kampot

WELL, the second part to our week off was travelling to the province of Kampot, 3 hours outside of Phnom Penh. Wuti, one of the staff members here at the YWAM base invited my team to his sister's wedding. He comes from a rural village in Kampot, and we able to stay with his family there! His family has a little community set up and seeing how they functioned was amazing! His relatives all live together on a big chunk of land. Each family has its establishment a few hundred feet from each other, seperated by crops and jungle, attached by small winding paths. Their land is surrounded by banana, coconut, and "sticky fruit" trees. (I don't know the actual name of the fruit--but it's definetely sticky!!) They have lots of cattle. Pigs and chickens running around, and boney old cows sauntering around the fields. Each family lived in a cabin-like house...We stayed with Wuti's aunt, on the second floor. We slept on bamboo mats. The windows had no screens, there was no electricity or running water, no showers, no...toilets... They got their water from the well and stored it all in giant pots beside their home.

The entire family welcomed us with giant smiles, and oozing generousity. They made sure we were well fed, and comfortable. We arrived there the day before the wedding. The evening we got there we watched a ceremony in which the bride and groom to be, the parents, and close relatives laid out food and flowers on the ground, lit incense, chanted and prayed, offering it all to their ancestors and their gods. Though it was interesting to witness, I felt an extreme heaviness. My entire chest went completely numb. I felt as though I was missing part of myself--as if I could put my fist right through my chest! I began just praying and speaking against what was taking place. That stuff is real. It isn't just ritual. There's stuff going on. There was one man participating, who I felt specifically on my heart to pray for. I felt God saying, "He so desperately wants to know Me." And so I kept my eye on him, and prayed unceasingly for him throughout the ceremony. Funny thing! I kept praying that he would be distracted and distant--that he wouldn't believe that what he was doing was worth anything at all. Then, another man's cell phone rang in the middle of this offering ceremony. He was one of the men participating. He was sitting right beside the mother of the bride. Everyone's face--oh if only you could see them!!--they were so angry! The man talked for a while... turns out the person on the other end was looking for no other but the man I had been praying for! Ha! So the phone was passed to him (all of this taking place through this intense buddhist ceremony), he took it and talked for quite a while. haha, Ohhh... God's humour. Everyone looked like were about to lay an egg. I had a good chuckle. It also turns out that the man I had been praying for, was the husband of Wuti's aunt, who we were staying with. We were living in his house! I prayed for him the whole time we were there. We tried talking, but he knew no English. And clearly, I don't know Khmer.

As I have mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts about the first wedding reception we went to, weddings here are a BIG flippin' deal!! Women go all out! Hair, makeup and dresses to the nines! Maybe even the tens! The day prior to the wedding, Wuti's sister and cousin took us to the market to rent dresses -- one for the morning, one for the evening. Oh. I forgot to mention that a wedding 'round these parts lasts from 7 am to 3 am the next morning..yeah..

At the market, no one spoke English. Good thing we had Wuti there with us. The ladies were constantly giggling at us, and making silly comments about us in Khmer. I'm assuming because of the area, they don't see foreigners very often. It's also VERY unusual for foreigners to ever attend a wedding. I guess we gave them something exciting to talk about for the next few days. ha! Laurissa, Dana and I picked out three matching dresses. Shiny, bright, and hideous! Dana wore orange, Laurissa purple, and me...HOT PINK. as if! On the day of the wedding, a woman came in at noon and did our hair and make up. Funny! I hit my hair on the frame of a door. My hair was so big and hard from so much hair spray that I didn't hit my head, I hit my hair instead!! It even made a crunchy noise. ahah it made me laugh. And our make up was the most intense I've ever seen! I felt like a cake! I've never worn that much make up in my life!! I even got to wear fake eyelashes! yay... here's some pictures of us...It was a lot of fun, and again, my heart for kids has grown. I danced with kids all night, and they loved it! They were amazing. They gave me flowers and just giggled and laughed so much. It was awesome...

