Fussiness and First Teeth

Our dear Kai, the most easy-going and laid-back member of the family, went through a stage last month of fussiness and irritability that was most unlike him. We figured it was teething time, but his mouth gave no proof of our suspicions. Until… the last week of July - voila! – not just one, but two bottom, baby teeth made an appearance! And just this week, he cut his top left tooth, with the right obviously in hot pursuit of the goal. It makes for a most endearing grin. And we thought he couldn’t get any cuter…

Waving from his highchair, our little man shares the smile for which he's known!

Showing off his two front teeth two weeks ago

With our good friend Sopheak, who recently returned from a year in Canada as a participant with MCC's International Visitors Exchange Program

3-2-1-PRESCHOOL!

Juliana had been asking if it was August ever since June, when the decision was made to enroll her in preschool at Hope International School (http://www.hopeschool-cambodia.org/). She was so excited to begin her educational career that it was her favorite topic of conversation, both with family and with new people we’d meet. Well, the anticipation is over, as Hope opened its doors to students on August 11, and as far as we can tell, preschool is meeting Juliana’s expectations. She attends on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and enjoys playing pretend with other children, painting, playing in sand, and swinging on tire swings. (An interesting note is that the building was already familiar to Juliana since the Preschool moved into the house the Caldwell’s had lived in!)Eating breakfast on the first day of preschool

In front of our new house, leaving for our two-minute walk to Hope Preschool

Juliana in front of her bin at preschool

One of the play areas

Our Move and Some Special Guests

Our season of “house-sitting” in the Hills’ apartment came to an end in the month of July, and we moved into the house we found for our long-term residence on July 31. We were in a hurry to get at least a bit organized that first day, since we were expecting houseguests a mere 36 hours after spending our first night in our new home. Franklin Mennonite Conference, a small group of churches in the Chambersburg, PA area that financially support the EMM dorms, sent a delegation to visit Cambodia. Their purpose for the visit was to report on the dorm ministry and to encourage us and the church. Paul and Tina Holderman (former EMM missionaries here in Phnom Penh) and Katie Lehman (a young woman from Holdermans’ church) were here from August 2 – 13, and though it made life very full, their time with us was indeed a blessing. Paul was very handy in doing odd jobs around the house, Tina baked us some yummy food, and they were able to visit and encourage many of their friends from the 3 years they lived here. It also felt like Christmas, because they came bearing gifts from our family, friends and MST. Thank you so much, everyone! We don’t have very many pictures of the team during their time here – we were too busy to think about it! – but the camera came out while we were seeing them off at the airport. Thanks again, Holdermans and Katie, for your encouragement, help and gift of a night away as a couple! (We were able to play tourists – childless! – and sleep at a local hotel. What a rare treat!!)

Paul Holderman and Mades, a church member and friend of the Holdermans

Katie Lehman and Tina Holderman, visiting after church



Saying goodbye to the team at the airport, with Ming (younger aunt) Nyaw, our househelper (Juliana was in preschool)

Just in case you were wondering if we fell off the face of the earth, allow me to begin by putting your fears to rest: We are alive and well (mostly)! We’ve been up to our ears in transition and out-of-the-ordinary events, so posting on our blog during the past month fell to the bottom of the to-do list. We will attempt to catch you up in a series of shorter posts, so here goes…

Getting Around...

This short post is dedicated to Modes of transportation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Enjoy the snapshots of what we daily see on the city streets...


A Bicycle. Besides walking, this is the most affordable travel option. However, bikes are for more than just transportation. This young man is peddling his kitchen-related wares from the back of his bike.



A Cyclo (see-clo). A cousin to the tricycle, the cyclo is ideal when transporting large market purchases home. Many tourists like them too because of the leisurely view they can take in as they travel along at a slow pace.





A Motorcycle. The motorcycle is by far the most common form of transportation used in Cambodia. It provides a fast way to get where you’re going and is small enough to be able to weave in and out of the hectic traffic that slows cars down.





A Tuk-Tuk. This motorcycle-powered carriage is the form of transportation we use most frequently. It is safer than just riding around on motorcycles and allows our family to all ride together. Because our new house (We’re moving in August!) has a garage to keep the EMM van in, we’ll start using the van more regularly. I have enjoyed the challenge of learning to drive in what seems to Americans as the crazy Cambodian traffic.

And something you'll never see in the United States: an SUV. The sports utility vehicle seems to be quite popular here in Cambodia. We were surprised to see how many SUV’s there were when we got here. Though the country has great financial need, there are some people here with well-padded wallets.

That's all for this post. Thanks again for your interest in our lives and for your prayers!

