tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44692607100893438012024-03-21T07:29:00.331-07:00Here Come the ParkysBeth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-57018371451335332352017-01-31T06:20:00.001-08:002017-01-31T06:20:42.142-08:00Okay/Not OkayHappening across my blog page today, I found this draft message that I've never posted, from goodness knows how long ago. Reading it, I love tracking the journey God is taking me on, the days, weeks and months that are building my character. Today, I've had a fab day. Phil and I have spent the whole day chatting, getting vision and excitement for the season we're in, and the next. I know at some point though, I'll need to revise this lesson, to look back see what God's brought me through, and I figure someone else out there might want to do the same. So here we go, musings from months ago....<br />
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Occasionally you get a season where you don't realise it, but sneakily, over time, you're taking on burdens that are not your own, trying to fix things by yourself, that were never humanly fixable and blaming everyone around you for not noticing how much you're struggling under your independent veneer.<br />
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The crux of it is, that we all go through stuff that hurts. That rubs us up the wrong way. That leaves us feeling bruised and lashing out. But here's what I know. My God is bigger. I believe in a God who so longed for a relationship with me, that He sent His perfect child to die so that I could live. So that I could have a reason to live. Not so that I could escape hell by the skin of my teeth and smelling of smoke, but live a life full of purpose and destiny in relationship with a living, loving God.<br />
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So how the heck do I marry those two things up? Huge burdens and abundant life? For me, it usually means telling my 'feelings' to back the heck off and grab a whole load of perspective.<br />
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Do I have everything I desire for my life right now? No.<br />
Do I see a way of achieving those things within time scales I've planned? No.<br />
Do I understand the things that family and friends are going through that I'm helpless to stop. No.<br />
But...<br />
Do any of those things that I desire have the keys to my eternal happiness? No.<br />
Do I have anything, any wisdom at all for the time scales I've created? No.<br />
Do any of these things, these failures, make God love me less? No.<br />
Can I see the miracles in how my family and friends turn to, and witness for, Jesus through everything. Yes.<br />
Am I where I feel God has called me too? Yes<br />
Am I surrounded by people who love me and will work through my stubbornness to help me if I let them? Heck Yes!<br />
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Yesterday I could list all the things that I felt were going wrong too easily. The weird thing was, I was happy about some stuff, but heavy with the weight of other things I was holding. I knew I was where God was calling me, but then was questioning him on the other things He hadn't ticked off my list yet. My troubles are not that big. I can list them to make myself feel better and to have each validated as a reasonable trouble/excuse by anyone who fancies reading this. Some of them are valid, and others sound an awful lot like a petulant child having a hissy fit when spoken out loud. Compared to a blood-stained cross and an empty tomb, they're certainly all teeny tiny. Compared even to the things happening around me to people I know and love, they're minuscule, but I was continuing to bury my head in being busy and try to manage/fix/put out fires as much as could, all the time ignoring/forgetting that God has better for me. And God did it again... stood to the side and let me take worries back off Him, because He's gracious like that, He gives me free will to keep my troubles to myself or to invite Him into them. And even when I bury myself in troubles or burdens of my own making, there He is, all the time calling to me, telling me that He has better plans for me than this, telling me to lift my eyes and look up at Him. But best of all He then catches me when I wobble and fall. When I admit I'm not strong enough to carry it all. When I heard a while ago the story of how someone 'happened' to be walking past the cinema we met in for church, 'happened' to be invited in, 'happened' to love it and want to come back and 'happened' to have a family member excited about God but having no one to go along with, who can now also come, God reminded me how His plans are well in advance of ours, that He will bring specific people to specific places at specific times, because He's not forgotten that person sat by themselves, the person suffering with burdens too big to bear, and He will step in, He will open doors, and He will take those burdens from us if and when we invite Him to.<br />
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And one last thing... perspective, and gratitude will get you a long way. But accountability will magnify the effects of the first two massively. When a friend can speak into your life, help you identify where you are taking on burdens that are not yours, where you're being stubborn and not letting people help you, a friend who can laugh with you as you realise how trivial some of your worries are, or who can cry with you and pray through the stuff that is very big, very real and very scary, those friends help move mountains for you, or help you turn them back into molehills. The more I listen to those friends, the more my perspective shifts and my heart settles. The more I sit at the feet of those friends, the more I want to love others the way they love me, the way Christ models love. So my next step, and maybe yours, is to get alongside someone, and love them even harder, even more thoroughly, with even more grace and also with even more truth.<br />
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Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-88758193206088053112016-09-14T09:09:00.001-07:002016-09-14T09:09:32.349-07:00Leaving... On a Jet PlaneAnd now, the time has come!<br />
Rather than facing the final curtain or anything else that song suggests, we are off! Mombasa here we come!<br />
Some of you will be familiar with the journey we've been on these last few months, but to catch everyone else up, here's a quick summary of our journey so far.<br />
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At the end of November we decided to join the team going from Freedom Church to launch a new campus in Mombasa, Kenya. We applied, went through interviews and joined the awesome team saying goodbye to friends, families and careers to start a new life in Africa.<br />
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Originally planning to leave in July, we faced a hiccup in the visa application process, and ended up saying several rounds of goodbyes as we then delayed our flights until- you guessed it- today!!<br />
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So now, with less than 2 hours before we fly, our life packed in 4 cases and some hand luggage we are off and wanted to take this last opportunity on British wifi to say a huge thank you to everyone who has stood with us, supported us, asked for updates and prayed for us, committed to giving to us monthly as we start this new adventure, and encouraged us with their love all the way.<br />
We can't thank you all enough. We're so very excited for this new journey, and know that much of what we are doing would not be possible without your support!<br />
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Thank you friends! Can't wait to share this adventure with you!<br />
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Phil and Beth<br />
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N.B. For anyone wanting to get alongside is financially, either on a one off or monthly basis, if you pay tax, do go to <a href="http://www.give.net/parkies">www.give.net/parkies</a> or if you don't <a href="mailto:Parkymanor@icloud.com">Email</a> us for our bank account details.Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-64217775935852539932016-07-18T04:53:00.001-07:002016-07-18T04:53:13.974-07:00Parkys Go MombassiveHello all,<br />
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Quite a few people have asked us for information on how to support us while we're away, which is awesome, humbling and hugely encouraging. Thank you!<br />
We have lots to catch you all up regarding our journey in how and why we ended up deciding to move to Kenya, and when we're going to be setting off. We'll be blogging again soon, but for now are popping this information here (before we forget to!).<br />
We would greatly appreciate anyone who is a UK tax payer giving through our give.net page at www.give.net/parkies as the charity that runs this fundraising page, Stewardship, are able to claim back the tax paid on any donation. They take a very small fee of 3%, meaning the overall gift is still significantly increased even after the fee is taken.<br />
The example they give is that on a £10 donation, £2.50 is claimed back, £0.38 is taken to cover their admin fees, with the recipient getting £12.12.<br />
If you're not a tax payer, you can still set up payments through give.net, as it is a very simple way to donate. A reduced 2% admin fee will be taken from that, but we can give our own bank account details as an alternative to give directly to us with no fees being taken.<br />
give.net is the fundraising front page of Stewardship, a charity set up to facilitate people's giving. As a charity, they keep make the fees as low as possible and don't make any profit from the process, any unused fee-money at the end of the year is given back to charity. Anyone wanting to give to multiple charities, or even multiple individuals on the Kenya team for example, can set up a Stewardship account, which effectively means you can create a 'pot' of money and give out to whichever cha rities and individuals you would like to support from there, the benefit being that if you set up an account either with stewardship or give.net, you only have to fill out gift aid and direct debit forms once, and any donations will only have a fee deducted once. You can also make gifts anonymously if you wish.<br />
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Our fundraiser page: www.give.net/parkies<br />
For more information, head to give.net and Stewardship.org.uk<br />
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Ps. If you want to take a look at our previous adventures in Cambodia, keep scrolling down, and to keep up to date, do subscribe to follow the blog! </div>
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Huge love to you all!</div>
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Phil and Beth Parky</div>
Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-44197900969163858432014-04-02T06:29:00.003-07:002014-04-02T06:29:46.003-07:00Everything is SomethingWow! it's been a long time since blogged, a lot has been happening, but in lots of little bits. I've been writing notes for blogs on the backs of scraps of paper and today is the day the make it into the online world.<br />
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I've met with some awesome people over here, and been reminded about how awesome the people I know back in the UK are too. A lot of the meetings and conversations I've had have been pointing in the same direction and this thought that has been with me for the last couple of months. </div>
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Everything is Something.</div>
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One thing that has been on my heart for several years, in increasing measure as I find out more about it, is Trafficking. Human Trafficking. There's increasing awareness of this modern day slavery in the UK and in America as cases have been brought into courts and the public arena. There have been people aware of this for a long time, and the more cases that come to light, the more prevalent people realise it is. Within the building of football stadiums in Qatar, tomato fields in the southern United States, strawberry pickers in my home town of Hereford, domestic slaves in London, New York and so many other locations. There are so many factors that cause it, perpetuate it and maintain it. What bugs me so much, frustrates me to the point of exhaustion at times, is people's wilful ignorance of it. their manipulation of facts to deny it, or their use of people's horrifc experiences to further their own cause. Examples being:</div>
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The man who came up to me in the UK, having seen my 'No More Slaves' emblazoned bag, and told me that 'No Englishman would have a slave, it's all those other people, it's their problem, they should do something about it, we don't have to' (After trying to explain some facts and being shouted at, I removed myself from the situation before I punched him)</div>
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The (European) man here in Siem Reap who saw the same bag and declared 'yes... the amount they pay us musicians, in Europe almost makes us slaves'. At first not understanding what he had said, I'm afraid I didn't challenge him on this view, belittling real slavery as an actual problem, needless to say, when that situation next arises, I'll have a quicker response ready.</div>
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People who have claimed that if people are paid anything, no matter how little, then there is nothing wrong in their situation. Yes, the definition of slavery used to mean that someone received NO pay, but surely now we understand that low-waged employees, kept in company accomodation at extortionate costs, with all sorts of added fees reducing a minimal pay-packet to barely enough to buy food let alone anything else, heaven forbid they need medicine etc...?? Surely we can agree that 'it's not proper' at the very least?!?!</div>
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The story here about a woman who has set up various projects around Cambodia giving work to girls formerly working as prostitutes, who was then found out to be manipulating and exaggerating the histories of some of these girls to build her reputation. While it was supposed to mean that more people would support her work, and was successful for a while in this, it also created a distrust among people looking to support this kind of project and now unsure whether any of the stories they are hearing are genuine, or made up to pull pounds out of pockets.</div>
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So here's the thing. Slavery is real. It is a big problem. Slavery and trafficking are utterly linked, and while people may not define them as exactly the same thing, let me tell you some truths about them both. Slavery and trafficking will always trap, manipulate, enslave and hide. While cartoons for children through to life experience as an adult make us think that it's all down to a typical 'bad guy' or 'villain', these monsters in society are insiduous, hiding in the darkness, shielded by ignorance, by fear, by denial, and fed by our desire for cheap clothes, cheap food, cheap buildings, cheap cosmetics, cheap technology, cheap sex. And it can happen next door.</div>