On a much more solemn note, there was an extreme spiritual heaviness in that place. Although Wuti's family was amazing, friendly, kind, generous, all of the above, there was so many other things going on. One of the men at the wedding offered to sell Richard his daughter for night. I later found out this was one of the girls that had been holding my hand the entire evening. I felt sick. The thing is, too... This man offered his daughter for only a few dollars. If she were a virgin, he would have offered her for a whole lot more, because the sale of virginity is used very commonly as a means to make big money fast. That means she has been sold before. How is something like that even possible? How desperate, how lost, how completely broken and dysfunctional can someone be? During the reception I also saw a man nearly beat his wife. And I saw, first hand, a man hitting little kids--the very kids I was dancing with...all because he wanted to dance with me, and didn't think kids deserved to have any fun. UGH! Is there even hope!? God's grace is so much bigger than I ever imagined. These people, these children are at risk!! In their own home! It hurts my heart so much to think that it's possible--even probable--that some of the little girls that I had been dancing with would migrate or be trafficked into an exploitative situation...clearly some of them have begun experiencing such horrors already. j kldjkaf jdajLfdjasjFawiuotwiuoa'tjeirajgksv!!!!! Who hears them crying!? Who is there to stop them from being raped, beaten, sold? This is a silent society. Keeping face comes first. Familial reputation and economic well being are top priority. These people see social norm. I see a darkness.



The entire time we were there, from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, I was under some kind of attack. Some of the issues I used to deal with came flooding back. Thoughts I haven't thought in a long time were pressing me constantly. I heard a voice contradicting all that I stood for, all that I've learned. I was always on my guard, always fighting with what was going on inside me. I haven't felt that way in a long time. I felt the way I used to feel. It was so scary. I prayed constantly, and spoke scripture over myself. Being a buddhist country, and specifically in this case, a Buddhist family, I knew it was real, and I somewhat expected something of a challenge to come my way. I felt released almost as soon as we left.

All in all, the experience was amazing. I loved experiencing rural Cambodia--the real deal! I got more of God's heart for these people, and it was a real eye opener to what the daily lives of many people look like here (minus the hectic production of a wedding!!)

We had an amazing break, and it was a blessing to be able to get out of Phnom Penh and see more of this beautiful country!

God is good.

More soon,

xx Jan

did i mention...

i rode an elephant ?

Team Vacation!

Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A few weeks ago, my team took a week off from Daughters and headed, by bus, to the capital of Cambodia, Siem Reap. Around 6 hours from Phnom Penh. Probably the craziest bus ride of my life. The driver was insane! But, alas, we made it safely and soundly to our cozy little hostel on the outskirts of the city, called Earthwalkers. It had a pool! It was a little...on the green side, and I don't mean economically. But it was refreshing. We also had air conditioning in our rooms, and OH MY GOODNESS!! I was cold! It was amazing. Oh, and hot water showers. mmmm. That was so good.

We stayed in Siem Reap for 3 days, just hanging out and having fun. We saw the famous Angkor Wat temples -- stunning! Sensed a real emptiness and spiritual heaviness in that place, as beautiful as they were.

After seeing most of the temples, or at least a good amount of them, our Tuktuk driver took us to his village in Siem Reap. We didn't really know what was going on, but we ended up at an ophanage. I have to say that this day has by far been the best day I've had since being here in Cambodia. We spent time with the kids at the orphange, and they welcomed us instantly with giggles and smiles and loads of energy! It was a pretty wierd situation though, our tuktuk driver randomly bringing us to this place. The orphanage was a series of shacks, with a big stage-like structure in the center of the place. Apparently the kids learn singing and dancing, and use that as a means of income for the orphanage. One of the staff members sat down with us and informed us of everything they do there... apparently they teach khmer, reading, writing, mathematics, and basic morals. The classrooms, however, we basically wood boards creating a sort of lean-to, and there were only a couple desks in the "room". The conditions of this place were very rough, and extremely heart breaking. We were told that this place gets no income, no help from the government, or any NGOs, and is completely off the radar. It's in horrible condition.

Anyway, we spent a few hours there, first talking with the staff, and asking questions, then the kids sang and danced for us, and then invited us onto the stage to dance with them!! Ha! so random! It was amazing, though, and the kids were so talented! I had so much fun, and took tonnes of photos with the kids. I gave my camera to a couple of them to take pictures. They loved it!! It was so amazing to spend time with these kids, and hold their hands and hug them, and simply love on them. While I've been here, and over a series of experiences, God has totally been giving me a heart for kids that I've never had before. My heart just broke for that place and those kids!

Well, we got back to Phnom Penh and asked some questions about this orphanage. Turns out it's a scam, and it's no secret that those kids are being used to make money, and there's a lot going on there that really needs attention!!!! No one is doing anything about it. I was completely gutted when I found out, but my team and I all suspected something was wrong even when we first stepped foot on the property. I guess it's just a glimpse of the real world, which is good, I suppose for someone as naive as myself. It's a learning experience, for sure. I am just praying that the tables will turn and doors will open for this place to be transformed from the inside out. Those children are highly at risk. Something most certainly needs to happen.

