When Plans Change...

 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." 

Our time in Cambodia has come to an end earlier than we first expected. Unfortunately, we got the wrong visa when we entered the country and to renew, we would have to leave the country and then come back in again. After much prayer, we decided it would be best to head back home. The last 4 weeks have been great, sometimes really challenging, at other times really fun and certainly rewarding. Now it is time to say goodbye to all our new friends and get back to Alberta. 

Sad to be leaving? yes.
Happy to be going home? yes
confused? YES 

To all our new friends in Cambodia, we will miss you! 
To our friends in Canada: see you soon!    

A Picture Essay!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, this may be the longest essay I've ever written, enjoy!

Our new friend and fellow English teacher, Allyn. We've had some great times together!

Some of the students in Mum's 6pm class.

Tech support, while bouncing along in the Tuk-tuk!

Some more teaching

The Canadian Ambassador came to visit.

Allyn, shocked by my chopstick skills!

Playing some duets with Sopheak, who started playing recorder when she was 8.

The first recorder lesson. Outdoor classrooms are great!

Helping out at the Granny house. This Granny had a stroke 17 years ago.

Sometimes you don't need words, just a big smile!

Week One (and a little bit over...)

Greetings from Cambodia! We've been here just over a week, so figured it was time to send out an update. We've been busy, getting acclimatised, getting over jet-lag, teaching etc. Here's what our first week (and a little bit over) has looked like:


Friday 14th June: Arrive in Phnom Penh, come to Rescue.
Saturday 15th June: Driven around Phnom Penh with Marie, buying a few food items etc. The other English teacher, Allyn arrived.
Sunday 16th June: Attend an International English speaking church in Phnom Penh. Lunch at a Canadian-owned pizza place.
Monday 17th June: Meet with the local English teachers and helpers here, begin lesson planning.
Tuesday 18th June: Public holiday here in Cambodia, so we went with Marie to Phnom Penh. Visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide museum.
Wednesday 19th June: Teaching officially begins. We each teach a different class from 12-1pm, 3-4pm and 6-7pm.

Saturday 22nd June: Allyn, Mum and I venture into Phnom Penh for the day on a Tuk-Tuk. The three of us girls had a blast! From Rescue to Phnom Penh on a Tuk-tuk takes about an hour. We walked along the Mekong River, had lunch at a place called The Blue Pumpkin and enjoyed some ice cream at a sweet little ice-cream shop called Toto. They had some very interesting flavours, including durian and dragonfruit.



Sunday 23rd June: Attended a different English speaking church in Phnom Penh. Had lunch out, did a few errands. Tried a piece of a durian fruit for the first time.
Monday 24th June: Back to school!

Things We've Learned So Far:
Currency: Riel. 4,000 riel = $1US. The US dollar is used throughout the country, with riel used when purchasing anything that costs less than $1 US.
Language: Khmae
Moto: scooter for getting around town on


Tuk-Tuk: a moto with a two wheeled carriage on the back, to seat 4-6 people.

A Tuk-Tuk (pronounced like "took")

Some rambutans at the local market. 

Rambutan: My new favourite fruit. These are really good!

A somber moment...

I was supposed to post this last week, but the experience was too fresh in my mind to be able to post it.


Today we went to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. During the time of the Khmer Rouge Tuol Sleng was a Security Prison where thousands of people were tortured and killed. The prison was turned into a museum shortly after the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. A photo of each prisoner is showcased, official photographs taken by the prison officers.

I have no words to describe what it was like to walk through the prison. Looking at the pictures of the victims and walking past the cells where they were held... I took pictures and perhaps one day will share them, but somehow it just seems inappropriate to post them here.

However, I will leave you with this. In the courtyard of the prison, frangipani trees are blooming, a reminder that life goes on despite the horrific circumstances that used to exist here.

Here we are!

It's really too early to try and describe Cambodia to you. Of course, the first thing we notice is the heat. Walking out of the airport yesterday felt like walking into an oven: 31 degrees and very humid. After the rains last night it is feeling quite comfortable. Marie Ens and her driver met us at the airport. Being driven out of Phnom Penh was great, the traffic tends to have a mind of its own. There were also cattle on the sides of the road, and numerous heavy-laden vehicles. The land ( or what we have seen of it) is very flat with beautiful tall palm trees dotted over it.   Last night we went to a meeting for the youth here at Place of Rescue. Their joy and praise as they worshiped together was a pleasure to listen to. Although we couldn't understand their words, their faces told the story. Marie introduced us and decided that it was the right time to give out the T-shirts. The kids loved them!

Thanks Mike, Becky and Street Freaks!

Praise and Prayer:
- All three flights were smooth, and we had no hassles at any of the airports, for which we are very thankful!
- Pray that we will be able to adjust quickly to the time and the climate.
- that we would have humility and respect for Cambodian culture
- that our work teaching English and music would be effective and fun.
- that the Holy Spirit would guide our work and our steps each day.

Thank you!!

We are of all people most blessed! It is your generosity that has made it possible for us to get on a plane this evening and travel to Cambodia. Some of the items we have received are pictured on the left.

Our worship team coordinated a gift from Three Hills Street Freaks which will see our Cambodian recorder choir and others dressed in Cruise Night t-shirts (the little car wasn't included, it was only the vehicle used to present the shirts).


Paul said it well in Philippians 4:18...."Indeed I have
all and abound. I am full having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God." Now we all know that I am not Paul and I certainly don't know Epaphroditus, that there is no aroma or sacrifice here, but the principle is the same, so let me put it in my own words: "Indeed, I have everything needed and more.  My suitcases are full having received from you all the things which were given, a joy and a delight, which will be well-pleasing to many." Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Worship - telling God's Story and Our Story

At church this morning, the lyrics of a number of the songs we sang really struck a chord with where we are at in our preparations for this trip. Read these words, and you’ll understand what I mean.

“I am not skilled to understand what God has willed, what God has planned. I only know at His right hand stands one who is my Savior.”[1]

“To love the Lord our God is the heartbeat of our mission, the spring from which our service overflows; Across the street or around the world, the mission’s still the same, proclaim and live the truth in Jesus’ name!”[2]

“Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word? All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.”[3]

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided – Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.”[4]

“Glory to His Name!”[5]

We’ve said a number of times that this whole adventure seems crazy, why us? why Cambodia? why right now? We only know that this is what God has called us to do, and our Savior will enable us to do it. Our mission is to love God, and proclaim His truth. While we may not be able to do that verbally, we can still share His love by our actions. For our team – your prayers are immensely important, but what we do is in vain unless God’s Spirit works in us and through us. He is faithful, He has been faithful to provide what we need so far, and He will be faithful to see us through the next 9 weeks. All glory to Him!

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[1] My Savior My God - by Aaron Shust and Dorothy Dora Greenwell

[2] The Mission - by Jon Mohr and Randall Dennis

[3] Brethren We Have Met to Worship - by George Atkins

[4] Great Is Thy Faithfulness -  by Thomas Obediah Chisholm

[5] Glory to His Name - by Elisha A. Hoffman