We arrived after a smooth flight at the Phnom Penh airport around 10:30am, and just from the runway you could tell that this city was completely different from the last places we'd been. No tall buildings in sight, no freeways that we could see, just grass, trees, a few wooden buildings, and the terminal building, which is definitely sufficient but nothing fancy. We had no trouble getting through customs, and even though we forgot to bring along the passport photos for our visas here, we simply paid an extra dollar each and came through with no problems! Maybe next time we'll forget too!
All eight of the bags we checked appeared on the luggage carousel, and after getting a couple of carts loaded with them, we met Chheng outside, waiting with the van. We are so grateful that he was willing to interrupt his teaching schedule to pick us up at the airport. We drove through town, stopping first at KFC (no McDonald's in Cambodia!) for some chicken nuggets. Although we were so close to hitting a motorcycle that whizzed in front of our bus, we arrived at Chheng's house with no troubles. He recently built a guest room onto the side of his house, and that's where we're staying. It is complete with a spacious bathroom, and even an A/C on the wall, which we don't use during the day, but it does cut the heat a bit in the evening. As you can see, we are so well taken care of. We walked over to the church to meet the students and look around. They all seem so very gracious and so happy to be here at the PATC.
Soda, Chheng's son, and his wife Allyson were here with us for several hours, as their flight back to the US didn't leave until midnight, so Allyson oriented me on the English classes and some other household details. Sophorn served us pork and rice for dinner, which we enjoyed. I think we'll be having a lot of rice here, and I'm hoping the kids can learn how to eat it without dropping it on the floor…sticky, Khmer-style rice doesn't sweep off the floor very well! I'm glad they like it though! She also served us some fish – just grilled fish. Imagine taking a fish out of water and putting it right on the grill (dead of course). After it has a nice blackened look, you put it on the serving plate! I wasn't too sure about it, but Thomas accepted the offer for fish with a polite, "Yes, please, I would like some fish." We'll here we go! What do I do? Allyson showed me that you just pick the flesh off the bones with a fork, and before long, Daniel and Thomas and I were eating fish. Really not a big deal!
Our first day here went well, and we are glad to be here. I must say I am a little uneasy about it all, I think mostly because it is so unknown…the food, the places, the people. As we rode to the house earlier today, I felt desperate for the Lord to fill us with His presence, His power, and His peace as we try to work for His glory here. We just won't be able to do a thing unless He empowers us, and I am certainly feeling weak. But His power is perfected in weakness.
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