There's one little girl that I have had on my heart to continue praying for. I have had some amazing times of intercession for this little girl, and I was looking at pictures that I took while I was there, and just burst into tears when I saw one of her. She's stuck here on my heart.

Anyway, that was the first little bit to our three part team vacation. While in Siem Reap, we also walked around a bit, went out to eat, went the Old Market, and had some laughs. It was a good time for sure!! Unfortunately Armin was super sick the whole time and missed out on Angkor Wat AND the orphanage, but she lives in Thailand and can make a trip whenever she likes. I guess that's the bright side. Poor thing.

I was so suprised that I wasn't sick during this week! What are the chances!? It was nice to get away from feeling sick. I had a lot of fun in Siem Reap but my heart broke for that city. I'd like to go back there some day. There's innumerable possibilities here in Cambodia. I feel like Siem Reap is oozing with oppurtunities for change.

It's so easy to become overwhelmed. Even just driving through the streets of the city, and seeing the desperation and poverty around me, I can't help but feel like this place is a prison! It's hopeless and struggling to stay alive.

But I know God is moving. His people need to follow!! In the midst of the mess, God's beauty is still loud and clear. In the sweet generousity, the sincere gestures, the friendliness and care shown by these people... it is beautiful. The people here are precious. I'm excited to see what God has for this country.

more very soon!

xx Janna

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Phew! It's been almost a month since I last updated this thing! Sheesh. I knew this would happen. I've never been good at keeping a consistent blog. So, a lot has happened since Christmas!! But I'll pick up where I left off, and attempt to keep my stories 'n' such in order.



So. Christmas. I never did post any photos of the dinner we had for our neighbours and friends.

I'll do that! But I'll tell you a bit, first, about what Christmas looked like for me here in Cambodia. On Christmas Eve, my team piled into a tuktuk and went out for Indian food. We happened to discover one of theee bessst Indian places I have ever had the priviledge of experiencing. Yup. So, that was fun, and definetely a first for me. Indian food on Christmas Eve. Usually I'm sitting around the coffee table in the living room back home, which candles and twinkly lights and christmas music, which my family, eating finger foods, and talking the ears off of each other. But this year things were just a little different! After devouring our very delicious Indian meal, we crossed the street and hung out at the park. The park is basically a big, open area, both grassy and paved, with benches, a few trees here and there, a pond, fountain, you know the type. We just walked around, sat around, talked, did head stands in the grass...? Laurissa and I were strolling about, and passed a group of Khmer people sitting by the pond eating birthday cake. One of the men jumped up and told us that it was his birthday, and so I broke into song, of course!, and they offered us cake. We talked for a while, and ended up inviting them to our dinner which took place the following evening. When we got back to the base, we hung out and Richard blew up a sterile glove and put it on his head. Uh, yeah... and then we all just did our own thing, some of us watched Elf. I recall staying up till 3 that night wrapping gifts for my team and making cards for them. Which is...totally like me. I tend to do everything I can last minute. Oh well, I get things done, and that's what matters!...? Maybe?



Anyway. The next morning my team had a BIG beautiful breakfast. We ate loads of yummy fruit and crepes and mmm!! It was delish! Then, we cleaned up, and headed to the roof to give each other presents, which we all purchased over a period of weeks prior to Christmas, at the trusty Russian Market...

We spent a good chunk of time up there, and it was fun to see what everyone came up with for gifts. Let's just say...we had some good laughs! After our gift exchange things got ccccrrrrazy! We all went about our designated tasks for the day, in prep for the big dinner! It was a busy busy day! It was cool to see it all come together! We set up tables in front of the base, and put up some twinkly lights and fun stuff, set out all the food and drinks, and waited for our guests! Little by little, they all showed up! Mostly everyone we invited came! And it was so so beautiful to see. Just seeing all the people that we've been talking to, meeting, getting to know, during our time here was awesome. I had warm fuzzies the entire night :)



I was exhausted after staying up til 3 am the previous night, and only getting like 3 hours of sleep and then going going going the next day, but it was so awesome and went so smoothly, I didn't have much of a chance, or a reason to be a tired ol' grump. So many people here on the base pitched in and helped us out with preparations and cleaning up, too, which we were all so very thankful for!!



So, all in all, my Christmas did not feel like Christmas, but it was an amazing experience, and I'll never ever forget it!!!