Piep in Phnom Penh

To fly to India, I have to go through Bangkok, but I don't know anyone in Thailand and don't care for large cities, so when I found out my friend Kate was in Cambodia I decided to take the plunge and fly to Phnom Penh to visit her instead of being stuck in Bangkok for a few days.

So she has graciously taken me into her home and is letting me tag along with her in her work for World Relief Cambodia.

Things I've learned in Cambodia:

1. The church needs to be active here, like yesterday! Less than 2% of the country is Christian, and most are animistic buddhist. Yet 50% of the population is under the age of 18. In the 1970's, the Khmer Rouge was the silent, bloody massacre of 2 million Cambodians. Because of all the foreign aid that actually is keeping the country afloat, there are a lot of NGO's (Christian and not) that are doing some great work here. I attended a church here yesterday that is mixed English-Khmer with a small congregation but where there are 6 new believers. How exciting huh?! It has been awesome not only to see God's work in His church, but to catch up with Kate (who I knew back at MSU) who is still fighting the good fight of faith 6 years after I met her. Also, kind of cool in reflection of this whole trip to think of how most of the people I'm visiting in Asia I met at my home church in Lansing, MI and how now they're all over the world serving the Kingdom.

2. Rain takes a different meaning here. My first day, we were waiting for a moto, and I saw one raindrop (that was my warning) and then it was like someone standing behind me started pouring buckets on my head. I was drenched in less than 10 seconds. It was crazy.

3. Ants are nasty. Don't leave your bag near the door when it has had food (even though doesn't currently have food) in it, because otherwise you will unzip the backpack to an anthill. I'll leave it at that.

4. One of the cool livelihood programs not even run by Christians is an acid attack reintegration center - where women who have been scarred by acid attacks actually get trained to be masseurs. So Kate and her roomate Deanna (nurse from Indiana) took me to get massages yesterday. It was such a blessing, because you get a great massage from really neat girls while getting to support them in a legitimate livelihood.

5. Tuk-tuks are sweet modes of transportation. Pronounced "took-tooks"they are like carts with a motorcycle driver. Similar to the Philippines, it's not bad behavior though to stare - so three white women traveling in tuk-tuks are bound to get some attention. Like yesterday, when the motorcycle behind our tuk-tuk had a driver who kept trying to talk to us. "Hello""hi""what's your name?"were not infrequent sounds from motorcycles passing close to us. While I haven't gotten a marriage proposal yet (gosh, darn! I'm so bummed. hahaha.) apparently, it's not uncommon.

Did I mention that in Bangkok (during the one evening layover) I was saved from being lost by a handsome austrian, johnny depp look-alike? I was standing there with all my luggage, with a sweaty red face, turning my map with directions the guesthouse upside down and all around. He came up with an "Are you lost?" and I was like, "What gave it away?" Anyway he not only knew the directions to the place, but he walked me there and upon leaving me shook my hand and said, "Welcome to Bangkok." I wish the rest of the city were so friendly! (and so handsome)

Philippines goodbye

One of the last sites Katie took me and her intern to was a place northwest in Manila, which is a shantytown built on garbage heap. It's a strange mess of shacks built next to each other. There are cement walkways hung perilously by some kind of wire backbone that connect most of the shacks. Yet the last area is connected by narrow wooden beams.

We were the most exciting entertainment for the locals to watch as we balanced our way across in a circus act. But while they laughed and stared at the white troup unfamiliar to their "town", I couldn't laugh but was scared to death after peering below into the dark, oily, polluted waters. Actually compared with the alternative of falling into the sickeningly smelly waters below, I thought to myself that death would be preferred.

It bothers me that living in that wasteland is a normalcy for the people squatting there. It bothers me that children are left roaming around and can fall into the not only disgusting, but chemically detrimental waters that sit beneath the housing. Most of all, it bothers me that the church allows something like this to go on.

Yet transformation from sin into the new life of Christ is not an overnight change, but a slow work. Food for the Hungry's ministry is heartening in that light, because as they come in with child developent programs and microenterprise projects, they are transforming the community from inside out. The women that we met with had started a savings group and had already begun to see the benefit of saving and putting money aside - and wanted to continue the program the next year. Slowly, ever so slowly, is change being made. And my hope is not in any one of the programs that churches are partnering to do in that community, but rather my hope is in a God with the power and ability to transform lives. People will fail and the work can be frustrating, but God never fails and HE is the one at work. That is my hope.

