Some more videos

Just quickly I thought I would put up some videos. Eileen and I are on our way out to Place of Rescue that Eileen worked at last time she was in Cambo so I'm sure we'll have some more pics by sunday!!

This first vid is the day we went to the Post Office. Yes, there is only one. Weird.

We found some monkeys, which freaked me out. What if they jumped down on me? Eileen thought, again, that I was lame. I like monkeys, but not the free kind. Oh, that sounds really awful. But it's true!

The second vid was filmed just last night. We had ourselves a lovely Western meal at Steve's Steakhouse (Clarker, a bit funny eh?) and ate burgers, fries and milkshakes! It was great! Then we walked down Sihanouk Blvd. to Java Cafe; our favorite little iced coffee spot. We ate Strawberry crumble pie and iced coffees and watched the lightning. It was so beautiful. We pretended we were at Saffron's sitting out on the patio watching the Corydon traffic (except, it was way more crowded, people spoke a different language and the food was WAY better;) I hope you can see the lightning in this one. It was so majestic coming from a humongous black cloud. And...it didn't rain on us!

And lastly a pic to prove the amount of rain we get in one down pour. This was on my way home from work. I guess the drainage system is feeling the pressure now!

See ya later alligator! Talk to you all soon!!

I'm freakin' 24 years old!!

How goes it? It's hot and I'm sweaty and it hasn't rained for at least 2 days!! I hope it rains tonight, so we can get a cool down again. My sunburn is burning me alive!!

I'm getting a bit anxious. You see, Nurse Ruth is leaving for her lovely Britain in March and well, I'm not; I'm staying. So that means; I'll be on my own. Nurse Ruth says in the New Year she would like to hand over the Clinic Reigns to me so that I can get used to doing EVERYTHING!!! That means I have to be on top of it all. Referrals for STD's, HIV testing lists, restocking the meds, education clinics, finances, pregnancies, adoptions, brothel outreach days and everything single being that enters my clinic with whatever illness they present with is my responsibility!!

What do I think about this?

Well, it brings up a couple different responses in this ol' Berly heart of mine;

1. AHHHHH!!! Yay!!! I'm super excited! It's what I've always dreamt of doing. It's a rocking opportunity to be stretched and I get to make it my little baby. I can do with it what I want. And wow, the amazing things I'll learn. I definitely will be able to work North Main in Winni when I get back.

2. AHHHHHH!! Oh no!! I'm Kimmy, not some Primary Care Nurse Extravaganza! What the hell was she thinking?? I come from Dauphin. My biceps look like inserted sausages! I sleep with my teddy- Blue Bear still!!? I'm freakin' 24 years old!

So, yeah, that pretty much wraps it up!! sigh...

Okay, so obviously Nurse Ruth sees some quiet potential in this girl...I'll trust her.

We've been working on figuring out some numbers. We need sponsors. That's what it comes down to. Let me list our needs, in financial dollars:

Dental $5-10 (that's getting a tooth extracted)
Optician $20+ (eye testing and eye glass fitting)
H20 filters $10 (filter per family that will last for a very long time; like a BRITA)
Pregnancy/delivery $30 (covers one ultrasound and 20 bucks for popping it out)
Meds per month $100 (covers everything from tylenol to STD antibiotics)
HIV testing $5 dollars for 6 girls (transporation costs. the testing is free for brothel girls)

It's piddly money but it's humongous money here from these girls perspectives. Just think about it, ok? I'm going to try and get in contact with different companies from CANADA, like Corydon Dental, or Eye Deal EyeWear, or maybe a nice Pharmacist;)

I'm also thinking a lot about what the girls will do when both Nurse Ruth and I leave. What will remain of our hard work? Welllll,.....I've seen first hand what education can do. It IS the answer to poverty and racism and well, the list goes on. So, I've made a list of many many many many different things I'd like to teach them. So that when we leave they've got a small handle on some things. IE. Infections, contraceptives, reproduction, nutrition, dental care, eye care, when to seek help, how to dress a wound, bacteria, antenatal and postnatal care of infant and mommy. I'm excited with a capital E!

Some ponderings to end the night:

I sit and I watch
Right on the top of this pile
I listen and I learn
While you're being buried before you've died; With dirt from my shoes in your mouth.
Oh, but can I help at all?
Oh, but do I help at all?
But still.....Would you let me save you?

