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.

Home sweet home

Yesterday I signed up for another two years at 8c Street 460. Like most things, lease signing is a process that has taken a few weeks.

A few new clauses were inserted into the lease this time around. One of them said that we were to be wholly responsible in the event of any fire. It was all fun explaining that we are tenants, not an insurance company. So three days later the ammended lease comes back ...

Monsieur Bonnvee at Rue 460

Anyway, the lease got signed - well, thumbprinted actually. We were all happy smiles. Then out came the second lot of lease documents - the same as the first but stating we were paying $200 monthly rent (we are paying $400). Son of landlord happily explained that would we please be helpful to them as this second set of lease docs was for the tax man.

Son of landlord is doing his masters in law. Daddy is a lawyer - high up. He's sitting on the Khmer Rouge tribunal and raking it in courtesy of the UN. I really enjoy my get-togethers with son of landlord. He is a fun Cambodian guy who at this time may not be particularly helpful in straightening out the crooked paths within this nation. There is no point in being all dogmatic and righteous. I just told him that his daddy is a very clever man and that he would know how to handle the tax man.

Farm girl

Cambodian people are often quite shy. The girls especially are polite, proper and anxious that they do no wrong around their boss. But people are people and like in every country, girls love to have fun.

When I returned to the Healing Home from lunch earlier this week, I could hear noises but could not see our staff. Peering around the corner, I found Sreymom literally up the jackfruit tree - and the rest of the girls calling out encouragement to her!

Girls will be girls

Jackpot

Today I went and sorted accident and medical insurance for four of our staff. It is part of their employment package as New Life Fellowship staff. Here is trusting that those jackfruit branches stay strong ...

Straight to the pink room

We had high tea this morning in the heart of Phnom Penh. Sitting with dainty English china in a room painted pink, sipping on a cuppa of English breakfast tea ... it was all a bit surreal.

This is Sandra's doing - our awesome Aussie friend who together with hubbie Graham have spent the last seven years being mum and dad to 16 children here. Recently they have set up a hairdressing training centre, managed by Sreyna, one of the girls they have been parents to.

Sandra, Susie (getting trained up for High Tea duties) and Sue

On the second floor of the hair salon is the Pink Room - a delightful dream that has become a reality to Sandra. On her last trip back to Brisbane she went op-shopping for the china and carted 85kg of gear back to Cambodia!

High Tea is open three days a week. I am the first bloke to come and daintily sip. There was scones and cream, club sammies and other goodies too - a great way to unwind in the midst of a pretty full-on week.

There's even lemon honey on the plate ....