Almost missed church

Ken, who I've mentioned in another post, and I have had great conversations about a variety of topics.  On Sunday we planned to go the International Christian Fellowship church located close to Tuol Sleng, the Genocide museum here in Phnom Penh.  After getting ready, we flagged down a tuk tuk and negotiated a price to Tuol Sleng.  During the trip Ken and I were so engrossed in our conversation that we weren't paying attention to where we were going.  The tuk tuk driver stopped and told us we were there. Ken looked around and didn't recognize anything, but the driver pointed down the road as if Tuol Sleng were just a short walk down the road.  So Ken and I got out of the tuk tuk and paid the driver, which was a mistake.  We were actually four blocks from the museum.  By the time we arrived at the church, the pastor was wrapping up his sermon - oops.

We had a good time during their fellowship time on the roof of the building.  Being on the roof is really neat because you can catch the breeze to cool off and can watch the storms coming in.  We got to know some of the people from the church who then invited us to eat with them at a place called The Boddhi Tree.  I never would have found the place since a huge bougainvillea hung over the gate and restaurant sign.  We actually ate underneath it.  I had Chicken with ginger and rice not knowing that most of the dish was ginger.  It seemed like a whole ginger root was shredded and cooked with a little bit of chicken.  It was almost overpowering but I actually enjoyed it. 

We had a great time talking with folks from New Zealand, England and a couple from the states.  I must admit I was jealous when most of them were able to order in Khmer.  Whenever I'm in another culture, I wish I could speak their language.  I keep praying that God would give me the gift of tongues, expecting a super natural ability to understand and speak the language without any work (A great gift for being on the Amazing Race).  Course, that is a completely selfish request - at least for my motives (someday I'd like to be on the Amazing Race).  On a serious note, I do think that if I were to live in another culture, I would be able to pick up the langauge quickly.  That's only conjecture since I've never actually done it.

Something everyone who visit another culture must be ready for is patience in waiting.  In the States we are an impatient people.  When at a restaurant we expect service - which really means give me what I want, when I want it, and do it with a smile. At the Boddhi Tree we ordered and must have waited an hour before our meals arrived - and then they arrived at different times.  Even those who ordered salads got them after a 45 minute wait.  The wait was tolerable because of the people and conversation.  When Ken and I finally left the restaurant it was close to 3 hours later.

Today and the rest of this week I prepare for English Camp.  That means I must visit the field trip locations, eat at restaurants that the short-termers will eat at and basically make sure everything is ready.  It's a struggle, but someone has to do it. :)