Eaten and Burned Alive!

So I've just accepted the fact that my body is now going to be a human teething ring for ants here in Cambodia. Fortunately, they're not fire ants and fortunately I've yet to have an allergic reaction. They literally are eating me alive. There's not an appendage without a bite on it, a nook or cranny of the body without one...they're everywhere. Wearing clothes is uncomfortable, wearing shoes is uncomfortable, wiping after pooping...that's even uncomfortable. Yeah, I just wanted to go over that line for you. But, you get the picture...they're everywhere.

The only thing that keeps my mind off of being eaten alive is being burnt alive. I know, I've already complained a lot and I'll admit it, I'm not done yet, but there's a purpose for it...promise. Back to being burnt alive. The day I landed in Cambodia it was 120 degrees outside. Since then its cooled off to a mere 110 (that's NOT including humidity levels and heat indexes). I've sweat more than not. I sweat sleeping. I sweat showering. I sweat peeing. My sweat sweats. Even the locals here are complaining about how hot it is, so I the fat American have no qualms complaining.

The past two days these thoughts of complaining have consumed me. I've quietly been whiny, and itching, most of the time. However, today it hit me. I'm here to be a part of the Cambodian culture for the next two months. And the people here on a yearly basis deal with heat like this, bugs that gnaw on them...all without complaint. It really hit home today when I visited the orphanage I'll be working at for the first time today. The kids came out to greet us (myself, the two missionaries, and the major financial supporter from the US who just happened to be in town this week) and sing us all some songs. The kids were dressed to the tee. They had eyes that stared deep into your soul and then some. At such a young age, you could tell they'd been unjustly hurt. Some of their stories range from being abandoned by their own mothers to pursue another family, some have seen their mother murdered by their father with their own eyes, some were picked up off of the streets and the gut wrenching stories go on.

Anyways, the kids came out to greet us and immediately the flies swarmed their eyes, mouthes, and delicate bodies. Some of their hair looked as though it had been highlighted, yet later I found out that wasn't the case. The blonde streaks against their jet black hair came from bouts of malnutrition and the body wasn't producing any pigment. Here these kids were...swarmed by flies and bugs of all sorts, discolored from malnutrition, and abandoned and left alone by their families. That's when it hit me...who am I to complain about the ant bites and scorching heat?

That's my lesson learned for these two days and reminder for you all at home. We've got it made in the States, how dare we complain when our abundance ceases to be abundance and becomes a little more than we need?

On a cheerier note, I've figured out my rough schedule for the next two months. It looks like this:

Mondays - Preparing for the week at the orphanage, teaching, and in the villages.

Tuesdays - Work in the surrounding villages of Battambang from 8-11AM; teach Bible/English classes at 4 and 6:15, each for an hour.

Wednesdays - Work in the orphanage that morning; teach Bible/English classes at 4 and 6:15, each for an hour.

Thursdays - Repeat Tuesdays

Fridays - Repeat Wednesdays

Saturdays - Activities in the community, with the students of the classes, and some r&r

Sunday - Some more r&r; church at 2 & 3; Leadership meetings w/ the ministry @ 4:30

I've grown somewhat impatient since landing here on Friday. I've been ready to just jump in and go, but that hasn't been the case. The family I'm staying with themselves just got back from the States for a family emergency. Looking back now, I'm thankful for the couple days of rest. Its taken a bit to get adjusted to the schedule here in Cambodia, to the heat, and to what life in Cambodia will be like for the next two months. The past two days haven't been all laziness either though. We've hit the streets, the Buddhist temple in my backyard, and a local high school here pretty hard passing out fliers for the English classes. Its been really funny to see Cambodians' reaction to me handing them a flier, telling them hello in Khmer (pronounced 'cuh-my'), yet knowing nothing else in Khmer. Even better than their responses though, are the positive reactions we got from the Monks at the temple! Wow, what an awesome experience!

So its been an exciting few days for sure since being here. I've also attended one of the local churches here. They've asked me to speak next week, so be praying for me as I prepare what to say! Also, something else I'm really excited about, I'm getting to know some of the faces I'll be working with. My personal translator for the next two months is Quut (wrong spelling I'm sure, but announced like Quit w/o the 'i'). He's 26, a Christian for several years now, and really funny. The two that I'll be working with in the villages are So Mnang and So Pek (again, probably wrong spelling). So Mnang was a boxer back in his younger days and is extremely musically talented. So Pek is 23, married, and really funny also. Finally, one guy that has struck some chords w/ my heart is So Chettra (I call him Cheese because I always think of Cheddar every time I hear his name). He was a monk a few years ago. Today he shared his story with me. He shared how when he was younger, he's now 23 and married, he was a monk and had to pick between eating and going to school. He couldn't afford both. He'd left his family to pursue monkhood. He found Christ, and left the monkhood. Then, he found himself on the streets and having to pick between eating a meal or paying for school. Cheese lives here on the commune with us and he's a true joy to be around and an inspiration for sure. Today I learned from him what work and dedication mean. I look forward to hearing what other lessons of life I may learn from him.

So, enough rambling for now. If you could, please be praying for me this week. I start the busy schedule and am excited, nervous, and eager beyond all get. Pray for the Bible/English classes. When we went through the Buddhist temple inviting the monks, we got a pretty positive reaction. Pray that they'll come to the classes and that I'll be able to build a relationship with some of them. As I walked through the temple, I felt a special prick on the heart for them. They find themselves lost in a religion where there's no light and no chance for TRUE peace and hope. Pray also that I would have the strength, desire and determination to get up each day. This heat is indeed draining, and spiritually and emotionally, it'll be draining as well. May the Lord be my rock and salvation, giver of strength and joy as I begin the work here!

Until next time, I love and appreciate you all!

Josh Lj