Here's the FB link to my pics.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=116625&id=522107441&l=19199cb414
Monday, June 29, 2009
Phnom Penh--a city of contrasts!
I've been here close to a week and the thing that has been most firmly impressed upon me is the stark contrasts here in Phnom Penh. If I can ever get Facebook to work I'll upload some pics so you can all see what I mean. There are huge ornate houses, new malls and banks right next to shacks up on stilts and motorcycle-drawn carts with people riding on them, 20 plus people piled into the back of a truck, people wearing fancy clothes, monks, nuns, homeless kids begging, trash on the side of the road, pollution enough to make you sick, literally. It's quite incredible. I've heard that outside of Phnom Penh they're just mostly poor and there isn't the contrast of western society mixed with a third world country. I look forward to seeing what it's like in other areas.
We've been doing some language study, just some basics for introductions and getting around, going to the market, that kind of stuff. You can't get very far in 5 weeks when you're doing lots of other stuff. We've been around the city to see some different things, an old prison/torture camp in the city that has been turned into a memorial museum, a temple, the new mall they just built last year, which is very impressive and we've hung out with some Kamai (Cambodians) several times, they all go to CMA churches here in Phnom Penh. We've had some great exposure to the culture and I have really appreciated the times when we've been able to go out with the Kamai because you get an inside perspective on stuff. I have always thought that the best way to learn about a country is from a national, and it rings true here, of course!
There will be a team arriving from Canada on Friday to help with the English camp that starts a week from today. We will be in charge of leading the teams and helping teach at the English camp. The week of the 14th we will be going down to the gulf of Thailand for Field Forum, all the CMA missionaries come together for an annual conference. Apparently I'll be working with the kids from 6-12ish I think, in the afternoons at least, I'm not sure what we're doing in the mornings. Then the week before I come home, so about July 26th through August 2nd we will be up in Siem Reap doing an english camp there. I'm not sure if we'll be going to visit any other missionaries while we're here, or not, I hope we'll get a bit of a chance to see some ministries outside of the city, we'll see.
We went to a CMA church in Phnom Penh yesterday, which was neat, they have a Kamai pastor and a decent sized congregation, I think there were close to 50 people, that's just a guess though, they also have a great youth/young people's group on Sunday afternoon that we went to and I was impressed especially by how many guys were there, it was very encouraging.
The Lobbezoos are coming back today and we're having dinner with them this evening, so I'm hopeful I'll find out some more stuff soon. I get along pretty well with Jackie and Caitlin, they are the two girls that I'm with, Jackie is the other GVer and Caity is an intern here for the summer. I have realized though that, other than being within a few years age wise, worshiping the same God and having a heart for missions, I don't have much in common with them. It's not a bad thing, it's just a bit hard. I had gotten used to being a bit alone in Greece and then I had this burst of kindreds in the Philippines and it's kinda hard to go back to being a bit alone again, but it's ok, I need to remember that God is enough.
Please pray for my health, I'm having some irritated skin issues, some eczema and rashing on my arms, I'm not sure if the rash is from sweating in the heat and chafing or what. My digestive system isn't very happy with me either, but I think it's just the massive amounts of MSG that I'm never quite sure is in something or not. Other than that I'm doing fine physically, just a little tired from time to time, but I'm not dealing with jet lag or anything, so that's nice.
The people here are very warm and friendly, easy to fall in love with. I know I will enjoy being here and it will be a bit hard to leave for the love of the Kamai, but I also know I will be very ready to come home!
I got my birthday package from home the day I arrived here, there was a pack of over 125 Encouragement card from my church and a few b-day cards as well. I did the math and decided to read 6 each day until my birthday and it has been so uplifting each evening to read notes from home, so thanks to everyone who sent something, it's been a huge blessing.
Please pray for endurance, and that I would lean on the Lord for my strength. Please pray that my eczema and rashes would clear up and that I would be able to eat things that won't irritate my digestive system. Pray for my growth, that I would learn what God has for me to learn here. And please continue to pray for my finances. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Blessings,
Naomi
We've been doing some language study, just some basics for introductions and getting around, going to the market, that kind of stuff. You can't get very far in 5 weeks when you're doing lots of other stuff. We've been around the city to see some different things, an old prison/torture camp in the city that has been turned into a memorial museum, a temple, the new mall they just built last year, which is very impressive and we've hung out with some Kamai (Cambodians) several times, they all go to CMA churches here in Phnom Penh. We've had some great exposure to the culture and I have really appreciated the times when we've been able to go out with the Kamai because you get an inside perspective on stuff. I have always thought that the best way to learn about a country is from a national, and it rings true here, of course!
