Heart-felt thanks

We've been full this week with seven patients, two family members and at least three people waiting to come here when we have more space. Three patients left late this afternoon so they should be coming sooner rather than later.

One of the guys to leave today was Khom. He was with us about four months ago and has liver issues. Something really happened to him today; we are not sure how or why but Sue noticed a change in him as soon as she arrived this morning.

Many patients will say 'thank you; goodbye' when it is time for them to leave. Today Khom so moved me. He lined me up and asked that I pray for him before he left. After prayer he looked me in the eye and took a long time to express his gratitude; that we allowed him to stay; for giving him a bed and food; for caring for him and whatever else that got missed in the translation.

For those of you in blog-land that are a part of us being here, I want to take Khom's words of thankfulness and speak them to you. We are on the delivery end of an amazing bunch of ordinary people who care. Thank you so much.

Here is another lovely guy - David (in the black t-shirt). David had a brain injury from a motorbike accident four years ago. He's as delightful youngster who is hugely excited that we have a guitar. Every day he plays it and sings beautifully.

Fat and flourishing

I love the fruit in this nation. Mangosteen are my very favourite - orange-sized purple balls containing tangy sweet/sour little white segments that are designed to crown any fruit salad.

Also high on my list of fruit goodies is the jackfruit. Now this is no little bitty fruit. Think water melon in size, growing up a 30-foot tree. We have two of these trees on our Healing Home property and over 40 of these delightful monsters are in the process of becoming a very welcome dietry addition. At a good average weight of 3.5-4kg we will not be short of jackfruit for a while!

The wonder of a jackfruit-laden tree - protected by Selena's prayer from the 'local junior mafia' (in Adrian Meston's words) whilst the Healing Home was closed over Khmer New Year

See-ya Slenny

We had just 24 hours with Selena before she headed for home via Melbourne last night. She has been absolutely amazing in her five weeks here, covering for us in the Healing Home. We have so laughed and rejoiced at her happy stories and many adventures in this time. She can leave with her head held high!

Selena at the ANZAC Day dawn service - in Phnom Penh.

Apart from her huge competence in overseeing the Healing Home (and falling deeply in love with the staff!) she has achieved an amazing amount of things - including learning to navigate this city far better than many motodop drivers that my friends have had the misfortune to travel with! There was a day with World Vision, new-to-us restaurant discoveries, visiting the Kelly's community and school project, Mekong cruising, the tragic killing fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (and that included giving the motodop boy directions on how to get there!!) and a major, blessed time with the dentist (the blessing is in the almost pain-free cost from a most competent NZ-trained dentist here).

She took our staff out to dinner, made great friends with Australian Kerry Norman and bonded with New Life Fellowship Church. Tuktuk Kim loves her so much that he took to phoning her randomly to ask 'madam, would you like to go somewhere today?'

So, until next time, Slenny. Orkun chraan!

We're back

Goodbye to Aotearoa once again

After a more than full one month away in Australia and NZ, Sue and I returned to Cambodia two days ago. Since we can to 'spy out the land' in September 2006, this was my sixth landing at Phnom Penh airport.

There is always a mixture of excitement and trepidation in coming back here. I find that the tuktuk ride back in from the airport is a good time to settle into the land again - the heat, the smells, the 10,000 visual impacts of people going about life in this nation of Cambodia.

This time, the tuktuk ride did not disappoint. The city had been deluged with rain and the streets were knee-deep and better in swirling waters. Glorious chaos reigned, with cars, motorbikes and even trucks stalled and stuck in flood waters. Flooding flowed into shops, homes, businesses - it was all pretty messy.

Our hapless tuktuk guy stalled and spluttered with the best of them - maybe six times I helped him push the machine through the flooding. 90 minutes of fun and Susie's running commentary and we made it home to a happily waiting Selena. Yay!!

Fun in the flooding