Does this make me look fat?

Family and Friends,

The week was good "aching back" and all.
Monday we went to work as usual. We were looking forward to evening when we would meet at the mission home to take an hour long cyclo ride through Phnom Penh with several of the other Senior couples. The cyclo drivers met us at the mission home. We boarded our cyclos and off we went through the busy five o'clock traffic. It seemed we had the right-a-way as our group zigzagged around buses, trucks, cars, tuk tuks, motos, bicycles and pedestrians. We did stop for red lights. I now know what it feels like to be old. When Dale and I got home we agreed that cyclo tours are not "our thing". Give us walking shoes or our own bikes. We can chuck this evening up to "an Asian" experience.

Elder James was feeling the vibes we felt. He took action and got out of his cyclo insisting that his cyclo guy ride. It was going well until BOOM! He got a flat tire. We all heard it blow. Wouldn't you know all the curbside tire repair guys were "closed". Their tire supplies and pop bottles of gas were in place, but they  were eating rice at a nearby vendor. There is a time to work and a time not to work. This equals a bad time to get a flat tire.

I'll let the photos doing the talking:

Now where is Elder James?

We felt like we were part of a nursing home brigade. Now we know what we have to look forward to. May the Lord's mercy prevail.

There is something terribly wrong with this picture.

Contrary to what I was told I did not find my cyclo comfortable. There is no place to rest your head. I pretty much sat straight up for the whole ride. I was looking forward to a soothing, laid back ride. It didn't happen. My driver is from the Vietnamese border. He spoke a little English. He has been a cyclo driver for five years. At the end of the ride I  commented that now he could go home. He told me that the cyclo I had been riding in was his home. A new twist on mobile homes.

This is what we looked like going down the street. Our group used 20 cyclos. The sad thing is that the fee is $4 per cyclo. The cyclists receives $1 for their labor. Some of us Seniors are a bit portly and these guys worked up quite a sweat. There are not too many hills. When we did encounter hills the cyclo drivers dismounted and pushed. It sort of felt like slave labor to me. But, it is an honest source of employment for these people. They are grateful to be able to work.

After "working up a sweat" and "finding our pulse" we ended the evening at Dairy Queen.We had small chocolate covered strawberry blizzards. Yum.






Tuesday was a routine day at the office. We had planned to go to the airport to greet Elder and Sister Kohl from Fruita, Colorado. Their flight was delayed a day in California so they did not arrive until Wednesday night. Wednesday we arrived home from the airport shortly after midnight. The Kohl's seemed to be doing quite well when they got off the plane. I figured it was because their biological clocks were still set on USA time. In the USA it was mid morning.

We are going to enjoy Elder and Sister Kohl. When we introduced ourselves to them they said, "Oh yes we know your family. They specifically mentioned Ethan and Reece. Sister Kohl said she worked with Kyle in Primary. She mentioned how perfect Elise does McKenna and Kylises' hair. President Moon looked at us curiously. I told him, "The Kohls are from our son's ward. They see our grandkids more than we do." In Fruita there is a celebration for Mike the Headless Chicken. Elder Kohl was raised in Fruita. His grandfather actually saw Mike. Elder Kohl brought a Mike the Headless Chicken T-shirt with him to Cambodia. If you would like to learn Mike's story you can go to http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.php .

Thursday afternoon all the Senior Couples gathered at the Titanic Restaurant for a welcome to Cambodia lunch with Elder and Sister Kohl. It was very pleasant sitting outside with a breeze coming off the water. The Titanic in the afternoon is not quite as fun as in the evening when they provide Cambodian music and traditional dancing. Atmosphere more than the food is the draw for me to this restaurant. Dale and I had chicken fried rice. It was somewhat greasy. I was glad I ordered a small plate.

Road construction on our walk home from work. This has been going on for quite some time. It has not been good for shop business. The work crew have been working everyday so hopefully it will not be too much longer. I think they may be renovating the sewer system to accommodate the new high rise buildings being built.

Progress on the construction site down the block from our apartment. The work crew we used to joke with has moved on and now there is a new group of laborers. Many of them look like teenagers. They too enjoy saying hello. We miss the original crew.

Saturday morning we left our apartment about 6:00 AM. to teach institute. Dale took this picture as we passed by. This is the front to the moto repair shop we walk by every day on route to work . What you are looking at are people in bed under nets. They sleep out on the street. The morning temperatures have been about 68 degrees. This is very cold for Cambodians. They bundle up in jackets and hats. I thought how miserable it must be to shower outside when it is so cold for them. We are enjoying every little breeze. It will soon be VERY HOT for a VERY LONG TIME.

You are probably wondering why I have a picture of our laundry. I wash the clothes every Friday. Every Friday I have some kind of a laundry problem. Our machines are not in the best location. Our machines are also not in the best repair. Our machines sometimes clean and sometimes makes things dirtier than before they were washed. I never know what to expect when I do the laundry. I do not look forward to Friday evenings. Dale's solution was for me not to do the laundry on Friday. Do I really want to ruin a different evening? Nah. You are probably wondering  what my laundry frustration was this week? As I was loading the machines someone was either watering plants or washing a car. I was being sprayed with water. I called stop but nobody heard me. It was only a mist. At the time I didn't know if it would get worse. Fortunately it did not. I also had a problem with the spin cycle for our dark load of laundry. That meant I had to stand and watch the washing machine to make sure it didn't get off balance or shut down before the cycle was completed. The laundry area is not a pleasant place to "just hang out".

We have had many blessings with our PEF calling this week. We had one young lady pay off her loan.We received word that another young man will pay off  his loan this week. Another young man said he would like to pay off his loan by the end of the month. He also has been saving his money to pay for his Masters Degree. It is rewarding to know these young people are securing jobs that pay enough to allow them to support themselves and become debt free. Two PEF students that we have spoken to on the phone yet had never met came to our office to introduce themselves.  Another blessing was receiving current information on one of our students that has not been contacted in over a year. Now we can speak with him.

This week Dale and I talked about how fast our mission is going. We only have 7 Fast Sundays left! For friends that may be reading this blog who are not members of our church. Fast Sunday is usually the first Sunday of each month. When we left on our mission we claimed we would return to the states in 18 Fast Sundays. We are over the half way mark. The clock keeps ticking.

This is what many of the Cambodian laborers wear to protect them from the heat and dirt. Does this make me look fat?

         

Have you seen this person?

Warning if you spot this person on a Friday evening keep your distance.

Extremely dangerous if carrying a laundry basket.

Do not approach.

Report sighting to D.A.L.E. 

As always we send you our love and pray for your happiness.