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So why am I ranting on about this? Because I need to do something about it. Because I can't sit idly by and pretend nothing is happening, when karaoke bars in Siem Reap, in the next street to where I lived had girls lined up like shoes in a shop, waiting to be chosen. And while I would love to go in and grab girls out, lead them by the hand and promise them a better life, there are so many barriers. Organised crime, criminal gangs, bribery, police corruption and even a culture of 'honour' all tie in and make 'rescue' hard. Really hard. People have said to me 'those girls have chosen that life, it's their career'. Stop for just one moment and listen to yourself. On career day at your school, how many of the girls that you knew put their hands up to the chance of becoming a prostitute? Was that even given as an option? I doubt it! And if it had been, who would wilfully sign up for it? What place of poverty and fear does a family have to be in for a daughter to grow up knowing that her 'best option' for supporting her parents as they grow old, and to help put her siblings through school is to sell her body, auction off her virginity to the highest bidder, let the greatest acts of intimacy become a matter of commerce? But because of poverty, because of lack of education and lack of other careers, because of a culture where family comes first and you work every hour of the day to support those around you, and because of the ugly demands for cheap sex from tourists, this is their best option. Their most guaranteed income. And so because they 'chose' it, we accept it?<br />
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I could rant on this all day. My frustration at the culture that holds them there, but mostly at the tourist culture that promote the 'market' for it and the denial that there's any real problem just make me want to yell. A lot. But here's the thing... I'm learning to turn that frustration into action.<br />
I learned that I couldn't go in and rescue girls, I wanted to get involved with Christian NGO's helping girls get out, but I the doors I pushed never opened. However. I found my something. I found somewhere I could invest my money. I found the place I could switch to shopping each week where I knew that my money was being put to good use. For the sake of anonymity I can't tell you what or where that place is, but I can tell you that I found a group of people turning lives around, introducing people to Jesus, and impacting a nation, one intake at a time. And it made me want to look for 'that place wherever I am. It's not my place to tell the stories of those lives affected, they are not my stories to tell, but the parting smiles of the lives I brushed up against were the ones that touched my heart most. God can and will use anything and everything you do to affect the lives of others. So here's my challenge.<br />
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Find your something.<br />
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Find the one thing you can do, that you can change that will affect someone's life. Start buying fair-trade. Bananas, chocolate, clothes, coffee, cotton, please change one thing. Sponsor a child through education, give in to organisations educating farmers on how to produce more from what they have. You can't do everything, but you can start somewhere. I've had people tell me about how people are managing to get round fair-trade practices and they're no real guarantee. Or that '-%' of sponsoring a child goes on admin rather than to the child. Yes, people will always find a way to do the minimum possible, some organisations are better than others, but is that really an excuse to not put our money where at least some effort is being made? Don't let the few abusing the system stop you investing to make the system better. No, fair-trade isn't perfect, but it's a start. Yes, some money must be spent on admin, so that other people can be reached effectively and using the rest of the money most efficiently. Don't like the taste of fair-trade products? Well, get pestering your favourite manufacturers and ask them about employment and resourcing policy. Don't want money going on admin? Do your research to find out exactly where donated money goes. I'm not asking you to become a crusader and donate every waking hour to a cause. But please, please, don't let the enormity of the problem of slavery and trafficking overwhelm to the point of no action at all. Let your heart be moved. For you it might mean finding that cause and charity that you are passionate about and get sponsoring and giving. It might mean having to up your clothes budget so you can buy products not pieced for pennies and sold for pounds. It may be to get blogging, get letter-writing, passing on the passion of what you want to see changed. You don't have to change everything, but if I can persuade you to realise just one thing, please know that<br />
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Everything is Something.<br />
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Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-14025269422959275782014-01-29T02:43:00.001-08:002014-01-29T02:43:16.007-08:00Home from HomeWe've known it's been coming, but it's incredibly strange to be in our final week in Cambodia. We've got all these dates and plans buzzing round our minds, sorting, tidying, packing, distributing pots and pans, collecting up little things to take back home... but there are moments of stillness where I can reflect on the 13 months that has passed, and all that God has done.<br />
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Transition is a funny time. Simultaneously full of joy and tears alike. Wanting time to fly forward so we can see faces of loved ones we've not seen in so many thousands of hours, but hoping time will stretch and slow to mean precious moments with friends we're leaving behind aren't rushed. We're packing up the physical, shedding things that have served us for this time, and taking new things that will remind us of this time for months or years to come. As well as the physical organisation, we're getting to grips with what we're going back to the UK to do, and what we're moving from here in Cambodia, mulling over all that God has done in that time.<br />
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Home from home. What an odd concept. We accustom ourselves to a pace of life, a space to live in, markets to frequent, people to socialise with, even preferred routes around the city. And then things change. I consciously chose early on not to refer to the UK as home once we arrived here in Siem Reap, because I knew it was important that I gave my heart to this place, that I was committed to it, and not refer to home as a location, a city, habits and food choices from a place so very far away. Instead, Siem Reap became home. But now we're leaving home, and going home, and then moving home. If you can't get your head round that, fear not, I'm still working it out myself. We leave Cambodia, travel to Bangkok, fly to Heathrow, head to Hereford, sort and plan, then move to Cardiff. There's a lot going on... but anytime I even think about getting a bit overwhelmed by it all, I'm reminded that I'm at home already. Wherever I am. I have my handsome hubby at my side, and my Saviour in my heart. I am at home wherever He takes me.<br />
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And what am I actually doing today as my part of the transition process? I'm making a cake. In the rice-cooker. Because I can, and because it will make some little girls very very happy. And I figured as I'd promised the recipe to several people round about (because cake is important) I've put the recipe below, with pictures along the way. Given that I have no weighing scales, let along an oven, there's a fair bit of intuition/guess work going on in these - which does of course mean you may have to make cake more than once (shame!) to perfect the art...<br />
Be prepared, cake rarely looks good in it's beginning stages, but it will be scrumptious once baked!<br />
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Firstly:<br />
Chocolate Yoghurt Cake:<br />
150ml yoghurt<br />
150ml oil (flavourless, vegetable/sunflower etc)<br />
3 eggs<br />
200g sugar, mostly white sugar, with a bit of brown sugar or golden syrup added in for<br />
A couple of drops of vanilla essence (optional)<br />
40grams cocoa powder<br />
200g plain flour<br />
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda (sometimes called baking soda)<br />
pinch of salt<br />
Chocolate chips (optional)<br />
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With no scales, here's how you make this cake:<br />
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Take 1 small yoghurt pot, empty contents into a bowl.<br />
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Using the yoghurt pot, measure the same amount of oil, add it to the bowl and stir<br />
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Add 3 eggs and beat together<br />
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Add cocoa powder - about 2-3 heaped tablespoons, you can add more later to taste, just depends how chocolatey you want it!<br />
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Add sugar. Depending on the size of the bag of sugar, add the right proportion of it. If you have a 1kg bag, add 1/5th of the bag, if it's 500grams, add 2/5ths of the bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAbfPWcKgD2-dGRD3iAm5LdP5rg1fpVnubrfVHvfUdYYVyqsC8dqJPmPunR9bM842x3uCv-zfqKbUQCLPDakIwfxiTFrxj0Z7LeQW64-ch7QWfi8JCoK96xJzcl9fytKstboo_Ehmc65Q/s1600/IMG_1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAbfPWcKgD2-dGRD3iAm5LdP5rg1fpVnubrfVHvfUdYYVyqsC8dqJPmPunR9bM842x3uCv-zfqKbUQCLPDakIwfxiTFrxj0Z7LeQW64-ch7QWfi8JCoK96xJzcl9fytKstboo_Ehmc65Q/s1600/IMG_1468.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><br />
Add brown sugar for a deeper taste. You can replace some of the white sugar with brown sugar, or add a little golden syrup<br />
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Mix well together, making sure you have no lumps of sugar or cocoa powder<br />
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Add a couple of drops of vanilla essence to bring out the chocolately flavour. It sounds crazy, but it works!<br />
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Next, add a pinch of salt...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmgmPX9CENrBjuz6oUwv0hRCd8lfersbbtyVOXM9YcHxpf2dsN0qpMEs8sEp9PlvftO4MYZ6nT6mGVBRR4rtTDjjNFW1EPWfpJ6I0V76j0KO5ISRVaQEsjFH4U30QS1gFQxcTLwvanSaf/s1600/IMG_1470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmgmPX9CENrBjuz6oUwv0hRCd8lfersbbtyVOXM9YcHxpf2dsN0qpMEs8sEp9PlvftO4MYZ6nT6mGVBRR4rtTDjjNFW1EPWfpJ6I0V76j0KO5ISRVaQEsjFH4U30QS1gFQxcTLwvanSaf/s1600/IMG_1470.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
...and the flour...<br />
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...and the baking soda.<br />
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Mix well...<br />
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Until you get a soft dropping constancy that looks a bit like this.<br />
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Put a little bit of oil in the bottom of your rice cooker bowl and spread it round to cover all the surfaces and then pour in the cake mix<br />
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If you have a rice cooker like mine, it just has an on/off switch, so turn it on, and when it clicks off, leave it for a few minutes, then turn it on again. You'll need to do this for about 1.5 hours I've found...<br />
The base of the cake will always be more cooked, and the top middle, always a bit more squishy, because that's how cake comes out without heat controls! :)<br />
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You can test if the cake is done by poking it in the middle with a skewer or a sharp knife. If it comes out clean, the cake is done.<br />
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Normally, leave cakes until completely cool to turn them out. If you do that with this it will come out in pieces. So wait for the cake to be cool enough to handle. Run a plastic knife, or soft/non-metal palette knife around the edge, turn the cake out onto a plate and turn the right way up. Done! Ta-da!!<br />
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And now - for the instructions for<br />
Banana and Chocolate Chip cake:<br />
120g butter/margarine<br />
180g sugar<br />
3 large bananas (8/9 Cambodian eating bananas)<br />
3 eggs<br />
1 teaspoon vanilla essence<br />
240g plain flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
100-120g chocolate chips<br />
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Melt the butter in a pan<br />
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Add half white sugar<br />
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And half brown sugar<br />
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Melt and stir altogether, then turn the heat off underneath<br />
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Peel and roughly chop the bananas<br />
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Beat 3 eggs, then add vanilla essence and thoroughly mix<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOsM2-AqyJxEo1XpoXDQHInf7s9Jw0C-Jv7QIaAQHMYm03pUIlvHU-QWt4zY2kJr9QLGy_gPAAZ-XLcEqyVTdHOuRFQfDwbIxWqOx98DD5_Qb5Pawpj76ldfon3SN0TlGa82kaMk32JFf/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSu01GpTSs6-TQPeIVh-DaCugqq62GlXH5Ynz4-VmAg8ekzTPLNbp5K8IwHXinAuizCq7x-NE0esa8E8JMmBFhPOOK78VmKPrPCqLv30pFOxWDx6yysR8TruqVWj367fGjE4PvV8iUbED/s1600/IMG_1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSu01GpTSs6-TQPeIVh-DaCugqq62GlXH5Ynz4-VmAg8ekzTPLNbp5K8IwHXinAuizCq7x-NE0esa8E8JMmBFhPOOK78VmKPrPCqLv30pFOxWDx6yysR8TruqVWj367fGjE4PvV8iUbED/s1600/IMG_1553.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOsM2-AqyJxEo1XpoXDQHInf7s9Jw0C-Jv7QIaAQHMYm03pUIlvHU-QWt4zY2kJr9QLGy_gPAAZ-XLcEqyVTdHOuRFQfDwbIxWqOx98DD5_Qb5Pawpj76ldfon3SN0TlGa82kaMk32JFf/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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Add flour...<br />
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...salt and baking soda and stir to make a very thick mixture...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOsM2-AqyJxEo1XpoXDQHInf7s9Jw0C-Jv7QIaAQHMYm03pUIlvHU-QWt4zY2kJr9QLGy_gPAAZ-XLcEqyVTdHOuRFQfDwbIxWqOx98DD5_Qb5Pawpj76ldfon3SN0TlGa82kaMk32JFf/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOsM2-AqyJxEo1XpoXDQHInf7s9Jw0C-Jv7QIaAQHMYm03pUIlvHU-QWt4zY2kJr9QLGy_gPAAZ-XLcEqyVTdHOuRFQfDwbIxWqOx98DD5_Qb5Pawpj76ldfon3SN0TlGa82kaMk32JFf/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" height="149" width="200" /></a><br />
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... Like this<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4Tz-MSv9isSNnGl353d6G1u5BTTh2O5aGjunnwesbwEov0iTyOOSNwcdF0MEkzMhbegD0lfVRBQOejgIAfS1wG7p4tTpDmBlDhpLQy3kjY7xHjZBmooRbzzFCm-fQWrjf9zz5ZcB-HR9/s1600/IMG_1552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4Tz-MSv9isSNnGl353d6G1u5BTTh2O5aGjunnwesbwEov0iTyOOSNwcdF0MEkzMhbegD0lfVRBQOejgIAfS1wG7p4tTpDmBlDhpLQy3kjY7xHjZBmooRbzzFCm-fQWrjf9zz5ZcB-HR9/s1600/IMG_1552.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
Mash bananas with a fork<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AgmH7BRPKqZz7e_fQ-WeM9VCVXS0anv2ligqqzncH7zwqD5GBnehD0sa1pvHn1K1vOTHgrU-1gcJeMFW0QR-miFQCfzk5rzGeZOT8Uha_CnNq1AabeyO4jI64VXk7QiL-qsXZgnlvyQN/s1600/IMG_1554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AgmH7BRPKqZz7e_fQ-WeM9VCVXS0anv2ligqqzncH7zwqD5GBnehD0sa1pvHn1K1vOTHgrU-1gcJeMFW0QR-miFQCfzk5rzGeZOT8Uha_CnNq1AabeyO4jI64VXk7QiL-qsXZgnlvyQN/s1600/IMG_1554.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
Add the bananas...<br />
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and the egg mix into the pan, and thoroughly mix<br />
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Stir in chocolate chips at the very end so that they don't melt too much when you stir them<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTNY8wQj88v4_ncMrwkRf73gfS3waU8hfHiY9ey7eLSOko6YUfsT9mRvQOhDWfRyzSR0y24MzUy0sXiUTgCF3uJGYrxIk-J4K_5tgzsC5d-A3jd6ujvdzw58Hu4MUoQBGjt3v2Vh1kDWY/s1600/IMG_1557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTNY8wQj88v4_ncMrwkRf73gfS3waU8hfHiY9ey7eLSOko6YUfsT9mRvQOhDWfRyzSR0y24MzUy0sXiUTgCF3uJGYrxIk-J4K_5tgzsC5d-A3jd6ujvdzw58Hu4MUoQBGjt3v2Vh1kDWY/s1600/IMG_1557.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></div>
Use a little bit of butter on your fingers to grease the rice cooking pan<br />
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Pour the mix into the can, and cook in the same way the chocolate yoghurt cake is cooked. This is a bit of a thicker mix, so it will probably take longer.<br />
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Enjoy either of these with a cup of tea or coffee. And then make sure you've washed and packed all your underwear! See you soon England...
