All Things Cambodia!!

Susadei soksaby!? (In other words: Hi friends, how are you?!)
As many of you know, our squad’s time in Cambodia has come to a close and we are currently adjusting to life in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa. Now, before I begin my recap of Cambodia, I just want to preface by saying that I can never do justice the incredible people, places, and memories this country holds. Although only a few months, the stories and experiences from this time are of an immeasurable amount. I’m going to try my best to give you a glimpse into what this season of life looked like for me, but please feel free to reach out to me if you want to hear more detailed stories or have any questions!! The Lord was so faithful to us during this time and I cannot wait to share everything with y’all!

*Heads up, this is going to be a long one!! I’ve tried to break it up into sections so feel free to skip around.

 

our ministry

While some teams rotated through multiple ministries, team shalom (my group) worked with the same ministry the entirety of our stay! We served as substitute teachers, club leaders, and general staff/student support at HOPE International School. The staff consisted of no more than 30 people and the student body maxed out at about 70. As this was an international school, families and staff were from a variety of countries including: Cambodia, Korea, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, and Australia. My role consisted of working as a teacher’s assistant in the 2nd/3rd grade class and leading the baking and book clubs. The kids I had the opportunity to spend my days with were truly incredible and will always have a special place in my heart!! Unfortunately, the week before we arrived, the school found out that they would be closing permanently mid December due to financial issues carried over from the Covid-19 pandemic. Though a difficult time, the staff graciously welcomed our help and made us feel right at home. We LOVE these people deeply and consider them our family now. There are too many amazing memories to count and any ministry we are assigned to after this one will be hard to top!!

 

local friends

Wong – The BEST, most reliable tuk tuk driver in all of Asia!! Wong’s english is incredible and he has the biggest servant’s heart. He loves to teach us little bits of the Khmer language/culture and drives us anywhere and everywhere our hearts desire. Wong always has a smile on his face and has the funniest sense of humor. He loves to prank Bernadette and pretends to drive the tuk tuk away before she can get into it… he laughs about it no matter how many times he has done it already an we can’t help but laugh with him!! A man of true joy. If you’re ever in Cambodia, message him for a ride!! +855 17 850 756

Sreymom – Sreymom is a Khmer Christian that is on staff at the base and serves as the local partner and translator. SHE IS OUR FAVORITE. While the other teams were away for a month, our team had the opportunity to invest in building a relationship with her and we became really close. She loves to dance and sing with us, pick on us, talk about the Bible, and go out to get late night boba. We are working on getting her a visa so that she can visit us in the States and get to experience snow, so fingers crossed they get it all worked out!! The next six months won’t be the same without her, I wish we could bring her along. She is SUCH a blessing.

Peach – Peach is the other Khmer woman on staff at the base. I didn’t get to know her as well, but I have seen her working in the villages and I can testify that she is a true evangelist. In my brief conversations with her I have learned what it looks like to truly rely on the Lord in every aspect of life. She’s 43 but looks like she could be in her mid 20s and she is on fire for our God!

The Cooks – Our sweet cooks!! I can’t pronounce or spell their names, but just know that we adore them! They come to the base and begin cooking for us at five in the morning and insist on always washing our dishes. They can’t speak a single word of English and we have no idea what they are saying, but we are constantly laughing together and enjoying each other’s presence. You can see the love of Jesus in their eyes and they have taken us in as their own. Their breakfast noodles are unmatched!!

Mrs. Glenda – Mrs. Glenda taught the preschool class at HOPE International and quickly became one of our team’s favorite people. She drove us around in her car to get lunch and let us take naps every afternoon on the couch in her room. She treated us to icecream during class and had our team over for a movie night and sleepover with her girls. This woman is an amazing example of steadfast love and care for those around her. She and Kellie felt like my temporary moms in Cambodia!!

Kellie – Kellie is the art teacher at school and is one of the best people I know. She is wonderfully creative and has such a fiery spirit. She loves those around her fiercely and has taught me so much about living for the Lord and pursuing my passions. She’s Irish (how cool!), has such a fun personality, and is the best mom to her three kids. She’s driven us around town, taken us out to coffee, and given amazing life advice.

Abi and Sam – Mrs. Abi is another teacher at HOPE school. She and her husband, Sam, are from England and have begun a house church in Siem Reap that will have its first venue in a few months (so exciting!!). Many of the staff attend their church and we loved our brief time there. They generously invited us over for Christmas night leftovers and desserts and gave us a little piece of home during the holidays.

David – David taught science at school and was by far one of the biggest surprises. We did not truly get to know him until about a month before we finished ministry with them, but I’m so glad that we spent time with him while we could! He is from India and is engaged to a former HOPE school teacher, Jessica, who is from the States. He is witty, sarcastic, and loves to joke around with us. We’ve been out to supper with him, hung out during staff Christmas caroling, and he’s come to multiple worship nights we’ve hosted at the base. He calls us his little sisters and, provided he gets a visa on time, we plan to attend his wedding in Virginia this summer!!

