While I have your attention

While I have your attention, meet Vatey.

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.

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!

Thanks!

Heaven in a cup...cake!

Having just shared my thoughts regarding Blossom Cafe and Training Centre, 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!

Beth x



My goodness, where to start?

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...
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.
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!!
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!
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.

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! ;) )
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.

See you there.

So's your face, So's your mum!

Anyone else started/ended a conversation with those words?

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. 

In case you can't quite figure out why the phrase in this Blog's title would ever be funny, let me explain...

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. 

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!

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'. 

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...

Your mum.

Oh really?

Yes, you see, she plays the violin, you can hear the violins.... now. That's her. Your mum's playing this.

Right...

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.'

(Laughing) are they?

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!!!

What's this bit?

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. 

And that's what this song's about. 

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. 

Happy Birthday Mum x

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. 

Foreign fourth...

How do you celebrate 4 whole years of wonderment in marriage, in a far away country, on a budget?
You ask the Parkys for ideas!!

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...

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!).
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!

'Happy fruity 4th'

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!

 

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!

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.

'His and hers' mugs

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!

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... 

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. 

And that was our day... relaxed, food-filled and a heap load of fun.

 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. 

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!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Oi! Parkys... are you still alive?!

So, we're rather overdue an update aren't we?

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 as soon as we remember it's time to do them and to obey the jobs list in your diary, rather than procrastinate and then feel guilty! Note to self over, let's get on with some news shall we?

First item on today's agenda is:

I managed to electrocute myself whilst making dinner last night... twice!
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.

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!

House move!
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!

Gigs and Pilates!
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
 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!

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!! ;)
On that note though - here are some of my musings whilst out in a massive rainstorm last week:

You know it's Rainy Season when...

...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.
...you genuinely try cycling with your eyes closed, because it's simply too difficult to keep them open.
...tuk-tuk drivers park up in foot-deep puddles to use the rainwater for a free wash-down of their bikes and tuk-tuks.


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!


Beth x

And welcome to Rainy Season

This 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...

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

To God be the Glory

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.

"Give me your bag or I'll kill you." 

(Obviously not Jord.)

"BUGGER off!" Punch to his shoulder for emphasis (Sorry mum and Sharon for swearing!)

THWACK!!! Cue punch to face in response.

"GET OFF ME AND GO AWAY!"

Mugger turns his bike around, saying "You're crazy!!!" And cycles off.

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. 

Painkillers taken, more ice fetched and settling down to try to sleep, several thoughts came to me.

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? 

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. 

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.

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.

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.