Daryl blogging today :) 

First off- Yesterday!

I can't even begin to tell record everything I saw, heard or experienced... it was just too much. We woke up with the knowledge that we were building a fence for a pastor but we had no idea how much work it would take. We got drove in our trucks for about 40 minutes and were ready to start as soon as we arrived however, the Cambodian people were not and we were taught a quick lesson of patience (APPARENTLY starting on time is not a huge issue... I would do well :]) About 30 minutes after, we started. At first they wanted a compound post for the trees, so the guys cleared the land with machetes (only got showed up by a few girls :p) and the girls scooped up manure which wasn't as bad as it sounds :] After creating this huge compost pile, we started on the holes... hardest job EVER. In America you hire a man, who has a machine, who pushes a button that drills holes for the fence posts that will be probably mechanically be placed into the ground. Cambodia.. not so much. We had some tools and hands and that's what we used. I can't even explain all we had to do just to dig one hole. One Cambodian would take a hole, dig a perfect two foot deep circle and be on to the next in about one minute.. seriously. It would take TWO of us to go to a marker, start digging a hole together and finish in about.. oh I don't know.... 15 minutes. The thing that amazed me is that the Cambodians smiled and laughed the whole time and didn't sweat at all. We had looks of exhaustion, random here and there smiles and all of us sweat so much we looked like we jumped in a pool. We took a quick break to eat lunch that the Cambodians prepared for us. We had a lot of food but the thing that stuck out the most was the bamboo.. did you know you could eat bamboo? neither did we :] After that we got back to the holes and a couple hours later finished the hardest job we have ever attempted to take on.. but they thanked us a ton. Even though we considered ourselves sort of a hindrance cause we were so slow, we learned a lot of lessons of being appreciative. It was personally so amazing to me the grateful, loving, hospitable attitudes they gave to us... and how much you sweat and Cambodia!! We all took forever long showers and headed to the Strong's for dinner... American spaghetti (yay). After a yummy dinner it was time for an ice cream run, team talk, and bed. 

Today:  Today was our day to spend with the Khmer youth. After riding the lorrey we all split off into our groups. Anna and Rebecca were together with two sisters, Josh M. was off with a young man, Daniel, Josh B and I were off with this whole big family, and Caleb, John and David went with two young men. We all did different things and learned soooo many different things that you are going to have to as us each I suppose what our day was like. It was an amazing day for all of us and I personally was struck by how much it takes just to support a day for yourself and your family. It was a lot of work for us to live a day of a Cambodian because of how different all of us live. They are so content here, so happy with just the company around them. It might take more for these people to have a bed or even breakfast but it's almost better because it teaches them (a long with teaching me today) to depend on God and to work happily with those that you love. I prayed before I left that this would be a life changing experience.. that I would learn things that I could never learn with all the distractions back at home. Already in these few days this has come true for me and all my friends here. Keep praying for us and thank you for everything you guys have already done for us!

Love, Daryl :]

p.s. Josh Munroe spent the day with crocidiles, Caleb, John and David climbed coconut trees, Josh and Daniel Blanchard and I ate manure and survived, no one got stung by the many scorpians we have encountered, and Rebecca appreciates squatty potties but is thankful for American toilets.