Nice Wall!!

Because of flooding the Roads are Higher than the flood plane. It is not abnormal to see the walls built before the building. Often the Walls are built before the dirt is brought in to raise the ground above the flood plane.


in many cases the only land that gets raised is where the buildings are... so all a wall is good for is marking the property lines.
How often have you seen someone ride a bike under a brick wall?

What's Cambodia like?

A friend from Colorado asked, "So how is Cambodia?" The following is the short answer:

Cambodia is... Cambodia, Phnom Penh is not most of Cambodia.

It is highly influenced by the west. It is very different than the west.

There is as much work as you will take on. It is slower paced.

Many things cost less. Many things cost more, Some cost the same.

We love the guys here! The guys can drive us crazy! They are all great guys.

You can find most things. You have to learn where to find things.

Not knowing the language is not really a problem. I look forward to knowing the language.

The drivers here drive crazy. The drivers here are more aware.

Plants grow on everything. A large stretch of grass is hard to find.

Cambodians are very diverse. White people all look the same.

I'm glad I can fix most things myself. Labor is so cheap I should hire it all out.

Your neighbor won't complain if your trashcan is on the curb for a week.There is trash always strewn on the sidewalks.

Bottled water is cheep. Don't drink from the tap.

There is poverty everywhere. We are making a difference.

Our boys are doing great. Our boys get tired of new things.

I have seen things here that are awesome. I have seen things here that break my heart.

I have become more aware of the plight of truly poor people. I have had to become detached from that which I can not change.

Life can be hard. Our job is our life. Our job is fun.

To sum it all up with a Cambodian phrase... SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT!



As I wrote this it became very apparent that I am staring into a PARADOX.... of me in Cambodia. If at any point it seams contradictory and or confusing you have experienced a little bit of Cambodia. If you look at Cambodia from a Western eye it can be very confusing. But taken in context with the cultural, religious, past, and present influences, it all makes sense.

With all that said Cambodia is great and I would do it all over again in a heart-beat.

Help me Jerrod!!!

We have been very busy, but I suppose that is no change. We are still getting to know the guys better and better. Every time we think we are as emotionally involved as possible we find another way to be attached. Now that all the staff at the school is back from summer vacation, we have been slowly getting to know them to. Lots of great people with great hearts. It’s encouraging to know that there are so many people to love on the guys here. We have also been blessed by having people on our prayer support team specifically committed to pray for one boy. Over half the boys have regular prayer now. We pray that the rest will be blessed in the same way.

It has been 5 months now and I (Joe) have encountered some of the lower parts of the transition process. It has been good to have gotten to know the city better before this came. I have been having a hard time getting sleep. I miss Subway. Mmmmmm… Subway. I took for granted the comfort I received from knowing what my food was going to taste like before I put it in my mouth. I DO MISS a good sandwich. I’m going to have to start a sandwich shop just so I can eat a yummy sandwich. I do believe I have found a new purpose in my life. I will single handedly bringing the gospel to Cambodia through sandwiches… :) I shall dub it the “Sandwich Crusade”. OR NOT!!! :)