And they’re off! After last days of classes, last suppers with Phnom Penh host families, last-minute shopping, packing, service orientation and some teary farewells, the students loaded into taxis, vans and buses, and headed to the provinces. We have groups of two to four (and a few brave souls going by themselves) heading in every direction out of Phnom Penh. Students will be serving in eight of Cambodia’s 25 provinces. This is a challenging transition and a number expressed sadness at having to leave Phnom Penh after becoming comfortable here. We are confident they will transition well to their new locales. After a week for them to get settled in, we look forward to starting our visits with each of them. In the meantime, enjoy these photos from the group’s last days in Phnom Penh before heading out to their service locations.
Please keep all of the SST’ers in your thoughts and prayers as they transition into life with new families in new locations, and begin their service assignments at various faith-based and service NGOs around the country.
Photo credits to Dan and Jill and several students’ Facebook pages.
They didn’t choose the thug lyfe. Prepping for the final group dinner before service. They made an awesome fruit salad to go with our pizza and cereal night.Pizza on the porch.More pizza on the porch.The star of the evening – cereal!Brand promotion. Not everyone is lucky enough to have paper products named after them.Sam bought a cake for his family as a thank you for everything they’ve done for him.Marlie out shopping with her cousin brother and his wife and children. Maggie out with her sisters and friend.Brodie and his host family hanging out.Sarah celebrating a last meal with her family.Sam out with his family.Water filters? Check. Sleeping mats? Check. Mosquito nets? Check. The students are ready for service!Sam, Jack and Marco ready to head to the Siem Reap area.Farewell hugs.The Mandilkiri Four. Marlie, Leah, Jon and Helena packed and ready to go.Maria talking with one of the host sisters from Mandilkiri. She came to travel with the group going there.Tessa and Maggie ready to start their Kompong Cham adventure.Five packed to the brim and ready to head south to Kampot and Kep Provinces.The bare service necessities.Isaiah ready to head to Oudong.Kate, Dan and Berke getting ready for their trip to Oudong.Isaiah’s taxi heads out of Phnom Penh. Despite the city hustle and bustle, it seems oddly quiet here.What a cutie! This young lad’s dad stopped for a roadside iced coffee right next to our apartment building. Goooooodnight, Phnom Penh!!