-Ryan

Kids, Cultures, and a Trip to the Countryside

When we were preparing to come to Cambodia, we were told several times that having children with us would make for an easier entry into the new culture, as kids open doors for relating with people. I'm guessing this is because of their lack of inhibitions, appeal across cultures (the "cute factor"), and the fact that most everyone loves a baby. We've certainly been given a warm welcome as an expatriate family living here, evidenced by the many smiles, attempts at communication, and attention we get when we are out as a foursome. We often joke about the huge fan clubs that Juliana and Kai have, and how we can identify with the Hollywood set who can't seem to leave their homes without encountering adoring fans and paparazzi. But as parents, the situation is not always so funny. Pale, white skin attracts a lot of attention here (it's considered more beautiful than dark, brown skin - you wouldn't believe the assortment of lotions sold in markets that supposedly whitens brown skin!), and sometimes that attention can become a bit bothersome. People do enjoy children here, but it's not uncommon for them to show that enjoyment by tweaking noses, touching faces and arms, and actually taking Kai out of our arms (often without asking) to hold him and get a picture of/with him. Juliana has had her share of photos taken, too. Bless his heart, Kai seems to mind the least of any of us, but Juliana doesn't always appreciate the stares, extra attention and contact. It's hard to know how to be hospitable and share our children - and to teach them to be respectful and kind - when they and their personal space are not always given the same courtesy. It's going to take us a bit to adjust to the cultural differences involved, ie. it's not considered rude to stare, children are somewhat objectified, and personal space is much, much smaller here. So, if you're ever not quite sure how to pray for us, wisdom, grace and patience are always good bets!

A common scene while traveling: someone pointing and commenting about our family

In other news, we were able to get out of the city for a few days last week, and spent Thursday evening through Sunday morning in Prey Veng, the provincial capital of the province of Prey Veng. Miles and Ruth Wiederkehr, Canadians serving with MCC, invited us out for a visit, and we had a great time. We rested, played games, road bike, watched some Mr. Bean, talked, ate Ruth's good cooking and baking, and got lots of mosquito bites. White skin is even scarcer in the countryside, so after our trip to the local market and nearby rainy-season lake (it completely dries up in the dry season) attracted a lot of attention, we retreated to a restaurant close to the Wiederkehrs for some cold drinks and a spell on the wooden swing (which reminded us of Atglen!). Below are some pictures from our time in Prey Veng...

Hanging out in the hammocks the Wiederkehr men built

On our bike ride

Juliana helped Ruth make Sesame Seed Cookies (Ruth's putting in palm sugar in photo above)



Theo and Andre Wiederkehr (ages 11 and 9) and Slater the cat

Blessed Bruises

When it comes to the game of "Swat," it most definately is better to give than to receive. This "icebreaker" game was a great way for us to get to know the young ladies in EMM's women's dorm last Sunday. After the morning's church service we took some hearty curry, bread, and fruit with us as we looked forward to sharing a meal and some fun with these university students.




We had a really good time together. The women enjoyed the meal and it was so fun to hear the group erupt in laughter as persons would get swatted with a rolled-up newspaper if they were not quick to say someone else's name.
Juliana quickly warmed up to the ladies and impressed them with the Khmer words she was using. And as always, Kai had his share of doting young ladies.

May God continue to bless these young ladies as they pursue university education in Phnom Penh. May they grow healthy: physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. May they be agents of future positive change their country. May they be builders of Christ's kingdom in Cambodia!

-Ryan

Welcomed Guests

With squinted eyes, we enjoyed our "to-go" breakfast of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as we traveled in the bright morning sun to the Vienamese Mennonite Church. Our brother and friend, pastor Luy, had specifically invited us to come to this morning's service because it was a special baptism service. Pastor Luy gave me the opportunity to share some words of encouragement with the new believers and the rest of the congregation. I briefly shared, reminding them that though they sometimes may feel alone in the struggles they experience in their Christian lives, they have great support as they look to the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and their brothers and sisters in Christ. I felt very honored to have the opportunity to share in the special morning.
After the service and a brief time of snacks and fellowship we took some group pictures and then Pastor Luy and the elders of the church distributed bags of rice and noodles to the families.
Pator Luy had shared with us that many of the families are facing financial difficulty, in part because they used to depend on funds that they received by selling their daughters into prostitution. As they have learned about God's word and joined the church, they have recognized that prostitution, though financially profitable, does not honor God. Therefore, they need assistence getting food on the table as they get re-established financially. Praise God for the ministry of his Spirit through people like Pastor Luy! We serve a God who cares greatly about all our needs...


A picture of us with Pastor Luy (holding Juliana) and the leadership team of the church

A picture of us with the rest of the church. In front of the group are bags of rice, donated by an Australian couple that Pastor Luy has been in contact with.

