Minea, Gabriel, Veasna, and Samuel enjoying a game of Super Smash Bros on the bus.
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When we left Calgary, I made sure to grab two controllers for my Switch, so that the kids could play it together on the bus. This worked out great, as the boys pictured above quickly found something new to pass the time together. Chanthy then joined in, with others stopping by to watch them play. The small controllers that are attached to the switch (Joy-cons), were then removed, so that three kids could play at a time.
I was impressed that they created a system of play without my input. The winner of a match would continue playing, while the two losers would let two others take their place. There were no fights over who got to play next with this format. There was a brief hiccup when we had only one player waiting, as the person who came dead last would swap out, but that falls apart when there is a tie for second place in a three-man game. Thankfully they let me mediate the dispute and they respected my judgement.
While I was happy that my idea worked at bringing enjoyment, I have had to implement a time limit as to how much they play. Minea and Gabriel both express an immediate desire to play as soon as we board the bus, regardless of how long the journey is. I don't want to foster or encourage an obsession, especially if it means taking away from their focus. I now only allow a 45 minute maximum of playtime before telling the kids to go do something else. I have only had to enforce this rule once so far since introducing it, and Minea waited 10 minutes before asking to play again. Now I know what I put my parents through when I was younger.
The kids also enjoyed spending time with Sarah, crowding around her to watch videos on her phone. The bus has certainly become a hub of social activity, as none of the kids sit still in their seats, with several sections of the bus becoming small centers of gathering. Surprisingly, nobody really likes the back of the bus, which goes against what I knew as a kid.
Our last stop before reaching Pincher Creek was a quick visit to Lundbreck Falls. The kids varied in their responses to the setting, as some bravely approached the safety rails overlooking the falls, while others stayed further back with concern. Several photos were taken by the adults, with many of the kids getting together for poses. Yusvae learned a bit of a lesson when he tried to force Samuel forward, only for Samuel to give him a stiff punch in the arm. Robb and I stepped in at this point, stopping Yusvae from retaliating. I tried to assure Samuel that he was not in trouble for sticking up for himself (the kids do not share an equal understanding of English), but that he should call for an adult in the future. Hopefully we have no such issues moving forward.
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When we arrived at Vertical Church Pincher Creek, we encountered winds that were extremely powerful. I learned shortly after that Pincher Creek is one of the windiest places in Canada, which means that its citizens have to strategically park their cars to account for the wind direction. The kids understandably wanted to stay inside the church at all times.
Our visit to Pincher Creek was special, as it marked the first time that Rescue had ever had a tour stop there. This is not to say that nobody there had ever heard of us, as several large donations had come from there in the past. Two Rescue donors, David and Barb, were instrumental in bringing us over, which we thank them greatly for.
The staff at Vertical Church can lay claim to one amazing feat: they served the Cambodians the greatest meal of any church visited so far. While every church has done a great job in feeding the team, the Thai noodles and spring rolls prepared by Vertical Church were eaten with an enthusiasm I had not seen from this group. Several went back for seconds or thirds; Chantha enjoyed the dish so much that she got five servings! Robb was able to snap a photo of Sokthon eating with vigor, which Sokthon asked him to delete. Too bad.
Shelly delivered good news to the kids, but it required an explanation for it to make sense. Karman and Twyla sold their house, which will allow them to come to Cambodia for a greater period of time. This was the result we were hoping for. For Cambodians, however, a person selling their house is a sign of bad finances and/or debt, which led to confusion when Shelly enthusiastically told them that Karman and Twyla had sold their house. A second attempt with altered translation led to the kids getting excited.
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The turnout for the performance was about what we expected. As it was a first-time visit, we were not anticipating a large crowd, but a devoted one. Those who attended were treated to a moving night of testimonies, reports on the good work being done, and dances.
The layout to the church meant that the kids got prepared on the second floor, and entered the atrium from behind. This meant that there was a bit of a scramble between performances, as the kids had to rush up and down the stairs while trying to be as quiet as possible (which they continue to find difficult).
After the performance, the kids were billeted into three groups, with all of the boys going together, and the girls being split between two locations. The wind had only gotten worse, meaning that the trips to the billet's cars were rather chaotic, as wheeled suitcases were at risk of being blown across the parking lot. Thankfully nobody lost their bags, and no car doors were dinged.
The morning after saw another round of farewell prayer and song, with Leah specifically cracking me up. Even when singing or praying, Leah still has a hint of attitude. It is rather endearing and always brings a smile to my face.
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After bidding farewell to Pincher Creek, we made the trek to Medicine Hat, where we were to stay at the Medicine Hat Lodge. Due to an error on the hotel's part, we were unable to get in our rooms at the originally listed time. To kill time, we went to a nearby playground and park. We played a variety of games with the kids, most of which involved wrestling of some kind. Even Blaine got involved, with several of the kids climbing on him.
When we got into the lodge, we quickly went to their pool and waterslide. We had a lot of fun! The kids greatly enjoyed the slides, and I loved barreling down after them. I would frequently give a loud yell to notify I was coming down, which would lead to the kids panicking and trying to get down the slide faster. Nobody was hurt, but as of writing, I am very sore. My favorite moment was grabbing Thavin and pulling her down the slide with me.
After swimming, the kids went to dinner with local Cambodians. Everyone's hearts were warmed by the generosity of the locals, as they gave a box of donations, which was not expected. The team greatly enjoyed eating their local cuisine, ending a very fun day at Medicine Hat.
God bless & Jesus saves.
Note: I don't feel comfortable putting up pictures of the kids swimming, so don't expect to see them on the blog.
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