Chinese city

Phnom Penh has all but shut down. It is Chinese New Year, which is not even a holiday here. That is reserved for mid-April and the all-important Khmer New Year weeks' holiday. But when it comes to business, the ethnic Chinese population obviously run this city. Markets are closed - even the huge Olympic Market near the church we attend. Money changers are hard to find (unbelieveable!) Streets are all but deserted.

Heading to the Healing Home this afternoon. Usually my left turn into a lane 100 metres from here is an art-form against opposing cars, bikes, motos, pedestrians and dogs. Today - behold.

Don't think deserted streets = quiet tho'. Where would the Chinese New Year be without the trusty firecracker?? There must be many fireworks factories in town. This year business has been remarkable good for them. The kids in our lane have certainly bought not less than 150kg of product.

Schools have mostly closed for three days (but this is not a holiday ...) which meant that our Kids Club had an extra 15 or so little ones today. This is about week 5 of running a one-hour program twice a week for the little locals. Today I counted 44 local kids unleashing happy bedlam on our place. I'm not sure if word of our plumbing issue had got out but Susie discovered one kid peeing in the garden ...

Ryan, a trainee doc from Dunedin, setting himself up for a big sweat at kids club today. Ryan is working in a children's hospital In Phnom Penh for three weeks and together with physiotherapist fiance Rebecca connected with us via folk from The Street Church in Wellington.

There was face-painting, skipping, soccer (of sorts), Ryan-climbing and tennis balls everywhere. I spent a bunch of time tossing tennis balls to boys who looked to be eight years old. Most of them had very, very poor ball-catching co-ordination skills. Later Chantol, Bonna and Dtouch taught a Jesus-song and then Chantol told the story of the good Samaritan - complete with lively actors. We have a great team here!