Good Evening!

Itis Sunday night.....we just had pizza! Yeah!!!!!! I am getting a bit tired ofrice for every meal......but the food has been really good. For all of you who were teasing me before I left......no fried crickets or bugs for me! :) I did find a cuddly kitty to play with........she loved having her neck scratched.......then a rat ran by us.......UGH!

I am having a LOT of difficulty getting to a place to upload the pictures I have....and I have a TON! So.....if you want to see some pics also check out: www.othersideofdawn.blogspot.com.

Today we went to a Khmer Christian church...it was long....but quite interesting. All I had to do during worship was close my eyes and listen....and hun\m along. It was awesome.....Their voices were beautiful, joyful, and somehow innocent. These people are beautiful. Itis funny.....a lot of the culture here srives to be as fair as possible and the overall goalis to be smart and rich....get to the top. I am talking about the GENERAL culture.....not thepeople we have been hanging out with.

We went to Central Market after church.....I bought gifts to bring home......I've cannot believe all you see in a market. There seem to be sections....automotive, clothing, scarves, purses, shoes, and of course the food court areas. A lot of the food looks and smells tasty, but I have a hard time looking at all of the fresh cut meat hanging around.....litterally. On the other hand the jasmine smells amazing!!!!

Also, there are kids begging, mothers, fathers, people with limbs missing........babies in mother's arms trying to beg for enough food to eat for 1 more day. About 4000 riel equal 1 US dollar. Sometimes we give 1-2000 to people.....that may buy a meal for a Cambodian person.....my heart is drawn to all of them. While we were at dinner many children....beautiful children, came into sell us books, papers, post cards, etc. One man came in........on crutches, 1 leg amputated. I cannot imagine the humility that takes......in America a man would be broken and brought to his knees if that iswhat he had to resport to to provide for his family.

OK....the brighter side.......

The water park was a blast! (And I do not really like to swim) But I primarily played with the smaller children in the shallow fountain/pool/slide areas. I am sore today......lifting those little ones gets tiring after a while. They all want to jump and have you lift them high while the jump. Talk about a workout!!! One girl ended up lounging on my lap in the water while I "walked"on my hands (if you can picture that). Heang......and them Thai sat on her and we all three floated around. Thai has the BEST laugh. It sounds tribal......I cannot describe it....but I will never forget it. how blessed am I? Thank you sponsors!!!!! I would not be here without you.

Tomorrowis kind of up for grabs....we are supposed to go to the White Lotus....but it is such a secretive place (to protect the girls who live there) that they have not returned John's calls. Only the women will be going. The story of Tamar resonates in my mind and heart when I think of them. For anyone who does not know this is a house for girls who have "escaped"the life of forced prostitution.

OK.........time to go. Good night!