Monsoon Season

Noon, Tuesday, 12 July.

I can't speak for the rest of Cambodia, but I think the monsoon season is in full swing here. It has poured down rain for the past three days. We had a four hour long torrential downpour last night from 6 to 10 o'clock. The orphans saw the opportunity, seized it, and played soccer in the storm.

Getting to language classes is beginning to be a challenge, now that monsoons are upon us. We have only one car, it's a van, and Cindy needs it for taking the orphans back and forth to school. I am thinking it might be time to buy a motorcycle and a raincoat! The raincoat, no problem, $3 at the market. The motorcycle is about a grand for a good used 250cc dirt bike. I can't ride on these mopeds because I look like an elephant on a tricycle!

Studying Khmer AND Vietnamese is quite a challenge, but I want to be able to teach and preach in both languages. I am already preaching and teaching in Khmer. Khmer is easier to speak and harder to read and write. Vietnamese is easier to read and write and harder to speak. Vietnamese is a tonal language. Each syllable is like a musical note. If you don't hit the tone right, you change the word completely.

Construction has slowed at the new church and Manna center. We had the contractor and six workers at one point. He has sent five of the six home to the countryside. Now it's just him and one worker. We really need to finish this project. Don't forget to pray about this project. We are about 2/3 done. I will post new pictures soon on our website, so check from time to time.