Although all I have are empty hands
And all that i have are ugly scars myself
The children still sing for help
What can I do?
But still.....Would you let me save you?

I sit and I watch
And I'm screaming inside
When there's nothing more I can do.
When I can't seem to help at all
What then do I hear?
What then do I learn?

When there's nothing more I can say
When there's nothing more I can do-
Then the magic which lies behind runs ahead!
And the Crimson Red linings of our souls
make way
with words to say
with more to do- a way!
There I see I am saving you
And you are saving me
We are saved
By the Grace that dances 'round by the Crimson Red
We are saved.

Love your Buttercup,
Kimmy Alice

Birds and Boys.

Let's talk boys for a second. First of all, let me just inform you on what I mean by "boy". A male between the ages of 18-29 (well, maybe 30)

Okay, so first of all I think I've re-entered the stage in my life where I've become much too too too too shy to speak to boys. Or, I guess I could say WHITE boys. Yes, there are some here but when I see white boys I get very flustered, a bit more redder then I already am, and then I seriously turn and run the other way or I do something rediculously strange.

Exhibit A.
I'm serious, whenever there are hot white boys around I stare at them as if they are some strange creature that is vaguely familiar to me. Eileen thinks she's so sweet by pointing them out for me. Like I'm a little baby girl just learning what the word, "boy" is!! We were at the market a couple weeks ago and I'm serious, Eileen stalked a group of "them" with amazing Australian accents for me! We probably followed them for like 20 minutes. AGAIN, I was much too scared to even look at their faces.

Exhibit B.
We were at the pool today. We have a gym pass at Hotel Cambodiana so we also have free access to the pool!! We worked out this morning and then we headed to the pool to cool off and catch some rays. (which, may I just say; Mom, I so put on sunscreen this time! But I burnt anyways!!) Okay so let me give you the low down on this pool "area". It's apparantly prime pigeon roaming ground. Yes. And if you don't already know; I am very fearful of birds; well, really anything that has wings and flutters them at me!

Okay so there we are. Just bobbing about in the cool water, under a gorgeous S.E. Asian sky and, of course, the BIRDS come. Okay, so two birds came. But still, I swear they are purposefully coming for me! They fluttered down to where I was bobbing and I freaked out! I splashed, I screamed, I whimpered (the cute kind of whimper mind you...). Yeah, Eileen says she's scared of them too but I don't believe her. Her responses soooo say the opposite!

Okay so later we're lying on our amazingly hot little suntan/lounge chairs and Eileen all of a sudden says in a really low and slow voice, "Kim. Oh my. Kiiiiiim". My first thought? BIRDS. I'm serious. I'm tense the whole time I'm at the pool. I hear a flutter and I think...Doom! Okay, so I immidiately got into the fetal position and started kicking those Merry Foster Legs, fanning my towel out as a shield...while the whole time with my eyes closed. Of course? Of course!

So Eileen starts laughing at me. The kind of laughing that involves a LOT of eye rolling. So...apparantly there were no birds about to peck out my eyes....there was a hot white boy at 2 o'clock having a shower (bathing suit clothed) out on the deck!! Ahhh. Dang it! I was sure that I made a complete fool out of myself...but I guess he did smile at me when he left to go inside?!!!!!

And there you go: Two reasons why I'll be single forever; Exhibit A and B.

Okay so that's white boys. But let me tell you about Khmer boys. Cute? yes. I have a small (well maybe a bit bigger then "small", maybe medium) crush on one of my motto drivers. His name, which we learned today, is Td'ill. Pernouncing this one is difficult. But, seeing how I have a crush on the boy I think I'll learn it fast enough;) Okay, so he's the shyest boy ever. He has the greatest smile and a tan to die for! Eileen and I took mottos today around town. I was with Run (my usual driver) and I "let" Eileen have Td'ill. It was fun. But Eileen and I think we have to hold in the reigns a bit. Run started asking, "You have man?" Oh dear!

So, I know it's a bit fluffy and so immature to devote a whole blog entry to boys...but hey, I'm a girl!

Peace out,
K.A.F.

Keepin my Peeps Happy!

Ladies and Gents! Soks a Bi? Hope all is well on the home front...you're in for a little treatie treat treat...vids and pics for y'all: (oh, but you have to let me know if they're crap. The internet here is way too slow for me to watch them...so I have no idea if they are even loaded correctly)

First video is my motto ride home today. Not as much traffic as usual, I got out earlier from Clinic!! Just to give you an idea of my Surroundings and ...the speed at which I travel!

