Hands and Feet and Vivid Dreams

I can't believe that Friday has already come and gone.

Aka our first work week has come and gone. 

WHAT. 

It feels like I just hopped off the plane. 

Not really.

But a little bit.

Sarah and I woke up this morning and talked about our dreams. Like our literal dreams from the night before. The malaria pills give us extremely vivid dreams. So far I have been a contestant on a reality TV show, I've helped Abilene Christian Schools put on a really awesome performance for their senior assembly, I've taught English, *big surprise* I've proctored a test for my dad's class, I saw Pure Gold in a van at the bank, I was an official furniture tester, I went back to the dorms to help out in the newly established dorm nursery, and I've been a competitor in a relay type thing which took place in a Hunger Game's type arena thing. It's been really fun. I just can't seem to get away from adventure. 

Sarah and I had a slight miscommunication with our ride this morning. Chanty, one of Sarah's student and the husband of Sokhom's niece, came to pick us up and waited in the car for us to come out. Our ride typically comes in and gets us from the lobby. Apparently he thought we were just running late because he didn't see us in the window. Well we weren't, we were just by the other window. We thought we had been forgotten because we always get picked up at 7:30 and no one was anywhere to be found. We were sitting there at 7:50 when Selah walked into the lobby. We followed him outside and found Selah, his scooter, Chanty, and the car. They explained *as well as they could* that Chanty didn't know to come inside and get us so he was waiting for us that whole time. Srey Nam had gotten worried and sent Selah to our rescue. 

We felt SO bad. 

But life goes on and we all had a good laugh about it later. 

The students wanted to practice writing more sentences today *almost 100% sure that's what they were trying to tell me, if not.. sorry about it students* so that's all we did for 2 hours. I hope they aren't bored. They are making SO much progress though. Now, when I ask them questions, there aren't as many blank stares back at me. In the afternoon I attempted to explain the difference between -ed and -ing... bad move on my part. It's really hard to do with a language barrier, but they took it like champs and we even played a few games that had to do with the concept. 

They call me by my name now. It's music to my ears. I love when they say "Cassie?" and then ask me a question or motion me over to see something in their notebooks. Today one boy motioned me over and pointed to the words of Jesus Loves Me. 

*Side note: They know the Khmer words to the song but really wanted to learn it in English, so I began teaching them yesterday. We learned the whole song and they sing it beautifully now.*

He asked me to finish it today and I told him that I finished it yesterday and I was so proud of them for learning it so easily. Then he went and got their Khmer song book and found Jesus Loves Me. 

Guess what folks.

There are 4 verses to the song in that book. 

I had no idea what they said because everything is in Khmer. 

I used my new best friend, Google, and found different verses to the song, but I had no idea which verse was which or which version they had in their books. Then another boy went and got an English praise book and found Jesus Loves Me. It only had 3 verses, but I taught them the second verse out of that book. 

I hope it's right.

Oh well. It's all the same to God right?

Also I just want to make sure everyone realizes what I mean when I say that I taught them this song. That means Cassie was singing a solo in front of 12 people.

Y'all. 

I don't do solos.

Oh well. 

They only laughed at me a little when I couldn't hit the high notes. 

I really hate solos.

Anyways, meal times were not as exciting as yesterday for Sarah. No more fish eyes. But I guess that's a good thing. A really good thing.

It rained all afternoon. And when I say all, I mean ALL afternoon. It was wonderful. Srey Nam didn't think we would have any children come for classes, but sure enough, at 5:30 our 2 faithful boys came running in SOAKING wet, laughing, and yelling "GOOD EVENING TEACHER!" *we learned that phrase in class yesterday* Since there were only 3, we just reviewed the lesson from yesterday and then went over color and animal flashcards on Sarah's iPad. They LOVE the flashcards and they really help the children remember the names of things. 

Okay so let's focus on the whole feet thing for a moment. If you know me well, you know I HAVE to have clean feet. I'll wash them all day everyday. I'll wear socks all around. I'll use wipes. I can't go to bed without washing them *my room mate can confirm that statement* One might say I'm slightly OCD when it comes to my hygiene and my feet are a huge part of my cleanliness. 

So this whole barefooted thing is kinda throwing me off. 

When you walk into a house or into someone's room, you remove your shoes. 

That means the floors are covered with all the germs from every place that everyone in the house has been... the same floor that is used to prepare the food. Yeah. I was trying not to think about it too hard. But then I did, and guess what. *big surprise* I figured out how to apply it to my life. 

Don't you want dirty feet?

Don't you want to have traveled?

Don't you want to have entered houses and rooms?

Don't you want to share in fellowship?

Don't you want to live in community?

Don't you want to love people?

Yeah me too. 

Dirty feet here I come.

Slowly, but surely. 

I'll still wash them before bed...

Baby steps y'all. 

Tomorrow we get to sleep in a little bit *if we can* and meet at the school at 8:30. From there we will go out with all the students and go from door to door handing our cards that allow the person one free doctor's visit. I forgot to mention earlier that we are in the presence of 3 doctors who run a clinic that is in front of the school. *so feel comforted mom and dad* Their names are Selah, Tolah, and Dr. Yin. Selah and Tolah are recent graduates of medical school *eight years for medical school here* and are in their late 20's. Dr. Yin is very old and he is shown absolute respect by everyone. He is very wise *from what I can tell* and is always smiling. He has helped so many people in the school but there is one man I want to focus on for a moment.

He is pretty short and walks with a slight limp. When we first met him, there seemed to be something wrong with his hands and he couldn't move them as easily as others. When he spoke I was shocked. His voice is extremely messed up. It's very high and squeaky and hoarse. I can't really explain it. It wasn't until 2 nights ago that we discovered he had been in a severe accident at a sewing factory where he worked. He suffered from an electrical shock that left him handicapped and without a voice. He came to the clinic and was a patient for a long time. Dr. Yin helped him gain movement in his hands and now they can function almost normally. He was also able to get the man his voice back, it's not the same voice, but it is a voice. The man is now a student at the school and has been attending English lessons everyday. He is such a joy and has such a desire to learn. 

Sarah and I both agreed that it's hard to think about the fact that this man lost the ability to speak, use his hands, and the chance to ever work again. All because he was making clothes that I wear and get rid of and mess up and throw away and get tired of and buy excess of...

It's really hard to think about. 

But it's absolutely real life. 

Perspective.

The goal for tomorrow is to evangelize to the people as we hand out the cards. Sarah and I will have no way to communicate with these people but we can go and observe for sure. I cannot wait, I feel like it will definitely be an eye-opening experience

This trip seems to be full of those.

But it's such a joy getting to be the hands and feet of Christ here.

And guess what?

You're earthly hands don't have to work in order to love Jesus. 

And your feet don't have to be clean in order to share His love.

I'm slowly learning that.

So thank you Lord for hands, feet, and vivid dreams.

Love always,

Cassie