Charles Dittmeier – Page 2 – Welcome to Cambodia, and…..

Listening to Isaiah

Today Couples for Christ, a lay group that tries to put its Christian faith into action, had a conference with a theme suggested by the prophet Isaiah–being a servant in service of God and being a light for others through our service.

First the group had some song of praise and worship together, then Fr. Charlie gave a talk on Isaiah 49:6, and then there was a “boodle fight,” a Filipino creation–eating a line of food (vegetables, rice, fish, meats, spring rolls, etc.) without plates or utensils. Everyone wears two plastic gloves and eats with their hands. An interesting experience for this Kentucky boy!

Power Cut at DDP

We have intensive Deaf Leadership Training going on at DDP but it was interrupted Friday by a power cut.

The leadership training couldn’t continue with their agenda that required a projector but Soknym, our director, met with the group outside.

The Year 1 and Year 2 classes also moved outdoors. The power was off about an hour.

U.S. Elections 2024

From a commentary by David Frum, staff writer for The Atlantic

U.S. Elections 2024

From a commentary by E. J. Dionne, Jr., Washington Post columnist

Raymond Leos Funeral

Last Friday, Dr. Raymond Leos, vice president of American University of Phnom Penh, died suddenly. Today at the school there was a funeral service in English. Tomorrow there will be a Buddhist ceremony at the pagoda. Raymond was a member of our Sunday English Catholic Community.

Another first

It’s not unusual to see something new and different in Cambodia, something that isn’t so common in other places.

This is the first tuk-tuk I’ve seen with a bike rack! This addition will hold two bicycles.

Morning Ritual

Every morning, starting about 6:00 AM, this woman steams a little dumpling-like concoction on a charcoal burner on the sidewalk.

And the customers come!

This little piggy….

If you’re thinking about lunch, Street 143 might be able to help.

Country Development

Cambodia has been a least developed country but the government is pushing aggressively now to move the kingdom into the moderately developed category.

There is progress but there is still a long way to go. The GDP of the United States is $85, 370 per capita. Cambodia’s GDP is $1,553 per capita although it is expected to jump significantly in 2025.

Moving Time–Truck it

Today I moved all my stuff from Street 410, from the Maryknoll office building which we are closing, to a flat in the Boeung Tum Pun area. I had way too much stuff that had to be moved but our small crew got it moved within five hours. Now it is going to take WAY more time than that to sort it all out and find a new place for it in my new home.