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Well it is here anyway!<br />
Can you believe it? 2013 gone already? Feels really crazy that another year is done, I'm another year older, maybe a little wiser, and have made another year's worth of friends and had as many new adventures! It's also been nearly a full year away from the UK, from friends and family we've grown up (or at least grown older) around. Having left the UK on January 11th 2013, it's been a long time away from everything we thought of as normal, and a huge year of growth for Phil and I individually and massively so as a couple. We had one very wise friend calling 2013 'The Year of the Parkys', and that's been true on so many levels. I'm amazed at what God has brought us half way around the world to teach us, and ever grateful for the grace and patience with which he has taught us, and for faithful friends who have supported and loved us through this year and enabled us to be a part of the Freedom Siem Reap Campus, which is also unbelievably nearly a whole year old!<br />
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In Freedom Siem Reap, we've seen huge growth, we've seen numbers come and go, but a faithful core grow and expand, and deep character develop in each of them. We've made lifelong friends, seen them take huge steps of faith, inviting friends, seeing them saved, and brought this year to a beautiful close with our last event of 2013 seeing 11 people get baptised. Fizzing yes!!! Every church plant, every campus have their trials, their frustrations and their learning curves, but with every next step we're privileged to see an individual take, each time we hear another person say that they feel like they've found a place they can call home and that they've found their family, we know that we're getting something right. That God is using us in this place to reach the lost, the hurting and the broken, and He is using Freedom Church as part of His plan to do it.<br />
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I've got another blog coming with some more on the experiences we've had here, some of the things close to my heart etc, but for now I want to take this blog to tell you a little about what's next for the Parkys...<br />
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Some, but not all, will already know that we're heading back to the UK at the beginning of February. We'll be saying goodbye to Freedom Siem Reap on the 2nd and then travelling to Bangkok to fly from there. We're really excited to be back on British soil and see family and friends again in person, but it'll be bittersweet, as there are so many people here that we may not see again. And what then? The next chapter for us is getting close, and getting exciting!! We're going to take some time out to see family and then... We're going to be moving to become part of Freedom Church Cardiff!!<br />
We're currently investigating potential jobs and accommodation in the Welsh capital, but most excited about getting rooted in to the Freedom campus and seeing what God has for that city!<br />
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There's another blog or two brewing, but for now, for 2013, thank you for your love, support and prayers, and I'm excited for all that 2014 will bring.<br />
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Cardiff here we come!Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-80150947266208720392013-12-30T02:59:00.002-08:002013-12-30T02:59:24.794-08:00Merry Fizzin Christmas!!!I'm back!!<br />
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It's been an age since I last blogged and there are various reasons why it's taken me this long to get back round to it, but here we are. It's Christmas season and though it feels incredibly surreal, Christmas was had in 22°C heat and on a sunny day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXdp7mO7fVkfjFm0lxDAsXvEIdy93CmT4Juf2jv7ocucuRiN5X4onyLidAD0_Hkp9kO5DJOXDOi2JUdX2syLTzhjvZipaL-s1xoALKGR0nSwCmVjI-TutMiGEk7NQZDHdTU1NmGto6yhg/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXdp7mO7fVkfjFm0lxDAsXvEIdy93CmT4Juf2jv7ocucuRiN5X4onyLidAD0_Hkp9kO5DJOXDOi2JUdX2syLTzhjvZipaL-s1xoALKGR0nSwCmVjI-TutMiGEk7NQZDHdTU1NmGto6yhg/s200/IMG_1155.JPG" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJNxYPD1bC0l1ktuXTgKP9kqI_GtqY8IVLlY7H8Fxr9jr4HJ-yOexI1s_dECWLFoGNqjN3aQdvYuqgyKA2yJ9ewY5TSPK4zV78150-aS6-Titl37tE0KrWtve7VtviSo2QS522VABLTxQ/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJNxYPD1bC0l1ktuXTgKP9kqI_GtqY8IVLlY7H8Fxr9jr4HJ-yOexI1s_dECWLFoGNqjN3aQdvYuqgyKA2yJ9ewY5TSPK4zV78150-aS6-Titl37tE0KrWtve7VtviSo2QS522VABLTxQ/s200/IMG_1106.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Now before you get jealous, 22°C during the day - lovely! 14°C at night, with just a couple of sheets, gaps under the doors and windows plus no heating, well - it gets a little chilly to say the least!! We made it most authentic we could though with stockings to open, as 'Santa' found his way to our room, (even if his choice of wrapping paper was questionable), friends round for lunch and a party in the evening. Christmas Dinner was courtesy of a rice cooker and a frying pan - 'Roast' chicken, 'Roast' Potatoes, countless vegetables and lots and lots of gravy (even if I had to serve it in an ice-cream tub because you haven't got a jug) followed by Apple Crumble and Homemade Custard. Amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it, but probably best I didn't get photos of the food, I'm not sure my grandma would be impressed with my presentation!!<br />
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It's been such a strange season being away from so many people we love though, and it barely feels like Christmas without our family all around us, but it's been a good check for what Christmas is really about, and to get thankful for so much around us. Christmas... the promise of hope. The start of God reaching out to earth, sending His Son in human form because it was the only way to restore our relationship with Him. Even though they both knew what it would ultimately cost, Christmas is Christ with us, from now on, forever.<br />
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So no matter where you are, and who you celebrated Christmas with, whether you like Christmas trees and twinkly lights, if you have lifelong faith or none at all and even if you want to start the conversation about the pagan midwinter festival, we celebrate Christmas because no matter where you are, no matter who is around you, many or few, no matter whether you could afford a real tree instead of a recycling a fake one, whether you got huge presents or none at all, we celebrate because this time of year represents God reaching out through Jesus because He cares. He cares about the mess you're in, the stress you're under, the crisis you're scraping your way through, the opulence that is or isn't fulfilling you, or the happiness you're celebrating. He cares enough to meet you in the middle of it, wherever across the world you are.<br />
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Merry Christmas friends. Love to you all!<br />
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<br />Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-82193612571045823472013-10-09T02:46:00.001-07:002013-10-10T08:21:07.122-07:00Screenshot September and other sillinessSo it would seem that this month I've mostly been overwhelmed and overemotional, welling up or just straight up crying at all sorts of things. Blame it on the heat and sunstroke, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">being daft, being thousands of miles from most of my family, or even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">blame it on me being a woman, but I think it just comes down to the fact that I have absolutely awesome friends and family. And sometimes that sucks. Haha! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">God did an amazing job putting me smack bang in the middle of a huge loving group of people, who despite their various weirdnesses (you may cry 'pot/kettle', I would simply reply 'birds of a feather y'all!') love me silly, call me on my imperfections and support me through thick and thin. And then stuff happens that highlights the distance. Some of it is really horrid, rubbish stuff and you can't be around to support or just hug people, and some is happy happy, joy joy, and you can't be there to celebrate! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Because our siblings produce gorgeous nephews and neices who say the darn cutest things. Or because my brother-in-law is really really ill, and there's absolutely nothing physical or practical that we can do, other than pray. Or it's another birthday, wedding or party that we can't be there for, or my sister's making an awesome birthday cake and I can't be there to help, either by washing up, or breathing for her as she holds her breath whilst concentrating! BUT... technology and determination brings us together, family find a way to bridge the distance and I have a million things to be grateful for. So, to show you some of those things, to focus on the benefits of having awesome friends and family, no matter how much it sucks to be far away from you all, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">to remind you that I do think of you often, whether I'm good at correspondence or not, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">and to publicly thank those around me, loving and supporting me, here goes!</span></span><br>
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Skype... it's genius! (Okay, so FaceTime may be better, but this isn't the place for software comparison!) There have some brilliant moments recently. Though I don't have a screen shot, being too caught up in the moment rather, I met my beautiful new niece, Oona, for the first time, which definitely eased the pangs of homesickness, and a hint of jealousy seeing lots of VERY cute pictures of various people holding her! If you do see her, tell her she's beautiful, and loved massively... from all across the world.<br>
I also got to speak to my sister and brother-in-law whilst they dog sat for my parents in law... as this shows!<br>
Meg is undoubtedly a mad little pup, but this moment takes the (dog) biscuit! Having hurt her paw and needing it bandaged she took to using her whole back leg as a new toy:<br>
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That same conversation also reminded me of why I married into the Parkinson clan, not only is my handsome hubby endowed with epic face pulling capabilities, it seems it runs in the family!</div>
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Emails coming in from afar added to the love and hilarity, and to this wall of memories, wise words and loved ones. Family faces, Bible verses and happy memories or pretty things gather here and remind me daily how blessed I am:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgYmMInD1E2Lb2weOrLK1FWKMuA6bwynhetFDX4p_F8nxV6iFK3GOCbALdqwXg_G9KVklbSkq8Tzk3ldELo9H-ybMpHYDqr0bd_f9CKU3Fb7LSnhDojaD5PrWH1S-BokroLV6GpBkvzTy/s640/blogger-image-532594685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgYmMInD1E2Lb2weOrLK1FWKMuA6bwynhetFDX4p_F8nxV6iFK3GOCbALdqwXg_G9KVklbSkq8Tzk3ldELo9H-ybMpHYDqr0bd_f9CKU3Fb7LSnhDojaD5PrWH1S-BokroLV6GpBkvzTy/s640/blogger-image-532594685.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
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I also spoke to both my mums on my 28th birthday, (a day I've been waiting for, for at least a year, as I have been telling people I'm 28 for pretty much a year already!) and was able to show them the beautiful birthday cake Phil surprised me with, of course from my beloved Blossom, red velvet with chocolate ganache for those who need details. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, taught 3 Pilates classes, celebrated the graduation of the first intake of Blossom girls with international level certificates in Hospitality, and ate cake 3 times in the interest of balance. It was a gorgeous day. Photos to follow for those of you who haven't yet seen them, and yes, I really did cry with joy that I was given a cake, designed specifically for me. I've said it before and no doubt will say it again, my love language would seem to be cake!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The wonderously sneaky boy took me to Blossom, for hot chocolate and a cupcake (both splendiferous just in case you doubted for one milisecond) and after having ordered these sweet treats...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7gCwVtAuUifKTXL4XbzsPv0uBiHICuLoOnRb48Fj-wYcc2j1CLFM0PGNs0GtuWLQVtDpzP1YQaLXoBivZbYxJ-tYH-KwVVslsUqjF-JsFxeBIICDN22zbDH_fvQ_9BrbDHexVkP6gA4L/s640/blogger-image-1377108013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7gCwVtAuUifKTXL4XbzsPv0uBiHICuLoOnRb48Fj-wYcc2j1CLFM0PGNs0GtuWLQVtDpzP1YQaLXoBivZbYxJ-tYH-KwVVslsUqjF-JsFxeBIICDN22zbDH_fvQ_9BrbDHexVkP6gA4L/s640/blogger-image-1377108013.jpg"></a></div>
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<br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was presented with this....</div>
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Other things that happened this month, I broke my sun-glasses and mourned the loss of a special pair of pants, sent to me in the post by my sister, who not only knows the thrill of receiving post, but who also knows the value of pretty pants to a girl's confidence. Good knickers or painted nails on feet even when covered by multiple frost-defying layers are some of the things that bring a smile to the face or a spring to the step. That explanation given, it is a sad day when said knickers (admittedly 3 years older than my marriage), are finally thrown away, with no hope of salvaging the elastic, and a vague sense of pride and wonderment that they'd actually stayed up at all in recent days! (I would like to add a brief note to reassure my mothers that I do still change underwear daily. For their own peace of mind and also their good reputations!) I can furnish you with a picture of said sun-glassses breakage, but to save your blushes, the underwear will stay unpublished!</div>
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Unbeknownst to me and seemingly reading my mind, the birthday celebrations were revived as I received a parcel from my eldest sister when Hanc returned back from his holiday in the UK.</div>
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Advised to open it in private, I thankfully heeded that advice, and the same week I said goodbye to pants sent to me in the post by sister, I received pants in the post from my sister. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv56Wf_dnmBTQcE4_dXYjvMmapYgETPC7i1a180A5IN8t2PClcSgQAneHl4x4iGQa4xlOwQBgPbWedTbxM-ONrb_dC_DM2ohEdHVPZeqEKmofZl7plLVEmE4W5nYaddtRvoTscQ6WenQi/s640/blogger-image-214744771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWv56Wf_dnmBTQcE4_dXYjvMmapYgETPC7i1a180A5IN8t2PClcSgQAneHl4x4iGQa4xlOwQBgPbWedTbxM-ONrb_dC_DM2ohEdHVPZeqEKmofZl7plLVEmE4W5nYaddtRvoTscQ6WenQi/s640/blogger-image-214744771.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(cheeky!)</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
