This week we experienced a new for us in Cambodia: Josh went on his first overnight village trip. I wish we could say that these will be rare, but until we can move until a village, Josh will have to leave to make trips  into villages to do phonology work. We’re so thankful that he’s been able to do the last several months of work from home. Our prayer is that we can move into a village by the end of this year so that we can be together as a family when Josh begins working on translation projects. (Yes, I’m very thankful I’m not married to an accountant, traveling business man, etc.)

One gift I want to give our kids is memories of fun-filled times when Daddy has to be away. We’re sad to see him go and we miss him, but I want to create an atmosphere of joy and not dread. (I have good memories of fun times we had when my Dad had to be away.) This is pretty easy, since our kids get excited about little things, as long as I make it special.

When Josh left, the kids were excited. They told him we were going to have so much fun that he wouldn’t want to leave again. Isaiah immediately sat on the couch and wanted to pray with me (since he was filling in for Daddy). We had hot chocolate for breakfast (we were freezing at 66 degrees!). We had special snacks and did some fun activities.

After Isaiah fell to sleep, Becca emerged from their room so Becca and I could have a special sleep-over. We made fun memories. And we were delighted when Daddy came home!

Josh had a very profitable time in the Kachok village named In. He worked with the father of the village leader, a man whose Khmer and Kachok were very clear. They accomplished everything Josh was hoping to get done on the trip. It was an encouraging trip for Josh. Below are a picture of the house Josh stayed in (it was built by a missionary who works in the village) and some pictures of the man he worked with, showing off the backpack baskets that he weaves.