Forgot to mention that for the beach volleyball tournament finals which I missed, my team came in champion! :D For that we each got a pair of Killer Loop shades, a gold medal, and cash prize! Anyways, here continues my Cambodia experience:

13-14 Dec, Tuesday - Wednesday
We passed by more padi fields today, some like a golden sea because it's harvesting season. And I really got to see for myself how kampong life is like, with all the pigs, wild chickens and ducks, cows, buffaloes, dogs and such.

So for the second and third day the routine was the same as that of the first, reading prescriptions and dispensing medicine, except that this time round, I went to work armed with balloons. I realised there are quite a number of child patients, and most of the time they enter the makeshift clinic/hut with trepidation. So thus began my part time job as a balloon sculpturer. I tell you I wouldn't exchange anything in the world to see the shy smiles on the children's faces when I give them the balloon flowers, balloon swords, balloon swans, balloon dogs, whichever it was. Balloons are such a rarity in the village! Everything is so dull there, so brown, including the children - their skin, their clothes, and they run around barefooted. Any bright colours, though stark in contrast, attract the children's attention immediately. It seems balloons add colour to their life, literally. And metaphorically. They simply love balloons! :D

And for today I added more vocab to my meagre knowledge of the Khmer language! All credit goes to the new friends I made! They're the youth volunteers from the church helping us out with taking blood pressure, body temperature and personal details of the villagers as they queue up. Ean, Watana, Ratanak, Socheat, Sreymom and Sayha, all older than me by 1-2 years. I really enjoyed talking to them, though it was more like chickens and ducks trying to communicate - difficult, but hilarious all the same! (Their English is like my Khmer, but only better.)

I wonder if I learn more Khmer, will I lose or forget what little I know of the Thai language? The translator actually exclaimed surprised at how fast I picked up Khmer! I can now (effectively!) explain to the Cambodian villagers the daily dosage of their medicine. :D It's quite simple, really. A gift from God, maybe? If so, it may unravel a little of His will for me. :)

And I think I'm getting used to toilets without flush in the village, if they're considered a proper toilet at all. They don't bother me as much any more, as compared to a year ago.

15 Dec, Thursday
We organised a Christmas concert for the 88 orphans of Hope Village today. I don't know what kind of effect we had on them, but the educational team, the teachers (for this trip there were 2 teams, the teachers and the doctors), managed to teach them all the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). For children whose only knowledge of English is numbers and alphabets, I must say that's quite a feat! Like what one of the teacher had said, it is our prayer that the seed has been planted in their hearts, but it's up the the Cambodian caretakers to bring them up in the Lord, because only the people understand their own language.

Here I must mention the mosquitoes! There are soooo many of them here it's scary. Especially when night falls, they attack in the veil of the dark. In swarms. The toilets are the worst. They lay in dark corners and with any movement they attack. It's like a ripple effect, everytime I push open a door, a seemingly ripple of mosquitoes will take flight. It's terrifying I tell you. I've got so many bites on my legs I think collectively I lost an ounce of blood. Such is the extremity of the situation.

16 Dec, Friday
The time has come for us to leave Hope Village. Our task is done, our mission complete. With reluctant hearts we left the province of Prey Veng, once again on the same bumpy ride to Phnom Penh. This time round the journey seemed shorter though, and more bearable.

That evening, we had 2 choices - it was either shopping or attending a Cambodian youth service in a church. And being one of the youngest on this trip, naturally I was "volunteered" to represent the team to attend. Much as I like shopping, I have no regrets attending the service! 'Cause I made more new friends! :D I really enjoy meeting youths from other countries and talking to them. After the sermon (in Khmer of which I only caught a word or two, otherwise pretending to understand), I had the chance to talk to some of the youths, and they're really nice and friendly! :D We had a few good laughs among other significant happenings (hehh) but time was too short because soon we had to leave. Managed to exchange emails though, and even took a picture with one of them on his cameraphone :D Ah but our meeting was shortlived. I was whisked away because we had a schedule to follow. I really hope to, want to know them more, know them better, but I guess, if God allows it, we'll meet again somehow, some day.

17 Dec, Saturday
So today we head back to Singapore. This trip has been so much more than what I expected it to be. I really thank God that He called me to this trip (till today I marvel at how He answered my prayer!) because I learned so much about myself. I really enjoy being around children, making them happy, and meeting new friends, talking to people of other nationalities, in both English and broken Khmer (if indeed language is my thing at all).

God has also opened my eyes to the field of medical missions, to the needs of the villagers so poor they've never been to any doctor their whole life. Physically they suffer from so many complications - we've seen AIDS, tuberculosis, pneumonia, uncontrollable bladders after childbirth, eye infections so severe it has to be taken out, a weird syndrome of the skin stretching till it hurts to even breathe, piles, blood infection, diabetes, so many so many - and spiritually they suffer even more. Only God can provide the healing they so desperately need. We are but the workers. Yet it is as said by Jesus, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matt 9:37). Much needs to be done, but there are not enough people to help these people.

After this trip, I am all the more affirmed about what I want to do in life. It gave me a clear goal to work towards.

Yet not my will, but Yours.

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