Happy New Year.....again!

YES....I did say Happy New Year!!

Here in Cambodia we celebrate the new year, three times!  

There is International New Year.  People celebrate...kind-of, but honestly it just doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

Then comes Chinese New Year (or the Lunar New Year).  This is the one we are celebrating right now!  There are quite of few Chinese Khmer here so you actually notice more of the festivities for this one.  Many people purchase kumquat trees or other small trees for their homes and I think traditionally you are supposed to hand out little red envelopes with money in them...though I don't really understand this part! ;o)  The malls are decorated with traditional chinese lanterns, posters and many of the shops are giving out chinese candies.  If you are of Chinese decent you should return home to your family for the festivities, which I think are technically supposed to last for 15 days.

Finally, in April will come Khmer New Year.  This is the biggest one of all.  Shops will close down and Phnom Penh and other cities will be emptied as everyone travels back to their family's provincial home.  People like to throw water on one another and here in Phnom Penh  if you are in the "right" place a the right time you face will be smeared with powder.  It gets a little messy!!

So...that is what's going on here....

and again I say 

May you be happy and blessed in the NEW YEAR!

CHILLIN' in Cambodia

So, I really can't believe I'm getting ready to type this....but today it was actually a tidbit cold here in Phnom Penh.  

Ok, well, cold might be an extreme word to use, but the past few nights have gotten fairly chilly (Chris has actually put a blanket on at night the last two nights!!!)  It was something like 68 degrees here in Phnom Penh late this morning and we were told that in Battambang it got down to 55 overnight!!  

I know this sounds like nothing for all of you back there in the states who are buried in snow....but for us here...that's gettin' downright chilly! ;o)  And for sure for the Khmer it is COLD!! 

When we got to church this morning (in our pants and short sleeved shirts, mind you) all of our friends were bundled up in multiple layers of clothes, some with coats on and they were all muttering about how terribly cold it was.  And for sure for people who have always lived in a country that rarely sees the temperature drop in the mid-50's and mid-60's it IS, indeed, cold!

As for us...we're gonna enjoy it as long as it lasts.  And I'm personally hoping it lasts a few more WEEKS!  

I haven't given up yet....

and I hope you haven't either!!!  

     I think every time I write on this blog I tell myself that I will make it a weekly habit...and it just never seems to happen!

     We have been busy, yes, but what's been keeping me away from blogging mostly has been this pregnancy.  Sitting in front of the computer for long bits of time is not something I enjoy doing while pregnant.  It tends to give me terribly unlovely headaches, and lately I can't seem to conjure up the ability to focus long enough to write an understandable blog.

     BUT...I am getting better and hopefully I will follow through and start blogging on a more regular basis.  So don't give up on me yet!

    OH...and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I'm a bit late on saying that to you all....but truly here in Cambodia, International New Year isn't that big of a deal.  At the end of this month will be Chinese New Year, which will be more noticeably celebrated, and then the truly BIG event will come in April, with Khmer New Year.  Khmer New Year is probably the biggest, most celebrated holiday in this country.  SO, when that comes around we'll wish you Happy New Year once again!

     As for updates....

     As for what's going on at the Thai/Cambodia border... there hasn't been much in the news lately and though things seem relatively quiet, though still tense we just got word from a neighbor (who is a reporter for a local TV station) that Thailand is beefing up their military presence in Preah Vihear (the disputed area)!  We had heard rumors that the new Prime Minister of Thailand was getting alot of pressure to do something to win the dispute over the disputed land...so we'll see what's to come!

      I think that's about it....until next time

another link...

Here's another link to the latest news about the Thai/Cambodia conflict, actually covered by CNN International 

http://edition.com.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/16/thailand.cambodia.fighting.ap/index.html

Thailand vs. Cambodia

I am sure that most of you have not  heard that there is fighting going on between Thailand and Cambodia at the moment!  CNN news hasn't covered the story yet, and I doubt they will until things get really really serious.

BUT, if you're interested, here's the story....

Preah Vihear Province is to the north and borders Thailand.  There is a Hindu temple/sanctuary atop a hill very close to the border.  Years ago Cambodia was awarded the temple as part of the country, but there are several hectares of land surrounding the area that continue to be in dispute.  Thailand claims the land is theirs and so does Cambodia.  Several months ago the argument over this land and even the temple was renewed causing both sides to place military personnel and equipment along the border.  There hasn't been any real fighting...until yesterday.  Here's a link to a news story you can read to fill you in on more of the situation.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49E3U720081015

Because we are so far from the border and Preah Vihear we don't feel any threat of this skirmish, but if things escalate any further we'll keep you posted on our situation.  CAMA does have one couple in the border town of Poipet who are feeling the tensions and have plans in place if they feel the need to leave the city.  Pray for them, their wisdom in how to handle the situation and for their safety.  They have told us that the past two days have been extremely tense in Poipet and the border crossing is officially closed.

Most of us are hoping that the situation will be resolved quickly and without further fighting and loss of life (2 Cambodians have died already).  Pray for the Prime Ministers on each side to have 'cool heads' and to make wise decisions.  Pray especially for Thailand whose government is in upheaval as it is already!

We'll keep you posted if anything else big happens.

The 7 day funeral bon

Today was the 7 day funeral bon.  

Two days ago our neighbor came to our home to give us our invitation to come to the event.  So the past two days I've been asking everyone I know what you do at a Buddhist funeral bon.  My teachers told me you go, give the family some money, eat rice porridge and then leave.

We knew there would be monks...a time of offering prayers for the deceased, and then possibly a teaching time, but we didn't know how it would all play out and what it was that we needed to do.  I got a few different answers on what was appropriate to wear to such an event so I was literally watching as guests arrived to see what they were wearing before I got myself and Aiden dressed!

Above all else we knew that it would make a HUGE statement in our community for us to go....#1 because we are Christian and #2 because we are foreigners.  My teacher at language school said she's never seen a foreigner go to a funeral before...sure foreigners are at weddings, but not funerals, she said.   So we prayed for God's wisdom and got ourselves dressed and went at the appropriate time this afternoon.

We're still not sure what to make of all of it as we don't know language and culture well enough to know exactly what happened, but our neighbors seemed very grateful that we were there and they made sure, several times, that we weren't going to leave too early and miss out on the rice porridge (which was darn good by the way....except for the squid tentacle that got stuck in Chris' teeth!)

Our prayers have been that through this experience that God would show himself to others through us...even if we say nothing at all, that people just KNOW that we are different.  They saw that we didn't participate in the merit making ceremony and prayers with the Monks, but they did see that we weren't afraid of it either.  Pray for this family that because we were willing to step out and go to the bon that they would be curious about us, and our God and that they would be willing to ask Mao, our nanny (who is also a follower of Jesus), or even that they would be willing to ask us about our faith (and if that happens pray that God miraculously gives us the language we need to say all that we need to say!)

Take a gander...

I've put a few new posts on our other blog that you may be interested in reading.  The blog is mainly about Aiden...here's the link:    http://ajbellar.blogspot.com

Enjoy!