Katie's doing a great job in Manila and it was hard to say goodbye, but it was really encouraging to see her toil and labor be going to do so much where it is direly needed. What a blessing and priviledge to see God work through her there in the Philippines!

Manila with Middle

Ate Vicki in her area, with intern David, and Katie Middlestead

Things I've learned in the Philippines in the short period of time I've been here:

1. You sweat more here. It is really hot - standing in line for the tram is like standing in a sauna, except there is no relief of a cold shower afterwards... no, no, you must stay hot all day long. Did I mention it was hot here?


Sweet girls living in bamboo shacks on the edge of the ocean.

2. You spend more time on transportation than at your destination. On Saturday, when Katie (my friend here working with Food for the Hungry (FH)) took an intern and myself to some FH sites we took 15 (FIFTEEN!) different vehicles. Everyone here takes tricycles, jeepneys, peddlebikes, buses, mini buses, taxis for public transportation. Yet with all the insane driving, I haven't seen any accidents.

View from the inside of a tricycle.

3. Facial expressions and hand gestures are a significant means of communication. So if you don't feel like saying yes, just raise your eyebrows and that's enough. Don't feel like pointing? Purse your lips and nod your head and that'll do as well! Rest your hand on my leg, or around my wrist... well, don' worry, that doesn't mean anything other than that you're my friend.

4. Malls are the place to be. And that's not because they have any great stuff really, but because they are.... drum roll... AIR CONDITIONED!! Ahhh. They are wonderful.

This young girl with a shy smile suffered from some kind of deformity where her feet were turned inside, unfortunately I have heard this malady is not uncommon.

5. Probably the neatest thing I've learned here is how the work of the Gospel is still being spread by God's faithful servants. Not only are FH's employees, like Katie, helping to minister the truth through service, but we visited a church in Los Banos that is doing a bunch of church planting. Speaking with their pastor was exciting, because of his vision and heart for the poor. It's not easy, especially hearing FH's struggles with the poor who are unwilling to work out of their situations - but seeing a church like NCC come alongside the people most often forgotten or ignored is a hopeful chance to see Jesus alive in His people. At NCC those unable to tithe take home bags that they can fill with rice to bring as a tithe instead. Even out of nothing, people are willing to sacrifice and dedicate what they have to the Lord. It's really beautiful.

These boys couldn't get enough of the camera! Either their faces or fingers managed to get in every shot!

Hong Kong: first stop on the Spartan AsiaTour :)

My greeters after the fourteen hour plane ride: myself, Man Tai and Calvin both picked my up from the airport, and Courtney

There is a different pace in Hong Kong. I think it's a rather unusual place in Asia, in that the people are highly business-minded, and have a work ethic far exceeding that of the Western world. That is a generalization of course, but the city is clean for having such a huge population. My friends that took me around were more than hospitable. From picking me up to the airport, to taking the time to plan my daily schedule so that I would get to see as much as possible, I was impressed with their thoughtfulness and graciousness at all times. I didn't know what to expect visiting Hong Kong, but my experience has warmed me and I would gladly go back to visit my Hong Kong-ese friends there again like Calvin, Man Tai, Courtney, and Eva.

Some highlights were:

Opening night dinner with Man Tai, Calvin, and Courtney; touring TST and island side with Man Tai - including a harbor cruise and tram ride up to the peak; and seeing the Big Buddha and Stanley with Calvin; and closing night dinner with Calvin and Eva (two friends I met through an English study group back at MSU five years ago!) I can't believe how fast time flies!!
Eva, myself and Calvin - my social events planner and host for most of the trip.


Victoria Harbor with Man Tai... before he got called off to do reporting on the earthquake in mainland China.


"Big Buddha" - largest bronze statute of Buddha erected in 1995 by Hong Kong government - has a monastery below as well.

Summer plans

So I failed at continuing "funny" blog entries on here. I guess life has been slightly busier than I thought it was going to be. Anyway part of the busy-ness of life has been arranging summer travel plans to Asia. For the few of you who actually read this, I will be doing a medical program run by Child Family Health International . I'll be on the Western side of India doing medical rotations-ish through clinics and hospitals. The organization isn't affiliated with any religious group, but it's a great opportunity for learning about what specialty I might be interested in, while getting to do some intensive medical work in a developing country that I could missions in when I finish medical school.

The first stop that I make will be in Hong Kong and I get in tomorrow. I'll spend a few days there before heading to the Philippines to see Katie Middlestead and follow her around as she works with Food for the Hungry. I'm getting very excited for the whole summer - but still somewhat nervous about last minute details and arrangements. Will try to write more later...