Author: Charles Dittmeier

Confirmation

Tonight the English Catholic community had a confirmation ceremony to give that sacrament to thirteen youth and three adults. It was an especially pleasant and really enjoyable religious experience.

Homegrown

Today I was working upstairs at the Deaf Development Programme and the maintenance man brought me a coconut to drink. He brings me things occasionally to try, things he thinks may be new to a foreigner, but this is the first time I had a coconut grown on our own property!

Christmas Event

When I first came to Cambodia, there were very few Christmas events and most of them were small private gatherings at churches or Christian schools. Now Cambodian society has learned there is money to be made recognizing Christmas and there are Christmas trees and Santa Clauses everywhere. And many of them have already been set up for this coming Christmas season.

Tonight the Phnom Penh Choral Ensemble perfromed Christmas songs in a charity concert at the Oakwood Premier Hotel. Almost all of the ensemble are members of our Catholic community so they invited me and I gladly attended.
The opening Silent Night song was accompanied by a ballet dancer who had wings sparkling with fairy lights.
At the intermission, refreshments were served at an outdoor courtyard in the building complex which is quite new and modern.
At the closing, Hannah Lyn Bandalan, the conductor of the Phnom Penh Choral Ensemble, gave a very well written thank-you and tribute to the people made this even possible.