APPENDIX - A Khmer Wedding 3

After about 30 minutes, the bride and groom re-emerge in new costumes.

Notice the totally different color scheme and hair arrangement.



The morning guests have been milling around, taking pictures of one another.

All of the participants and guests are seated on the floor. The couple are closer together now. (The lighting fixtures of the photographer interfered with our camera.)

What follows are two different messages by 2 different pastors - from the scriptures.
There is a candle lighting time, a prayer time, an exchange of vows and rings + a very fast peck on the check (even though the Pastor instructed them to kiss noisily and long!)
A pronouncement is made and they are now husband and wife.

It is now 11 AM, and most proceed home to rest and await the evenings festivities.

We arrive at 5 PM to new outfits (even for the court). This is the reception line, and it consists of the young people only.


This reception area is a local street/alley-way, closed off and highly decorated for the occasion. There are at least 20 tables with 10 chairs at each table. The ground is dirt, making dust an issue here.

These men are part of the wait help for the evening. They are kept very busy.

The individual dishes for the guests are wrapped and sealed to keep them clean until time to eat.

Chairs and tables are spruced up.


We always look for a spot with translators available!

There were many courses of food - most of which we were not familiar with.


Drinks were plentiful - canned soda or beer.

This long-anticipated wedding is a big event. Young women treat it like American girls might a Prom - dressing up to da max!

Our lovely bride emerges in outfit # 4. All together gorgeous. No, she never gets to eat!

APPENDIX - A Khmer Wedding 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOPHEAROM ("Peary") THY & AMARA ("Umra") ING

The Bridal Attendants & Groomsmen.



The wedding attire is rented.
The suits were too large for VeaSna.
Utdom (far left) was a last minute
replacement as he more closely,
"fit the bill."

Of special interest to Kori,

the necessary adjustments

to make costumes fit properly.



Her good friend Sreypich models for us.

The two men at the front exchange banter, as they question the parents and others about the purity of the engaged individuals. It seems harder to affirm Umra's chastity, as neither his father or best man know of his behaviors. His mom affirms him, but that is not enough to verify his virginity. Omra is finally asked himself, and he states confidently that he is as fresh and clean as a "brand new 2012 moto." This response brings the house down with laughter.

The parents did some sort of fruit presentation that lasted for 10 minutes - we did not understand, as our translator was busy taking photos.


So ends part 1 of the morning ceremony. This wedding will last all day - past 10 in the evening. The respite is the afternoon siesta - with all participating to maintain strength for the rest of the festivities.

My wife stated that this was "so typical" - of the participants to todays activities. The vast majority will come by bicycle or moto (motor bike).



Mei Mei strikes a pose.

APPENDIX - A Khmer Wedding 1

8 AM (in the morning!)

Representative pastors meet & greet one another in front of the bride's home (church).

The groom's entourage has arrived
- all bearing gifts.

(This includes his groomsmen,
family & friends)

The groomsmen hold umbrellas.

All of us are bearing gifts for the festive occasion.


Already the bright sun is
pushing the temperature up
towards 90 degrees F.

The bride and groom meet

resplendent in green costumes.

A lovely flower bouquet

is presented first

to her parents.

The bride offers her groom refreshment

(In light of his long journey?)

Traditional Khmer greeting

- in humility honoring the other person.


Please notice her hair arrangement.

The exchanging of beautiful

and fragrant flower leis.

Kizzy, Dany & I fulfill our roles

(as Kori takes our picture!)

I was under-dressed for this event!

The couple and their court enter the church for phase # 1 of this wedding day.

SEOUL KOREA

We had a 12 hour lay-over in Korea on the way back. Arrival temperatures -10 degrees Celsius (about 21 degrees F) - Yes, it was cold!!!

What better way to spend time than with dear friends?

The SHIPMAN Family
Michael, Jessica, Hannah & Noah


Thanks for meeting us, feeding us, and showing us around.

Shannon HEILS with Mika, Coby & ?
Hubby Mark had to work.

Good-byes

This is some of the group - the ones able to make it to the airport.

