the luxury of a library

Do you consider having a library in your town, easily accessible to you or your kids, as a luxury? Well, it is.

I have memories as a kid going to the library to check out books and hear stories being read. I have memories in high school of going to the library to check out resource books. I have memories in college of using the library for internet access and all of the above. Having access to a library is an incredible luxury.

I have only seen one library since moving to Cambodia. This picture is of the sign outside. The library is housed in a small shop. The books are donated. It is funded by an NGO. It is staffed by national volunteers. Every time I have stopped by there are kids doing puzzles or playing with blocks. I love the idea.

If you have a library in your town, appreciate it for the gift that it is. Like me, do you have memories at a library?Imagine how your life would be different if something like a library didn't even exist. It is just one of the many luxuries I took for granted in my old life, but the perspective offered in my new life has helped me to appreciate such gifts.

now I know why they are called care packages

Kenyon and I have been the grateful recipients of a few care packages recently. Some were sent at Christmas time and only one has arrived by mail from the Jones family (sorry to those who sent one and they have not been received, we keep hoping it will arrive soon).

The others came in Bob's luggage from my family. Whatever the form, I now know why they are called "care packages." Receiving little gifts from home is wonderful. It makes us feel cared for to get something as simple as some familiar candy or snacks.

Not that I really thought about it before, but I now know why they are called "care packages." Thank you to those who sent them (even if they did not arrive), we appreciate the care that went in to creating them from the other side of the world.

women's group

Recently, I posted about a women's group I met with. This is a picture of my favorite lady from that group. I love her face. I love her smile. I bet she has seen some things in her time. I wish I could have a conversation with her, but alas, my language skills (or lack of) make that impossible. I don't even know her name, but I will forever remember her face and story of God's faithfulness in her life.

spiders: a cambodian delicacy

On a recent trip to one of the provinces we stopped at a roadside pit-stop/cafe. I saw a big bowl full of one of Cambodia's delicacies. What's that? Spiders. I haven't eaten one myself, but it was interesting to see as it isn't likely I would see such a thing at a roadside stop in the States.

If you were here, would you eat a spider? Alive they look like tarantulas. I just don't get in to eating weird things for the sake of the experience.

child safe zone

Just off one of the major streets in Phnom Penh is a community of families struggling to get by. I've mentioned before that people here work hard, usually six days per week. One of the problems with all this work is what to do with the kids while they are at work. Often children are left alone with no supervision. We have been working with church partners to provide a safe place for kids while their parents are at work. We provide training for community volunteers who eventually oversee the place. We provide toys and educational materials. We find church partners who are motivated to help their community struggle upward. These photos are from a recent visit to one of our child safe zone locations.