Every Day = Not-So-Routine

We are somewhat settled in our new morning routine taking walks before going to the office, but what we see on our walks is difficult to classify as routine. Ye, we see the street vendors preparing their coconuts and wares ready to sell for the day, but there is so much that is different every day.

We start our walk at 6:00 a.m., which seems to be too early to wake up even for those who sleep in the tuk-tuks, on the benches, or right on the sidewalk. We thought our bed was hard, but it is nothing to compare with the sleeping accommodations of those on the streets of Phnom Penh.

One thing we do see daily are people getting exercise. There is a group who does such graceful exercise. We are impressed with how many people choose to walk or go to the park to do some sort of exercise in the mornings.

Another daily feature of our walks are the early morning vendors in the park, these are selling peanuts, dried fish and fruit. One woman we see most mornings sits in a wheelchair with a bathroom scale for people to check their weight. We always smile and say "Suasdei" (hello). Now she watches for us and seems disappointed if we are talking and almost miss our morning greeting.

Every morning there are women working to clean up the garbage that gets left by so many careless people. This woman is using her long handle broom to sweep up the little bits into a pile to be picked up.

And as with most Mondays we saw several of the young missionaries who came to the Service Center on their P-day. So grateful for the little things that make our days anything but routine!