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For 36 hours a trip to a different world was afforded me. I met 9 young church pastors - all bible college trained and applying their passion, personalities and faith to reach their village or forest area for Christ. 

It is wonderful to watch their countenance transformed as you impart encouraging words and pray for their needs. Do I think that I was able to touch them in a deep way?  No, not really. But I can assure you that they have touched me deeply. One is a converted kick boxer, one single man has adopted the responsibility of raising an abandoned boy, another smiles as they show me their new son. 

I saw school children they teach - they all use their abilities to help a young generation become literate, learn English, and prepare themselves for the future. They are given the gospel. One of the young pastors will baptize 25 people on Jan 20. Amazing - he has never baptized a single person yet - this will be his (and their) first time.

These village church locations brought rural beauty and simplicity. Unfortunately I was unable to capture the sounds and smells of the region. It is marriage season, due to the dry weather when they are not farming and those events are broadcast to the whole village. 

Enjoy some of the images.  How many animals can you count being transported live to market, tied to the bumper of overloaded vans?

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Today I has the joy, and I do mean joy, of meeting three pastors/missionaries in Phnom Penh. 

Francis Velasco and his wife are missionaries for the Philippines launching their church in phnom Penh in February. They are already meeting with new converts and bible study groups. He also introduced me to 23 boys and teens in an orphanage - who live, eat, sleep and bathe very simply. Then we went to a small group of rooms at the river and invited the tenants to a meeting at his church on Saturday. 

Dan Powers is a neat man - having served as pastor in the US for many years, he has left comforts at 63 years of age to assist and train Cambodian church planters. He shared his burden and many stories he has experienced in his first 6 months in Cambodia and I shed a number of tears, being moved. 

Savonn is a Cambodian pastor with an attendance of 350 on Sundays - amazing! His wife in her 30s has breast cancer. He told me of her treatments and future breast removal - an attempt to get a step ahead of this aggressive cancer. What a dear family. 

These men fired my soul today. I loved every minute of our time together. 

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It has been moving day - viewing the killing fields of the Pol pot regime, the infamous SA-21 prison, adventurous rides in traffic, plus conversations with Jan and Ramona, have left interesting impressions.

The heat and humidity certainly takes its toll on one acclimated to the European climate. Even at night the temperature does not fall morning I found that early morning showers are not very practical. Local house help begins their early morning cleaning routines and water pressure drops to zero. I ended up in soap lather only, to find that i stood in the shower without any water for 4-5 minutes. Then I had a short stream, a few drops and then nothing again. The whole enjoyable event was about 20 minutes long.

The fruit in the marketplace looks enjoyable, but I have been warned to be careful - fresh water is not used to clean in the market. Nonetheless, it is something to behold.

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Okay this is a true story one of the most scariest plane flights I've ever had.

 
We take off from Bangkok in a twin engine propeller plane and climb to the elevation of 20,000 feet.
 
Dinner was then served and I opened and started on my meal which was a shrimp dinner. At that time a fire broke out on board.
 
In my mouth!
 
I don't know why he did not register, but of course it would be Thai food. It took 30 minutes for the fire to begin to subside - my entire mouth was numb.
 
Such are the challenges of traveling to new cultures. Now I will head to downtown Phnom Penh and see what dangers lurk for me today.
 
The family that I am visiting is a missionary family sent from our church in Germany. On Monday the wife was mugged for the first time. I'm beginning to learn that not every where is as safe as Western Europe.
 
She was uninjured but two people on a motorcycle stopped and hit her until she released her purse, losing all of her documents, her cell phone, wallet, money and her dignity. She is in very good spirits considering all that she has gone through - she is a very courageous woman.
 
Let's see if I can stay out of trouble.
 

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At Lake Powell, Page, ArizonaDuring a recent fishing trip I was reminded of many things about fishing for bass that had almost forgotten.

The casual fisherman thinks it is about acquiring a fishing rod, bait and sitting on the shoreline waiting for something to bite. That is one way to fish but not necessarily the most effective.

Yes, fishing this way might allow you to catch fish, but certain techniques, when applied, can improve your chances and your quota.

  1. A nervous wreck