A Road Trip and A Wedding
Our arrival at the Phnom Penh airport
I had told my team that the first few days would be a bit intense: 30 hours of air transit, a late-night arrival in Phnom Penh, a journey by car across Cambodia the next morning, about half a day to recuperate – and then a wedding extravaganza, complete with dancing, live music and a magnificent feast.
I was a bit worried about everyone’s stamina.
Kris had never traveled to Asia, and would be doubling or tripling the length of her longest flight to date. Kori was on the tail end of a sinus infection. Megan’s whole family had just gotten over the flu. And I’ve been dealing with some longstanding foot pain.
But so far, we’re all happy and healthy. And until about halfway through last night’s banquet, really hungry! (Eight hours hence and I’m still not sure I’ll need breakfast this morning)
We all made it through the grueling flight in decent shape and excellent spirts, and were greeted outside the terminal of Phnom Penh’s sparkling new international airport by a cheerful retinue of Asia’s Hope staff and kids.
Kori and I were embraced by dozens of familiar friends and family members – staff we’ve labored with for decades, teenagers we’ve watched grow from traumatized urchins to confident and accomplished young adults.
Kris and Megan had never met any of these guys in person, and it was wonderful to see them make a few connections face-to-face that they’d been developing via emails and video chats over the past two years.
And, towering over all the other Asians, we immediately recognized the smile of our perpetually cheerful colleague Jeremiah, who has been visiting family and working from nearby Thailand for the past few months. He’s joining us for about a week and half before returning to his wife and kids in Chiang Mai. With him in the mix, the home team is back together!
After a thousand hugs and a couple dozen photos, our staff packed our bags into an Asia’s Hope van, handed me the keys and said, “See you in Battambang!”
After a 30 minute drive with basically no traffic – a real benefit of arriving in a major city after midnight – we made it to our hotel in the center of the Phnom Penh, collapsed into our beds and managed to muddle out five or six hours of sleep before morning – and the road – called our names.
After a delicious street-side breakfast of grilled pork on rice, one of Cambodia’s true culinary treasures, we took an hourlong walk around the neighborhood to get everyone a feel for the place, and then, well, we hit the road.
The journey between Phnom Penh and Battambang used to take nine hours. Over the years, the moon-like surface had gradually improved, mile by mile. But in the past few months, the decades-long highway project was finally completed, and we were able to make it in a breezy three-and-a-half hours, not counting a stop for lunch. Amazing, for a stretch of road that we used to joke could be drastically improved by a bit of carpet bombing.
We arrived at the aptly-named Classy Hotel, greeted by Asia’s Hope Battambang staff and our dear friends Ray and Deb Sheridan and a couple of their friends from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Grove City, Ohio, sponsors of the Battambang 5 Home. The Sheridan team is here for the wedding, and arrived a day ahead of us.
Before long, the jet lag took over – we were all in bed by 6pm.
We took it easy this morning – breakfast with our team and the Sheridans. And then shortly after lunch, it was wedding time. What an experience it was! Flowers, spotlights and speakers loud enough for a medium-sized stadium. A band of musicians from Asia’s Hope provided the tunes for the ceremony. I muddled through a homily. A troupe of radiantly-attired girls from our homes performed a traditional Cambodian apsara dance. And various staff and friends played a variety of ceremonial roles.
I reconnected with pastors I had met decades ago, and I got to see some of the first generation of Asia’s Hope kids – now in their 30s with kids of their own. Everyone (well, except for the us Yanks) came dressed to the nines – even tens. Sequins and rhinestones, gowns and getups in a riot of hues.
And the food! An army of waiters provided an endless array of local delicacies – fishes, meats, curries, salads, snacks, truly an epic feast.
Our homegrown band relinquished the stage at the end of the formal ceremony, replaced by a professional combo with a repertoire that ranged from Sinn Sisamouth to Santana. But the musical highlight of the evening was a set by King Chi, one of Cambodia’s most famous rappers, who also happens to be the son of Saket and Chhrep, parents at our BB10 home.
We stayed at the reception for a couple of hours before Savorn noted our countenances fading. Jet lag (and, probably, age) was getting the better of us, and he said, “You guys can go if you like; the rest of the dancing is for the teenagers.”
The 50 yard walk from our table to our car took us the better part of a half hour. We hugged and greeted countless friends and family – and complete strangers, most of whom wanted to pose with us for pictures.
We’ve finally made it back to our hotel and I’m quickly losing focus. With any luck, my consciousness with follow shortly hereafter. Tomorrow is church, and I’m preaching. I’m looking forward to spending time on our campus with kids and staff. But first, I need to spend time with my pillow.
Good night to you all, and thank you for your prayers and support.
