With the holidays in full swing, Monday the streets were quiet...
This soon changed as the news that King Norodom Sihanouk died in Beijing,China. He was 89 years old and died of a heart attack. The Cambodian people view him as a very compassionate man. He helped the country gain independence from France. Unfortunately he also provided legitimacy for the Khmer Rouge and all the carnage and devastation that brought. The people view King Sihanouk as an advocate for the plight of the poor and powerless. He was loved very much. He began his reign in 1941 and left Cambodia 2004. His ballet instructor son, King Norodom Sihamoni, took the throne at that time. He is 59 years old and pretty laid back. He does not get involved in the plight of the people. I do not understand the purpose of having royalty but it is very important to the Cambodian people. The government is headed by a Prime Minister. In Cambodia it is Mr. Hun Sen. With the death of King Sihanouk some people fear the government and its potential burdensome power. King Sihanouk's son is not married and will probably never marry, thus there is no heir to pass the crown to.
Wednesday King Norodom Sihanouk's body was flown back to Cambodia. Viewings will last for the next 3 months. He will then be cremated. We had planned to visit the Royal Palace Wednesday. With the king's death that plan was squelched. People that had gone to their homelands for the holidays came home early. The stores were full of people stocking up on needed supplies because businesses by afternoon would shut down in respect to the king. All roads leading to and surrounding the Royal Palace were closed to traffic. People dressed in black and white and wearing black and white ribbons congregated along the streets that are on route to the Royal Palace. I spoke with some of our PEF students a few days after the kings body arrived. They reported they had waited up to five hours to view the king's body pass by them. Several said that their trips home were at a snails crawl often taking three hours to return home. Normally the trip home would take minutes, not hours to travel. We have been told that the Water Festival in November has been cancelled because it falls during the three month mourning period. I do not know the extent for the "no celebrations" rule during this time period. I asked about weddings but the people I asked could not understand what I was wanting to know. Like Dale said, most of the population here has never experienced a King dying before. They probably do not know all that is required either. Interesting days ahead.
Monday morning we passed by Mr.Youra a tuk tuk driver we see every day on our walk to work. It was a slow morning and he had his daughter with him. I think he was tending her while his wife set up her shop.
This is his wife's shop that is set up and taken down each day. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next months because there has been much construction work going on behind her booth. The market is expanding and we wonder if she will eventually have one of the shop rooms that will soon be available or if she will lose her corner spot. The market rooms are about the size of a small walk in closet.
In the afternoon Mr. Youra had his son. We were able to meet his wife also and his sister who speaks some English. We were so impressed with the wonderful supportive family they have. His tuk tuk is stationed about half way between our office and our apartment so we have never used his services. He is just one of the regular neighborhood people we greet each day. If we didn't already have our regular driver we would probably call for his services. Perhaps one day we will give him a call.
Elder and Sister Rhyne invited us to join them for dinner with three of their Vietnamese Family History helpers. We had rice, chicken, vegetables and gravy. By request we had bananas and pancakes for dessert. After dinner Elder and Sister Rhyne gave a lesson on the importance of seeking to find our ancestors and then we shared our testimonies. It was a special evening. In a couple of weeks we have been invited to join the group again for a games evening.
Sister Rhyne, Sister Bui Mai, Sister Han and Brother ?
During a quiet moment we realized we had not taken a photo of our apartment from a distance. So this is what it looks like a block away.
This is the entrance to our apartment complex. The window directly above the Gold 1 sign is our living room window and to the right is our bedroom window. On the left is the stairway windows. If you look closely there are stairs in the center of the entry way. They lead to the first floor. There is major construction happening on that level. Apparently someone is either renting or purchasing the first floor area and will open a small cosmetic hospital. We were told it would be completed in another month. It should be interesting to see what traffic this brings.
This weekend was fantastic. What a spiritual feast we had with conference. Anyone who has not viewed conference can do so by going to the official church website lds.org and click on General Conference. The changing in age for young men to serve missions at age 18 and young women at age 19 has our young people rethinking their future plans for starting school.
We had a potluck lunch with the Senior couples between sessions. There was great company and great food. Sister Tuck baked chocolate cupcakes and Sister James helped frost them. Yum!
Elder James, Johnson, Tuck, Meier and Spencer waiting to be called to the table.
Sister Johnson (near the stove), Sister Henderson (left) and Sister Westover (right).
We were at the Westover's apartment. It is an older apartment, but has a nice layout and is somewhat spacious.
Elder Westover (front) and Elder Henderson (right) also waiting for the dinner call.
Kunthy is Elder and Sister Spencer's translator. She is also one of our PEF students. She served a mission in Washington State in such unknown places like Camano Island, Everett, Lake Stevens, and Bellingham. She was very excited to talk to us about these places. She said we made her miss her mission.
Notice she is wearing a black ribbon on her blouse in honor of the king.
On Friday we had training via Skype concerning the Perpetual Education Fund program. It is being changed. It will go through a gradual transition phase. Cambodia will be one of the last countries to fully be on board with the new plans. We will have a paid in country employee oversee the program with Senior missionaries as volunteer workers. We will have a set budget allocated for loans per year. Not as many loans will be distributed. There will be a stronger emphasis on vocational training. It will be called the Self Reliance Program. There will be alternative ways to pay off loans. We will eventually be working with NGO groups in the country and seeking available scholarships and grants to supplement loans from the church. At the present time loans are calculated to be paid off in 8 years. With the new plan loans will be paid off in 1-3 years. Age will no longer be a factor in who receives loans, however, high priority will be towards return missionaries. We already have our in country employee hired. He will be moving into our building in the next week or two. He needs to have internet set up. We believe that there are many positives to the new plan. We are looking forward to the coming months to assist and watch these new plans begin to unfold.
The women love their high heels. It is crazy to watch them driving their motos wearing these, but they do it.
Heang Channath and Elder Meier.
Channath graduated from culinary school and came in today with her certificate. She is a wonderful young woman. She is a nanny and loves the children she cares for. We do hope she will apply for a job in her field of study. Often our students do not pursue jobs in their field of study and settle for their current positions.
Institute is going well. We have been holding class at 6:30 Saturday mornings for the past three weeks. We are planning in November to return to the 5:30 Saturday evening time unless the demand is greater for the morning hour. It is definitely a sacrifice to be out the door before 6:30 to set up class. I am amazed when I think about how our own kids attended early morning seminary for years. I never had to fight with them to do it. I marvel at their diligence and discipline in doing this. I also think of their teachers and have gratitude in my heart for their faithful service in providing my sons and daughter spiritual guidance each school day. I hope that what Dale and I are doing will make a difference in the lives of the young people we serve. This year we are studying the New Testament. My prayer is to come to know my Savior better. I hope that our students will also gain a stronger relationship with Him.
Happiness is all around us...hope you find a daily "happy" this week.
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