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And again I welled up at the beauty of it! I then proceeded to cry over the rest of the box contents, including these hilarious sun-glasses chosen by my nephew and worn only once by him for quality control purposes. Given my lack of sunglasses, the problem is now solved, though they have caused me to utter a phrase I never thought I would say "The parrot does give rather a blindspot!" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4OAC-ptjhjohUgppcrrZakTiIaTzmew2bNs1rBVZF7gx9IBPN_u64YTvvdyViBkEPoBO6rOwznMZN1TGw32WmHAOiMxOYEgLppMfIK4QHuqraVe51IIKW1KqXT8GoBQJeyLoN-V8bZOY/s640/blogger-image-635375235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4OAC-ptjhjohUgppcrrZakTiIaTzmew2bNs1rBVZF7gx9IBPN_u64YTvvdyViBkEPoBO6rOwznMZN1TGw32WmHAOiMxOYEgLppMfIK4QHuqraVe51IIKW1KqXT8GoBQJeyLoN-V8bZOY/s640/blogger-image-635375235.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She then added to the hilarity, acknowledging and confirming my love of moustache related things (please note, I have just the right amount of stuff now, please don't feel the need to add to the collection. A few tasteful - yes I did use that word - items are sufficient) with this necklace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ28gPZmb7KXCOaSyhifIpYbcmTHnYB8pHuZ29Lu_P5xgT68XXWf_R2UbyjhwuyLZk4DWNXxVpt3VEpK-sUkPrEA8MB3gsEluTMm6ZtiEyVMnz56l5T5RpAUKdTLkAuFyf8KQjCTots2b/s640/blogger-image--1898129984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeJ28gPZmb7KXCOaSyhifIpYbcmTHnYB8pHuZ29Lu_P5xgT68XXWf_R2UbyjhwuyLZk4DWNXxVpt3VEpK-sUkPrEA8MB3gsEluTMm6ZtiEyVMnz56l5T5RpAUKdTLkAuFyf8KQjCTots2b/s640/blogger-image--1898129984.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>
Another thing that had has happened this month was that I realised how much I miss working at Lush. Every year, just around the time of my birthday, all the new products for Christmas come into the shop for staff training and the fun really kicks off. In previous years, even if I've not been working there, I've been able to feed my addiction and genuine love for these handmade cosmetics by heading in to see my friends in the store and talk with my eldest sister, also a certified addict, and one of the envied few customer testers (all positions are currently filled!) who ensure effectiveness of new products and test on their own sensitive skin, saving bunnies from bubble baths, emus wearing eyeliner, llamas wearing lipstick etc. Anyway- so I suddenly had this realisation that I was utterly not part of this world this yer, with no idea what the new products were and not being in the UK at any point during their sale, so I would miss them entirely. But then. But then...<div><br></div><div>Snow Fairy Melt arrived! She smells as sweet as she is pink and with average room temperature being in high 20s at least, she's now safey stowed in the fridge!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C7CBxSoIU3uMjh2EmjOTDF5SKtzX8R_05Ubwq_PMSuWMeWQxcq0M7CAq5NbjrxLyJ9WcIsZPePe3-IixLD2Ui56dwGAbb8kBm3lv4WUYMDwMYh4-S2KHNbJuamhDgaet97Ip3hyphenhyphenHGS9u/s640/blogger-image--52155044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C7CBxSoIU3uMjh2EmjOTDF5SKtzX8R_05Ubwq_PMSuWMeWQxcq0M7CAq5NbjrxLyJ9WcIsZPePe3-IixLD2Ui56dwGAbb8kBm3lv4WUYMDwMYh4-S2KHNbJuamhDgaet97Ip3hyphenhyphenHGS9u/s640/blogger-image--52155044.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cute little chunks of Christmas soap, earthy, creamy and zingy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW1BPpD0jB9bWPv7-qJFMHOEhFBqT54j_p8QjYMdreaBT30SJVIB9-HVd3i8VWoFv9MJ4aSHx82kaLU3BbXC9P5YEwOFToJPsONdwABnT4liCnv3bbythsLWBgvu7trDXRKveTQ475cb5/s640/blogger-image--911227665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW1BPpD0jB9bWPv7-qJFMHOEhFBqT54j_p8QjYMdreaBT30SJVIB9-HVd3i8VWoFv9MJ4aSHx82kaLU3BbXC9P5YEwOFToJPsONdwABnT4liCnv3bbythsLWBgvu7trDXRKveTQ475cb5/s640/blogger-image--911227665.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Perfect accessories for literally Lush Lips! Lip scrub and gorgeous tint for a perfect pout! Love!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0ja9fMzkQp4thWylpRUY3unI1KKmhElf72-TBWsN8ju44lL_39UpmJIU8rRhT7qpLOztKejLokOApoe7nA9gQC0dlYFgbfeQsFGs-LcYu97og9Xz3fWom5vYTjsNKd_83cUkX2UbglYp/s640/blogger-image-2119930015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0ja9fMzkQp4thWylpRUY3unI1KKmhElf72-TBWsN8ju44lL_39UpmJIU8rRhT7qpLOztKejLokOApoe7nA9gQC0dlYFgbfeQsFGs-LcYu97og9Xz3fWom5vYTjsNKd_83cUkX2UbglYp/s640/blogger-image-2119930015.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Confused slightly by the snap fasteners, but pretty sure there was genius behind it, or some little fingers snuck them in down the side! Haha! Or they're to rescue previously mentioned saggy knickers! Haha! Plus fairy candles and a cupcake shaped lip gloss!! She knows me so well!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa0EmFn_yTbA1GGA6q9_mwumeYwmxINZdp0tuZlwkcSUJ4XmPu5b8Q8vPEKMUcmnvuiQG_sGLseXmi1MkzH3noUlne07qY9PS3nDt8b1ILrCD950LFRv-32TOnbAg3Yu30WVmCG3x5tzV/s640/blogger-image--98026809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa0EmFn_yTbA1GGA6q9_mwumeYwmxINZdp0tuZlwkcSUJ4XmPu5b8Q8vPEKMUcmnvuiQG_sGLseXmi1MkzH3noUlne07qY9PS3nDt8b1ILrCD950LFRv-32TOnbAg3Yu30WVmCG3x5tzV/s640/blogger-image--98026809.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then this beauty! Having just heard via the grapevine about this new shower gel in one of my favourite fragrances I was just about to put in an online order for this one and do all I could to get it out here when Mum and Dad visit (9 sleeps!). This fragrance captivated me when I first smelt a variant of it in Turkish Delight, a creamy shower smoothie that conditions the skin, soothing sunburned skin or nourishing dryness, and my shower treat of choice from the selection I had brought out with me, but one I am rapidly coming to the end out of. I also met this fragrance as a Bubbleroon, a macaron (I just read in a blog about the difference between macaroons and macarons and would hate to get it wrong! eek!) shaped delight, which when crumbled under running water fills the bath with bubbles and softness... Baths don't exist over here for the most part other than in some swanky hotels, but not all, so this wasn't a product I could enjoy... and just as I squealed in delight and tried to find a way to get some - it arrived in my lap, literally!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2KHDJohhiHKS5GlQIsBGEjO10yrck8FRrqLZ3cXiNmT4jCqNptjFYQh5wmL495RyF1nS-Cy_z1fmMtRNoN9SljJcI19AdnnctPtCZpzHj0Fce5zuzBL0eOUWffI9sHvtAQ70kEYMq1g4/s640/blogger-image--203395683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2KHDJohhiHKS5GlQIsBGEjO10yrck8FRrqLZ3cXiNmT4jCqNptjFYQh5wmL495RyF1nS-Cy_z1fmMtRNoN9SljJcI19AdnnctPtCZpzHj0Fce5zuzBL0eOUWffI9sHvtAQ70kEYMq1g4/s640/blogger-image--203395683.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>And with a final flourish, my sister sent this, Lush eyeliner, just as I reached the point where I realised the little pot I'd been using since my wedding really had dried out, having seen me through many fun times, including the famous Pirate series (which you do need to watch if you haven't yet - find it at www.freedomchurch.cc under the Kids section). </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlpiZ487jRqMnJVVp3M4z3FcH1g1gSn9RDYCMmKhRw-JBtFgEbjWBa2f1ChRRiOJYd9xxlcSVbynuV9We4sCMiUr9lTv1xqQ_P-Pijo0vQThhTwzjbkjK8foidF8EQtVrMjtyKLzI5nOk/s640/blogger-image-779341418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlpiZ487jRqMnJVVp3M4z3FcH1g1gSn9RDYCMmKhRw-JBtFgEbjWBa2f1ChRRiOJYd9xxlcSVbynuV9We4sCMiUr9lTv1xqQ_P-Pijo0vQThhTwzjbkjK8foidF8EQtVrMjtyKLzI5nOk/s640/blogger-image-779341418.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div>So I give you my sister, ladies and gentlemen, who has brought me massively closer to all of you, reminded me of things and people I love, anticipated things that would make me homesick and loved on me in such a big way I feel closer to everyone sending birthday love last month. To Jo, you beauty, who made moments like this possible. Love you babe. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwSY-JSXrXAPlwcVTVBDGZCCLeaog84fuaqh8rSQyZgyKbILi9mb9dEKPoFoBMPYBUA1L6PGYlXwFw4z2e-1BY-70uCh6qV7i5pL4jxUCYkJt0f20IJS373XTR582VCvQqgJGUrwH2RLC/s640/blogger-image--1798517475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwSY-JSXrXAPlwcVTVBDGZCCLeaog84fuaqh8rSQyZgyKbILi9mb9dEKPoFoBMPYBUA1L6PGYlXwFw4z2e-1BY-70uCh6qV7i5pL4jxUCYkJt0f20IJS373XTR582VCvQqgJGUrwH2RLC/s640/blogger-image--1798517475.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>For the countless others of you have sent love and kind wishes, ecards and cakes, went out with me for drinks or sent an email catching me up with where you're at, I love you. I'm blessed by you. I consider my life richer for knowing you, am blown away by the adventure I get to live and the people alongside me who continually make this possible and encourage me along the way. I am blessed. Thank you.</div><br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gpxsGJZvAARzTlgFGuPOBUZIYPfj3uUsFM14eE8OtfmAaOgapZVC4akMN4K-YAcxvDRorPMP-qde_t0apDlPM1YQEnJ1F7JXkutR8XZDjzGxnMaioFFeJf5pE5dhMTmBqRnd9lDYlOU6/s640/blogger-image-667119881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gpxsGJZvAARzTlgFGuPOBUZIYPfj3uUsFM14eE8OtfmAaOgapZVC4akMN4K-YAcxvDRorPMP-qde_t0apDlPM1YQEnJ1F7JXkutR8XZDjzGxnMaioFFeJf5pE5dhMTmBqRnd9lDYlOU6/s640/blogger-image-667119881.jpg"></a><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> And lastly -while I have your attention - another huge source of joy in my life comes from this guy, the adventure I'm on with him and the absolute hilarity of our two mad-cap brains coming together! And here I love technology because after all has been brought into my life this month, I can return that gift and give you this:<br>
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Happy Wednesday everyone!</div>
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</div></div>Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-21874493677262674302013-09-02T02:31:00.001-07:002013-09-02T02:31:59.919-07:00While I have your attentionWhile I have your attention, meet Vatey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDhzMoy6BxAYqkzsx1ptxZR-mJiC89qz_GDub3gUA8sHp25PTsj_xy67UOIdC-tsEbdBhm7LS3GgKkvPplaGCEDqEiU7-p78aMwMAZmM0FW8QulUZmCk8HUMMxEWjsGRRsXLQ8kHZ_iM/s1600/tumblr_inline_mrtn1gU09s1qz4rgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDhzMoy6BxAYqkzsx1ptxZR-mJiC89qz_GDub3gUA8sHp25PTsj_xy67UOIdC-tsEbdBhm7LS3GgKkvPplaGCEDqEiU7-p78aMwMAZmM0FW8QulUZmCk8HUMMxEWjsGRRsXLQ8kHZ_iM/s320/tumblr_inline_mrtn1gU09s1qz4rgp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Vatey is amazing! She's part of the core team at Freedom Church, a key part of the worship team and also serves the church by translating and processing resources coming from the Hub of Freedom Church in Hereford, UK. She is elegant, beautiful, hilarious and dedicated. Having finished school and already pursuing higher education she has made the decision to stay in Siem Reap, which will enable her to remain a part of Freedom Church Siem Reap. Already balancing home life, studying, a job and church, she is massively dedicated. You can partner with her in staying a part of Siem Reap. To find out more please go to http://Sponsorvatey.tumblr.com/ , read her testimony and find out more about how you can practically help her.<br />
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This is a woman of massive integrity and influence. If you can, in any way, please partner with her. She is one of the first in a new generation of rising leaders that will change this nation in an amazing way!<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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<br />Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-60518490203158355232013-09-02T00:48:00.000-07:002013-09-02T00:55:22.494-07:00Heaven in a cup...cake!<br />
Having just shared my thoughts regarding <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlossomCafeSiemReap?fref=ts">Blossom Cafe and Training Centre</a>, Siem Reap (in a rather grandiose fashion) to all on TripAdvisor, I thought you, my beloved faceless public (you're not really faceless are you? I just mean that I can't see you through my computer... because that would be weird. Even weirder if I could, and then you actually didn't have a face...) where was I? Oh yes - you, my...um... public, I though you would appreciate the review too - given that a fair number of you share or at least know of my passion for cake, and my susceptibility to sugar! Enjoy!<br />
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Beth x<br />
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My goodness, where to start?<br />
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Rolling up on my bicycle to the front of the Blossom cafe, I was like giddy school-girl, with hubby almost having to restrain me as my feet burst into impromptu dancing. I like cake. A lot. I miss cake. A lot. Having had my own baking business back in the UK before moving to Siem Reap in January, good cake is an utter joy to me, and not one I frequently can find. Until now. While there are some beautiful little cafes in Siem Reap and some cutely decorated ones, nothing quite transports you to sweet-treat heaven like Blossom. Walking in to see utterly gorgeous decor, including beautiful mismatched chairs and tables, clever screens to give elegant separation between sofas, and the utterly stunning Tea-cup light features, I would have been beside myself if that were actually physically possible...<br />
And THEN we looked at the menu! Practically bouncing up and down on the sofa as I tried to choose something, hubby had chosen his drink and two cupcakes to trial before looking up at his wild-eyed wife, who was obviously getting a little high from the sugar fumes in the place. When I finally made a choice and ordered I spent some time nosing about at decor a little more closely, the greetings cards and aprons for sale amongst other things and then was offered the Blossom Cake Portfolio (it deserves capitals - it is magnificent) to peruse. Glory. In the meantime the most delicious coffee was served, a mild smooth blend, just right for my taste, so perfect not a grain of sugar was added.<br />
For me, the stronger the coffee the more sugar goes in, and I like it milky and not bitter. The latte that came was beautiful, with foam art, a beautiful colour, and not a cappuccino just topped up with milk, but a real, real latte. Gorgeous!!<br />
And then to the cakes. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur... I've eaten my fair share of cake, and when a passer-by at my Cake Stand in the UK declared that she was a 'Cake Judge' with the WI, whilst looking down her nose at the cakes and with a definite air of superiority, I held my tongue and resisted announcing 'So am I, I eat cake, and I judge it. If I don't like it, I stop eating.' (Apparently that sort of response scares customers away!) Where was I? Yes, the cake! My only caution around cupcakes is whether the icing gets so much attention that the actual cake misses out... Fear Not!! At Blossom, beautiful cakes are topped with just the right amount of icing, and in beautiful flavour combinations that leave you perfectly satisfied, and not overwhelmed or with aching teeth! I first sampled a delicate combination, Apple and Almond. The sponge was beautifully light and airy, complemented by a cinnamon cream cheese icing that didn't overwhelm the flavours. The flavour built as I ate through the cake, leaving me with the perfect flavour balance at the end of the cupcake. Exquisite!<br />
And here my words my fail me - I then went on to the Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Cupcake. Yes, you read correctly, it exists. I don't think I can put into words how utterly beautiful this cake was. I'm always a sucker for a Cherry and Chocolate combination, but this cake takes the biscuit. Hubby happily watched as I ate this one, slowly, thoughtfully and wide eyed at how beautiful it could be. Why was he so happy... because absolute silence fell. After all the cake I've eaten in almost 28 years, I have discovered the best cake I've ever eaten. The best.<br />
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There is just one problem as far as I can see - I've only tried two flavours. (Apart from a sneaky bite of hubby's Oreo and Chocolate which was brilliant too, but doesn't officially count! ;) )<br />
Which means more testing simply MUST be carried out. But for you, dear TripAdvisor readers, I will make that sacrifice. It's a hard job, an arduous task, as I'm sure you can tell... but I will, for you, undertake it.<br />
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See you there.Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-57393904346714638832013-08-11T23:31:00.002-07:002013-08-11T23:31:29.197-07:00So's your face, So's your mum!<br />
