So, this is my third week in Cambodia and I am sure many people are anxious to hear how it has been. First of all I must say that I am impressed by the culture overall. There are many things that have exceeded my expectations including the little things we laugh about as a team such as waking up to the sound of roosters across the street.
Last week we visited Tuel Sleong and the Killing Fields that are historical sites that educate the public concerning the genocide that happened during the Pol Pot regime in the 70’s. It’s absolutely crazy how so many people were killed during this time and I, like so many other westerner’s never learned about it in school. Seeing these sites was critical in our understanding of the culture and the people though everyone here tries to forget about what happened.
Last weekend was also great! My team and I visited Siem Reap and were able to see the temples at Angkor Wat. They were originally intended to be Hindu temples but the Buddhists have since adopted them as their own. The magnitude and detail of the temples was absolutely mind boggling. It really raised my curiosity and I would love to read more about how these temples were built and the cultural significance they hold. They are the pride of Cambodia.
Despite having the opportunity to see such incredible sites, it is the little things about the culture that I treasure the most. Today for example, Mere and I decided to go get some fruit from the market after lunch and it began to downpour. We ran across the street with a pancho covering both of our heads and made it to the market. We walked inside and everything is so natural. There were butcher stands with slabs of meat on a table and meat hanging from a rope that we would dodge as we stepped through dirty puddles.
We finally found the fruit stand and were able to communicate how much we wanted of each fruit in K’mai and made a successful transaction! It is the simple things like this that really bring me joy and make me feel like I’m slowly making the culture that I knew nearly nothing about several months ago my own!
Ministry update: We will be attending MST again tonight. This weekend is the water festival here in Cambodia so we will probably be encountering more tourists. Please pray for divine appointments and that seeds would be planted in the hearts of everyone we encounter. Blessings!
We’re thrilled that your first 3 weeks have gone so well, Amarja.
you’ve done so much in a few short weeks! Do you love the markets?