The time here in The Hague is 8.25pm. It is very bright as if it is still day. I am very tired though - still in Singapore time which is 2.25am.
This morning when I left for The Netherlands, my heart was sad due to a reason which I prefer to keep it private. I prayed about it. Though burdened I will have to go through with it but I will not cease praying, holding to the hope that one day God will make everything beautiful.
Anyway, I have blogged a little of what I did in Changi and Dubai airports. I shall blog more now. This was in Dubai when I was seated at the gate, waiting for my flight to Amsterdam. Then came two ladies, a mother and a daughter, who sat next to me.
As they were conversing loud enough for me to hear, I was just wondering whether the language was Khmer. Anyway, I decided to find out more by starting off in greeting them in Khmer. They were surprised when I did that. Of course I told them I am not a Cambodian but have been to their country for more than 30 times.
When they heard my greetings, the mother thought I was a fellow Khmer because she said I sounded and looked like one. Anyway, they knew English so we chatted in English. If we had carried on in Khmer, it would have been a short and awkward conversation.
I found out that the mother left Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime and since then they have been living in The Netherlands. Then she gave birth to her daughter who has since studied in the United Kingdom. I popped a question as to whether they would ever consider going back to Cambodia and their answer was a definite yes. In fact the family have already bought a land and they have returned a couple of times already.
Well, the two ladies were kind enough to even ask me to visit them once they return for good as interestingly, the province they are moving back to is in the Kandal Province. This is where my church's sister-church is located at, in the town of Takhmao.
The flight to Amsterdam was smooth. I did not get to sleep much as it was full and I could not really rest well sitting upright. The immigration and custom clearance was fast but I had to wait a long time to collect my luggage. I was worried for customs initially as I bought mooncakes and pineapple tarts for George, Laurel and their two sons.
I was so happy to meet Laurel outside the airport. She was so kind to travel from The Hague to Amsterdam to pick me up. We took a train and a tram. We caught up with each other during both rides.
When we reached home, I was greeted by two of Laurel's excited sons, Ben and Isaac. They have both grown so tall.
I washed up once I settled in the guestroom. After that I chatted with Laurel and the two boys.
After a while, I excused myself - basically to spend some time writing some thoughts in this journal book that my sister gave me last year and in it, there was still this note she wrote. I always praise God for her as she has been such a blessing to me.
I just had dinner with the family after George came back from work. Praise God for the reunion of friends and also for their hospitality and not forgetting the delicious food.
I shall key off here. Time to sleep. My retreat begins tomorrow and I shall look forward to it.
This morning when I left for The Netherlands, my heart was sad due to a reason which I prefer to keep it private. I prayed about it. Though burdened I will have to go through with it but I will not cease praying, holding to the hope that one day God will make everything beautiful.
Anyway, I have blogged a little of what I did in Changi and Dubai airports. I shall blog more now. This was in Dubai when I was seated at the gate, waiting for my flight to Amsterdam. Then came two ladies, a mother and a daughter, who sat next to me.
As they were conversing loud enough for me to hear, I was just wondering whether the language was Khmer. Anyway, I decided to find out more by starting off in greeting them in Khmer. They were surprised when I did that. Of course I told them I am not a Cambodian but have been to their country for more than 30 times.
When they heard my greetings, the mother thought I was a fellow Khmer because she said I sounded and looked like one. Anyway, they knew English so we chatted in English. If we had carried on in Khmer, it would have been a short and awkward conversation.
I found out that the mother left Cambodia during the Pol Pot regime and since then they have been living in The Netherlands. Then she gave birth to her daughter who has since studied in the United Kingdom. I popped a question as to whether they would ever consider going back to Cambodia and their answer was a definite yes. In fact the family have already bought a land and they have returned a couple of times already.
Well, the two ladies were kind enough to even ask me to visit them once they return for good as interestingly, the province they are moving back to is in the Kandal Province. This is where my church's sister-church is located at, in the town of Takhmao.
The flight to Amsterdam was smooth. I did not get to sleep much as it was full and I could not really rest well sitting upright. The immigration and custom clearance was fast but I had to wait a long time to collect my luggage. I was worried for customs initially as I bought mooncakes and pineapple tarts for George, Laurel and their two sons.
I was so happy to meet Laurel outside the airport. She was so kind to travel from The Hague to Amsterdam to pick me up. We took a train and a tram. We caught up with each other during both rides.
When we reached home, I was greeted by two of Laurel's excited sons, Ben and Isaac. They have both grown so tall.
I washed up once I settled in the guestroom. After that I chatted with Laurel and the two boys.
After a while, I excused myself - basically to spend some time writing some thoughts in this journal book that my sister gave me last year and in it, there was still this note she wrote. I always praise God for her as she has been such a blessing to me.
I just had dinner with the family after George came back from work. Praise God for the reunion of friends and also for their hospitality and not forgetting the delicious food.
I shall key off here. Time to sleep. My retreat begins tomorrow and I shall look forward to it.
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