We've got RAIN folks. I'm talking a Torrential downpour people. Craziness happening this side of the globe. Seriously. Eileen and I got stuck at a photoshop and gave up waiting it out...the electricity was out for more then an hour...pretty normal though...
Okay next vid is taken while we were making a run for it to get home. I was leading the pack and completely soaked to the bone when I quickly stopped and hid us under a little food stand tarp overhang. We look like we're having fun but really, come on, it's a complete show. I never have fun anywhere I go...cough cough...the end.

We got completely soaked. Which brings me to my next pic. Our lovely neighborhood tuk tuk that has sort of, along with probably 4 other younger men, decided to take us ladies under their wings! If we need a ride? Their on it. If I can't work my phone. Their on it. If I need someone to wave at me while I walk down the street? Their are ON it! He knew we were walking and got caught in the rain so he came looking for us. We were running home, completely soaked and he drove up and said, "You ride. Free!" Ahhh, our night in shining armor. A little Khmer gentlemen!

Okay so my computer is saying no to me trying to add more pics/vids so be patient, keep your sun bonnets on and stay tuned for more action to come!

Oh, and I should add that miraculously the lady with the very malnourished baby came to the clinic on Tuesday to ask for help with her baby. She's never been at the clinic before. Just as I was giving the babe some Ibuprofen and antibiotics a lady nurse from an organization down the street showed up and said she had found a home for both the mom and her two children! It happened way too perfectly to be called a coincidence. It turns out the mom has AIDS which means the baby probably is HIV pos. as well, making it difficult to stay healthy and nourished as it is then. I guess I underestimated the Big Guy cause they've gone to stay at a hospice!

Oh and you may find it funny to read Eileen's blog (the link is at the top right: "Kampuchea Travels") about the RAT. I so was NOT that scared. Really, I'd say she was way more scared then me! Pssh, me, A scaredy cat?...never...

Keep fit and have fun people,

Love Kimmy Alice xxx

oh and happy b-day LJ!

Dying Angels.

Hello. I am bit somber tonight. A rough day is an understatement...

So Monday's are "Outreach Days". I think it's an awful title but ho hum, I didn't come up with it. What it means is Nurse Ruth and I go to a brothel and pay them a visit. That came off a bit 'fruity', what I''m trying to say is, we become the travelling Nurses we've always wanted to be!! Today will go down in my heart as a day of great sadness, great ache, and great humbleness. Today I saw things with my own two brown eyes that make the whites of them red....

We took a walk, Nurse Ruth, and our two translators and myself...about two blocks from where I go to work EVERYDAY. We turned a corner and were all of a sudden in an open yard with houses along the outsides, in a circle. We made our way to a porch of a house and walked between the tight buildings on a makeshift walkway/bridge...made of nailed down bits of wood. We found a spot to sit and we were told to wait; That one of the brothel girls would bring "them". Oh my. God help us!

All of a sudden there were probably 50 people. Children. Women. Men. All about us. They crowded us on our little mats and pushed their dirty, sick, wormy, malnourished and crying babies and children into our laps. Ruth became the Adult Care Corner and somehow the children all decided to flock to the Canadian. I was a bit taken back at first but also really excited. Ooooh, I thought, this is it!! I was cleaning foot sores, assessing oozing/swollen ears, hugging smiling baby boys with no clothes on. Looking in mouths to find few teeth without a crack or cavity. I was getting those de-wormer pills out with a vengeance when I turned to look right infront of me and asked, Who's next?..."who's next" will haunt me...

I saw an old women sitting cross-legged with a baby in her arms, wrapped in a dirty brown rag. The baby was bones. My breath was knocked right out of me. I stared. It was a skeleton. It had arms the thickness of my Father's thumb, it had ribs and bones protruding from it's skin as visible as it's nose. I choked out a, "Ruth! Help." But she was too busy. I asked the women how old her baby was. He was 5 months old!!! I would've said 5 weeks old! He was that malnourished. I didn't know what to do. I grabbed my stethoscope to try and focus, but when I listened it made it worse. I assessed it's Fontanel and mucous membranes. Sticky. I felt for it's pulse. Thready. Finally Ruth saw my dying angel and saw my eyes and my quivering chin. She held my hand and together we acted as one nurse. We found out he was only drinking 4 oz. a day. That the women was not his biological mother but an adoptive one. She said she didn't have enough money to feed him more. We looked at eachother and Ruth asked for the both of us, "Can we take him? Would you give him to us? He's dying. He will soon be dead." She refused. She said she got more money with this pile of precious bones when she begged at the RiverFront. He was her leverage.

