Mike’s 3 Cents

cambodia update #5

Jul 2, 2010

in just a few minutes it will be 6:30am and the team will be rising for the last time in Phnom Penh. We’ll have breakfast together at 7 and depart for the airport at 8. Our flight leaves at 10:30am (11:30pm Friday night your time). we spent our final night with the children last night and it was bitter sweet. we organized a little carnival with simple games like ring toss and bowling and face painting and balloon animals – they had SO MUCH fun, and so did we. But we had to eventually say good-bye. We sat the children down and each team member gave them a few words and then we prayed for God’s blessing and protection on them. When we finished I said, “We love you very much, but we must go now.” Which was the cue to open the floodgates of tears. Oh, my. I have never seen such sadness. EVERYone was crying including our driver and translator. In fact, the kids wouldn’t let go of some of the team, and the team didn’t know how to let go (or want to either). By the time we all managed to get in the van, i was literally gently pressing the children back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an outpouring like that. Our bond as a church with these future country-changers just continues to deepen. We are truly a God-send for each other. Continue to pray for Savong and Pisey as the continue to parent these little ones in every possible sense of the word. (Also remember Eden, he has battling some sort of illness…even in and out of the clinic…all week. Savong and Pisey were both with him at the clinic last night and could not see us off. You KNOW it serious if that is the case.)

ok, you’ve waited long enough for the rest of the “roof” story…too long…sorry for my delays. After receiving two quotes both north of $1300 to install a woman’s completely deteriorated (90% gone) roof we were convinced it should not be that expensive. in discussing it with a cambodian friend near the woman’s home, he agreed. he offered to take us to a place where we could buy second-hand, yet strong material. We decided to go for it and figure out how to install it later.   We took our friend to the home to measure what we needed, and while we where there…one of her neighbors said he could install it for us. Hmm. We though that would be awesome to keep the money right there is the poorest community in PP.  We were able to purchase 40 sheets of corrugated steel for $4/sheet! Total: $155 dollars (plus $4 delivery…which is whole ‘nuther story!)  The final negotiation would come with the contractor-neighbor (a man that stood 5′1″, with alcohol-laced breath, clothed with only the cloth around his waste and a belly that if it was your uncle you’d be tempted to rub). Would he charge us 300? 500? He eye-balled some measurements and discussed some with our interpreter. Finally our interpreter turned and said, “Yeah so, he can do it for 50 bucks.” As had become customary, I asked him to repeat…I certainly misunderstood through his accent. But that was his offer. 50 bucks! I controlled my self and agreed, thanked him and asked him when he could start and how long it would take.  He said he would have three workers start the next morning at 7am and finish by the end of the day. Which, to our surprised, they did. We gave them $60. I think Jen posted photos. He needed $27 more steel and some nails. Total cost: $247. AN D, now we have a supplier and a contractor to make other repairs for us in the worst possible place to “live” in PP.  That’s God.

We arrive in L.A. Sat, 2 pm PST, and in Columbus around 5 am EST, Sunday morn. See you soon…