We made it to Cambodia!  We flew into Phnom Penh and spent a couple of nights at a daycare center.  Our team experienced the infamous Russian Market, where we purchased some clean clothes, watches (but we still haven’t figured out what time it actually is here, ha ha) and any other supplies we needed before heading to Battambang.  It’s wonderful being back in Cambodia—I can’t believe I’m back.  It’s great watching my team experience Cambodia—for many of them its their first taste of it.  Sometimes we laugh over using the “Squaty Potty’s” or nearly tipping over in our Tuk Tuk and our pathetic attempts to communicate with the people here using the four words of Khmer that we know:)  And yet other times we are just quiet.  Our team visited Tou Sleng (also called S-21) which you can read more about in my previous blogs. But the abuse of power in this country has caused a lot of suffering and even as an outsider looking in, I am devastated.  What’s amazing is how far along these people and this country has come since the devastating period of the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979).  They have begun to rebuild what was broken and restore what was taken from them.  But honestly, there are so many stories that these people could share—and although some have and are doing that—I think there are many that still have not.  I hope they can be heard, because that is what brought me here.  I am only one person but it has changed my life and I hope my presence here changes others. I think through their voices and their stories—God’s kingdom will be brought on.  

Tomorrow, we get to have worship at the Women’s Center that we are working at.  Then, starting Monday we will receive orientation and get to work! I am really excited to meet the girls and really dig into what life will be like for the next couple of months.  Thanks again for the love and prayers!

Peace,
Hannah

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”    –Revelation 21:1-5