There will be a team arriving from Canada on Friday to help with the English camp that starts a week from today. We will be in charge of leading the teams and helping teach at the English camp. The week of the 14th we will be going down to the gulf of Thailand for Field Forum, all the CMA missionaries come together for an annual conference. Apparently I'll be working with the kids from 6-12ish I think, in the afternoons at least, I'm not sure what we're doing in the mornings. Then the week before I come home, so about July 26th through August 2nd we will be up in Siem Reap doing an english camp there. I'm not sure if we'll be going to visit any other missionaries while we're here, or not, I hope we'll get a bit of a chance to see some ministries outside of the city, we'll see.
We went to a CMA church in Phnom Penh yesterday, which was neat, they have a Kamai pastor and a decent sized congregation, I think there were close to 50 people, that's just a guess though, they also have a great youth/young people's group on Sunday afternoon that we went to and I was impressed especially by how many guys were there, it was very encouraging.
The Lobbezoos are coming back today and we're having dinner with them this evening, so I'm hopeful I'll find out some more stuff soon. I get along pretty well with Jackie and Caitlin, they are the two girls that I'm with, Jackie is the other GVer and Caity is an intern here for the summer. I have realized though that, other than being within a few years age wise, worshiping the same God and having a heart for missions, I don't have much in common with them. It's not a bad thing, it's just a bit hard. I had gotten used to being a bit alone in Greece and then I had this burst of kindreds in the Philippines and it's kinda hard to go back to being a bit alone again, but it's ok, I need to remember that God is enough.
Please pray for my health, I'm having some irritated skin issues, some eczema and rashing on my arms, I'm not sure if the rash is from sweating in the heat and chafing or what. My digestive system isn't very happy with me either, but I think it's just the massive amounts of MSG that I'm never quite sure is in something or not. Other than that I'm doing fine physically, just a little tired from time to time, but I'm not dealing with jet lag or anything, so that's nice.
The people here are very warm and friendly, easy to fall in love with. I know I will enjoy being here and it will be a bit hard to leave for the love of the Kamai, but I also know I will be very ready to come home!
I got my birthday package from home the day I arrived here, there was a pack of over 125 Encouragement card from my church and a few b-day cards as well. I did the math and decided to read 6 each day until my birthday and it has been so uplifting each evening to read notes from home, so thanks to everyone who sent something, it's been a huge blessing.
Please pray for endurance, and that I would lean on the Lord for my strength. Please pray that my eczema and rashes would clear up and that I would be able to eat things that won't irritate my digestive system. Pray for my growth, that I would learn what God has for me to learn here. And please continue to pray for my finances. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Blessings,
Naomi
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
So long to the Philippines, for a while at least.
Hi everyone,
I'm heading to the airport in a couple hours, I didn't get much sleep last night as I was on night shift, so hopefully I'll sleep on the plane some. I saw only 2 births while I was here, but I also saw several labors and a couple of post partums, which is all good, need to be well rounded! I was just thinking last night, as I was going over charts with Janelle, how very much I've learned this week about everything, i understand sooo much more than I did a week ago. I'm quite sure that I want to come here for school. I'm praying that God will provide and that everything will come together well for it. I have a list from the girls of classes that it'd be good to take before I come here and they all suggested I do as many book reports as possible before I come to lighten my work load while I'm here. I've also been told that I'll be very likely to get accepted since I've come for a visit, so that's encouraging.
I'll be in Cambodia for 5 1/2 weeks, I know we're doing 2 English camps and the field forum, a conference for all the CMA missionaries in the country, Jackie and I will be hanging out with the kids. Other than that I haven't heard much, hopefully I'll find out more when I get there. Please pray for good team dynamics, there are a lot of people coming for parts of the summer and there's a lot going on.
Thanks for your prayers and support and e-mails, even if I don't write back it is so encouraging to get notes from you guys. Please continue to pray for my finances, that God would provide in His perfect time. Please pray for endurance for this last third of my trip. I miss home, not a deep aching missing, but I find myself thinking of home and friends and family often, it will be good to come home in August.
Blessings,
Naomi
I'm heading to the airport in a couple hours, I didn't get much sleep last night as I was on night shift, so hopefully I'll sleep on the plane some. I saw only 2 births while I was here, but I also saw several labors and a couple of post partums, which is all good, need to be well rounded! I was just thinking last night, as I was going over charts with Janelle, how very much I've learned this week about everything, i understand sooo much more than I did a week ago. I'm quite sure that I want to come here for school. I'm praying that God will provide and that everything will come together well for it. I have a list from the girls of classes that it'd be good to take before I come here and they all suggested I do as many book reports as possible before I come to lighten my work load while I'm here. I've also been told that I'll be very likely to get accepted since I've come for a visit, so that's encouraging.
