Category: Maryknoll

Happenings in the Maryknoll world, especially in the Cambodia Mission Team.

Preparation for moving

Preparation for moving continues: Today I worked on the bookcase in my room (the door behind me). I went through all the books and sorted out those I want to take with me, those that I will give to the seminary here, and those that will just be given away or discarded (as much as I hate to throw out books). I have a dream (fantasy?) that some day I will actually be able to retire and read some of the books I’m taking with me. It’s HOT upstairs where I’m working!

Moving day is coming

Next Wednesday is moving day for Maryknoll Cambodia, when we move from our present office to a new and smaller one. Sr. Regina has been organizing and overseeing all the activity that can be done in advance, and today our office manager and guard boxed up a large-screen television we can use of meetings, presentations, etc.

Two endings

Russ Brine has been with us as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner for five years and worked at the Deaf Development Programme. Now he is finishing his time in Cambodia and relocate to Kenya where he worked before. Tonight we said goodbye to him at a Maryknoll Cambodia liturgy which was also the last one we will have in our present office.

New Maryknoll Office

Maryknoll is moving to a different office building in August and today we went through the house with the landlords to check for need repairs and changes. Here Sr. Regina calculates whether our dining room table will fit into this space. It does.

Can you hear me?

Maryknoll Cambodia has been looking for another office. One shophouse we checked out today had this audio room on the second floor. All Cambodian buildings in the cities are made of concrete and terrazzo floors, and the noise level and echoes are terrible. Apparently a previous audiophile occupant of this house fitted out this small room with carpeting (unheard of in Cambodia) and padded walls to create a quiet listening environment for a discerning ear. First time I’ve seen anything like that in Cambodia.

Our new home?

Maryknoll Cambodia (the official name of our Maryknoll presence in Cambodia) is considering a move to a new, smaller office.

We have identified 25+ shophouses that are available in our area but most are not the right size or the right price. One especially promising one we visited this morning. Up on the third floor it had this strange open place at the rear, next to the stairs going to the open roof area. Since most Cambodian houses are built without closets, this flat space is probably a storage area.

#2 and Finished

We—the members of Maryknoll Cambodia—were back at the same hospital this morning for our second vaccination injection.
Because Cambodia received only 400,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, it was reserved for the foreigners and the larger population received one of the two Chinese vaccines.

Going…but not away

Today the Cambodia Mission Team honored Maria Montello at the end of her contract with the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Maria is finishing nine years with MKLM but she is not leaving Cambodia so we will still see her around!