Kampong Cham

We went up to Kampong Cham to see the progress of the new building.  Such a hot day!!


We hadn't been on the bamboo bridge since the river washed it away last rainy season, so we thought we would check it out.  It was supposed to be a little wider in this year's rebuild.  (I guess it was a 'little' wider, like one bamboo wider.... still scarey.

We had just crossed the bridge and then we were on an extremely bumpy dirt road, really bouncing around...we just laughed, thinking how crazy.... and what would we have thought when we were dating if we could have seen us now in our 60's here on this adventure.  SO everyone, you have many adventures ahead of you!

This really has been an incredible experience.

The boats just waiting now to float when the rain comes.

We will try to get back up once more, hopefully we will add the pictures of that.

Pretty Table Cloth From Market

We bought this tablecloth at one of the big markets a while ago.

I couldn't have a table cloth without flowers.   There were so many beautiful arrangements.  All kinds of flowers.  I saw one I really liked. Dad said he would only spend 5 dollars, so they made this smaller one up for us. The original was about 4 times bigger. (good thing we didn't spend more because it only lasted a day)  When we got home Dad said he thinks they are funeral flowers.  haha..  Oh well, I liked them

Easter and Khmer New Year Family Party

We are so happy you were all together on Easter.  Wait... Easter, did it really happen?
So, thankfully as I said in the family email, Dad asked the Branch President to let him take a few minutes and read The First Presidency Message and bear his testimony. 
( because it really was Easter!))  Our branch had no idea it was Easter or had ever really celebrated or talked about it.

Dad told me after, he just had to do it.  It is hard not to shout out the joy of Easter and the amazing gift of our Savior.  

Here is our dinner, not to bad right?  I found celery and made this potato salad.  It was delicious. and the frozen berry salad, but the meat left a little to be desired.  It was left over from a home delivery that was too spicy, so I washed it off and froze it a week or so earlier.   It seemed to fit in to make a complete Easter dinner!


Khmer New Year Family Party

Khmer New Year isn't until April 14.  It is a huge holiday here as we told you last year.   Cambodians celebrate it for almost a week.  Everything closes on about the 13th-18th, and 2 million people leave the city to go to their home province to gather as families.  We sent some pictures last year of the empty streets.  Anyway, our Stake didn't want to interfere with the New Year holiday by having a New Year holiday party, so they had it Saturday.  There was  a really good turn out and they played games, ate and had music and danced.  They find such pleasure in simple games, and watching each other be happy.

This game simply has two teams one on each side lined up.  The boy in the white clothes drops the branch in the middle and one person from each side goes to the middle and the first one to grab the leaf gets that person on their team.

This one is kind of like bocci ball.

They use a fruit as their balls.  It has a hard shell.  I don't know what it is called.  They told me, but it is a Khmer fruit with no translation in English.   They are flat on one side and they stand them up in the cracks of the tiles . And throw/roll some to hit them.

It Rained

So rain came...I guess there will be more to come.  Just a few shots as we were driving.

 This was right when the rain started.  I love how the tuk-tuks have complete zip around covers, you don't get wet.

 The motos just pull out their panchos and continue on.  At least until the water is so deep it floods their engines.  We saw that happen a lot.

Laundry

First world comment, " Ugh... I have to wait for the washer to finish"  (ever said it?)


Third world comment, "I am the washer...."

Another washer...

Sunday at the branch at Bakoo.

Dad greeting members.  Mom and her daughter. There were about 10 members today.

 Church is about to start.  This little girl is taking the little boy home.      The church (on left, bottom floor) and our car in background.

 They hook up with this little boy.  Um sorry, no pants today.

Washer still going....

Smiles Through Villages in CCF April 2016

Today we visited some of the little villages out in Steung Mean Chey. CCF  (Trash Mountain)

I never tire of these children.  This little guy just dropped his drink and it all spilled.  He was so sad...

This little boy ran up behind me and tapped me, giving me this flower.  Where did he find it?  Look around him... 

 These are the girls, (and boy) in the video Dad sent.  They are learning English in the school here.  (This is the trash mountain area, where they have been so blessed with the improvements.  Over 2,400 children here.

 The girls just had a make up party.  If you look close you can see....

 I am smiling just looking at her picture, she was such a bubbly little soul.

 "I like eggs and I like cheese"...

 Beautiful women, always busy...

This woman is washing the plastic water bottles to sell, and to reuse. 

This boy helping his mom, carrying the washed bottles

So proud to help

First sight of these two...  

We went down the row then came back...

They kept looking out the window as I walked away until I could see the house no more.  We kept waving and blowing kisses back and forth...  Again ..my heart...




I kept hearing halloo...halooo,  I was looking all around to see where this little voice was coming from..An old woman pointed up to show me...

He ran to his next window as that was where he could see me next.  Another halloo,  so sweet!

 This little one was nursing, I asked if I could a picture of them.  This woman now holding the baby snatched her from the mom, thus the tears, but quickly turning to a smile.  The mom is in the background.  They love to have their babies photographed.  And they love to see them.  I usually show the picture after I take it.

I was always playing catch up with Dad and the others.  I just loved stopping too much with the children.

Granny fast asleep.  Very nice living space for her.

 This is one of the houses LDS Charities has built.  This little girl kept chasing the other one all over and pulling her hair.  

 There is just layer after layer of trash built up through the years.  Still a lot of work to do in this dump area. So much has been done since we have been here.  This is about 10 feet deep.

 I put this picture in because the administrator (Heng)that was walking around with us found these two kids sitting on a pile crying.  Their 3 siblings left them there as they left on a bus to go to their homeland for Khmer New Year.  They didn't have enough money for all to go. Heng kept them close and he will get them on a bus to get home to their family.  These are the humanitarian couple we work with.  They will be finished with their mission next week.  

                     I love this Elder!

 On our way out

Cutting ice.  I didn't want to stick around this too long, It looked like any minute his hand was  a gonner...








Good Day...