Never would this be legal in the states

Imagine, a sweet innocent small cambodian child standing on the side of the road. Our first thoughts are "get that child away from the road, they could get hurt. " But I soon realized that it was I that needed the protection not the child. As we slowly approach either on moto's or the back of a truck, I see this child's face change from innocense to pure determination, as his arm reaches far behind his head and his whole body is in motion, pitches a fast ball aimed for your head. You feel a sting and a gush of water as the balloon sack explodes on your face. At that moment you learn to be aware and take cover when you see a sweet innocent child with their arms crossed behind their bodies. Not only aware of flying water sacks but also buckets, baby powder and air soft bebe guns that feel like a bee sting when shot. That is what it has been like this past week in Cambodia. It is the celebration of the New Year here, which is only one day, but they have turned the holiday into a week's worth of water fights. Especially being white here, makes me a huge target. I have also learned that the reason that the teenagers love this week so much is because it is the one time a year that they get to touch a girls face and vice versa with the baby powder. This next week I will start my language studies and start in on some ministries. A few of the ministries will be working with a huge orphanage, teaching a cooking class at a restaurant that supports single women and children, and hopefully coaching a girls soccer team. The base here is wonderful, full of students and ministry opportunities. But it is definately hot. We are in the middle of our hottest season.
Please pray that I will pick up the langauge quickly. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support.

Ok sorry about the sideways picture but I am really new at this whole blogger thing. So this picture has nothing to do with this blogg entry but he is so handsome and I miss him. (He is the boy that was given to me many years ago and I took him to an orphanage and his mother came to know the Lord before she left. And his name is Ewdom but they gave him the last name Smith because I was white and I had brought him to the orphanage. Years later he was adopted by a family in Italy and I got to meet them before they took him away.) But anyways back to the blogg. I arrived safely but had a crazy traveling adventure that has me wandering the streets of honolulu with a stranger for hours in the middle of the night, because my housing contact fell through at the last minute. But through all of the other things that went wrong I saw the lords faithfulness. After many days of traveling I safely reached Battambang Cambodia. And let me tell you that is is HOT! You are thick with sweat all day. There is no point in a shower but I still take them. The base here is incredible and what God is doing. It is a place of Joy and is constantly filled with young people. It's all about relationships here and many are coming to know the Lord and are ready to get discipled. The staff are solid here and many of them can speak the language. Right now it is a huge holiday for Cambodia. It is there new year and it it lasts all week. So many things are closing down and also many do not leave their houses because you will get pelted with water balloons and powder. Pray that the traditions of temple and idolworship that happens alot this week will be broken down and that there would be protection over this city this next week.

Whoa I'm On My Way! Watch Out!


Well I am learning bit by bit on how to use this whole computer thing. So I just learned how to take a picture and place it on my blog. Many of you know that right now I look nothing like that picture. Well you are right, it is because it is from an outreach that I led in 2002 to cambodia. But I just wanted to show you how I feel through a picture. That expression is excitement. I spent this past weekend in puyallup, wa. It was a birthday weekend for my 2 brothers and my dad, as well as a time for me to say goodbye to them and also see my extended family. I had a wonderful time. On Sunday I said goodbye to my parents and had a time of prayer. But emotion hit later on in the night. When my parents got home, my dad went into my room and did not realize that I had cleared out all my clothes and had cleaned the room throughly. So my smell was gone and any trace that I lived in there was gone. It started a emotional moment. And then on my end I found a sweet card hiding in one of my books, it made me cry in saddness because I was leaving as well as a mix of emotion of excitement for this next adventure and an appreciation of being blessed with such supportive parents. I love them so much. Also if all of you could pray one of myh flights is on Aloha airlines and Aloha just went bankrupt so I am trying to communicate with them to get things fixed and back on track. As well as preparing to leave and all the small details that goes along with it. I will continue to up date this blog. I love you all and thanks.

In Him,
Anna

Phil 4:4-9