We cried. Right there. Infront of everyone. We weeped. But we had to move on. We were there for 2.5 hours and probably treated 30 people. We ran to Daughter's under a black sky. It poured just as we got in the doors.
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I've always been a bit visual with my emotions. Like I feel them so intensely that I begin to see them as well. Colors. Shapes. Textures. Depths. Weights.
Today in Church E. and I sat at the back. Us Notty girls; came in late with our iced coffee's in hand! We sang a song about the Glory of the Lord rising up all around. The powerpoint had a rainbow as the background. As I stood and sang my heart out I suddenly realized I was seeing something else. The room was completely quiet. But I wasn't in the room. I was standing on the street. Down by the market. And instantly i pictured this swift, rolling, ribbon-like cloud. It was weaving in and out, up and down, between and around. All along the streets of P.P. In the hustle. The noises. The dirt. The poverty. I gasped, "It's here!"

Hope? I saw hope. it was slow but quick all at the same time. Deep purple with white and blue. The streets seemed to have the mute button on. Like a wind. It wrapped around the mottos. it stretched under the tables along the sidewalks. It breathed past the beggars and enveloped the street girls. It was quick as the people kept moving. I lost my breath for a second. I blinked and i was back in church. It was the glory of the Lord all around.

I stared at the rainbow on the powerpoint then looked around. I saw the multi-colored heads all around me. Different heights. shapes. colors. textures. weights. depths. At first I saw a sea of differences. Then I saw the colored hands raised and I realized that WE are the rainbow! We are the colors of the Rainbow. We are what God sees. This is what God sees. His children. His creation.

So I'm no the only one with a colorful imagination I thought to myself.
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Today as I sat searching for the last children's vitamins we had in the bag, I felt that ribbon of wind. I saw those bright colors. I was there. It was there. We weren't alone. I gave them to Him. I was humbled. I could do nothing.

With a new found thankfulness for a full belly, a healthy grin, a strong laugh and a witnessing spirit,

Kimber...

A bit of Mischief!

How goes it my friends? I'm thinking of you all and when I'm lying in my bed trying to fall asleep I think of all of you just waking up and having breakfast! It's a bit weird when I think about it...but it's all really cool;)

I thought I should give you a little update on Daughter's. It's going good. I've been taking the clinic on my own with Nurse Ruth upstairs in the office or running about delivering water filters to the new Mama's! We've got a lot of preggy ladies! 13 to be exact. And we're actually finding a place for them all. None of the girls want to keep their babies so orphanages or families are what we're focusing on finding now. It's weird, even though they worked in the brothels they have no idea how to use a condom or what an STD is! Nurse Ruth and I have our work cut out for us;)

There's been some funny times in the Laboratory these past few days when Kimberly Foster enters the premises! There was one poor soul who had hemorrhoids so I gave her some suppositories to administer to herself at home after each BM (cough cough). Unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever way you look at it; she didn't know how to use a suppository. Like I'm sure many of you people may not know too. So I was attempting to explain how but stopped and said like my new British friend would, "Oh bother. Let me show you!". So I lied on the ground (fully clothed! People, come on! Get your minds out of the gutter!) on my left side, raised my right leg and pointed with my finger to the, well, you know...the spot! And I explained to her how to do it! Well...let me tell you, it sure released the tension in the room because all of the women; the translator, nurse Ruth and our poor client were howling watching ME on the dirty floor! Yeah, I'd say I've got the moves.

I also find it so tempting to say things in English to people when they have no idea what I'm saying. Like, for instance; I had a client who was 5 months pregnant and I had to do an abdominal assessment and also use a Doppler to hear the fetal heart rate. So she lies down and after I wash my hands and start poking around her very obviously pregnant belly, I say out loud, "Yep, you've definitely got a baby in there. I'd say your pregnant!" Okay, so unfortunately I can't exactly remember what I said but it was hilarious...the poor translator standing beside me looked at me with a very confused and shocked face as if she wasn't sure she was hearing right...Nurse Ruth had to explain through a cackle that Sray Kim was just joking! It's probably one of the biggest pros to living where almost no one speaks English! Fun times!

