during my second week--almost one month ago! My roommate Kirsten and I traveled north to Kampong Cham province to meet staff and visit three World Relief programs: SPY (community health education), Hope (evangelism, cell church planting, and HIV/AIDS support), and CREDIT (micro-financing lending).

And I ate a fried tarantula!

For for pictures of this trip and life in Cambodia, please visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/Katherine.E.Williams

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!

My First Week in Cambodia!

Wow! I cannot believe that I have been in Cambodia for over one week! I have already had the chance to do so much and see so much! I sometimes get overwhelmed when I think about recording everything that I do, but I really want to remember these first days and share with you about what I see and do! So, here is an overview of Week 1!

Saturday, April 25

I had spent two nights in Phnom Penh and I was ready to see the city! Kerstin and I headed out late morning to hail our first Tuk Tuk (a covered cart with a bench that is pulled by a motor scooter—or "moto" as it called here). Not speaking Khmer (the language of Cambodia), we gave direction using the one of the few landmarks I knew yet, and made our way to "Blind Massage". A one hour massage given by a blind person: $6. This is just one example of the many businesses in Phnom Penh that are providing jobs and training to the disabled or less advantaged in the community. I'm definitely planning to support these establishments, especially since it's so relaxing!

[Kerstin and me on our first tuk tuk ride!]

The massage was followed by another tuk tuk ride to Café Yejj (a not-for-profit café) located near the Russian Market (major outdoor market). Iced coffee, couscous salad, and a ham and cheese crepe made me wonder if I was still in Cambodia. So yummy and refreshing! After lunch we were ready to hit the market! Hundreds of stalls, in I don't know how many rows and columns, had stall keepers ready to sell us anything we might need: all types of clothing (many from US stores that have factories in Cambodia: GAP, Old Navy, Banana Republic, as well as brands I recognized from Walmart or Kohl's), kitchen supplies, bicycle tires, handicrafts, table cloths, silver jewelry (is it real I wonder?), various tools and hardware, and, of course, every CD or DVD known to man (illegal copies of course) in various levels of quality. I walked out with a North Face computer bag for $11 (I bartered down from $14). Apparently it didn't pass the test to make to the store shelves in the states, but I think it's perfect for toting around dusty Cambodia!

Our last stop of the day was at the grocery store—that is designed for the Westerner—where I purchased yogurt, boxed milk, Pringles, and a few other basics. All in all it was a fantastic day. A great taste of life in the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

[My view from inside the tuk tuk: a street in central Phnom Penh.]

Sunday, April 26

Kerstin and I joined Kate at her church for Sunday morning worship. There are several international churches in Phnom Penh and I would like to visit as many of them as I can and then find one to attend regularly for my 8 months here. So, my visit to Kate's church was the first and a great intro into church in Cambodia. It is called Jubilee Family Church and is a church plant of Newfrontiers. It's a small congregation (about 25 that Sunday) and is a mix of Cambodians and Ex-patriots from various countries. The pastor and his wife were very welcoming and full of energy!

Monday, April 27

This was my second day at the World Relief Country Office. The day began with all staff worship time—very lively in Cambodian style—with prayer and singing (I recognized the tune to several songs, but not the words!). I spent a little time with Kate going over some of upcoming things we would be working on and then I got to sit in on a program meeting. We heard updates from a couple of the program staff and enjoyed a great lunch from a nearby bakery. That evening I joined Kirsten for dinner at the home of Tim and Dar, missionaries here in Cambodia, whose daughter is Kirsten's boss in Baltimore! Small world! They live in between the WR office and our house in beautiful, newly built house that they use as their office and home. One of their projects is to sell crafts handmade by people living in the village where they work. There were baskets of woven rugs, wooden boxes, and other beautiful things! I hope to buy some gifts and souvenirs from their shop. Tim and Dar are great, so hospitable and so fun! We had a delicious Thai dinner (Dar grew up in Thailand) and enjoyed a lovely evening out on the rooftop terrace. It was so nice to get to know some other ex-pats living in Cambodia, hear their story, and fellowship together.

To be continued…

So much in just three days! Of course, there is so much to share about everything, since it is so new! On Tuesday we went on our first "Field Visit" out to the rural parts of Cambodia. That is a big story of its own and I will share about in my next post. Thanks for reading and thanks always for your prayers! If would like to hear more about something or just want to comment, please do so! I'd love to hear from you!

Let the Adventure Begin!

This is my 4^th day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I'm still in the process of overcoming jetlag. I'm adjusting to the heat (or at least learning to live with it). I'm learning about the city and I'm proud to say that I can find where I am on the map! I know how to say "thank you" (akun), "no" (ah te), and "yes" (jaa); but honestly I haven't been focusing on language learning yet. That will come soon! The first few days in a new place come with lots of stories! So, I'll start with day 1, build from there, and start painting a picture of life in Cambodia!