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Anyone else started/ended a conversation with those words?</div>
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I've noticed more and more over recent days and months that Phil and I are very good at laughing. Of course there are times you don't laugh - coming off your bike in the rain, realising you've been cheated and charged Barang prices at the market from your usual very friendly stall holder, or feeling a bit rough around the edges. For the most part though we laugh... a lot. Mostly at each other, or maybe just at me. Silly voices, stupid jokes, silly sound effects all add to the hilarity in the Parky household. We might have just celebrated 4 years of marriage, but occasionally - you'd be mistaken for thinking we were celebrating the 4th birthday of my inner child!! Yes, I am that silly. </div>
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In case you can't quite figure out why the phrase in this Blog's title would <u>ever</u> be funny, let me explain...</div>
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Take an inconspicuous comment, such as, 'The floor's a bit wet', add a precocious wife, and the response is likely to be 'So's your face!'. Depending on the original comment the standard response back from the first party is 'So's your mum!'. Now this can be a highly dangerous game, especially when in the vicinity of either of the parties' mothers, but obviously, the more ridiculous the comment, the greater the hilarity. </div>
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NB. This is not a wise game to play with your sister, at the dining table, discussing a lemon dessert. 'This is a bit tart' followed by 'So's your face' was irresistibly followed by 'So's your mum' who was in fact, mother to both of us, and separated by only a stack of plates from the guilty offspring. Raucous laughter led to explanation, and being the unfortunate party to have been left with the second response, I of course landed in more trouble - after mum stopped laughing and sighing over how ridiculous we were!</div>
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Back to the point - there is one, I promise! There is another context to this phrase being used, as a response to an actual question, 'Who's the Queen of England?' for example, is easily answered with the phrase 'Your mum.' Or if you're feeling particularly ghetto - 'Yo' momma'. </div>
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This was the variation used when Phil and I were happily listening to Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio iPlayer (at lunchtime, given the time difference). This in itself is a happy occurrence, especially for me, as I sang along to all the jingles (whether I knew them all or not), giggled at Chris' son Noah making various announcements, and danced round like a loon to the songs, making up new words and again, collapsing in giggles. On this specific occasion, we were listening to an featurette on the Friday Night is Music Night Show coming later that with showcasing lots of beautiful pomp and ceremony. Following the interview Chris started playing a piece that would be featured on the night, which Phil then asked of me, as it started, 'Who's this by?' My answer was of course, 'Your mum', but on this occasion - I elaborated...</div>
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Your mum.</div>
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Oh really?</div>
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Yes, you see, she plays the violin, you can hear the violins.... now. That's her. Your mum's playing this.</div>
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Right...</div>
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And now you see, this bit, the vocals that go with it are 'Your mum, your mum, your mum, youuuur mum, your mum, your muuuum.'</div>
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(Laughing) are they?</div>
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And if you listen, you see this bit.... (dramatic pause) is your mum walking out into the garden... listen to the birds... and she's doing some gardening. (Pauses) This bit, that's Tanya popping her head over the fence and chatting... ooh, and now, hear that? It's the neighbours' kids kicking a ball over the fence. And now your mum is taking a run up, listen, step, step step, step and kiiiiiiick! She's launched it back over the hedge. And then it repeats - listen, step step step kick!!!</div>
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What's this bit?</div>
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This is your dad coming to the back door and asking if your mum wants a cup of tea. She does. This bit is him going to the kitchen, filling up the teabag pot with teabags, and putting the kettle on. That's the cups clinking, and he's singing while he does it. That's the sugar going in.... now the milk. Now he goes to call her in from the garden, Tanya jumps over the fence, and your dad, your mum, Tanya and Meg (the dog), all march into the house, do a couple of laps around the living room, then through to the lounge, where again they all do a couple of laps, showing how wonderful your mum is, then she sits on the sofa, puts her feet up (like it's her very own throne) and your dad presents her with a cup of tea. </div>
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And that's what this song's about. </div>
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So today, on your birthday Sharon Parkinson, I'd like to dedicate this blog entry to you. A marvellous mum, who really should have her own royal theme-tune, but perhaps who shouldn't be given a sceptre... I get the feeling I'd be bopped on the head with it too often for my liking. I love you so very much, and so does that boy of yours that I've absconded with/married. I'm grateful for the influence, encouragement and hilarity you bring to my life. I'm richer for knowing you, and am utterly blessed not only to have my own brilliant mum to giggle with, but to have you as my mother-in-law too. </div>
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Happy Birthday Mum x</div>
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NB. To any concerned readers: This was not a dream. It was indeed an actual conversation between Phil and I, and it goes a long way to show what goes on in my head. Please also note that if you don't find this hilarious, you probably shouldn't spend too much time with me in person, especially after I've had some sugar. Laughing at me is just as good as laughing with me... so if you can manage either, pop over for a brew sometime - it could be rather entertaining. Especially if there's a foreign language channel on and we start doing voiceovers. </div>
Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-29977572741127967682013-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:002013-08-08T09:43:08.781-07:00Foreign fourth...<br />
How do you celebrate 4 whole years of wonderment in marriage, in a far away country, on a budget?<br />
You ask the Parkys for ideas!!<br />
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Originally having planned to head to Bangkok for a 3 day city break for our wedding anniversary, things changed and we stayed in our cute apartment in Siem Reap instead over the special day. To begin with I was a little at a loss as to what we should do... I've visited a beautiful 5* hotel and seen the private massage suites for couples (with waterfalls indoors, private gardens, his and hers bath tubs) and sighed longingly... but we've been making other things priority, so I knew this year wasn't going to be the all out luxury celebration...<br />
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So I got creative. Did you know that 4 years married means gifts of flowers and or fruit? Google's top results tells me this is the case, so I started the day by dashing (I say dashing - it was an incredibly leisurely affair!) to the local market and picking up a watermelon and a pineapple for 50c each - that's right, 34p each (and yes, they taste even better when that's the price without even haggling!).<br />
Having got home, I banned Mr P from entering the kitchen, which, as he pointed out, is easier said than done given that we live in an open plan apartment and therefore limited him to sitting in the bathroom, the cupboard or outside! The creative juices (get it?) then flowed, with the result below! Good job I carved the melon, not the pineapple, not sure the message would have come across so well otherwise!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32xVmmn72bhNvwNvXoPdwPKxfHaA7A5-MBh3QQBDeuSyVj_ntJdw_bDBxCklgz5aWT9ZLYNiJgcQLDjEzhibvmlDXB5C1kE4cG-cWHgqWQNKhAWnQlQ-B6ezC9ZWChaVMBDWik9Hri-J6/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32xVmmn72bhNvwNvXoPdwPKxfHaA7A5-MBh3QQBDeuSyVj_ntJdw_bDBxCklgz5aWT9ZLYNiJgcQLDjEzhibvmlDXB5C1kE4cG-cWHgqWQNKhAWnQlQ-B6ezC9ZWChaVMBDWik9Hri-J6/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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'Happy fruity 4th'</div>
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What next? Well, I had pancake batter ready for breakfast time already, and had been mulling over the fact that we hadn't followed through with our plans to go to Bangkok and whilst there go to the zoo (including taking a paddle boat out onto the lake there, which is a must... so that's a postponed plan rather than a cancelled one!). So, we couldn't go to the zoo, but the zoo came to us!</div>
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As you may or may not be able to tell we have (starting top left) Giraffe, elephant and zebra, followed by fat monkey and lioness, duck/parrot and gecko and last but not least octopus (the only way I really enjoy seafood is to have it made out of batter instead!). Such fun to make, and I even had an outfit on to match. For those who know it, my white dress/top with silhouettes of animals on... perfect!</div>
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What to do next? Well, we'd been thinking about getting mugs for the house, as the ones we have are made of glass, and a little frightening to pour boiling water into - and a little off-putting when you can see the weird brown colour of your tea or coffee! People here don't use mugs though... Tea is often served over ice in a beaker or glass, and cups without handles are the norm... so... off we trotted to 'treat ' ourselves to some normal mugs. Having surveyed some particularly horrific ones with gilded pheasant/peacock mongrels on them, we found some simple white ones that came with coasters... perfect! So we duly popped back home (first buying that other romantic essential... floorcleaner) and put the kettle on. And it's true - the cup makes all the difference, the teabag has more room to move around, we can use just boiled water and not be worried the cup will smash, and the white colour gives a better surface indication of brewing time/taste etc. The tea just tastes so much better!! Two very happy bunnies, I then decided, given that they were identical, to make them unique... in case of rinsing out and making another brew, we now have his and hers labels, fashioned (bizarrely) from a flannel/dishcloth and lengths of ribbon.</div>
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'His and hers' mugs</div>
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Having made, and drunk beautiful cups of tea, we then went out to an early dinner we'd booked at a recommended local restaurant, Haven. I can't recommend this place highly enough! Impeccable service, big portions, relaxing atmosphere and gorgeous food!! And, 'fully booked' when we popped in earlier today to look at the menu, they squeezed us in for an early sitting. So very helpful, and an absolutely gorgeous meal where we chatted, laughed, pulled faces at each other, sang along to Queen songs in the background, and ate a lot of food!</div>
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Given it was an early tea, what next? We'd also looked earlier in the day for some fitness tops for me to wear to classes, given that I've been wearing 'normal' tops and want to make sure my wardrobe lasts as long as possible... Along to the Adidas shop we went, knowing it would be pricier than the markets, but not expecting the $30 price tag on most t-shirts - if not more. And the really cute little double-layered top - just $70. Needless to say we refrained from running around waving our arms screaming when we saw the prices, but calmly and politely looked around for a few more minutes, offered each other some particularly silly items (Phil didn't seem too interested in the grey and red speedos I found for him.. shame, they were stunning), and then retreated. So a new mission for the evening was to go to the Night Market, find a t-shirt or two for me, some for Phil, (given he has an even smaller selection of clothes than me), and some new headphones for me - given my extraordinary knack or breaking mine very quickly - at least 2, if not 3 pairs in a row now only work in one ear... </div>
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So to the Night Market we went, paid a bit too much at the first place, but not ridiculously, and got a 'free' Cambodian scarf thrown in (proof we paid too much), then found a t-shirt for Phil, but not in the right colour - found some VERY genuine 'beatz' headphones for me, haggled a bit for those too, and then found a lovely lady who asked $2.5/t-shirt instead of the special price of $4 each! We found perfect colourways for Phil and came home, showed off to our neighbours/bezzie mates/co-conspirators Tashia and Sandor, who very politely showed interest far longer than they probably needed too, and then headed home, (it was a long walk of about 10m! Metres... not miles) for another brew and bed. </div>
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And that was our day... relaxed, food-filled and a heap load of fun.</div>
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It's the simple things that make a big difference on special days, playing with your food, spending time with people you love and making the perfect brew. On days like today, I feel incredibly blessed. </div>
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And for my very final thought (on this blog entry - not forever - well... maybe for tonight too) I'd like to say a huge thank you to both sets of our parents, Philip and Sharon, and Don and Angie... Philip and Sharon celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary yesterday, and mum usually tries to avoid the question when I ask when theirs is, but I think it's later this month too... You guys have not only shown us how to stick it out in marriage, but also how to work on it, nurture it and grow through it. Thank you for your influence, your love and your support. We wouldn't be here without you guys. Like. Literally!</div>
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Happy Thursday everyone!</div>
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<br />Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-18929174833322658502013-08-06T05:58:00.001-07:002013-08-06T05:58:32.890-07:00Oi! Parkys... are you still alive?!So, we're rather overdue an update aren't we?<br />
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Sorry folks, July has been and gone, and a few of you may have been left wondering what on earth the Parkys were up to, whether they were still alive and well, or if they'd jumped off the face of the planet never to be heard of again. The good news, for those of you who like us at any rate, is that we're alive and well, and just remembering that there are some things we need to knuckle down and get on with <u>as soon as we remember it's time to do them</u> and to <u>obey the jobs list in your diary, rather than procrastinate and then feel guilty!</u> Note to self over, let's get on with some news shall we?<br />
