We Made it to Cambodia

Greetings Everyone,

We made it to Cambodia! We have been here for almost 10 and a half months, and so many new things have happened. Well, let us start with our arrival here. To enter the country, we needed $2,000 per person. This cost would cover our quarantine, food, and COVID tests. This cost did not include our plane tickets or visas. Thank you to all who donated and helped us raise all the money we needed so that we could come.

Praise God! Our flights were smooth and uneventful. Once we arrived, cleared customs, and paid our fees, they escorted us to the hotel where we would be staying for 14 days (about 2 weeks). We requested that all of us stay together. So, we had a room with 3 queen beds. Every morning around 7:30 a.m., they would give us breakfast, which normally consisted of 4-6 slices of bread with a few raisins in it and some ketchup. Lunch would come around 11 a.m., and it was always rice with three different kinds of vegetables. Dinner, which came around 6-7 p.m., was a repeat of lunch. Overall, it was an interesting experience. I am very thankful that we did not split up.

On day 12, we went on the roof to get our second COVID test. It was so nice to be able to breathe fresh air and walk around. But it was only for a brief time. After we got tested, we had to go back to our rooms and wait for the results. Before we could make any plans, Phnom Penh shut down, which meant we would have to stay for an additional 2 weeks. At this point, we are about ready to go home. We found a lovely place to stay while we waited. And once again, when we started making plans to go to Battambang, the city shut down for another week. We ended up quarantining for 5 weeks. Finally, we were able to come home.

One of the biggest struggles we face is not knowing the language. It is hard to build relationships with people when you do not understand each other, but it is possible. Natalie has been taking a language study course since August, but something came up, which you will hear about in another letter, that caused her to have to postpone. But she is really doing great and can make her way around the local markets and stuff.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we serve the local people and share God to them!