I went to Sway Pak yesterday to do some simple triaging and nursing care with Nurse Ruth yesterday afternoon. We went in a van about 30 minutes away from where I live. It was an old brothel. The van was filled with ex-brothel girls from another housing centre a ways away from Daughter's. The girls go twice a week to play with the brothel children and kind of i guess do Sunday School for them. They had gutted the old brothel building into one large room and left only one brothel room in tact to use as a monument or a sort of reminder of the hell that existed in the past there but doesn't have control now! I walked inside the little pink room and immediately got the chills. It was about 5 feet by 5 feet with only a wooden bed frame. The walls were disgusting with dirt, blood and writings on them. I stood there and felt sick to my stomach imaging that THIS is exactly where deeds of pain and shame were committed. I had to leave. We quickly got on with the nursing stuff and I was forced to focus on something else...

Last night though it came back to me in the form of a nightmare! I was a brothel girl. I was raped. It felt real. I was sobbing out loud! Eileen woke me up and I darted for her bed. Thank goodness for shallow sleeping room mates! I fell asleep shortly after I got into her bed with salty tears drying on my face. It was just a glimpse into what they went through EVERY day of their lives...

Well, I should cut this thing short but I just wanted to point out that my favorite part of my day is riding to and from work on the back of a motto. I get to see and feel and smell Cambodia up close. I see the strangest things too! Yesterday I saw two oxen pulling a wagon and also a small horse pulling a carriage!! I smiled with glee. I miss the farm.

Over and out,
10 4
Kimbers...

Is it Possible?

Hey there my readers!
It seems like we're getting into the roll of things here now. And my first homesick day set in....yesterday. I just was sooo sad. That's all I could say to Eileen. There's a number of reasons but let's just leave those for another time.

Okay, so in amongst the pitty party I was having with myself, I started thinking about our actions. I was very aware of the weight of our decision on others when Eileen and I set out on our Asian Adventure! The good byes at the airport were difficult. I was sad that others were sad but also I felt a bit guilty. Like I was the reason for Mallory's rolling tears or Crystal's heavy sobs (sorry ladies). "Why were we doing this?" was a common thought that E. and I would say on the way to Cambodia.

So I know for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Meaning we are all connected. And in a way that's a good thing; it reveals the depth of our relationships and that we actually really mean something to someone else. We matter.

So then that got me thinking that if we affect eachother so much, I want to be someone who makes wise decisions, so that my actions bless not blunder those around me. For the betterment of not only my future but my future family's and our community I want to have discernment. That means, I guess, and I know this may completely come off as lame, but it means I wish to be a Wife of Noble Character (Proverbs 31:10-31).

I was in a women's book club a year or so ago and we looked at this passage. And the question was asked, "Is it possible to be a women like that?" And I think that's a very good question. Hmmm....what do I think? We'll get back to this.

Some points they make of this "Noble Women" are:

She has value far more then riches. Her husband has full confidence in her. She brings good not harm. She has a good work ethic and is useful. She considers others. She has discernment and good judgment. She is generous. She does not worry. She loves beauty and takes care of herself. And my favorite part is verse 25-26; She is clothed in strength and dignity...she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue...

Titus 2:3-5

She is reverent. She is Love. She is self-controlled, pure, busy and KIND.

1 Peter 3:1-6

Without words she shows with her behaviour that she is pure and reverent. Her beauty does not come from decorating her body. Her beauty is of a gentle and quiet spirit. She does not give way to FEAR.

I think our world confuses women. We're supposed to be strong, sporty and independent...a business mind. On the other hand we're supposed to be gentle, delicate and mothering... We're supposed to be beautiful and thin and magestic. OR we're supposed to be weak and need a MAN to swoop down and save us. BUT...we can't be all those things at once. We were each made differently...and when we stop and breathe...and realize that in our uniqueness we are all women of the Lord, then we give ourselves room to fly!
a poem I wrote:

For I am a Woman

Gather the angels around
Lift up the Sun and let the colors of Heaven drop down
Release the powers of the Sea
and call out the Trees of Authenticity
For I am a Woman
and Beauty exists in me.

I am the Lover of the Meek
The Seeker of the Lost
I am the Mother of the Future
and will perservere no matter the cost
For I am a Woman
and Beauty exists in me.

Let me woe you with my smile
and excite you with my eyes
You will be saved by my gentle ways,
you will dread my good byes
For I am a Woman
and Beauty exist in me.