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First item on today's agenda is:<br />
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I managed to electrocute myself whilst making dinner last night... twice!<br />
You'd think it impossible, in fact I hear voices crying, 'But, Beth, aren't you cooking on a gas stove?!' And you'd be correct - I do have a double gas burner for cooking, which should make it near impossible for electrocution to occur at meal-prep, (though I'm sure you could manage if you were incredibly determined!). But, dear reader, I was feeling 'experimental' and was making a pork, ginger, bamboo and bean risotto style dish in the rice cooker. Which does use electricity. I still can't work out how I electrocuted myself, given that although the first time I had a knife in my hand, I made no contact with the metal inner bowl of the cooker, and the second time I simply dropped the chopped meat in from my hand, into the centre of the bowl, far away from every metal surface - albeit said hand was adorned by wedding rings. So, it would seem that electricity can and will jump short or longer distances with the express view of making my cooking experience more entertaining. Or something like that. I've been giving the cooker dirty looks today though it still hasn't apologised.<br />
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In other news... I've been reading Miranda Hart's book 'Is it just me?' on my Kindle, and laughing incredibly hard... crying in fact, and must apologise/explain that some of the more flamboyant style of writing you're witnessing may in fact be due to her influence, hopefully with no ill effects!<br />
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House move!<br />
Some of you may know that we moved into a little apartment and out of the guesthouse we'd been staying in. While we loved having breakfast being included, as well as the use of a swimming pool, and the great staff and owners working there becoming real friends, we'd been umm-ing and aah-ing for a while over the possibility of moving into an apartment - so when the opportunity arose to move into an small open-plan apartment/room with minimum lease of 3 months (rather than a standard 6 months/1 year!) we jumped at the chance. And I'm loving it!! We, or I, can now cook most of our meals, returning the act of going out for a meal into a treat and not a twice-daily chore! I'm now shopping at the local markets, practicing my numbers in Khmer and generally providing amusement for the locals as I try to explain what I want and then haggle a bit. Shopping locally and cooking for ourselves means saving money too, which is brilliant, meaning we can justify the luxury of buying breakfast cereal and bread for toast!! It also gives us our own space, and our front door, which is just lovely! We miss being around the rest of the team on a daily basis, and are trying to become more intentional about meeting up with them, otherwise it's very easy to settle into 'normal' life, completing our roles for church, practicing and performing at gigs, and almost living life as if we could in the UK... which is more than a bit silly! So we're being purposeful in inviting over couples and individuals from the church, which is great fun, and is adding to the depth of connection and sense of belonging that we have with them, and hopefully that they have with us, and with the Freedom Church family!<br />
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Gigs and Pilates!<br />
We've been getting more gigs and my classes have grown in popularity, meaning we are able to learn some great principles regarding money even more thoroughly. We're so blessed to have the support that we do coming from so many generous hearts looking to see relevant local church grow all around the world. Through both of these we're continually learning about stewardship of money, and are excited about the ways God's showing us that He wants to use us both now and in the future. God has been using this time away to teach us about not burying our heads in the sand, but to knuckle down and sort out previous money decisions, and clear the way to give ourselves a better financial future, and I've heard Him say so very clearly on multiple occasions 'Let go, and I will bless you'. As we hand over the worry, the stress, the striving over money, and as we follow what He lays out as His best plan, God has stepped in and blessed us, allowing us the finance to not only cover what we sacrificially give in order to be generous, but beyond. And I write that not to pat myself on the back, but to show gratitude that God really has got our back, that He is never outgiven, and looks with pleasure to a heart seeking to be generous. He really is the God of the overflow, and we see that verse acted out in our day-to-day life, 'Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.' Luke 6:38<br />
This is something that we started learning before we came out here, and there's been a real sense of God stripping back everything so that He has our full attention and can get to the root of issues, and sort us out properly. With both of us having heard so much great teaching on stewardship of money, we've been amazed to see as we've honoured God more and more with our finances, we've seen increased provision, and the ability to sort out previous financial commitments, and get to the very exciting point of wiping out old debts - things like student overdraft, which can hang over your head for so many years after graduating. It's an exciting time. A continuing lesson in discipline which we're still working through, but we are so unbelievably grateful to be able to learn it!<br />
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What else...well it's tipped it down again briefly tonight - apparently there are patterns in the rainfall, it'll rain mostly in the morning for a few weeks, then over lunchtime, then in the evenings and then at night... I keep thinking that I've worked out the pattern, but then it changes on me and I'm as clueless as anyone else... though it definitely was raining early afternoon each day for a week - especially on days I'd put a load of washing on!! It now may have shifted to an evening downpour, but we shall see... another month or so of this and we'll be at towards the end of rainy season and the humidity should go down a little - which will also mean less hair product needed to stop me having a frizzy afro! And no... there won't be *intentional* photos!! ;)<br />
On that note though - here are some of my musings whilst out in a massive rainstorm last week:<br />
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You know it's Rainy Season when...<br />
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...the sound of the rain making you need a wee is no longer a problem, because you've got so utterly drenched, no one would notice if you wet yourself.<br />
...you genuinely try cycling with your eyes closed, because it's simply too difficult to keep them open.<br />
...tuk-tuk drivers park up in foot-deep puddles to use the rainwater for a free wash-down of their bikes and tuk-tuks.<br />
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And after all of those long overdue ramblings I shall sign off... I aim to write an incredibly amusing (in my mind) account of a conversation between Phil and I the other day before the end of the week, mostly because I'm still giggling over it! Do let us know how you are, we love hearing news from the UK/where you are!<br />
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Beth xBeth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-26055156985038219542013-06-18T04:38:00.005-07:002013-06-18T04:49:20.667-07:00And welcome to Rainy SeasonThis post is set to be a little less dramatic than my last, but it's about time I rolled up my computer sleeves and let you out there know what we're up to in sunny Cambodia...<br />
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Or, not so sunny... believe it or not, both Mr P and I have worn cardigans in the past few days! We're just edging through the beginnings of rainy season here, and perhaps slightly prematurely congratulating ourselves on not being overwhelmed by the speed or quantity of the downpours. It looks like we'll get through this! With plastic ponchos now the regular inhabitants of whatever handbag I'm using (Pink for me, Orange for him) we're ready at a moments notice to don the plastics and protect the hairdo's from absolute ruin. Wet season here is unlike anything I've experienced before... for several reasons. Let's set some context in place:<br />
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Drains and sewerage are still relatively new in a lot of areas here. In Siem Reap itself there are sewers alongside a fair few roads, but not like any you'd see in the UK. 'Drain covers' here consist on a big piece of concrete or metal resting on top of two smaller lengths of concrete, which are either side of the access point to the sewer - which is effectively a big hole. These covers are often used as a depositing place for the rubbish from nearby houses for the Rubbish collectors (who sometimes come and sometimes don't, but do always charge for their services, rendered or not). This then means if not purposefully stuffed into the sewers to avoid charges, rubbish can inadvertently fall or be washed into the sewers. There are no grills covering the sewers and no 'Dyna-Rod' companies ready at the flash of an orange van to come and unblock any nasties - so any blockages cause problems... fast.<br />
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There aren't any drainage systems as such - while the sewers are there to receive waste water, and do take some of the rainwater too - the roads are flat, there are no gutters to collect water at the side of the road, so the usual course of water is to end up in whatever potholes may be adorning the surface of the road rather than run away from the road keeping them clear for traffic... which as a side note then causes a lot of people to go wherever the heck they like on the road to avoid puddles.<br />
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People love to live on the side of the road. Here, living roadside means living as close to your customers as you can get. With nearly every house also being a shop frontage for a pharmacy, laundry, phone shop, clothes shop, corner shop, bits and bobs shop, hairdressers or bike repair shop everyone wants to live as close to the road as possible. With no real street names, and nobody really knowing the ones that do exist, live somewhere off the beaten track and you'll get no customers. Even if you have an income working in a regular job, most people have a business from home as well to supplement it, so people live as close to the roads as they can. Come rainy season, as water almost piles up on the roads and with no quick drainage, barriers are put in place to cope with the wash of water rolling into homes with each passing bicycle or moto. The Cambodian ingenuity is evident at this point with little ridges or steps made in the concrete floors of people's homes where people can afford to have more than a mud floor, which slow and divert these unwanted tides, and for the rest you'll often see someone stood on their stoop sweeping the water away.<br />
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What we have seen in the relatively short space of time that we've been here is the quick building of new larger sewers going alongside roads around the edge of central Siem Reap. When people get making something here, it happens, and it happens fast. While certain developments, and getting official documents can drag it's feet for months - get something that needs manual labour and you will see a fast-moving project. Driving alongside these new sewers both in progress and once completed is a reality check in so many ways. As they're being made deep deep channels are dug to accommodate walls of concrete that will reach 3m base to top, reinforced with iron gables, and bridged multiple times for residents of premises just behind these new systems to reach their abodes. The people making them? For some reason it still surprises me as I cycle past to see the number of women working on these projects. Ever friendly, most workers will stop to smile or wave as you cycle by, clearly bemused by the white girl in flip flops cycling down the dirt roads instead of off in the direction of Pub Street ('Wave at Whitey/Beep at the Barang' should definitely be a national sport here!). The work ethic here seems to be, 'If you want work and you can do it, it's yours'. So teens, women, and children all work harder than I think I ever have physically. Health and safety doesn't really exist - barriers blocking roads are ignored - evident by the fact that recently Mr P and I cycled around the edge of a JCB style digger to go to a meeting, timing our cycling so that we didn't get clonked on the head by the scoop. Yes, we actually were that close that we could've leant on it as we skirted round the edge, and yes, my heart did skip a beat for a moment as it swung back towards my beloved's bonce.<br />
Back to the sewers... Open sewers here are just that - open. They are great big structures, and a massive advance for the people living next to or near them, but they are open. Signs alongside them boast 'Having water system improves health of the people' and it's exciting to see people's lives improved, but there is still such a long way to go. On hot days, the stench is something else. With the open sewers even more so than the closed ones along the busiest of roads, everyday rubbish is thrown in rather than collected, or burnt. If you dare to look you can see all sorts of things you'll probably wish you couldn't recognise. They're littered with plastic and have plants growing up in them as testament to the more 'earthy' deposits in there. They do the job though for the most part, and as people are taught not to throw rubbish in, which blocks drainage, the sewage passes through and away from the area. When it rains though... when it rains. Here there are occasional showers, there are light spatterings and then there are moments when the heavens open. If you've used this phrase in the UK, you really have no idea how heavy it can get. The proof is the sewers... Structures 3m deep and usually only 1m full can be suddenly full to the brim, if not overflowing within 30 mins of a heavy downpour beginning. When cycling in the rain (there are times you can't just wait it out) it's best not to think what your toes will be covered in by the time you get home, as your feet pump up and down, round and round through water a foot or more deep, churning up goodness knows what, and simply wash it off as soon as you can, reminding yourself all the while of the vaccines you had before you came out here, and how blessed you are that this is anything other than normal.Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-30969924708728794082013-05-05T11:49:00.001-07:002013-05-05T11:49:19.774-07:00To God be the Glory<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cycling home tonight, just a minute from Sunny Villa, I felt someone grab the strap of my shoulder-bag. Slowing down and turning to smile at the person, I assumed it was Jordan or Hanc or someone else I knew playing a trick.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Give me your bag or I'll kill you." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Obviously not Jord.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"BUGGER off!" Punch to his shoulder for emphasis (Sorry mum and Sharon for swearing!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">THWACK!!! Cue punch to face in response.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"GET OFF ME AND GO AWAY!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mugger turns his bike around, saying "You're crazy!!!" And cycles off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having cycled the very short distance back to the Villa, and decided that I really would need ice, given that the swelling started immediately, I then went up to my room and collapsed into a puddle of tears on the anxious (to say the least) hubby. