Just random things

 I thought you might enjoy the sign outside of a new place to eat.  And, no, Rich and I haven't eaten there.  When you come, we can take you to try it out.

I forgot in the last blog to tell you how our trip started off.  A mess of mistakes and miscommunication.
  First, our ride to the airport was to pick us up at 2:15p.m.  Rich had to go to the school and give a quiz first, (started at 1:30pm), so he knew he was going to be in a hurry.  He got home at 2pm...and our ride pulled up 15 minutes early.  So, Rich's suitcase was downstairs so he gathered up a couple things and we were off.
  We get to the airport, Piset (our ride) let us off and he was gone.  Rich felt his pocket...no passport.  We tried to call Piset back quickly but someone else had his phone.  We ended up calling my sister, Julie, and asked her to run to our house, get the passport and then bring it to us at the airport.  She was leaving for the US the next day, so had tons to do, but she quickly got the passport to us.

  The next thing, when we arrived in Thailand, we had been told that someone would be "outside waiting for us".  OK.  We waited and waited.  I went back inside so I could use their Wifi and sent a message to Patinya, the preacher at the Watcharaporn congregation who was our contact.  I got no message back after awhile, so went back out to wait.  Finally, after we had been waiting outside for an hour, Patinya answers and says it was his fault because he meant 'outside the baggage claim' - but inside the building. So the sweet man and his daughter that was picking us up had also been waiting an hour.
  Then, Tuli, the man that picked us up told Rich "Patinya wants you to call him as soon as you get here about the schedule."  Uh-oh.  The schedule showed Rich teaching everyone 4 times; and I was teaching the women twice and listed the name of my interpreter and the name of a Thai man for the men, who we assumed was teaching the men.  But, no.  He was to be Rich's interpreter for the 2 classes.  But since Rich's name wasn't listed, Rich didn't know he was teaching those.  So, Rich got to work on those late that night.  But of course, he did a great job.

             This is a picture outside of one of the high schools.  Then they have their final tests, police come to every high school and guard the school.  This is less than half of the motorcycles for this school; the other half was on a side road.  It is quite an ordeal that goes for 3 days.

Another story of how things are done differently here. 
 I went to a computer store to get printer ink.  They  have different items on each floor (gaming computer on one floor, Dell computers on another floor, other brands on different floors).  The printer cartridge and printers are on the 5th floor. 
 After I talked to the salesman and found what I needed, he asked me to have a seat while he got that ready for me.  He came back a few minutes later with the bag.  I reached out to get it and asked how much.  He pulled the bag back and told me that he would escort me down to the ground floor where you pay. 
  Once we got back down there, he asked me to have a seat again and he took the bag to the girls at the end of the room.  They printed off a receipt, which he brought back to me.  I gave him the money which he brought back to the girls.  Then they gave him the change which he brought back to me with the receipt and the bag.  Not exactly efficient.  Thankfully, I wasn't in a hurry.  He was very kind and we had a nice visit going down the stairs.  He did ask me when I came up the stairs why I didn't take the elevator.  I told him for the exercise.  He, without complaint, walked 5 floors down the stairs with me! 

                               This is Sokun.  He works with the church in his village in Battambang with Soklee and they do a great job.  He was asked to speak to the University Church of Christ congregation this afternoon. He preached on Showing the Love of God.

Rich taught the class at the Phnom Penh congregation in the morning on Fellowship.  He had a great lesson on what that meant, such as meeting together, encouraging each other, listening to each other, helping and serving each other.  His base verse came from Acts 2:42 where it tells the different things that the 1st century church did.  He has taught on some of the other things listed in that verse before. 

We are excited that the University Church's men met together to discuss ways to serve the community.  On Saturday, Sept 1st, we are going to go around and pick up trash in this area and talk to the people we meet along the way about why we are doing this and who we are.  The plan is to do this repeatedly so that our neighbors are aware that we are here and get to know us.

Please keep these sweet Christians in your prayers as they grow in their father and strive to reach this country.

Much love,
Ronda