just read: Zealous Love

Today, I am posting a blog first. A book review for a book project I am proud to be part of. Yeah, I wrote a contributing article to the newly released book titled, Zealous Love: A practical guide to social justice. If you haven't read it and you want to know how to get involved, or what you could possibly do to help - I'd recommend you pick up a copy, take note of which stories move you to tears, and act on those emotions as a catalyst for change in our world.

It seems strange to be promoting a personal project, but when I was asked by the editors to contribute to this project I just couldn't resist. They were speaking a language close to my heart. The purpose of the book is to give Christian's who want to make a difference in the world a practical guide to do just that - provide others with ways to get involved and mobilize them through telling personal and compelling stories of ordinary individuals, like myself who are doing whatever they can, wherever God has placed them. If you read this blog, you would know it was an instant no-brainer. Yes, yes, triple-yes!

The book description provided by the publisher is below:

Zealous Love is a response to some of the world’s urgent needs in light of Christ’s great love. Through first-hand accounts and up-to-date facts about eight global issues, Zealous Love uniquely provides readers with the information, inspiration, and involvement they crave to personally make a difference in their world.

The book addresses the issues of human trafficking, access to clean water, hospitality and compassion for refugees, global hunger, lack of educational opportunities, environmental issues, HIV and AIDS, and poverty. Many of these issues I have written on many times on this blog.

The publisher has provided a place online to continue the dialogue started in this book. You can join the conversation here.

NOTE: I get zero proceeds from the sale of this book (with the exception of a couple of copies that I gave to my family who are my biggest cheerleaders in life). I contributed because it is something I am passionate about and was honored to be a part of.

no shirt, no shoes, no service

I was recently in an international airport waiting on a flight when a group of Budhist monks walked by. I live in a Budhist country so that isn't an uncommon sighting in my current life.

What caused me pause, is that they were inside and barefoot.

Monks are usually barefoot.

I just thought about those signs in the States that read, "no shirt, no shoes, no service." What if that was the policy on this side of the world? A shop keeper would be forced to turn away a monk.

Things that make you go, hmmm...

Another Khmer slip-up

My language skills have improved enough that I can make a bit of chit-chat in Khmer - nothing deep, just general conversation about activities with a few places where I get stuck because I don't know a word.

So, I was having a bit of chit-chat with my language teacher. We were working on using "better than" or "more than" in a sentence. That's when the trouble happened. I thought he said something was better than children. Better than children? That doesn't make any sense.

When this happens in my day-to-day life it is usually with someone who can't speak English any better than I speak Khmer. Communication errors abound in these instances. With my teacher I can stop him and say, "wait. did you just say...?"

S: Did you just say better than children?

T: No. I said movie.

In the sentence the word movie makes a lot more sense, but the khmer words sound so similar. children is "cone." Movie is "cun" (long u sound). When spoken it is hard to make a distinction between the two.

My neighbor Jenni is learning Khmer too. She does language study full-time so she is much farther along than I. I told her about my misunderstanding and she laughed. She confused the same words I had when she was early in her learning. Someone had told her they watched a movie, but she thought they said they had watched children. Her follow-up response was, "oh, what ages?" They just looked at her like she was crazy because the question didn't make any sense to them. Ha!

Thanks Jenni for sharing the story. It makes me feel better that it is a common mistake.

make new friends...

Do you remember that childhood song?

Make new friends, but keep the old

One is silver and the other gold

I've thought a lot about that lately. When I was living in Kansas City I had the best friends of my life - the best. I'd go over to their house for dinner often. We went to church together. We worked out together. We shared life together. I didn't have to explain my life history - they knew it as I knew theirs. Many of those friends have moved, many remain. I miss them. I miss having that kind of community. We are still in touch, but it's not the same as when we lived in the same city.

Living in North Carolina, it was difficult to build community. Why? Because I was never there. I would often joke that my job prevented any social life. When I'd meet someone I connected with just setting up a lunch date was a chore.

Potential New Friend: would you like to get together for lunch next week?

S: I can't. I'll be traveling for the next two weeks.

PNF: what about when you get back?

S: yeah, maybe we can do it then. I have four days in town this month, before I leave again.

I did make a few friends in Boone. One actually used to write my travel dates on her calendar. She'd pray for me when I traveled and she'd contact me to get together when I was home. What a gal! We would not have had the friendship we did if it had not been for her efforts.

I am making friends here in Cambodia. There is a group of ladies (they are all single) who I spend a lot of time with. You are probably wondering, "then why does this post have such a melancholy tone?" (maybe not those exact words, but something like that)

I am melancholy, because reality has recently set in. All of these ladies will be gone by June at latest. This life is full of transition. People are transient, temporary. They come for a season and then they go. I started to wonder if I even have energy to keep trying to make new friends. It's exhausting!

Then I saw this umbrella advertisement that reads: It all starts with hello.

I don't know why exactly, but it inspired me. There was a single gal from the UK who I've said hello to at church many times. I recently exchanged numbers with her and we got together for lunch. That first lunch isn't as comfortable as it would be with an old friend, but I have to keep trying. I must keep making new friends.

cash only

Cambodia is a cash based society - what that means to me is the only way to pay for things is by cash. At the local grocery or market, don't bother asking for a debit machine - cash only. Shopping at the motorbike shop, there is no financing - cash only. Eating at a restaurant, even with large groups - cash only.

There are a number of financial advisors in the States that recommend Americans go back to using cash to pay for things. I totally understand why they say that now. When using cash, you question whether or not to pay for something even if you have the money. Why? Because using your cash results in an unscheduled trip to the ATM, which is an investment of time that may or may not be worthwhile. I find myself weighing the cost of purchases more. Also, I find I comply more closely with my set budget. I may have a few hundred dollars in cash, but I know I have to pay rent and groceries from that money and I physically set that money aside for those bills. What's left is what's left. No room for impulse buys. The money I planned to save for that month stays safely in the bank. I also then have a clearer idea of how much I spend on what, it took more effort to track my debit card expenses because I wasn't paying as much attention to what I spent. I am not one to use credit cards for everyday expenses, nor have I accumulated any debt in my adult life (with the exception of home ownership). I didn't have a spending problem, but I do find spending cash a more cognizant way to handle my budget.

Don't think that just because I am forced to pay in cash that we aren't eating out from time-to-time, or that I don't indulge in some of the perks on living in Asia (tailored clothes, handmade shoes, and relaxing massages on every block). I do participate in these things, but it doesn't break the bank. I either have the money, or I don't. When we move back to the States I would like to continue this cash only trend, it really is good budgeting practice.