Sheets!

Today has been my favorite day in Phnom Penh so far! It began with 6 a.m. yoga and cardio P90X with the girls- you know, as if we don't sweat enough here, we like to get our bodies really going! 🙂 Then it was spiritual cardio time- just being in our prayer room, reading, journaling, praying, WORSHIPPING. It's amazing how our minds are so conditioned to do do do all the time. I had to remind myself several times that just BEING and praying was the most valuable thing I could be doing at that moment. Time with the Lord seems to be too structured in American life. In college we had chapel for exactly 50 minutes. If it ever went longer people would get upset that their time wasn't "respected". We cram prayer, music, and a message into a specific time frame then say, "ok, time to get out there and be productive- really do something meaninful". What twisted thinking. As a result it is difficult to just sit and be for an unspecified period of time, short or long- no one's counting. Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) "Thank you Lord for quieting my soul so I could just be with you and really focus on prayer before going out into the city."

We ate lunch at the Russian market, with the best iced coffees for only a dollar! (Thanks Steph for introducing us to this place!) The two sisters who run this little food stand speak english and I had a wonderful time talking with one of the girls, learning new Khmer words and practicing words and phrases with her. There are some sounds that I just don't know how to even try to make! Sometimes she would say a phrase and I guess my expression must have showed her how confused I was because she would just start laughing, and then I would too 🙂 As Kristen, Heather and I roamed throughout the market, I noticed a banner that talked about Jesus. I stopped and the owner of this little shop- a young Khmer girl, said that she was a Christian and the money went to help aids victims. We were able to talk with her for a little while also and learned how to say "God Bless You" in Khmer. I practiced that phrase as we walked around the rest of the aisles at the market. I hoped it would be a prayer for each shop we passed. Connecting with people on heart levels– this is a huge reason I came to Cambodia and today I felt the beginning of these connections. It brought so much joy!

Sheets! With the help of Kristen and Heather, I bought sheets and got them tailored for my bed! It felt like a real accomplishment and I am so excited- I pick them up Wednesday 🙂 It seems silly, but it felt like a little gift from God today. 

This evening we went to Daughters of Cambodia! I have been telling people about this place all summer and finally I got to go their in person! Kristen and I got pedicures at Daughters and it was wonderful to talk with the girls painting our  nails. Again we spent time just learning new words and laughing over the way I butchered them 🙂 I have been so excited to go to Daughters- a place that helps women coming out of prositution and trafficking- provides skill training, job opportunities, and the truth about Christ! Their smiles radiate Christ- They are beautiful women. The girl doing my nails said she liked my white skin. Haha- I told her that in America, we try to get our skin darker like hers- everyone in Cambodia wants to have whiter skin. Why does everyone want the opposite of what they have?? We bake in the sun to tan and risk skin cancer in order to achieve the "perfect skin tone" and people here use skin products with whitening agents… I'm just as guilty. I don't know why we do it though.
After the pedicures we all ate at the cafe at Daughters. The food was delicious and I had a snickers shake, which was incredible! There was such peace at Daughters- I loved being there!

After dinner we just walked  along the river front. I saw a group of people doing exercises to fun music so I joined them 🙂 There were actually many groups- one was dancing to hip hop. I tried my best to learn but I wasn't very good. It was a lot of fun and I think it made some of the spectators laugh. 

There is so much going on here; so much I can see and so muchthat I know is unseen but happening. We have two beer gardens right by our house and there are chairs at the entrance with young girls lined up, dressed in short skirts and high heels. We walked by last night and waved at the girls. They smiled big and waved back. Beautiful smiles. We all prayed as we walked by. Oh, Lord, what can we do??

"Jenny, if the only thing I have you do in Cambodia is pray- on location prayers- then you have served a great purpose. You are a part of the war and your prayers are powerful weapons. Do not jump in front of me to take action and lead the way. Be still. Wait for me. I will lead you. Never stop praying." 

"Teach me to be still, Lord."