And have both been wonderful days.
Friday morning, we woke up and headed downstairs to meet for breakfast. Well apparently our guesthouse's cook was busy... so no breakfast. We headed down the street and decided to grab breakfast at a pastry shop called Blue Pumpkin. It's a chain here in Cambodia and it is delicious. We had quiche and toast and fruit and eggs and lots of water and Khmer coffee of course. Then Sharon headed back to the hotel *she was still recovering from being sick last week* and we took a tuk tuk with Theary to the Cambodian Cultural Village.
Once we got there, we explored the village and took MANY pictures of ourselves and the different displays. Then we watched a traditional Khmer dance and story telling program. After that we explored some more, shot some arrows at an archery station, and then headed over to another pavillion to watch a traditional Khmer wedding ceremony. And guess what. mallory was selected, out of the audience, *we draw attention to ourselves due to our skin color* to be the groom's mother.
It was HILARIOUS.
She had to sit up on stage with the whole wedding party, the couple, the other parents, and the officiator *I don't think that's a word* person. Then she had to participate in the blessing of the couple, as well as the couple's "first dance." It was so funny and we laughed right a long with the crowd.
After that show we still have 5 more hours of optional shows.. but we were exhausted. The heat wears you out completely here.
We felt bad about leaving, but we were at that point where everyone was irritable and ready to lie down. So we headed back to the hotel and napped for 4 hours.
After nap time we made our way down to the river and to a pizza joint and then next door for ice cream after. It was so wonderful. After dinner and dessert, we walked across the river *by bridge of course* and shopped for a long time in the night market. It was so fun!
Plus all my souvenirs are now taken care of.
Annnnd I've gotten pretty good at haggling.
After the night market, we went back to the hotel and hit the hay. The next day was going to beat us down if we weren't careful.
We all woke up around 4:15 am Saturday and made it downstairs by 4:35. We hopped in the tuk tuk and drove out to the Angkor Wat Temple complex. We *along with the rest of the world* made it to the front of Angkor Wat just as the sun was beginning to rise. The scene was breathtaking and everyone was scrambling to get the best shot with their camera. Listening to all of the accents was so fun and so humbling. I am so small and the world is so big. It's crazy.
After sunrise we set off to explore the actual temple of Angkor Wat. We explored for a long time and took a lot of pictures. After about and two hours, we made our way to some little shops and food carts by the front gate. We shared fried rice and fruit at 7:30 am and it was delicious.
Once we were rejuvenated, we got back in the tuk tuk and rode to another temple in the complex. This one was called Bayon and is famous for it's huge faces carved into the rock. We explored, took a ton of pictures, and weaved in and out of tour groups.
Once we were done, we waited for our tuk tuk driver by the gate of Bayon.
That's when the monkeys came.
It's so weird to see monkey's strolling along.
Not in a cage.
It's kinda scary.
Especially because they are not afraid to steal food *or anything that resembles food* right out of your hands. This was demonstrated when Mallory opened her peanut butter crackers and a monkey jumped on her back in a attempt to grab the crackers.
Monkey's are aggressive.
And their aggression is real.
Our tuk tuk driver finally showed up and we headed to the last temple that we had on our list. *I maybe making it seem like we rushed through the temples, but we didn't at all* The temple is called Tom Prong *I might have spelled that wrong* and it's one of the most famous ones. I'm sure you've seen pictures of it. It's the temple that is being eaten by trees basically. It was also where part of Tomb Raider *one word?* was filmed.
And it was my favorite.
The roots are basically engulfing this temple.
I took a million pictures *see link to the right or my facebook* and loved the contrast between the dark stone, the green moss, and the tree roots. It was breathtaking.
We spent a long time there and then decided to head back and rest from our long day. We stopped for lunch and then made it back to our comfy beds and had a nice long nap. After resting, we made our way back to the night market and participated in our very first fish pedicure.
You know.
The tubs of water that have a million little fish swimming around and you stick your feet in there and they all swarm to your feet and eat the dead skin off?
Yeah.
That's the one.
It was $2 for 15 minutes.
And it was crazy.
It was the weirdest feeling ever and I can't describe it.
We laughed and squealed the whole time.
Then we headed inside and got a foot massage, back massage, and pedicure.
All for $5.
I love the prices here.
We shopped around some more and further depleted our money supply. We realized it was 9:00 pm and decided that we should eat dinner so we stopped at a food truck that made gyros. They were AMAZING and I probably could have eaten 15.
Seriously.
We made it back to the hotel and somehow climbed the stairs to our room. Exhaustion took over and climbing into bed never felt so good.
As I was observing the temples today, I had a revelation.
Surprise right?
I can't move mountains.
I cannot physically push a mountain 3 feet to left.
I can't wake up and change the world.
I can't go to a different country and change it all.
But.
I can wake up and pray for wisdom. I can ask for and grow in a faith that can move mountains. I can ask for patience and gentleness. I can go to a different country and show people how much God loves them. I can be one small light.
And that is enough.
I am enough.
The point is that I can't do anything by myself.
But when I ask for help, pray for guidance, and accept direction, that's when things begin to happen. That's when mountains start moving.
That's when walls fall down.
I thought I could go out and change the world.
That's always been my goal.
I wanted to be able to say:
Look at me!
I changed the world!
Wrong.
I can go out.
I can be used as a vessel.
I can be used to make a difference.
But it's not my doing.
It's not about me at all.
God changes the world by using His people.
God illuminates the darkness through His children.
God moves mountains.
And he crumbles temples.
Man can build beautiful things.
Kingdoms.
Empires.
Temples.
Man can also build himself up.
I am great.
I am rich.
I am successful.
I am God.
Well guess what folks.
Our God is greater.
Buildings weather away.
Roots destroy temples.
And He tears down.
He will humble you so fast, it isn't even funny.
Nothing lasts in this world.
So all that to say.
I can't change the world by myself.
I shouldn't want to.
But God can absolutely use me.
Yes, the temples were pretty awesome today.
But God is greater.
He has revealed himself throughout history.
He was present then.
He shows up daily.
And He will provide forever.
Want proof?
Just look at the roots.
And yes, that was in reference to the temples as well as history.
Love you guys and gals,
Cassie
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