I am grateful for my daughter's Face Book entry this week. I wish I had read it before my altercation with the apartment staff Saturday afternoon. They removed my clothes from the washing machines. I was on time to get my clothes but they were more on time. My clothes were put into another machine to spin. I allowed this maddening laundry situation to play on my emotions. Counting to 10 would have been wise. Counting to 10 in Khmer would have been even wiser.
The positive to my explosive reaction is that we may get new washing machines. I told the assistant manager that I would not be able to recommend their apartment to the people that replace us if the laundry situation does not change. Our apartment is the smallest of all the Senior Couple apartments. I like it because although dirt and grit is a daily battle at least I only have a small battle field to work with. Many of the couples have several bedrooms and bathrooms to maintain. Our apartment location is a reasonable walk to work. The negative is that we are the only missionaries including the young Sisters and Elders that do not have a private laundry facility. Our laundry situation has been a huge challenge for me ever since we arrived in Cambodia. I am still working on getting out of my gray cloud after my Saturday afternoon confrontation. When in a slump it can be hard to let go. The following advice that Jenni shared is perfect advice for me.
"Don't be gloomy.Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on you face. 'Accentuate the positive.' Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life." Gordon B. Hinckley
So I am suppose to TWINKLE...my nose is shiny...does that count for anything?
I will take this opportunity to list the positives of our week.
1. We have experienced some rainstorms but have not had to wear our sewer boots. One of my goals is to NEVER wear them!
2. Another good experience was the chance to interview several of our PEF students. These dedicated students are a joy to meet with. Some of them have sad stories to tell but they remain faithful. They are a great example to us. Their humility and acceptance of their lot in life puts us to shame. We appreciate their examples as it motivates us to do better, be better and be more grateful.
3. We attended an engagement ring ceremony on Friday. This was not an arranged partnership. The bride and groom actually found each other and fell in love. It was refreshing to watch them interact with each other. They were loving and tender. We have a good feeling about their future together.
4. The engagement event was in Ta Khamau. Our ride in a tuk tuk to Ta Khamau takes about forty-five minutes. I took advantage of the ride to snap some photos of the people on route.
5. We are pleased that Dale's asthmatic symptoms are lessening.
6. Dale broke his tooth but the positive is that he did not need a root canal. When we were leaving the dental office Dale begged the receptionists to give him a second Room Chang Nike shirt. The dentist gives a shirt to new patients. Dale already received a shirt when he got his first crown. He pestered the receptionist until she gave in. She emphasized that he could not have any more. He now has a white and a black Room Chang sports shirt. They are nice shirts.
7. One of our PEF students, Hout Buntry, who worked for Grasshopper Adventures, came by our office to give Dale a Cambodia bicycle shirt. It is a used shirt and the zipper on it has a problem, but the shirt is a cool remembrance of Cambodia.
8. There are many mango trees in Cambodia. Several members of the Church have given us mangoes. Although mangoes are available year round, this is prime mango season. I liken the abundance of mangoes at this time of the year to the abundance of zucchini during summertime back home. We can only eat so many mangoes before they begin to have a tootie fruity effect on us. We have been "re-gifting" some of our bounty.
9. We also received a bag full of green oranges. Dale said it is strange to call an orange an orange when it is green. Green oranges are sweet, but tough to chew and contain large seeds. I discovered that after thoroughly cleaning them, refrigerating them and slicing them we can suck the juice and toss the pulp, rind and seeds. A orange juice squeezer would be a perfect tool.
10. Sunday it was fun to attend Tuol Tom Pong Branch. We were greeted by several young ladies who we had not seen in several weeks. They brought a different kind of sunshine into our day. The "twinkle' in their eyes was uplifting. It was a change I needed.
Now enjoy some of the photos of the week...
Kroch Pursat ( Green Orange)
Dale's broken tooth.
Dale is taking home some pretty cool souvenirs of Cambodia. Two crowns, two Room Chang sports shirts, one pair of glasses and a Cambodia bicycle shirt. Too Cool!
Getting ready to eat Fish 'n Chips at 'Mama's New York Deli'. Mama is walking towards us in this photo.
Sharing the same path on the way home from work with motos, bicycles and pedestrians.
The gold ornamental house to the right in the above photo is called a Spirit House. Because it is often too difficult and expensive to travel to graveyards, these shrines are often erected outside of businesses and homes. Food, play money and other gifts are placed around the shrine as gifts to the dead. Incense is also burnt. I recently read that many businesses and home owners place these houses outside their buildings so that the ancient spirits of the land have a place to live. This will prevent the spirits from bothering the living. Because of the millions of people in Cambodia who died of genocide in the seventies there are many "Spirit Houses."
I stepped aside so the motos could pass by before I took my turn walking the pathway. There are some very narrow areas along our path.
Moto driver going to market. This photo was taken on our trip to Ta Khamau.
A barrier divides the traffic. It is not uncommon for people to travel the wrong way on either side of the barrier.
All loaded up and ready to board.
We were on the road by seven in the morning. Traffic was fairly light.
Sam OL our tuk tuk driver. He drove us to Ta Khamau on Friday.
Guests at the engagement ceremony of Samat Kimsroy and Leaphy. Kimsroy is a Branch President and also one of our PEF participants.
Samat Kimsroy and his bride, Leaphy. They are very much in love. A very, very happy couple.
Road construction gridlock.
Road scum I get to scrape from my shoes upon arriving home from work.
Just for your information. We have 3 Fast Sundays left. It is unbelievable and also believable that we have been here that long.
A new week begins. We will follow President Hinckley's advise and "enjoy more fully the sunlight". There is indeed plenty of sun in Cambodia.
Until next week: "Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life."
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