The one good thing about hanging about in Doha airport is the free internet access. That's it - the one good thing. We do get a free meal and, given that we have just come from a place of real need I should be grateful for that, but despite the fact that I have forced my watch to say 19:45, my body is still firmly convicned that it's 23:45 and shovelling strange-tasting rice and dubious-looking chicken stew into it is not a welcome thought!
We spent last night in a Novotel, relatively near the airport (though still a good twenty-five minute drive by luxury minivan!). A strange contrast - I booked it for its proximity to the airport and the only hotels I could find when I was booking werewell above our normal 1/2 star range. So, $10 a night in Poipet became $75 in Bangkok. The rooms were lovely, of course - dressing-gowns and slippers, mini-bar (which we didn't use, Tearfund, ok?!), swimming-pool and fitness room in the hotel, sumptuous, all-you-can-eat breakfast this morning. But despite enjoying our little taste of luxury after roughing it with the mosquitos, the dodgy electrics and the threadbare towels (will we get another loo roll or should we ask... and what is Khmer for loo roll, because that's one we don't want to have to mime...) we all felt flat.
Of course it's got to happen - you get all keyed up looking forward to a trip like this - imagining it, investing energy, excitement, anxiety, apprehension in it, and suddenly the precious few days we were actually there are over and we're on the homeward stretch. But hopefully we're all richer, wiser, better for the experience and we are now beginning to look ahead to seeing family and friends again and to sharing our experience with you.
And I had been beginning to enjoy a wonderful sense of completeness - a sort of 'mission accomplished' feeling. We got all the medicines, the football strips, the kids stuff for schools, the gifts and envelopes for Vuthy, Chomno, Sophar and the rest of the project safely there and handed over. I say, 'had been' because, Derrick, (and I feel I must publish my shame-faced confession on the world wide web,) the one thing I failed to do was to leave behind the gift you asked me to take out for the blind lady. I had put it safely in my portfolio and diligently carried it around with me every day to keep it safe, but it slipped through my net when I was checking all the other things I had to give... All the way to Poipet and now all the way back to Scotland from where I will wire it by Western Union at the earliest opportunity. So, I offer my sincerest apologies for failing you in the task you asked me to do in the hope that, if I tell you from Doha, Qatar, you might have forgiven me by the time I see you in Glasgow next week... If I had had time this morning when I found it, I would have taken a taxi from Bangkok back to the border but... sorry.
Well, I'd better sign off now - there is a string of fellow-travellers from around the world waiting to use this computer. Our luggage is checked through to London, so the only remaining challenge at Gatwick is to juggle the weight in our baggage to avoid Easyjet's mercenary excess baggage policy (five quid per kilo? I don't think so!!!). If need be I'll wear my kilt over three pairs of trousers and all my other clothes - they're all filthy anyway, so they're bound to give us a wide berth!
I don't imagine we'll add too many more entries to this blog - we'll probably blog in person now, but maybe one or two just to continue the process of processing, if you see what I mean. But, in case you can't be bothered reading any more, thanks so much to all of you who have been reading of our adventures in Cambodia and leaving comments - and thanks especially for praying for us. God has answered your prayers and ours and I'm sure He will continue to work this experience through in our lives and in our life as a church for some time to come.
Oh, and did I mention that we now have a wedding to host? When Chomno and Kim were married in August 1986, it was by an elder (not even a pastor) in a refugee camp on the Thai border, under less than ideal circumstances. Chomno - and Kim especially, like any woman - would like to 'do it properly' and, it seems, they have set their hearts on having a Scottish wedding. Chomno says if I send him the wedding service, he'll translate it into Khmer and teach me how to say it, so that I can do it in Khmer and English (Kim doesn't speak or understand any English).
So.... let's see what we can do, shall we?
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