Saying good-bye to those you have come to dearly love is never easy.

Nuff said.

Schedules

What a day!    Sunday the 8th

3 AM   Sending emails back to MCC in Hawaii, pertaining to church responsibilities.

4          Back to sleep (fan at level 5 - still very hot!)

6          Get up and get ready for a busy Sunday

7          Breakfast - finishing up our cereal & oatmeal

8          Morning Worship Service at New Life in Christ Church

10        Meeting with the church elders (find a translator)

11        Shalom Church Worship Service  - in English! (take 5 young people with us)

12:30   Lunch and fellowship with the Crowleys from the Ratanakiri  Province in the highlands (near Laos)

2 PM   Back to NLC, sharing Bible Old Testament stories with the young guys

5          Unexpected marriage counseling session – lasting 3 hours

8          Dinner - grilled cheese sandwiches

9          Packing up and deciding what to give away & to whom (including our medicines, toiletries & much of our clothing)

11        Writing trip reports

2 AM   Catching up with emails

2:30     Time to go to sleep – we fly back home tonight!

Flight Schedule

Depart from Phnom Penh at about 12 Midnight (Tuesday AM)

Fly for a total of 12 hours - broken up by a 12 hour layover in Korea = 24 hours

Arrive in Honolulu at 7 AM Tuesday morning - with the chance to do the day over again!

ACTUAL = Korean flt. 051 scheduled to arrive Tuesday @ 7:15 AM  - Terminal M

(This makes up for when we flew here on a Monday and arrived on a Wednesday,
with no Tuesday in between!)

This is one of Kori's old Bibles - she used it so much the cover fell off.  We brought it and 7 or 8 others with us to give away.  English teacher & youth leader Sharian was so glad to receive it - he reconstructed his own cover & now carries it with him everywhere!




About the Crowley family - they relocated to Cambodia 18 years ago (Khmer Rouge was still active in some parts of the country, they brought their 5 small kids with them) from Hawaii.  God has wondrously used them and others to literally reach thousands for Christ in this area, and plant 40 churches - that, in my book - is modern day HEROISM!

This is our last blog from Cambodia - we leave in a few hours.  We will try a few summary posts from home.  Thanks for traveling with us. God bless you!

Interview Questions

Tell us, Pastor Steve

1.   How is this trip different than the one you took in the summer?
           Well, we really miss our team members, and their vibrant enthusiasm for life, their joy, and their ministry skills.  Our time has been much more focused on building up groups through preaching & teaching the Word, and individuals through mentoring and counseling.

2.   How did that "fasting thingy" work out for you?
          I had not fasted that long since I was in my twenties (at least successfully).   I really felt under-girded with prayer.  There is no other way I can explain the sustaining strength and health that I experienced.  As far as results - only time will tell for sure.  There are some possible indicators of meaningful change.  I had much more time for prayer, and we used it.

3.   What frustrates you in your time there?
          Things that are "lost in translation," both ways.
          Also, distrust in and disobedience towards God.       Some of the same things as at home.

4.   What blesses you there?
          Teaching the Word.  Experiencing open hearts like the Ethiopian Eunuch to Philip, and like the disciples on the Road to Emmaus.  Also, seeing and experiencing answers to prayer - times of great personal blessings as a couple, health, safety, protection and day to day strength.  Having the clear opportunities to minister Jesus to individuals every day.

         God sent us a special angel - a blessing & encouragement in every way - our Gypsy friend  Kizzy. Also, all of those who so graciously and compassionately ministered to our kids during our absence.

5.   Do you want to return?
          Only if God calls.  God is doing much here in Cambodia.  We have sought to fulfill our own mission to the best of our ability.  We are not clear on where we would return to do further ministry as a couple, or exactly where to lead a return MCC team at this point.

Thank you.   You're welcome.

A heavenly massage from Nigah, one of the blind masseuse at the Seeing Hands Center.  She has strong shoulders & hands!  Yes, that is me.

A Catholic group of Nuns trains the blind in this trade and in English, so that they can be self-supporting. 

The cost is $7 an hour, and they are very good.