Andy and Cathie Staunton – My Australian family!! Andy is on staff at HOPE school’s Phnom Penh campus, but their family likes the slower pace of Siem Reap better so this year he taught classes via zoom. Their entire family is simply incredible and they so kindly welcomed us into their lives. They invited me over for my birthday and made me a home cooked meal (pasta bake)!! Afterwards, we had gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies from the muffin man and watched a Christmas movie all piled on their couch togethet. I felt like I was back home with my family that night, and i hope I never forget their generosity and care.

 

the language

In Cambodia the official language is Khmer, and let me be the first to say that this is a HARD language to learn!! The symbols, tone, and pronunciation are difficult to grasp, but we managed to pick up on some phrases during our time in Siem Reap!! Here’s a small list of common words and pronunciations for those who are curious!

Susadei [soos-a-dai] – Hi

Soksaby [soaks-a-bye] (doubles as an answer!) – How are you? I am fine.

Lee hi [lee-hi] – Goodbye

Ot teh [ah-tay] – No

Jah [cha] – Yes

Arkun [acoon] – Thank you

Arkun Tran [acoon traun] – Thank you very much!

Baht schweng [bot-shweng] – Turn left

Baht saddam [bot-sadam] -Turn right

Chop [choap] – Stop

Chhnang [ch-naang] – Delicious! (In reference to food)

Se Ah [say-ahh] – Cute/pretty

Som tach [sum tack] – Water please

Moi, bee, bai, boum, bram, bram moi, bram bee, bram boum, dop – 1-10

*The Cambodian language is written in Khmer script which looks like a ton of beautiful swirly symbols. The above written words are the English spellings and pronunciations.

 

favorite places

Siem Reap is a busy city filled to the brim with amazing places to eat and tons of things to do! For my future racers out there, here’s a little list of our favorite spots and things to get. If you’re ever in Cambodia you have to check these places out! I promise you won’t be disappointed!!

top 3 coffee shops:

-Coming in first place is Dialogue Cafe!! Best vibes, best coffee, period. I recommend their iced peanut butter latte and the english muffin breakfast.

-Next up is The Little Red Fox Cafe!! This place is on the smaller side, but is in a fun location with lots of shops around. I recommend their ginger beer (best IN THE WORLD) and iced chai latte.

-And the fan favorite, The 1961!! This spot is walking distance from the base and has great wifi + lots of seating options. I recommend the iced homemade raspberry tea or iced vanilla latte.

*honorable mentions: the chocolate gardens, bean embassy, footprints cafe, the bear, and biolab.

 

top 3 restaurants:

-My favorite restaurant was definitely Wild Cafe! I’ve never been a huge fan of spring rolls, but this place completely changed my mind. The Dolce Vita is the best thing on the menu (think yummy cheesy pizza) and their fresh rolls are incredible! Make sure to treat yourself to one of their fun mocktails and dessert rolls.

-Nick’s restaurant is next on the list and a must try if you are ever in the area. The chicken burger is said to rival a Chick-fil-A sandwich and the pineapple chicken fried rice is to die for!!

-My Little Cafe is also a fan favorite because of their cheap, quality food! I’ve never tried a better orange chicken than theirs, and their honey chicken, spaghetti, and fruit shakes are worth try as well.

*honorable mentions: Wat Else Cafe (great smoothie bowls!), Paris Bakery (pizza and croissants), Maybe Later Mexican Bar and Grill, Common Grounds, Khmer BBQ (doesn’t have a name but it’s across the street from damnak), and tuktuk pizza.

 

top 3 sweet treats:

-Our go to treat was always An Cha! This place makes the best boba I’ve ever had and I recommend their brown sugar fresh milk vanilla tea with fresh tapioca pearls!!

-The most popular ice cream place in Siem Reap is the one and only Gelato Lab! Their coconut ice cream is my favorite flavor and is followed closely by their chocolate. If you’re in the mood for something different, I recommend trying their chocolate icecream with kampot pepper!

-Last but certainly not least is the famous Muffin Man. Every single muffin flavor is beyond amazing. My go to order was either a double chocolate chip or blueberry muffin for breakfast. Their cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, and brownies are all amazing as well and great for special events!!

*honorable mentions: koi (milk teas and boba) and rolled icecream from pub street (try the green tea flavor with strawberry syrup).

 

top 3 stores:

-Angkor Market is the best place to shop for groceries, snacks, and toiletries.

-IBC is a store for all my pen lovers out there! This place carries stationary, mildliner highlighters, art supplies, and every color/brand of pen you can imagine.

-Satu is a boutique filled with locally made products. It’s a great place to do some Christmas shopping and pick out post cards and small gifts for friends + family back home!!

