Chris Sorensen and I pulled into the airport just as the Clay family was coming out the doors. Adam, Ruby, Amber, Pearl, Alex and Jaden, welcome to Cambodia! We said a prayer of thanksgiving, and then all eight of us piled into the cab of the truck along with the least rain-resistant pieces of luggage. We had dinner at the home of Tim and Fay Scott who have been missionaries here since I was a boy. Then God led us to a brand new hotel—quiet and clean with hydrotherapy-quality hot showers. Ruby told Adam that anytime she was feeling burned out he could bring her there for a day, and she would feel like a new woman.

In the morning, after introductions at the Adventist mission, we loaded the whole family into the truck again and set out on our first excursion into Great River territory. The dust was so thick that we could see only one car in front of us. The potholes made our heads knock together and bounce off the windows, and the bugs swarmed so thickly that I had to stop twice to clean the windshield so I could see through it.

We stayed in Philip & Hope Kiwis’ old house. Of course, when we arrived the power was out. Amber and Pearl watched carefully as I dripped a little hot wax onto the counter, held a long candle still in it for a few moments and then let it stand. It was magic. Then I showed them how to tuck the mosquito net under the mattress and check the corners for hiding mosquitoes.

As the Clay family settled in, they took in all the newness with good humor. A huge bug landed on my belly button, and I said to Alex, “Look at my belly button,” to which he replied, “That’s not a belly button, that’s a bug!”

As Adam bumped his toe on the raised door jam in the bedroom, a gecko began chirping. “That gecko was very sympathetic when I stubbed my toe,” he said. “It kept saying, ‘Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh!’”

The smell of candles and dusty mosquito nets and even the call of that silly gecko filled me with nostalgic memories of my childhood in Cambodia. I see the Clays—brave, curious and burdened for souls—and I so much want them to succeed. For the last six months I have been working hard to prepare for their arrival and get them off to the best start possible. While continuing with my health work and English teaching, I cleared the jungle to prepare a spot for the Clays’ house and arranged to move a small house there that AFM built for student missionaries. I was also able to bring Navee to see his first baptism!

I am overjoyed that God has seen fit to bring this precious family to join me. Thanks to all who are a part of their support team.

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