Buddha's Birthday = Another Holiday

The frequent holidays have made life quite interesting for us in Cambodia. We have learned to move ahead and keep working. Today's holiday was Buddha's Birthday. Being a religious holiday means the Wats are decorated and busy. As we take our walk we pass a Wat across from the monument. We could tell things were happening there by the lineup of Tuk Tuks, Motos, and Cyclos (the bicycle rikshaw) lined up along the street.

There are some lovely fountains around the monument which are rarely running early in the morning. Today was the first time in several weeks that they were going, making for a refreshing view.

Our walks give us interesting things to see. Today we found this pile of shoes just sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. By the time we came past again a half hour later they were gone. With no DI to contribute used clothing and other items we have found this is the way people get rid of their recyclables. You put your trash on the street and if there is something useful someone will claim it.

Our day was very productive. We had a Skype call with the Self-Reliance couple in India (Elder and Sister Little). What a blessing it is for us to visit with these missionaries as they serve in other parts of Asia. We have learned they have many circumstances similar to what we face here in Cambodia, yet on a larger scale. There are 1.3 Billion people in India, and the vast majority are greatly impoverished. They are only senior missionaries in their assigned city, they do not have a car nor reliable transportation, and until recently they have been the only ones working in the Self-Reliance Services, covering the entire country. We are amazed with how much they are accomplishing, and feeling blessed to be part of a support team instead of having so vast of a responsibility. They are exactly what India needs in the Self-Reliance Services right now!

This evening we decided to go to Mama's New York Deli for dinner. We thought we would invite Elder and Sister Thurston to join us (they just moved in across the hall from us), but they were not home. We all laughed when we arrived at Mama's and they were already there. They had not asked us to join them because they wanted Mama's and thought we would have chosen somewhere else. We had a nice visit over a delicious dinner.