The beginning...

Though we have had a year and a half of experience being "made" as a family and couple, we are starting a new journey that will change us without a doubt. We arrived in Cambodia on the night of Monday, January 23, 2012 at 11 pm (which is 11 am in America). We are 12 hours ahead. We have done so much already!

The flight was good. The long one went fast even though it was 15 hours; the second was only 4 hours. You had your own screen with video games, movies, trivia games, news, etc. Between watching things, sleeping, eating, and looking out the window at the arctic it was exciting and went by faster than expected.

It's HOT here, but we are in the nice season, so I will have to grow to tolerate the temperature when it gets hotter. April is the hottest month. After April the rainy season starts. :( It's during the summer when people will be out of school and able to come. So that stinks. We went toTakom village and met villagers and then explored the integrated farm.

We had our first language class yesterday. I am pretty bad, but I have been working hard last night and this morning trying to study for today's class. Ryan was pensive and quiet during the class, but I believe he will soon pass up some of the other students who at this moment have had time to learn. Ryan is already doing well and will humbly pass most, he doesn't know I'm writing this, but I see how is non-obstrusive way of learning is good for the class. I have to brag on him because I am proud of him already! We knew no Khmer (we were the only people who didn't know any) and we are already excited to practice. Ryan did with the desk man of our guest house.

We will go to the children's home today and Tonle Sap lake tomorrow. So it's getting exciting. We get to see most of the projects up front so now we know about them from the start. We go to Thailand next week and Phenom Penh the week after that. So blessed to be here.

Last night Matt and Catie Nelson took us around to look at the markets, etc. They are so sweet and have been here before for ten weeks so they shared tips with us. They are a couple on our team. We have two other team members Abby Fletcher and Stephen DeLoach who are with us as well. They're great too! We are really blessed to be part of this. I think we will start looking for apartments next week. Julie is our "boss" and she is so wise/ smart. I am so excited to learn from her. She's been here with her two kids, Caleb and Rachel for four years.

Hope this is a helpful update for our friends and family. We are so blessed to be able to help through People for Care and Learning, and we will give you updates as we go along.

-Ciara & Ryan