Last month we traveled to Phnom Penh for Micah’s birth. We packed up our house the first week of November and left our home on the afternoon of November 5th and travel to Stung Treng and spent the evening visiting with our friends. (No pictures from our time there.)
The next day we made the rest of the trip to Phnom Penh and arrived at the CMA Family Home late afternoon. The next evening – Saturday the 7th – we attended the CMA Thanksgiving get together. We had a lovely evening with everyone and enjoyed lots of festive foods.
While in Phnom Penh, our kids were able to take daily Khmer lessons with some friends of ours. We are very thankful for this opportunity they had for about four weeks. Anna was able to spend an afternoon at a Vietnamese school where our friend was teaching the kindergarten class Khmer. Anna loved it!
There were many great things about being in Phnom Penh versus Bangkok for the birth: we saved money (not needing taxis, transportation, visas, food, etc), we knew the language and culture, we’re were able to get lots of errands done (including some needed car repairs and another seatbelt added), and more I can’t think of right now. Our accommodations were perfect – two joining bedrooms with two bathrooms and a kitchen, access to two other kitchens, access to two large common rooms – one of which we could spread out in since there were usually no other guests, plus a large area to play outside. The staff was lovely. The ladies were so helpful and kind to our family and would lend a hand whenever they saw I needed help. They were also very interested in anything I did with Micah and would stop to watch me bathe him, etc.
But the best things of all was being in a place where we knew people and had friends. In Bangkok we knew no one and we’re on our own. In Phnom Penh we had a community of other ministry families – many of whom we didn’t even know that well. I had loads of face-to-face English conversations with other ladies…probably more than I’ve had all year. It was refreshing.
Being at the CMA meant we got to visit with other missionaries passing through. We also got to have a meal with the Whitaker family (pastor of the international church we attended when in Phnom Penh), ending with a Christmas carol/song sing together.
In Phnom Penh, one of my closest friends in Cambodia lived a stone’s throw away from where we were staying and our kids could play almost everyday together. Our girls were so happy to have friends. I was so happy to get extra time with Ayra. We made Christmas cookies together with our kids, chatted, prayed together – I was spoiled.
The CMA family put together a meal train for us after Micah’s birth and provided us meals for about two weeks – it was amazing! I felt so spoiled. One friend even came and made pizza with the kids.
To sum it up, we were very blessed by being surrounded by people who are all apart of our family in Christ. We’re so thankful – so blessed. Note – all pictures were taken after Micah’s birth.
Just talked to Joshua on the telephone! It makes these pictures even MORE special! Thank you dear ones in Cambodia!!!!
Love all of this! So glad you had such great community