Stepping Off the Plane

I arrived around 11am at the Phnom Penh airport after 30 hours of travel and three layovers. I could feel the heat as soon as I stepped off the plane! I applied for my business visa at the airport, obtained it right away, picked up my two bags (at 49.5 lbs. each!), and eagerly made my way to the exit to meet the only two people I knew: Kate and Kerstin. Kate Pieper has been in Cambodia for almost two years and volunteers with World Relief as the Church Partnership Coordinator. Her job is the one that I am filling in for when she leaves at the end of the summer to head back to the states to finish her PhD. We met back in January when came through Indianapolis on a Partnership visit. She's the "resident", knows her way around, speaks Khmer (pronounce Kah-mye), and has her Cambodian driver's license (and driving here is quite an adventure!). Kerstin Pless is on staff with World Relief at the Headquarters in Baltimore. She works in the Communications Department and is now working in Cambodia for one year on the Life in Focus project making videos and collecting stories about ministry in Cambodia. She just arrived as well—two days before me! Kerstin is my roommate and fellow adventurer for the next 8 months! If I write about "we" in my blog, it's probably me and Kerstin!

My First Day

One of the great things about an extended stay in a foreign country is the freedom to take it easy when I first arrive. There is no need to rush around, keep an itinerary, or feel pressured to see everything in one day! I have 8 months to get over jetlag and experience Cambodia! So, my first day in Cambodia included moving my luggage into Kate's house (where Kerstin and I will live for the first 6 weeks), a drive around the city, lunch at a cute café, and a quick trip to the grocery store (that sells lots of Western goods—like cereal, chocolate ice cream, and Pringles!). After our outing, the girls dropped me off at the house while they went to the WR office for the rest of the afternoon. I unpack my bags a little, find some cooler clothes, turn on the fan in my room, and prepare to read and rest a little—but I really wanted to follow the getting-over-jetlag rules by not taking a nap. Well, two minutes later the power went out! (I had heard this was common occurrence here.) Without a fan, it's too hot to do anything but sleep—and being completely exhausted from my crazy travels, I gave in and slept…for 6 hours! I work up to the voices of Kerstin and Tess (Kate's roommate—she's from Michigan and is teaching here in Phnom Penh for two years). I could not believe that it was 8pm! But I felt so much better and awake!

My first day in Cambodia ended with a dinner of baguette and cheese, talking to my mom on Skype, getting an email out to friends and supporters, and heading back to bed at midnight. I had arrived in Cambodia. Let the adventure begin!

I made it to Cambodia!

Greetings from Cambodia!

Wow! I still can't believe that I'm really here! I arrived in Phnom
Penh this morning (Thursday) around 11am Cambodia time (which was 12am
Thursday morning Indianapolis time). My four planes and 30 hours of
travel went very well and my luggage made it too! Thank you for all of
your prayers for safe travel—they were answered!

Right now it's 82 degrees F at 11:18pm. It's hot. I'm sitting in front
of a fan in the living room as I write this! Yes, there is wireless in
our apartment. J What a blessing!

Tomorrow I will go the World Relief office, meet many new people, and
get a bigger picture of what the 8 months will be like here. I'm still
dazed from travel, but I think that everything will begin to feel more
real tomorrow.

Thank you so much for your prayers over the past weeks and months. I'm
really here in Cambodia and I'm very excited to see what God has
planned for me here!

Here are few things you can pray for as a transition to life here:

1. For quick and easy adjustment to the time change: good sleep
at night and energy during the day!

2. That I would be a blessing to people as I meet them for the
first time and begin to work in the World Relief office.

3. That I would be a learner: of culture and people (and language too!).

4. For strong friendships to develop with Kate (who I'm working
with now) and Kerstin (who will be my roommate for the next 8 months).

5. For eyes to see the Lord at work, a heart soft for Him to
mold, and ears to hear His voice.

I'm off to bed for my first night's sleep in Cambodia!

I am so thankful for you!

In Christ,

Katie

16 days, 22 hours, and counting

These past weeks have been a blur and I'm sure the next 16 days will be equally, if not more, blurry. Several people have asked me if I'm getting excited. My answer is usually delayed! Yes, I am very excited. But not "Christmas Morning" excited or "Summer Vacation" excited. This is Cambodia were talking about. A country that I have never been too--a place I'd never even thought about going to (or really knew where it was) until about a year ago. I am excited for a new adventure. I'm excited to see what God has planned for me in this poor, devastated by genocide, slowly re-developing country. I'm excited to see how God will use me and what doors this might open for my future 8 months from now. So, yes, I'm excited, but I'm nervous too!

It's good that people are asking me "How long until you leave?". It helps me realize how fast the time is flying by. I have to make myself think of things that happen these next few weeks as "lasts". It helps me enjoy the moment more, enjoy the cheeseburger more, the American luxuries (that I usually take for granted), and the amazing people that are a part of my life here in Indianapolis. That's what being away from home definitely does for me--it causes me to really understand how blessed I am. I have such an amazing family, home church, sweet friends, and fun jobs. I will miss all it, and all of them very much. So I'm going to enjoy home while I can!