The Doctor is In!

One of the wisest investments we've made as parents has been a Plastic Doctor's Kit via eBay. Juliana has gotten hours of enjoyment from this kit. I often hear her ask, "Daddy, can you check my doctors?" Perhaps we should introduce her to some medical missionaries here in Cambodia to test her potential calling into the medical field...
While Juliana was practicing her doctor skills last week, we were busy helping Darrell and Susan Caldwell pack up and prepare for their transition back to the states. We also had the opportunity to spend a lot of time together with Skip and Carol Tobin (more below).

(Left) Darrell and Susan Caldwell, exhausted after saying four hours-worth of "good-byes"to many friends at their fairwell open-house party. This family will be greatly missed by many here.

(Right) We hosted Skip and Carol Tobin last week. As EMM regional reps to southeast Asia, the Tobins will continue to provide direction and support for us as we are the only EMM long-term missionaries currently in Cambodia.

Skip and Carol quickly re-established themselves as "aunt"and "uncle"to Juliana. Here our daughter is sandwiched inbetween the two on a tuk-tuk ride.

Sunday morning was a special morning of honoring the Caldwells at Phnom Penh Mennonite Church. Here is a group picture after the service and meal together. (Can you find the fair-skinned baby in the group?)

Needless to say, we were pretty exhausted after the week. (Right) Juliana and I resting in a hammock. (Below) Kai, proving that he will not let the rungs of the crib confine his body...

Thanks for your interest in our lives and ministry. If you're reading this blog, you've most likely played a very significant role in helping us be the people we are today, and for that we say a big "Thank You!"

-Ryan

Farewells and Fan-less Nights

It's funny how sometimes things turn out very differently than we imagine them... When we initially planned our return to Cambodia, we were looking forward to reconnecting with Darrell and Susan Caldwell, working together with them here in Phnom Penh and being EMM teammates. But a few months ago, they made the bittersweet decision to leave Cambodia to be with their family in the USA, and so we're preparing to bid them farewell for now. (They hope to return someday, but are not making specific plans at the present.) So, that means Ryan and I will essentially be the EMM "country reps", with some pretty big shoes to fill!
Actually, we're not planning to wear all the hats that Darrell and Susan wore (at least not at first), but one significant role that I've been spending lots of time trying to learn is that of EMM Financial Bookkeeper. I've been getting a crash course in handling EMM finances, preparing lots of reports, and doing Cambodia-style banking (which reminds me of my days as a teller at Blue Ball National!) It's going to be fine once I understand it all and get into a routine, but for now it's been the cause of a few headaches. : ) The Caldwells fly to the US on June 13th. We're going to miss the them, and hope their time in the USA is one of refreshment and blessing...

While I've been spending lots of hours with Susan learning the ropes, Ryan's been doing a great job entertaining and caring for Juliana and Kai. They continue to adjust well to life here, and Juliana's been speaking more and more Khmer. She loves to repeat phrases that Ty, our househelp, is teaching her, and the loud praise she receives for her efforts are enough encouragement for her to keep trying. We are often asked to repeat what's been said in conversation she hears (whether it's spoken in Khmer or English!) and we laugh about being her personal translators. It's fun to watch her absorb two languages at the same time!

Just this morning, Ryan and Juliana were getting ready to go outside on the upstairs balcony, and Ryan counted "One, two, three." Juliana responded with "No, Daddy, moy, pbee, bie!" No more "saying it plain" for her!

In other milestones, Kai had his first solid foods recently. Appropriately enough, he had his first taste of rice cereal, and seemed to enjoy it. After making some funny expressions initially, he opened his mouth for more, so I think we may have two children who love rice - which is a good thing for living in Cambodia, where we eat rice twice a day!

And here's another facet of life in Cambodia... due to a power shortage in Cambodia, we've been experiencing power-outages on a regular basis. They happened almost daily when we first arrived (during the hot season, more AC's are running, needing more power - at least that was our guess), and since we've gotten into the rainy season, it's not been quite as often, but they still manage to happen when you least expect it. When the power's off, it's most frustrating to be without fans - the difference in our apartment from hot season to rainy season has only been a drop from 90 deg. F to about 87 deg. F. But we're trying to learn how to make lemonade from such lemons, and the other night when the power was out from about 6:30 to 8:30 pm, we took our bedtime snack out onto the balcony! We enjoyed sweet jackfruit and crackers by the light of the flashlights on our cell phones (do phones in the States have flashlights on them, or is that just here where having a ready light in your pocket comes in especially handy?) and the glow of the mosquito coil (an invention similar to the punk-sticks from my youth, burned to keep mossies away), and prayed for the power to come before we'd need to sleep in pools of sweat! (It did.)

- Bethany