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Peace!
Project 365 has begun!
My First Blog
1:1 Welcome
I know, I know.. it's taken a while to get this going.. but I'm a firm believer in "better late than never." - trust me, when you work in Cambodia, there's just no other way to think..
This is where you will get a taste of my everyday life in Cambodia... I will share my joys, triumphs and how God is working in me during this time. So thanks for dropping in and joining me :)
Special thanks to Miss Gina Whang for inspiring the name of my blog. She gave me a purple shirt from Korea that has the word "JEANASIS" printed over an image of a bible... so random! random awesomeness :)
So much has happened over the last few months.. and I often think about writing an email update.. only to find myself being distracted by other things I want to do.. like GF/DF (gluten free/dairy free) baking. My love for baking has not deceased... haha. What can I say? It's therapeutic :) It's great using the tropical fruits that are so abundant here.. mango + coconut cupcakes, pineapple + coconut cookies, orange + coconut.. haha ok letting go of the coconut. I recently gotten into the habit of making pancakes for the Swiss couples I live with.. yes, if you let me live with you, I will make you pancakes :) haha and don't worry they're not GF/DF :) They are gloriously glutinous fluffy banana pancakes with dark milky choc chips :P
1:2 Ma + Pa + Cambo
Just last week my parents came to Phnom Penh having spent a month traveling around China. I love my parents and I especially have a special bond with my mum. It was really great to share with them the life I live here.. the people I know, places I work, eat, live, worship and play. So now I think they are reassured that I am being taken care of and there's little reason for them to worry. We spent a couple of days up in Siem Reap - Angkor Wat and enjoyed roaming the temples and the fish massages the night markets have to offer. I'm just really thankful that I have them... and I think my time apart from them has made me more appreciative of the time we do have left to spend together. I can't imagine what life would be like knowing they weren't around... so I'm really thankful I was able to share this time with them.
On our way home from SR, we witnessed what would be my first fatal accident. Right in front of our bus, a motorcyclist was knocked off his bike and not wearing his helmet, his head was bleeding profusely.. his body lay right in front of us in clear view... and in true cambodian tradition, a man jumped back and forth over the still body.. apparently they believe that this will stop the victim's soul/spirit from escaping the body.. they do this when they think the person is about to die..
Seeing this was a shocking reminder of how life can be taken away from us at any moment.. that boy could have just been making his way home...but to never make it...is a rude awakening.. it also made me realize that I really should wear a helmet.. even when riding on the back of a moto.. it's against the law to drive a moto without a helmet, but for passengers it's ok. I often don't wear one when I'm a passenger..but really my head is precious haha..I think I'll start wearing my helmet from now on.
1:3 A Breath of Fresh Air
In the same week that my parents came, a missions team from GRX Church Fremont came to Phnom Penh. This was the branch of the Sunnyvale GRX church I went to in the US. What a blessing they were. They came along with a care package from my beloved small group AoL - a box filled with my favourite Trader Joe's goodies.. TJ's kettle corn, peanut butter puffins, pb, dried mango.! oh my.. I was in hysterics when I opened the box! haha I'm rationing the kettle corn.. practicing self-control.. haha that stuff is addictive!
The group of 8 headed by Pastor Victor were incredible. They were like I'd described.. a breath of fresh air in polluted phnom penh. They were diligent in the tasks, prayerful and their trip was very much focused on serving the children at an orphanage.. and in spending time with me, they were inadvertently helping me. They lifted up my spirit and being with them reminded me of how much I enjoyed being around ABC's in the US... which I'd have to say was the best time of my life... but cambodia is not far behind. They posed questions about life here, day to day concerns, things I remember being worried about before I came here.. like the quality of water, food poisoning, mosquitos, wearing sunblock.. and it made me realize how once you live here, getting a mozzie bite and a lil burnt is the least of your concerns. But naturally, those are things any western or first world foreigner would be concerned about.
Even though I only got to spend 3-4 days with them, that time made an impression on me.. and I made friendships that I feel will help my spiritual health/growth and I hope to do the same for them too.
