R&R

We headed south last Friday to get a bit of sea and sand for a few days. Sihanoukville lies 225km from Phnom Penh, around five hours by bus to white-ish sand, blue-ish sea and a whole lot more greenery than here in the city. Those five air-con hours landed Susie with a head-cold that she has been nursing since!

On the beach in the evening - sea breezes and sand between the toes!

There is no prolonged opportunity to lie and laze on the beach tho'. Where there are white bodies, there are sales to be had. Massage?? Buy sir?? Manicure, sunglasses, fruit, bracelets, crayfish, crafts, cards - all are in continuous circular motion. Many of the sellers are delightful young children, out to supplement family income and to keep themselves in school.

Susie with three of the craft-selling girls - such delightful youngsters

Daa

Phanna and Yohannes, a visiting pastor from Singapore, praying with Daa

Daa is the young paralysed man who came to us with unimaginable gaping pressure sores in his buttocks some months ago. He became one of our rejoicing stories - admitted to Sihanouk Hospital against all odds; operations to fill his wounds - and released from hospital (during Selena's days here) after only five weeks instead of the projected 3-5 months. Our staff were at his bedside at least four times per week and the impact of their love and faithfulness overflowed to the ward and to senior hospital personnel.

Life has been challenging for Daa. His wife's parents have been urging her to leave him. He is still paralysed and trying hard to hold on to faith and hope. Recently we heard that a sore was breaking down. He is now back with us, together with his little sister Channy who is caring for him. And yes, we are back in challenge land with him.

Wee Miss Miracle

Alisa, Navy her blind mum and Susie in the background at the Healing Home yesterday

Navy came calling yesterday with little Alisa. What an awesome change we see in this little button now. She used to be the most miserable, undernourished baby - and now she is doing what one-year-olds should be doing; sitting up, crawling, reaching for bright objects and making happy noises.

Dan's passion

We have a top young guy, Dan, with us this week. Dan is over in this part of the world following his passion - filming God stories in the nations. He's just spent a couple of weeks in Laos getting footage for a ministry that publicises the hardships of the persecuted church. Dan was amazed at the stories of some of the Laotian leaders that he got to interview.

Dan is a Christchurch man, out of NorthCity Church. His pastor, Donald Scott, gently twisted his arm to come across to us and aim his camera around the Healing Home. Today was a good day to come, with staff training in the morning, a full house with patients and kids club in the afternoon. It was pleasing to see him snoozing on the sofa between shoots. It is always good to know I'm not the only one needing the odd nana nap in this hot country!

Dan lining Phanna up for an interview this afternoon.

Another realm

I called into Centre of Peace (COP) orphanage today to catch up with Bhopal. She tells me that their planned move to bigger, better premises for their 70 children is not proceeding. They could only secure a one-year lease and there were just too many uncertainties.

Nevertheless, Bhopal was full of joy and smiles. Someone had just hooked them up with a phone landline and an internet connection. A website has also been put together for COP (www.californialanguagecenter.com/COP)

Whilst speaking with Bhopal in her office, I was amazed and moved at the sound of singing. Six children were outside the door, sitting around a simple little cd player and singing so beautifully to the tape that was playing. It was utterly glorious - holy ground to the max. Out of the mouths of babes ...

Indescribable - the beauty of the voices of these little ones at Centre of Peace orphanage

Buyers remorse

One of the keys to doing life without regrets is to make the very best decision you can at the time - and live happy with the future outcomes.

However, a guy called Murphy dictates that whenever you buy a pricey item, a couple of days later a better, cheaper, more powerful, less mileage beauty turns up for sale. So, I felt slightly gutted today when I pulled into my local puncture repair man to get a moto oil change, only to see the motorcycle of my dreams.

A Suzuki in the family

Sreymom, Sopheap and Bonna checking out the new machine.

At the risk of having a jealous Spider, we've expanded our fleet of motos - to two. Apart from my moto spending a tragic amount of time with a flat tyre (yep, got another today, but it had been two weeks ...) the amount of running around with patients and for stuff that is involved for the Healing Home makes transport a real juggle at times.

The little Suzuki Viva (specs: 110cc, 2006 model first rego in 2007; 22k) was hand picked for us by Pastor Mara, just the most caring, zealous guy who has pastoral oversight of the Healing Home - and an ability to suss out the dogs and lemons.

Our NZ friends Marty and Robyn initiated this through their homegroup. They arrive for three months with us at the end of July. May little Miss Suzuki be a blessing to them then, too!

Did I ever mention the time when our daughter, Kara, was visiting us? The first couple of days, she was very, very quiet on the back of my moto. Then, she came alive to the vibe of traffic flow here - and I would hear her going 'weeeee - weeeee' every time something exciting happened. Here is Sopheap going 'weeeee' on the inside around the Healing Home yard.