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Painkillers taken, more ice fetched and settling down to try to sleep, several thoughts came to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had in my bag the money for our visas for the next 6 months. That's the equivalent of about 4 months wages for people over here. And if you're a teacher or a police officer- more like 8 months (if you don't include bribes). He didn't get a bit of it. But he did make me think. I had that money through the amazing support of family and friends, but what situation is he in that he would attack a girl by herself. What desperation, corruption and poverty has made mugging a way of life, or at least a viable option to him? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And you know what else? How much is there for me to do here? For several weeks I've been struggling with our finances. We're so blessed and thankful to have the support that we do- and have been touched that it's so often the people who miss us most, and would love us to come home that give most sacrificially into what God has called us to do. But there's been very little wriggle room - coffee is a treat. So is meat. It's been a (mostly) fun challenge being 'friends with the facts' as our amazing Campus Pastor, Jan, would say, but as we've chosen to steward our money responsibly, seek work and increase finance to allow us to also be generous, God has honoured that in an amazing way even over this weekend. Going through our bank accounts, we've been blown away by the 'extras' that people have gifted to us, and the generosity of our regular supporters. God even blessed the savings we'd put aside to use wisely on our next 'tech purchase' (ie new computer etc as our current one stumbles into OAPness), so there was more then we thought, and will enable us to invest in a moto instead. Over the space of a week we went from not knowing how we would pay for our next visa, to having enough finance to buy a 6month one EACH, and potentially get a moto (we'll start saving again for a computer with our next gig). So then the enemy tried his hand at discouraging me with how far I have to go as a leader, how others are doing so much better, and that I'm probably no use out here anyway. Having listened to the stonking preach by Pastor G (thank you so much Pastor!!!!), on offence and un-forgiveness twice in one day, I decided not to feel condemned but to rise up and face the challenge, to seek Godly counsel, but most of all to get before God and sort myself out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So what's next? A physical attack. Literally. And if the guy had got my bag he would've not only had our visa money, potentially causing us to return to the UK early, my room key (with a really cute key ring from Jo K), he would've had my phone and the podcasts from Freedom including the one on gratitude that I was listening to as he tried to mug me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Financial, emotional, spiritual and physical attack. You know what that adds up to? An enemy overplaying his hand, trying to send me back to the UK, crushed and useless. Who won? The God I love more than anything showing me once again that He has an amazing plan for my life, that He will bring me through all things, and that this country, my home for the next 6 months at least, needs Him a whole lot more than I've yet realised.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enemy, back off. This is one SHE Warrior who has tasted victory mixed with suffering and is not going to back down. Jesus gets my all. </span></div>
Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-32713560068873061342013-05-03T01:53:00.002-07:002013-05-03T01:53:23.331-07:00Partner with the ParkysWell, that's been an exciting couple of days!<br />
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Last night we played out first gig as a group - Hanc, Mr P and myself, along with our saxophonist friend Graham. We performed a mixture of pop and jazz covers for the evening at a 4/5* hotel, with people getting up to dance and lots of smiles all round! A heartening success, and a huge encouragement to pursue more gigs! The hardest gig done, with a massive pool of songs learned and practised, we're eager to perfect our selections and get out there again! What a joy to get paid for doing something you love!<br />
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The great news is that our earnings from the gig will almost cover the next 2.5 months of Visas for Phil and myself. This time we're planning on getting a 6 month Visa to give us a bit more stability and also allow us to travel to neighbouring countries if necessary without invalidating the visa and having to buy a new one! With the help of another one off gift we've received, we're getting there in raising the finance and so we're going to step out in faith and buy the 6 month Visas on Monday. At this point we would absolutely love it if you would partner with us to help us stay in Cambodia for the next 6 months if you feel led to. We're planning on being out here for a fair stretch, and we're excited about how God has already provided, and this is an incredibly practical way you can help us in this next step. We're being strategic in looking for work that we can fit around our church-planting commitments here, and do feel so very blessed to be supported by friends and family back home making our day to day life here possible. Currently the work we have is still limited, and while we're planning, believing for and stepping out to see future Visas, travel fees and even a moto (!) come from our earnings over here, we would like to ask for your support in keeping us right now.<br />
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We're learning a heck of a lot, growing and being stretched, but we know there's a lot more for us out here yet. If you'd like to 'Partner with the Parkys' please get in touch, either through facebook, direct message on Twitter, or email me on parkysgirl@gmail.com<br />
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Thanks guys, we love and miss you, and are so grateful for each of you in our lives!<br />
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BethBeth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-78008741318435083242013-04-12T01:03:00.001-07:002013-04-12T01:03:32.734-07:00My Team(s)Hello again,<br />
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So I thought I'd let you guys know about what I get up to over here in far flung foreign climes!<br />
My roles over here are as Connect Team Leader, and also currently as Production Manager. For those of you who know me from Freedom Church Hereford, you may well know that I was a part of the VIP team and also on the Baking Team. Needless to say, my roles have changed a lot in the last few months, and I've developed a load of skills I never thought I would have. Production-fizzin-Manager!!! Still making me laugh!<br />
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The exciting thing has been that as I've stepped up in those areas, I've seen God challenge my willingness to obey, to learn and to grow. I've also had my ability to lead challenged, and wow, that's a learning curve and a half! We were so blessed when we started Freedom Church Siem Reap to partner with a local team from Pastor Chhay's church. This team had been led and taught by Pastor Jan and Marleen in the 3 months leading up to the rest of us arriving, and brought such passion to the team as we started the buildup to launch. I had several great team members in the Production and Connect Teams, and began to learn to lead. And I learned a lot through that process. Other team leaders showed by example how to love the person and not see them as a project, that when we encourage and lead with love we see the most growth, and Jan shared the great principle that when something goes wrong, the responsibility lies mostly with the leader, and their communication. All of these examples from the leaders around me have challenged and encouraged to get the best from my team by wanting the best FOR them, getting vision for the individuals within my teams, and letting go when that vision means that my team is not where they need to be. So I've gone from the at very start having two teams with combined numbers of 5 volunteers, to now having a team of one. And that's been humbling. The biggest lesson from that has been that it's so much better to let go and let God take out people who He wants in other places, and then trust that He will bring the right people in and grow the teams again.<br />
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Before you all panic that no-one is on Production and no-one is being connected with, we do have the awesome Socheat who has stepped up to become the new Production Manager, and take over from me This will release me to grow the Connect Team, and invest more heavily in getting people rooted into Freedom, and release Phil more into Worship Leading, as he has been walking me through the new skills I've needed. We're currently handing over Production Managing to Socheat gradually, given that this legendary armour bearer is our key translator and during the Sunday event is busy making us English speakers make sense. As I'm currently operating as the sound and media side of production, 'managing' the team currently consists of staying focused and giving myself a good talking to if I get stressed or panicked! Obviously we're not expecting Socheat to simultaneously operate words, creatives, music, wave at the Rosana lighting guy*, talk to the venue staff backstage and translate all at the same time, so we're aiming to train up a team to take on various production roles that he can then oversee. It's a really exciting time, we're expectant for it to go to a whole new level under his leadership, and excited for the release that it will bring to other areas within the campus. What it does mean is that we need that influx of strategic people willing to Get, Own and Carry the vision and take on Production as their area. any prayers you've got on that one would be awesome! As well as Production, I need at least one person to join me on Connect, as I currently run that by myself. My vision for that team is for it to grow to at least 4 people, who can serve on alternate weeks, and for each week to be led by a local volunteer, and for me to step back and take a Co-ordinating role, and release local guys to take ownership. This is such an exciting vision for the team, and I'm excited to see it come to fruition as volunteers step up.<br />
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So as you may gather, I'm basically trying to put myself out of a job! :)<br />
During the week, I'm just about to start working on Scriptwriting for Boomtown creatives again, a fun, and incredibly challenging task as the Freedom Movement expands and the creatives need to relate to an expanding sphere of cultures. I had a hoot writing and filming the Pirate series, and can't wait to see the finished result of the next series to be written. Around that I'm now teaching two Pilates classes a week, with varying levels of attendance and am aiming to put some more practice in to both my Pilates and also my vocals so that some of the team can make the most of opportunities to perform gigs locally too. I've also got an exciting opportunity to work on a secret project! ooh! Intriguing! You may hear more about that in the future, but for now, I better get back to actually working on it, otherwise it won't happen at all!<br />
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I hope this feeds your imagination a little, excited you to know what we're up to and gives you some prayer fodder too!<br />
With heaps of love, and a hope you kept up with the race from subject to subject and thought to thought!<br />
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Beth<br />
(and the ever-so handsome Phil!)Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-79630197174960629372013-04-11T22:18:00.000-07:002013-04-11T22:18:20.495-07:00In Sickness and in HealthHope I didn't have you worried with that title!!<br />
The search for my love of writing is on. I used to love creative writing, and could go on for reams and reams about imagined places and made up creatures. The time has definitely come to resurrect that old passion, and you my friends shall be the guinea-pigs... starting with that title, it's more creative than saying 'some of us have been a bit poorly you know'<br />
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But yes, some of us have been poorly. The joy of cheap eating out at some of the food stalls is that you tend to share your dining table with others... I had two frogs sat under my plastic chair the other day - waiting for the bugs above my head to knock themselves out on the light hanging from the roof and fall helplessly to the ground. I won't give you all the details, but it's fair enough to say that you guys should be really grateful now for food hygiene laws in Britain. They might be annoying at times, but boy, do I miss them! We've seen while we were looking round some flats and houses that a common thing in Cambodia is to have a WC coming straight off the kitchen. Again I won't elaborate further, but it's clear why a few of us have had tummy bugs at various points. Hanc especially had a really vicious bout of illness, and had to get serious treatment, so for all I joke, and 'save you from the details' we could really do with continued prayer covering the team's health. Where we currently live we don't really have many choices for what to do for food - eating out is a must because we don't have our own kitchen, and so we get in the habit of looking for some of the cheaper places to keep costs down, understandably.<br />
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The other thing is the heat - it's very easy to get dehydrated, or a bit burned, just because the climate requires so much more energy for doing normal things. Add that to the fact that we all now cycle several miles a day at least, having previously not had to, it means tiredness can set in quickly.<br />
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That said, we've seen answered prayer in return to health over each of us, but this is not an area we are happy to accept continuing attack in. We know that to be fully effective here, we need to be fit and well. We're thinking creatively about food choices, improving our fitness and getting so much better at keeping hydrated. We're upping our game on the practical side of things, and have seen God move in the Spiritual. So this is a very little blog, but a definite request to stand with us in prayers of protection and health. We know we walk in favour as children of God, and we are so excited and honoured to be a part of the change in lives we see around us. God is good and on the move. We know this nation will be changed, because what God has done in our lives, bringing freedom, purpose and new hope, He can do in all of us, regardless of nation or nationality. Stand with us team as we step out.<br />
Thank you!<br />
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With love!Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-83687685932009133372013-03-07T00:03:00.000-08:002013-03-07T00:03:28.891-08:00Catch up time...Hello all!<br />
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Apologies for the delay writing this blog, our aim is to update you around every two weeks about the shenanigans we're getting up to over here, but we're a tad behind and have been here nearly 2 months now!! It seems like we arrived just last week, and yet life here is so very different to anything we've experienced before our old jobs and schedules feel like a life a million hours gone away.<br />
