P2P Sihanoukville 2017 - Team Monkey

On Tuesday the 3^rd of January 2017 Team Monkey swung on down (by van) to Sihanoukville. We were the smaller of the two P2P teams and consisted of Steph from Adelaide, Harry from Melbourne, Puthsa from Phnom Penh, Edward and Bethel from the USA, Chanty and Chann from Sihanoukville (who we met there), Jess (me) from Brisbane and our fearless leaders Sophorn from Sihanoukvillie (also met there) and Billy from Sydney. Unfortunately, we had to leave a monkey (John from Adelaide) back home in PP who enjoyed the germs and sickness that spread around the PP BEC. Sophy from NZ would also join us later on that week bringing that sickness with her (the remaining team members of Team Monkey, however, remained strong…for the most) and Laura from Adelaide would join us the next week. Team monkey was such a random mix of people but soon into that van ride it was obvious we were the coolest and funniest team out (no offence team elephant ;)).

Arriving in the afternoon we moved in to the guest house, attempted to hand flyers promoting the BEC out at universities (which we were not allowed to do because the unis offered similar courses) and went down to the beach for dinner and to watch the fireworks and lanterns which, to quote Steph, were ‘just like a movie’. I’m not sure how many coconuts Bethel had had by this stage but there were many to come.

 The next day was a big one. We went to Veal Rinh Province where we taught Sunday school, Bro Billy gave a Bible Class, we shared a lunch with the locals then had a Memorial Meeting with Sister Min, who otherwise has little opportunity to meet with brothers and sisters. On the way back we then went to Kbal Chhay Waterfall, where Sophorn, Chanty, Puthsa and Chann sweated and teared up over a chilli filled meal while some swam, some fell asleep in hammocks, some did a spot of juggling and others enjoyed a refreshing coconut (I wonder who?). It was a long day, but it wasn’t over yet! That night we went back to the BEC where, just in time for Bible Class, there was a black out and so, with a stylish head lamp in place, Brother Ed gave a Bible Class by candle light. Then we had a family dinner!

After a good sleep, came ‘Tourist Thursday’ and being the beach side team this meant we were incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to hop on a boat and head on over to Koh Rong Island! It did not disappoint. We had good food at the Monkey Island shack, beautiful clear water to swim in and for those that can’t sit still (Billy) a good looking island to walk around! I can’t go on without mentioning the dogs, specifically my new best friend who exploded my heart by coming and lying down between Steph and I on the beach while we ‘tanned’. It was a stunning day in God’s creation and that night after boating back to the mainland, meeting up with our NZ team member Sophy and (for some) lathering moisturiser onto their sun kissed skin, we had bible readings and dinner.

The next day was going to be another flyer day, handing them out at schools and where ever people would take them but unfortunately the flyers were not to be found and instead we had to move guest houses after the prices they’d agreed on suddenly upped. Conveniently, however our leaders found a place that was cheaper, closer to the beach, right next to a good Falafel food place and didn’t take almost the entirety of our stay for some to figure out how to use the hot water. Despite the mishaps we were back on schedule that night where we went to the soccer fields to play with whoever was there and let them know about the BEC. Of course, we also had much planning to do for our days to come.

Saturday was another one of those big days and we were blessed to add a few more members to the team for the weekend. Lihor, Seng Hai (also known as Fred), Tito and Richard (brothers from Phnom 

 Penh and the UK) came to join us. The van ride was a lot cosier and there was a lot more Karaoke with our new team members and so the trip to Kliang Leu Province was a good laugh. Once at the Province we taught a big Sunday school of about 40 kids the Story of Noah and the Ark. Luckily the night before Bethel had creatively wrapped a pipe cleaner around a ‘tongue depresser’ (that’s American for a paddle pop stick), drew a face on it and then later he was given a white fluffy hair style and beard with a cotton ball. That 

became our craft activity, which was followed by a lost in translation version of duck, duck, goose (very Noah and the Ark appropriate). I will give a shout out here to our translators, especially Puthsa and Sophorn, who we really could not have done it without, THANKS!

We got back in the van after Sunday School, continued the Karaoke and headed to another Provence to continue the fun! Arriving in Smach Deng we had lunch (a whole entire chicken was had, including the heart, liver and all those fun bits – team monkey is pretty game!), Bro  Sophorn did a self-esteem building activity with a group of young people and Bro Ed gave a talk! After that is was back to the BEC where Bro Puthsa gave a Seminar, we had dinner, played soccer and finally, bed!

On Sunday we taught the Sihanoukville Sunday School, doing David and Goliath. Our weekend team addition was super great to have for this as they did a much enjoyed re-enactment and really put in a good effort with the colouring in pages! Bro Savy then did the exhort, we went to a, as Sophorn claimed it to be, good for westerner and Khmer restaurant (though, I’m not sure we use such a generous amount of ants in our dishes) and then we hung out on the beach, relaxed and said goodbye to Ed and Bethel who were off to explore Siem Reap.

On Monday we pushed back our departing time just a little and slowly made our way back to Phnom Penh for some more teaching, preaching and fun. Of course, we stopped on the way to see the monkeys and after all the different types of bananas Harry had eaten it’s lucky he was taken by them.