I will impress you with my mind
and captivate you with my essence
I am matchless and one of a kind
and I pray, that as you stand in my presence
you will see;
Love created this spirit and body so
I am a Woman
and Beauty exists in me.

Yeah, it might be a tad sappy but I like it.
So, can a women of Noble Character be attained by the modern woman? I'm not sure yet, but I'm definetly going to try;)

Peace and Love,
k.a.f.

We've got cockroaches!!!

Hey there my peeps! I hope all is well on the home front!

Just a quick post today.

I was at Daughter's yesterday afternoon getting into the swing of things working in the clinic. The girls who came told us their issues through our lovely translator/counsellor and we do our best to diagnose and prescribe. We had some girls with headaches, re-occuring STD's, pregnancy check ups and one who was raped. This girl is 17 years old and came in complaining of not having her period for 2 months (sorry guys). We did a pregnancy test and while we were waiting we asked if she had a partner. She said no. So we asked if the sex was consensual and she said no. She told us that she is raped EVERY single day by her brother in law! He is a fortune teller and when he is controlled by the spirit he comes into her room and rapes her. I sat there completely overwhelmed.

We asked about Hagar or other houses that take girls in her situation but they are either full or they are too far from home and do not pay the girls for the work they do. She didn't want to leave Daughter's. I started to cry. She sat there, hunched over, with no life in her eyes and we sat there with nothing to give her. We looked at eachother and I asked if we could pray for her. So before she left to go home to something that shouldn't even be considered a "home", we prayed. I prayed that she would be given protection, a new place to live and great comfort from God. We told her that in a way it was a gift from God that she was not getting her periods because this way she would not get pregnant. She told us that we were the first people she has ever uttered this to for 2 whole months!! My heart is sore.

I was surprised though by how quickly I jumped right in when we were seeing clients. I started asking the questions we needed to ask. And I also had suggestions that Nurse Ruth hadn't thought of either. We do a lot of preventative teaching. And that's my cup of tea! On monday I am heading to the brothels with nurse Ruth to visit with each girl and to give what medicines and care we can. I am both incredibly excited and nervous! I can't wait;)

I took a moto ride home from work yesterday. A moto is a motorcycle. And because, as you all know, hopefully...I am a woman! So I have to sit....side-saddle!! I just pretended it was a horse and I sat with my skirt and my books about STD's on my lap and went to hold onto my lovely looking motto drivers back. That's when Nurse Ruth stopped me. In her british accent she said, "Oh, well I don't think that's such a good idea. I think they don't mind eachother touching them but maybe not a foreigner. No. That's not appropriate." Okay. So I held onto the back of the seat and when he started to drive I laughed with excitement....yet another thing a woman is not supposed to do; Cackle. And you know how I can cackle. So I held in my excitement and when we went over big bumps I just bit my lip! I loved it though. Thank goodness for all those dirt bike rides when I was younger, huh Stan?!

Well, that's about it. Other then the fact that I killed a GIGANTIC cockroach this morning with Eileen's map of Phnom Penh, everything is going smoothly! (I seem to be the rodent/insect killer of the two of us...hmmm) Oh and for the record, I haven't slept walked since the first night! AND I only sleep in Eileen's bed now because SHE is scared, not me. Just for the record.

Eileen and I are headed for some relaxation at a spa today. One hour massages for 7 dollars anyone?! HA.

Peace and Love,
The Berly-Kim

Becoming a Daughter of Cambo!

Juum Riep Sua! Soks a bi? Soks a bi.

Just a little Khmai to get you all excited!
Well, I have lot's to report on so we might as well get started;