I'll be in Cambodia for 5 1/2 weeks, I know we're doing 2 English camps and the field forum, a conference for all the CMA missionaries in the country, Jackie and I will be hanging out with the kids. Other than that I haven't heard much, hopefully I'll find out more when I get there. Please pray for good team dynamics, there are a lot of people coming for parts of the summer and there's a lot going on.
Thanks for your prayers and support and e-mails, even if I don't write back it is so encouraging to get notes from you guys. Please continue to pray for my finances, that God would provide in His perfect time. Please pray for endurance for this last third of my trip. I miss home, not a deep aching missing, but I find myself thinking of home and friends and family often, it will be good to come home in August.
Blessings,
Naomi
Friday, June 19, 2009
new pics and an update from the Philippines.
I got to see my first birth yesterday!!! It was absolutely amazing. I'm 99% sure that I want to come here next year to study. The staff are amazing and the workload and everything is such that it will definitely stick in my head. It won't be easy though, that's for sure. Please continue to pray that God would make His perfect will very clear and that He would provide for where He leads. Also, my atm card worked yesterday, PTL.
Blessings,
Naomi
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=114105&id=522107441&l=b244e58762
Blessings,
Naomi
Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=114105&id=522107441&l=b244e58762
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I'm in the Philippines!
Hi everyone, I've been in the Philippines for three days but I just got to the school yesterday. I got a short tour of the houses and the clinic yesterday and then Janelle and I went shopping and made dinner and took a walk in the rain, which was probably the best part of the day. :) I went to an outreach clinic this morning in another neighborhood, they do prenatals, blood tests and listen to the baby's heart beat. Then this afternoon I did swing shift, 2-10, with the girls in the birthroom, we had a couple ladies come in but there weren't any births, so I still haven't seen a birth yet. But, I will be in the birthroom for three or four more shifts, so I should get to see a few. I've had a great time catching up with Janelle and hearing about midwifery and it's been great to talk to the girls and get their opinions and advice and stuff, lots of good things to think about. The consensus seems to be that it's a really hard 2 years but it's totally worth it. I'm waiting to "decide" until I see a bit more and have a chance to observe more, but I'm pretty much sold on coming to school here, however I'm still asking the Lord for wisdom and trying to stay open.
Thanks for your prayers, please pray for direction and that I'd get to see a few births and that my atm card would work. :)
Blessings,
Naomi
Thanks for your prayers, please pray for direction and that I'd get to see a few births and that my atm card would work. :)
Blessings,
Naomi
Sunday, June 14, 2009
On the "road" again!
Hi friends,
I'm leaving Greece today. :( It has been a wonderful 6 weeks, the speakers and life lessons have built on the foundation that was already laid, so I am confident that it will all stick well.
I'm doing some running around in Athens this morning and then my flight leaves this afternoon around 2, I have 2 long layovers and I will get to the midwifery school early Wednesday morning. I am very excited about this leg of my trip. My prayer, and I would ask you to join me in praying, is that I would sense God's clear leading as to whether this is what He wants me to pursue right now.
In a week and a half I'll be in Cambodia, I still don't know anything more about what I'll be doing or where I'll be most of the time, but I'm sure it will all come together.
The 2 biggest lessons that I took away from our sailing trip was the continued need to let my plans rest in God's hands and not feel like I always have to be in control, that it's better not to freak out because it never helps. And that I need to submit to my brothers and sisters in Christ in love and not always have to be right. These weren't lessons I learned only on the boat, God had been teaching me them before, but they were driven home while sailing.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. A quick update on my financial situation, at least what I know of it, the Lord provided close to $2,000 last month, so I'm a lot closer to having all I need.
Blessings,
Naomi
I'm leaving Greece today. :( It has been a wonderful 6 weeks, the speakers and life lessons have built on the foundation that was already laid, so I am confident that it will all stick well.
I'm doing some running around in Athens this morning and then my flight leaves this afternoon around 2, I have 2 long layovers and I will get to the midwifery school early Wednesday morning. I am very excited about this leg of my trip. My prayer, and I would ask you to join me in praying, is that I would sense God's clear leading as to whether this is what He wants me to pursue right now.
In a week and a half I'll be in Cambodia, I still don't know anything more about what I'll be doing or where I'll be most of the time, but I'm sure it will all come together.
The 2 biggest lessons that I took away from our sailing trip was the continued need to let my plans rest in God's hands and not feel like I always have to be in control, that it's better not to freak out because it never helps. And that I need to submit to my brothers and sisters in Christ in love and not always have to be right. These weren't lessons I learned only on the boat, God had been teaching me them before, but they were driven home while sailing.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. A quick update on my financial situation, at least what I know of it, the Lord provided close to $2,000 last month, so I'm a lot closer to having all I need.
Blessings,
Naomi
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