 

christmas/birthday

Although different than in years past, both of these days were so incredibly special this year!! Thank you so so much to everyone who sent birthday videos and wishes, they were much appreciated. My team was so intentional and went above and beyond to surprised me with all of my favorite local treats! Christmas Eve, our squad had a party and spent the night worshiping and playing games. One of our squad leaders surprised us with a video compilation of friends and family from home wishing us a Merry Christmas!! Christmas morning, we had Muffin Man muffins and scrambled eggs for breakfast courtesy of the Swan family, and then we played Secret Santa. The day was filled with quality time and sweet memories together. That night, I even had the opportunity to facetime with my family and experience Christmas morning through call with them!!

 

after the race

If you had told me a year ago that I would fill out an application and commit to Grand Canyon University while in Cambodia during my gap year I would never have believed you, but here we are!! I am officially attending GCU this fall and I could not be more excited! I had never considered continuing my education at Grand Canyon, but the Lord opened so many doors and made the decision simple. I’ve been incredibly blessed throughout this entire process and already have my three roommates (shoutout to my girls!!!) I’m a member of the honors college and will be majoring in applied entrepreneurship and plan to minor in missions. I’m already looking forward to what this season holds for me and I can’t wait to jump into my new community in Arizona. Lopes up!!

 

spiritual growth

The Lord taught me A LOT about His character and heart for us during my time in Cambodia, as well as how to begin building spiritual disciplines and habits. I briefly wanted to share one of the bigger things I’ve been learning!! As some of you may know, Cambodia is spiritually a very heavy place. The worship of evil spirits is overwhelming and darkness is welcomed into peoples’ lives on the daily. Being completely transparent, I’ve struggled with apathy towards the Lord for years. I had finally gotten to a place of genuinely desiring relationship with God and for the majority of my time in Cambodia I felt as though I had taken a step backwards in my faith. Spiritual warfare their is no joke. I struggled to feel the Lord’s presence and was frustrated by my lack of desire to spend time with Him and serve His people. I can’t remember the exact day, but He graciously and firmly reminded me of this truth in the midst of my struggle. His presence, faithfulness, and goodness is not determined or dependent on my feelings. He is with me always, whether I feel it or believe it in the moment. He is faithful always, whether I feel it or believe it in the moment. He is good always, whether I feel it or believe it in the moment. So, whether I felt it or not, I worked to spend time with Him and speak with Him even when it felt like I was talking to the wall. As I learned more about prayer, I began to shift my wording and be intentional with the specifics of my requests. Instead of praying for His presence (it’s already there, so we need not ask!!), I began to pray for the gift of feeling His presence. Never take for granted the gift of feelings, both good and bad! I hope this makes sense and is encouraging to someone!!

Side note: It’s incredible that I can be on the mission field and still forget to spend time with the Lord. I’ve found myself spending days talking about Him with others and serving His children but forgetting to talk TO Him. So, here’s your reminder today that God loves to hear from His children and would love to talk with you!

 

last thoughts/what’s next

-In case you didn’t know, my phone was stolen while in Cambodia and in the process of setting up my new phone and getting international data I lost/missed some messages, so if you reached out and I still haven’t responded that’s probably why! My number is still the same, so please feel free to text me!!

-If you are interested in more frequent updates and pictures you can follow me on Instagram! @lydiagracep

-I’m planning on writing a blog about our time of debrief in Hua Hin, Thailand and our travel days to Africa. Let me know if you have any questions or any topics within this that you’d like me to cover!

-My home for the next month is Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa and I absolutely LOVE it here!! Load-shedding (energy restrictions) and the water shortage are two things that are taking a bit to get used to, but overall I’ve enjoyed our time here so far. This place has already provided so many opportunities for rest/recovery and the people here are so kind. My team is working with Timion (an organization that supports children and families of children with cerebral palsy) in their garden and workshop and I am so excited for all that is to come with this ministry!!

-For our second month in South Africa, my team + team Selah will be flying to Johannesburg to partner with Impact Africa. And then, on to Guatemala!

 

prayer requests

-Please pray for the physical health of our squad. Since Christmas Eve, we have consistently had multiple people getting some version of the stomach bug every few days. We can’t seem to shake this virus and it’s really starting to wear on us, so please pray for healing, strength, and protection over our group!!

-As we are in Jeffrey’s Bay for a much shorter time than we were in Siem Reap, I’m asking for prayers as we try to build relationships and dive deeper with the people we are pouring into much faster than before.

-Lastly, I ask that you would pray for me as I work to further find my confidence in the Lord and continue to grow in my relationship with Him.

 

*I love you all DEARLY and am so thankful for your continued support. I know this was a lot, so if you’ve stuck with me for this long WOW you’re a real one!!

 

The Father’s love and mine,

Lydia Grace

Psalm 73:28  “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge; that I may tell of all your works.”