Notable Quotes

“A shutdown falls on the president’s lack of leadership. I mean problems start from the top and they have to get solved from the top. A shutdown means the president is weak.”
  — Donald Trump in 2013

So you can’t see it! What’s the problem?

This photo has some remarkable elements. It’s not remarkable that one of the motorcycles waiting at the red light is across the double yellow line. It is remarkable that ONLY one is over the line because the two lanes have a row of motos in front and culturally it is not acceptable to stop behind anyone so the only place to stop is in the opposing lane. It’s not remarkable that the second motorcycle is running the red light. It is remarkable that ONLY one moto is going through the red light.

What is most remarkable is that any of the vehicles have stopped. Notice you can’t see the stop light. It’s hidden by the trees and thick bundle of utility wires. In other countries that would be grounds for moving the light, trimming the trees, or rerouting the wires, but in Cambodia it’s a non problem. Who cares if you can see the light or not? Traffic signals are optional to begin with. If you want to stop, you stop. If you don’t want to stop, you don’t.

Seasonal Flooding

This is a view of the Cambodian countryside from the air as we approached Phnom Penh two days ago. The Tonle Sap River is on the left; the Mekong River goes across the top of the photo. Under the plane’s wing are large flooded areas. This is normal flooding every year but it’s lasting a little longer this year because the seasonal rains–normally ending in October–are still continuing. It actually rained again today, something relatively unheard of in this “dry” season.

MKLM Leadership in Cambodia

Ted Miles, the executive director of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, and Leslie Lopez, our advancement director, went to the Maryknoll gathering in Hua Hin, Thailand with us. Then they came to Cambodia with us when we returned yesterday. They will spend their time here meeting with the Maryknoll Lay Missioners and visiting all of their projects.

In the morning today, Leslie and Ted visited the Maryknoll Deaf Development Programme to understand the program and to talk with Russ Brine (R) and Charlie Dittmeier. Here they are at DDP, again entering phone numbers for their communications while in Cambodia.

In the afternoon, they came to our weekly Cambodia Mission Team meeting to talk about the MKLM’s present situation and direction. Here they are in a general discussion after our meeting, liturgy, and dinner.