I've been to visit Daughter's a couple times now. And it's more then I could've dreamed. I'm very impressed with the facilities and the programs. I have to take Tuk Tuk rides all on my own now and the first day I had to it poured! Okay, so I like rain, right? I used to like going for runs at night in Winnipeg along Wellington late at night. And I thought THAT was powerful rain?! Well, let me tell you...I have NEVER seen rain like this. I came downstairs to wait for my tuk tuk to arrive (yes, I have my own driver. I've sort of just adopted him into that role. I have him programmed into my cellular...Pireth is his name. He used to be a teacher but it only paid him 25 dollars a MONTH! so he quit and makes more driving then teaching?!), and when I got down the stairs I was almost taken away by the floods! Okay, okay...that's me exageratting...but it was deep and coming down fast. It was at least up to midcalf! My tuk tuk came and he drove right up to my front door and opened the flaps to the tuk tuk that he had pulled down to shield me from the rain! He had one of those flimsy rain coats on that look like they're made of saran wrap. I thought it would be dry inside but to my dismay my butt got completely soaked from the seats! On the way I couldnt believe my eyes. The rain in the streets were deep; half way up the tires. I started to giggle out loud! Ooh, what an adventure. It started to thunder and lightning and I got really excited. We made our way down Sihanouk and when we stopped at a "stop light" I saw a little wet girl sitting on the median. She was completely soaked! When we stopped I heard a little voice behind me. It was her. She had come to the back of the tuk tuk and parted the flaps and extended her two empty, wet hands inside and asked for money. Ahhhh!! I had been warned not to give in by Eileen. But my poor little heart was breaking for her poor little heart. I shook my head no and because I didn't know what else to do I kissed my empty palms and put them in her empty palms and drew a very big and warming smile...I gave her my love with a smile on!

We finally arrived at Daughter's and I was escorted to a semi-secretive destination. It is a tall skinny building amongst what I can see to be the poorest of the city. I was in the slums. All of the girls and women smiled widely when I came and was introduced. I met the nurse I will be working with, her name is Ruth, and so is the boss so I will call the nurse; Nurse Ruth and the boss; Boss Ruth. Nurse Ruth showed me our little nursing room and I sat in on some triaging. A lot of headaches, STD's, TB, loss of appetite, depression, night mares, HIV, worms and other such things. We are actually diagnosing, prescribing meds and doing assessments all without the help of a doctor! The plan is for me to watch and assist Nurse Ruth until I feel comfortable to do it on my own. Nurse Ruth leaves in March '09 so please pray another nurse will be able to come before I have to leave too! I am also teaching a jewellery class one morning a week. The programs that I was able to see in action were the cake decorating (and I am talking wedding cakes more elaborately and perfectly decorated then our cakes in Canada!), jewellery, sewing (table runners, clothes, pot holders, etc....I'm trying to get a connection with Ten Thousand Villages going. Boss Ruth sells to America, NZ, Aust, and England but not to CAnada!), and t-shirt making...these are awesome shirts too. I think all of you would like them. The brand is called "Freed" and the designs are simple, 90's colors, with funky designs. Almost a bit "skater-ish". I'll be sporting them soon enough...I'm sure.

I was so happy to be there that I almost couldn't withhold my excitement! I saw all the girls working hard, being paid a salary and a safe place to stay and I was overwhelmed with an assurance that I am meant to be here this year. Only one girl is still actively working in the brothels...all the rest have stopped!

Okay, onto other Cambo living things: we got a washing machine. Two Khmai men came speaking no english to deliver and install it. They had to carry that thing up 2 flights of really really small steps. When they got it up they looked at where it was supposed to go and shook their heads and spoke strange words to eachother! Oh dear, Eileen and I thought this was no good. Through sign language and the skills of two very annimated Canadians, we realized that they couldn't find a place to drain the water coming from the machine. The men were stumped. Well, I just got on my hands and knees and looked around and pointed to what I thought was a hole in the ground...which ended up being exactly what they were looking for. Yeah, that's right. I'm a plumber too! I got the machine working for Eileen and I and the Toshiba has nothing to worry about...it's in gentle hands.

Onto Election news: The Prime Minister was re-elected after the country voted on Sunday. Apparantly in the past years there have been some violent protests after the elections. But we were fine this year. I heard that the people knew that he would be re-elected because everyone had been warned that if he wasn't he would declare civil war. And the rumour is that he was the one who brought in the Vietnamese troops as a way of showing how serious he was about declaring war. He is a corrupt man but the people did what they could to keep peace. A democratic election is seeming more and more joke here.

Eileen and I have a pet cat that sits outside our bellcony. It runs when we get close...which I learned yesterday to be a God send...I was trying to lure him to the window with my excellent cat calling abilities and all of a sudden I saw little tiny worms falling from his bum! Ah, I guess you can say I became very clear with the fact that I wouldn't be touching a cat for ten months!

So, I can't remember anything else except I'm learning the power of a white teethed Canadian smile! It has the power to cause motto's to collide, children to wave excitedly, tuk tuk's to jump to attention....and Nigerian men to stop you mid aisle at the grocery store and ask for a date! Oh dear!

Peace and Love,
Berls