1:4 Working Life - Hit the Refresh Button
Lately, and by lately I mean the last few months, I've been struggling with figuring out if what I'm doing here is what I really should be doing. Is this what God sent me to Cambodia for? Graphic design isn't my passion.. but it is a need here. So people often ask me, what DO you want to do? But it shouldn't be like that.. it shouldn't be what I want to do, but what God wants me to do. Often we are asked to do things we don't want to do... and there comes a time when we simply must obey. That is what I've been thinking. Tell me if I'm wrong or if you disagree.. but back it up with bible verses. God tells us to serve Him whole heartedly. WHOLE heartedly.. that means with everything I have to offer. And I must admit, I struggle with that. I still want time to do my own thing.. I want to explore doing crafts here, sewing, making bags, creating products, making silly t -shirts cos getting anything custom made here is super cheap.. but that is not what is needed... and it's not what has been presented to me. The immediate need in front of me is working as a graphic design advisor at Web essentials and the graphic designer for Hagar/Nathan. They rely on people like me to serve them.
So that is what I am going to do. Even though I am reluctant, I feel like that is what I should be doing. I pray for a renewing of my mind, to have a good attitude towards work, to serve the people around me and not only think of my own selfish desires... I want to serve them to the best of my abilities. To make the most of my time here and focus on the people. I'm reminded that it's not what we do, but it's how we do it that matters. To show God's love in everything we do and to walk as Jesus did in every way.
The cambodians here are so inspiring. They are patient, calm in the times of adversity. Slow to anger and always, always smiling. I love the people I work with.
Now my time is spilt between Web essentials and Hagar. 8-12pm at web essentials everyday and at Hagar, well it has been flexible. Nathan just yesterday, expressed the need for me to be in the office.. so a schedule is being developed for me. Although I would much rather work from home or outside the confinement of an office space, the staff need to have access to me.. and need to see me working.. because as Nathan explained, the concept of working from home is non-existent in Cambodia.
1:5 He is Looking After Me
As my time has passed here, I am continually amazed at how God has looked after me. Placing people in my life at the right time.. and answering my prayers and concerns and providing for me in ways that I never imagined. It's so easy to take the things I have for granted.. to become discontent and focus on what I don't have. Just today I decided to get back into writing 5 things I'm grateful for. I started this when I was 14 I think.. and everyday I would write anything that I was thankful for.. and I noticed every time I stop taking the time to do it, I hit a slump in my walk. So today is a new beginning :) Time to count my blessings again.
What makes things so amazing is just how things work out..we never know who we're going to meet and where that relationship will take us..I think that's what hit me lately.. how every decision I've made, every person I've met, have led to me where I am now.. what would my life be like if I never went to the US.. I wouldn't have made the life long relationships I have now... wouldn't have had the opportunity to come to Cambodia. I'm sure God would have continued to be by my side.. but where I would be I have no clue.
Enough pondering.. time to get to the facts. So Dominik and Rebecca have been a real blessing. As I've mentioned, Koni and Barbara are expecting and so will be returning to Switzerland in September. This means being out on my own..finding my own place, paying rent, for a/c and being completely independent. That is daunting for me, having lived a life being dependent on others. But Dominik and Rebecca know my situation and said they would be willing to increase my salary once K+B leave.. and that they want me to be able to live comfortably here and if I had any financial issues, I could always go to them. BLESSING! What an answer to my prayers..
I had been praying for direction.. and I said Ok God, if you want me to stay then you will provide the way. That has been a continual prayer of mine as with many other ex-pats here. I'm not going to worry about it and I'll just leave it up to Him. If nothing comes up, then I'll just have to go home. Seriously it was within the same week that D+R approached me with their proposition. So then my finances suddenly became something I no longer have to worry about or think about.
And then yesterday, Nathan mentioned paying me as well for my work with Hagar. Though that would mean I would no longer be a volunteer, but a part time ex-pat staff member. So now I'm wondering if it's right for me to take money from Hagar.. I surely didn't come to earn money.. but could this be a way God is providing for me in order for me to stay longer? It is definitely reassuring me that I don't need to worry about finances just knowing that the offer is out there.
1:6 A Word of Thanks
I always wonder who will take the time to read this.. and I have a fair idea of who does read my lengthy emails.. thanks Donna :) haha I just want to say Thanks to everyone.. everyone that's supported me in this journey.. everyone who has been my friend.. who've reached out to me.. for all that you've done thanks :) I know a lot of people have played a role in me becoming who I am today. So thanks :)
Peace.
Jeanie
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