Each year the Khmer New Year is celebrated on about April 13 of the solar calendar. Since this is the time when the sun shines directly overhead in Cambodia, these are also the hottest days. Usually by this time the farmers are finished with harvest and waiting for the rainy season to start before they start to cultivate their fields again. So, during New Year they and their family and friends can enjoy a wonderful family time together.

During New Year Phnom Penh becomes a quiet backwater because most people leave to return to their home provinces for family gatherings. I also took advantage of the opportunity to go to Kratie Province with friends to observe the Mekong River dolphins. They are a dark gray color with rounded heads -- very lovable. The second day I stayed alone in the air conditioned hotel room to spend time in devotions, reading books, preparing my message for the youth camp and napping. It was so comfortable! Outside it was scorching hot and just walking to the market to buy lunch and back I got sweat soaked.

I had a chance to take a picture with the Ministry of Culture and Arts musical troupe. This is one kind of traditional percussion instrument. When you see a picture of it in a book it looks to be about the size of a tambourine. You'd never expect that the player has to sit inside it.

Please pray

I need spiritual renewal. Sometimes when I see how busy and tired I am every day, I feel like it is meaningless and feel out of patience.

Starting in May I will teach English four afternoons a week at Phnom Penh Thmei in order to try to reach the local young people. The local church planting couple, Lim and Pauline, asked me to assist by teaching these youths. I asked our American missionary, Jim Nelson, for advice and he gave me some very good ideas and materials.