Cambodia

Hello Friends!
  Two weeks ago I had the privilege of traveling to Cambodia to attend intensive safety training put on my Fort Sherman Academy.  SP workers in Asia traveled to Phnom Penh to attend this two day course.  I found it very helpful and really got my mind thinking.  With living overseas and traveling lots, it is always good to be prepared for whatever situation may come my way. 
  On the flight from Seoul to Cambodia, I was in line for the bathroom when the woman waiting directly behind me passed out.  I look back to see a woman falling to the ground and immediately went into action.  Myself and a flight attendant carried her to the galley.  I had no idea what happened-stroke, heart attack, etc.  I put my basic life support skills in action and she soon became responsive.  She was a bit out of it for a while, but thankfully there did not appear to be any major issues.  I never understood why she passed out (she was Japanese so only spoke a little English), but thankful the Lord had me right there to help immediately.  She, her family, and the Korean Air staff were very thankful for my help which I was happy to offer.  My life is never dull. 
  I decided to spend a few extra days in Cambodia to see some sights.  I only recently heard of the Khmer Rouge regime.  I was a bit embarrassed that I did not know about this part of history.  From 1975-1979 2 million Cambodians, 1/4 of their population were murdered under an awful regime.  I visited the Genocidal Center and Museum.  It was awful to see and learn about what happened, but felt it is part of the history of Cambodia that I should learn about.  The pictures below are very graphic so view with caution.  Also so many of the pictures have Buddhist idols/buildings as they were everywhere.  This is a country that needs Christ. 
  On the way home from Cambodia, I stopped in Korea to see a friend which I enjoyed so much.  I am home in Mongolia for two months and have many goals at work with camps soon coming, along with many discipleship activities.  We have an exciting spring and summer coming up. 
Emily

I saw entire families on motorcycles. 

Human trafficking is a huge problem in Cambodia. 

King's Palace

Model of Angkor Wat

Just awful!

A classroom turned into a prison cell.

A victim with her child

The barbed wire kept prisoners from committing suicide by jumping over.

This was a school that the regime turned into a prison.

Camel Polo

A team preparing to play.

Camel Polo in action!

Overlooking from the Chinggis Khan statue

The sun was bright!

Turtle rock

So many camels!

A camel for riding.  In Mongolia, we have double humped camels. 

Turtle rock from a distance. 

What an interesting day today was!  Two guys who work for IT are visiting from our headquarters to work on our technology and we decided to take them outside of town to see the natural beauty of Mongolia.  We headed to Terlj National Park and had it in mind to hike a mountain, but it was too cold and windy.  We climbed a bit of Turtle Rock, then headed to the gigantic Chinggis Khan Status.  As we came over the hill to see the statue, there were so many people, camels, and cars.  Turns out they were having a Camel Polo match.  So we were able to watch a bit, but honestly it was so cold that we could not stand it for too long.  I have survived two Mongolian winters, but the wind made today seem SO COLD!  There were several teams that had their camels huddled together.  It was a sight to see.  We also went up in the Chinggis Khan statue and could see the vast beauty of Mongolia. 
Emily 

Uganda Photos

This Ugandan child and the two below need heart surgery.

Wahab is now 19 years old and in 2008 he came to St. Louis to have heart surgery.  I transported him to St. Louis from Uganda, which was my first trip to Africa.  He is doing well now and is studying to be a motorcycle mechanic.  He has a brother and sister. 

Esther's son Cephas had interventional cardiac cathetarization with CHP in 2008 and came with Wahab. 

This cute little guy had surgery with a visiting team in Uganda. 

Disney

We conquered Everest at Animal Kingdom!

David, what a fun kid!

It was Noah and Joanna's first time at Disneyworld.

Sam liked the drums and even seemed like he enjoyed some rides.

The safari at Animal Kingdom was pretty awesome and these young elephants were playing. 

The bird show was pretty funny!

We headed early to Epcot to ride Test Track and Mission Space as many times as we could (I say we and I really just mean David and Johnny).

We all made it to Magic Kingdom, even with some of us a varying stages of influenza A.

Buzz Lightyear was every boys dream ride with shooting targets. 

This was outside the new Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. 

Minnie's sister Kris!

Pirates!

Our condo resort was amazing!

The ladies!

Cousins!  #5 is on the way!

They were soaked.

Jurassic Park!

Dorj

Dorj (for short) is a very special little boy approved for life saving open heart surgery in the US.  But he has been fighting for his life in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the pediatric hospital here in Ulaanbaatar.  He has been hospitalized since late October and has had a breathing tube in twice, the first time for a month, and now approaching 3 weeks.  He is very sick, has lost weight, and is struggling to overcome pneumonia and other infections.  He needs our prayers.  We feel confident God will work a miracle for him, but please bring this request before the throne of the Great Physician.  He has one older brother and parents who love him dearly.  We have been visiting twice a week to check on him and encourage his mother.  She can only see him for 10 minutes every three hours and her heart is breaking in this situation where she can do little.  But through this, we have taught her that she can pray for God's intervention and encourage little Dorj during the time she gets at his bedside.  When we see him, we pray over him and he seems to look at us which is so encouraging, but so hard as we see a child who is fighting so hard.  He needs the large hole in his heart fixed.  When he get's better, he has a spot at a very good hospital in the US, so we look forward to the day when he is well enough to go and can get him on the plane with his mother to the US for urgently needed surgery.  Thanks for your prayers for Dorj.    
Life this January has been pleasant compared to last January.  The temperatures in January 2012 never got above -8 F for almost an entire month.  This January the highs have been 0-9 F, with the lows in the -20's, which is tolerable.  That might seem odd to those of you who live in the US, but to those of us who live here in Mongolia, that feels tolerable.  I do not even where a hat, just the hood of my coat.  I have a long down jacket that I call my zip up sleeping bag.  I have enjoyed having many guests over for dinner this past month, keeping me always cooking.  I host small group on Thursdays and I enjoy that time with many dear sisters.  So this January has gone very quickly. 
I am headed to the States Wednesday.  I will be in St. Louis for a couple days to take care of a few things and for a BLS class, then fly to Disney with the family.  My parents have generously given myself and my brothers and their families a trip to Disney.  I have four nephews who will be so fun to experience Disney with.  We have three days planned at Disney parks, one day at Universal, and one relaxing day.  I am really looking forward to this.  Following Disney I will head up to Charleston for a few days with my parents and then fly onto Uganda.  In Uganda I will shadow a visiting team doing pediatric open heart surgeries in Kampala and then work with the CHP office there for a week.  This is a great opportunity to learn and then work with a new Ugandan CHP coordinator.  Work is slower in Mongolia, so this is a good time to be away. 
Thanks for your prayers and support of my work.  I am praying for God's clear direction on my path and future. 
Blessings,
Emily