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So here's my plan, stick with me friends, I've got so much to write about, I'm going to try and curb my habit for wittering and get through a couple of sub-titles to this blog to give you a bit of a more rounded view of life here. Please do ask questions and let us know what you want to know about - whether that's toilets (no they're not that bad... mostly) or temples (yes, they are everywhere, and hauntingly beautiful). I'd love the feedback of knowing that the words don't just go out into a void to sit and get fat by themselves!!<br />
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<u>The Weather</u> (what a great place to start, being British and all!!)<br />
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Every now and then we convince ourselves as we're cycling along that it's no different to a beautiful summer's day in England. Then we twig that it's 38C and at least 10 degrees hotter than nearly every summer we've ever experienced on that lush green Isle! We were fully immersed in the reality of the climate here last weekend as we had a 4-day power-cut. We'd previously experienced planned cuts where we had no day-time electricity, but it came back on in time for us to find our way to bed, plug in our gadgets and have the air-con and/or fan on overnight. This time however, with no warning at all the electricity went off and we had nothing. The reason? A lorry drove smack into a hefty concrete pylon and took it down, causing a domino effect for 11 pylons and interrupting supply from Thailand. The local power station only produces a 1/4 of the electricity required by the city, and so power was dished out to the shops and pubs in town to keep trade going, and hotels, restaurants and everybody else resorted to generators to keep their clients happy. The amazing managers of the Dream Villa Guesthouse where we stay sourced a couple of generators they could put on for a few hours a day, and though this wasn't enough to get electricity back through the hotel it gave us a couple of plugs for charging things, and also, much more importantly, kept the water pump working, so that the tank on top of the roof would continue working. This meant we could take cold showers before bed and during the night when we woke up, to facilitate sleep. It was a crazy couple of days, ones I hope we don't have to repeat, especially given the huge jump in mosquito bites we got as a result of sleeping with windows open! The good news was that the driver of the lorry fled the scene - and if he could run away, I'm taking that to mean he wasn't too badly injured himself!!<br />
The heat continues to ramp up - we're expecting it to reach into the 40's quite easily during April, but it has rained twice now since we've been here, for about an hour each time, so hopefully there'll be a couple of spells of rain to ease the humidity a bit and bring a fresher breeze! Most days are 'Double Deodorant Days' here, and that label that says '48 hour protection'? It lies!! Maybe don't visit until the hot season is done, and we all smell peachy again! ;)<br />
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<u>A Normal Day</u><br />
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I wanted to let you all know what we do on a normal day - but I don't think we've had one yet!! The best I can do is go for generalities, as I'm sure that you wonder what we get up to, especially as most of the photos you'll see are from our downtime or days off. This is usually because those are times we have good wifi and the time to take and post pictures of what's going on<br />
Breakfast interspersed with chatter with our beautiful chef, who daily teaches us new words in Khmer, and practises her English. Breakfast for me is followed by admin - for Production and Connect - getting out my trusty 'to-do' lists and prioritising what needs to be done first. Batteries were last week's biggest achievement after much cycling around and price-comparing. This week we're getting moving on a printer/copier/scanner for us to use. Who said it wasn't a glamourous life hey? Some days I get a pile of hand-washing done, my skills in this definitely need honing, and I won't be sad to get a washing machine at some point!! Washing usually has a worship or preach podcast soundtrack - because without it, who knows what I'd end up singing to distract myself and this is shared accommodation!!<br />
Lunch is often with hubby, sometimes with the team. We'll have meetings over coffee with team/volunteer members, or just to be social. The afternoon for me is often the time to get out and about - fetching things, doing a little shopping, or going to Khmer class twice a week. Then the evening is usually more of a social time - the team are getting quite a nose for bargains - places with free tapas when you buy a drink etc, so that's an occasional treat, or we'll pop to one of our preferred eating spots as a team or in smaller groups. The great thing to see is that as we settle into our different roles here, we all become more independent, spending more and more time with our new friends and contacts here, and not remaining isolated as a group of ex-pats over here. Shout-out to Sarah on this one - she's massively intentional, and follows up 'chance meetings' with regular contact and on an un-related note, the best example of Everything's a Gift I've ever seen!!<br />
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I'm not quite sure why - but today's blog has taken ever so long to write. Partly to do with me searching for birthday gifts for various family members, but just a hard one to know what you'd like to hear about! Perhaps all the words have fallen out of my head today?! We love looking through instagram and seeing so very many of our friends and family, but we'd absolutely love to have a word or two in an email - I'm not always the best at replying quickly, or the most eloquent - but we love you guys out there, our family, our extended family, our adopted family, our friends. We love you, we miss you, we'd love to be praying for you where you have need, and share our prayer needs with you too.<br />
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Be in touch. I'll be back soon... hopefully with a few more words between my ears and making their way to my fingertips...<br />
With love<br />
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Beth, of 'Phil and Beth' fame!Beth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-29659342420186761772013-02-09T09:46:00.001-08:002013-02-09T09:46:40.435-08:001 month in...Today marks our 4 week anniversary of being in Cambodia, yesterday marked our 3 1/2 year wedding anniversary (woohoo, go us!!), Thursday marked our first Khmer lesson, Wednesday marked the middle of the week, Tuesday was the day before that and Monday began the week!!<br />
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Okay, so you probably could have guessed the last few of those, but you know what? This has been an exciting week for us. As part of the worldwide Freedom Church movement, we've just done a week-long fast, and seen God move in amazing ways, and drawn a whole lot closer to Him. We're so very excited to see how He moves on our behalf at our second event tomorrow!<br />
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After 700+ people at the launch 2 weeks ago, with around 100 people responding to the message, we paid respect the the Cambodian King Father by not having a full event last week, but still saw 70 people come, 1 salvation and 2 recommitments! This week we go back to a full event and are praying for a packed venue again! We're believing God for so much more than our 25 strong team of volunteers can manage!<br />
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We had an amazing night of teaching tonight from or campus Pastor Jan Blondeel, preceded by off the scale worship led by Josh Cooke. At the end of the worship time there was a time of speaking out what what God laid on any one of our hearts, and among those who shared was Ruby. You'll be hearing a lot more about this amazing young woman, if you haven't already twigged who she is, she has such passion and a real commitment to see God use her to change her nation. Tonight she shared about having seen those 100+ responses, but her heart breaking as she looked up and saw all those who hadn't yet responded, and who God was desperately wanting to have relationship with. She brought such insight into the Father's heart, who is thrilled with each and every person who turns to have relationship with Him, but he is not satisfied until each and every one has come home. And the harvest here is huge!<br />
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Most people that we talk to have no idea what church is, they've never heard of it. In fact we have to tell them again and again that it's free, that it's not a show, and hopefully over time they'll get the idea that coming in and out throughout will mean they miss out! It's an entirely new culture, and a real challenge and eye-opener to realise that God can use us, but He needs us to put aside our ideas of what church should look like first!!<br />
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Another thing that's happened this week (and last) is that we had Kezia and her sister Bianca here visiting. Kezia heads up the Freedom Church Singapore extension and is an amazing leader. Bianca too has leadership potential written all over her, and I'm believing God has massive things lined up for both of them!! Through their visit, we also connected with some other guys on the ground here, I've especially linked in with an amazing young woman called Brittnay, working with Agape International over here. (Ask me about them sometime, or google them!). Meeting her has been such a blessing, an signifies a settling in, and rooting in to Siem Reap as our home. What a blessing!!!<br />
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And home it is... definitely for the next 3 months anyway!! We've been to the Visa office and extended ours for another 3 months each. Lots of ins and outs of the best value vs ease of application etc, but given there's 2 of us in Team Parky it made it easier to go for 3 months each. If you're reading this and something's telling you to partner with us, there's a really practical way you can help. We so appreciate being covered in prayer, and we know there are many of you faithfully doing that each day, and given some of the things we come up against, you won't ever know how grateful we are for our prayer warriors! The practical side of it is this though, our visas will cost $285/each for a whole year. That's $570 for the two of us, and that works back to about £361 at the current exchange rate, plus a little extra for us to transfer it over to our account here. Now we're excited to be stepping out in faith and getting work here, God's already provided on this front, and we're hoping to pick up more and more work as we establish ourselves here in Siem Reap, with our ultimate aim of being completely self-supporting here. Again, I want to thank everybody giving in, and supporting us, right now we could not be here without you. As time goes on, we want to be able to release our supporters and sponsors to give in to the new and the next thing that God raises up, and we want to be earning and giving generously to those things too. It's going to take us a little while to get there though, so as these next three months tick by, would you consider partnering with us to get these next visas, and to help us plant church here in such a practical way? Pray about it, ask God if it's right for you to do, and if you feel it's right please do get in touch. In a month or so I'll send out a little reminder in our blog, and as the time arises for us to apply for the new visa we'll let everyone know. In the meantime, if you could be praying about that, we'd so appreciate it.<br />
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And now? Well now, dear friends, I'm going to bed!! I'm pooped! It's just turning 1am, and we've got an exciting day coming tomorrow! I can't wait to report back on all that God does!<br />
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Sending heaps of love and hugs!!<br />
Mrs Parky! aka Beth xxBeth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4469260710089343801.post-53546710768948630332013-01-23T03:56:00.000-08:002013-01-23T03:56:11.478-08:00Why Cambodia?Many of you now know that Phil and I have moved to be part of church planting in Siem Reap in Cambodia, 8,388 miles from our life in Hereford (7,927 if you walk rather than drive!) but you may not all know why.<br />
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Here's why,<br />
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We moved to Hereford to be part of the Freedom movement nearly a year and a half ago, because we felt called to come to a new place of challenge and growth in our Christian lives. And what a challenge it's been. It's been an exciting, challenging, difficult, exciting, fulfilling year. We've been through a couple of house moves, adapted to being further away from family, and been challenged to step up our walks, so that we're not just alive, but grabbing hold of every opportunity that God has for us to live through. This year we've been through some really tough stuff as a couple, and also in our wider family - but God's brought us through so that we're now stronger as a couple, in a place we know we can do anything and go anywhere He calls us, because He'll be with us, and provide us with all we need to stay there.<br />
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So just at the point where we're settled in Hereford, and asking God what the next move is for us, we were asked if we'd like to be a part of the team moving to Cambodia to be part of the Freedom Church plant out there. The 'if' questions we had, soon changed to 'when', and before we knew it, we had the applications filled in, had taken an interview and were on the team. A willingness to be, go, and serve as God calls us to landed us this amazing opportunity.<br />
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And after we said yes, then came the excitement and the passion. The pieces began to fall into place, as we realised that so many of the things on our hearts had prepared us for moving to this nation, including a growing heart on my part (Beth) to work with girls who have been trafficked into the sex industry. Although many think of prostitution as a life choice, so many women and girls in Cambodia simply don't have an option. Some are tricked into it with promises of work in the big cities, some are sold into it by the people they love, their parents, their wider family, or even by their spouse. And once in a brothel, there's no escape. If they do get out, there's no chance of return to their families as they are seen as shamed and soiled. It's an incredibly hard reality, but one that we cannot ignore. God has called us to be salt and light. If we are light, then we're brightest when we take that light into the darkest places. If you can, please watch this video to understand some more of the stories of the girls, individuals, like you, like me, like your sister, like your daughter.<br />
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7MJVQJnHcM<br />
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Please always include the word 'Trafficking' in any youtube searches, and be careful of the links you choose - there are some 'suggested' videos that I would be very wary of. I don't want any of you reading/viewing something unintentionally which is actually feeding into this industry rather than fighting against it.<br />
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As this post is long overdue (it's been lurking in my drafts for ages!) I'll sign off this blog and get writing another!<br />
Sending love<br />
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BethBeth Parkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03333258814082489889noreply@blogger.com1