OK....so it's been almost exactly twelve months since my last posting on this blog. No excuses from me--I'm just plain lazy. For the past year I've been home in Central Wisconsin, and not on the Anastasis (though my heart longs to return to Africa someday). If you don't know what the Anastasis is, please refer to the earlier postings of this blog.
God has blessed me in ways I could never have imagined. The picture to the left is of myself and my wife's aunt, standing in the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple (engulfed by a tree) in Ankgor, Cambodia. I wouldn't have dreamed of traveling to Cambodia before meeting my wife. What a blessing it was to go to Cambodia! We traveled the country for two weeks looking at sites, and visiting friends. Cambodians are a gentle and kind people, who have endured a violent history of war and suffering. Tourism, for better or worse, is the most profitable industry for Cambodia today. Amidst a growing tourism market, a staggering forty percent of Cambodians still live below the poverty level. An average citizen, even a professional with a college education, can make less than $2,400 (USA) annually.


This boy lives at a Catholic orphanage in Phnom Penh, the capitol city of Cambodia. He and about 14 other children between the ages of 2 and 5 live there. These kids love to play, grab on to you, misbehave, eat, and laugh loud! We watched in awe as they sang "Jesus loves me" and other favorite children's songs. They all learn to speak some english as well. All fourteen children seemed well cared for, healthy, and appropriately developed for their respective ages. As we sat and played with them one morning, it was almost impossible to believe that they were all HIV positive. Though their time on this earth is uncertain, that simple truth brought from "Jesus loves me" never sounded sweeter to my ears. I pray today that they understand His gift of love and sacrifice.



That boat was near our guesthouse on the beach. The Gulf of Thailand (off the coast of Cambodia) offers some beautiful beaches. The boy (in the other picture) seemed to be picking some sort of water lily from the roots (underwater). The picture on the left is of the largest temple in Cambodia (Angkor Wat). It was constructed in the 12th century by rulers of the ancient Khmer Empire. A mixture of Buddhist and Hindu culture can be found in these temples.

Our trip to Cambodia was a wonderful experience. Mary and I learned much about Khmer culture and the current situation in Cambodia. We also learned some things about eachother along the way. I thank God each day for the beautiful woman He put in my life. Her adventurous spirit and compassionate heart inspire me to be the best version of myself. By trusting and obeying in Him first, God allowed us to meet and fall in love. God bless you and your families during this Christmas season.