Our Cambodian Adventure: Half way stock take

Well, we’re over half way through our time here! Sometimes it feels like time is flying by, but we often take the time to sit back and enjoy moments; and celebrate milestones in our journey. (Those of you who know Karen well will recognise these times as she says thoughtfully “…this [accompanied by a hand gesture motioning in the general direction of whatever is going on], is good.”

Like the first time we arrived at our favourite café (Artillery, do it!) without getting lost, feeling the sense that Phnom Penh is our “home”, enjoying a Friday night drink with colleagues from work and sharing stories after a hectic week, catching the sunrise when we wake up early (which is far too often), enjoying the view from the top of the Kep National Park – one of our favourite places to visit, retelling funny conversations we may have tried to have in Khmer, having friends from NZ to visit and sharing a meal at one of our favourite restaurants or seeing the beautiful sights of Cambodia with them, and spending time with the friends we have made here.

We are amped about the rest of our time here. We still have a lot to do but it is encouraging to see that we are contributing to growing Hagar's capacity for the work it is doing.

Karen will be taking on some legal and protection work starting next week as the expat advisor in the team is going on maternity leave. This work will include working with the L&P team on client safety issues (often in a crisis situation) and helping prepare clients for court if the offender is being prosecuted locally (or sometimes in the USA). Karen's excited about working directly with Hagar's clients but is under no illusion that the work will bring its own emotional and technical challenges.

I have completed strategy work for growing social media and I’m near the end of the retail pledge product development project, both of which involved working extensively with our support offices overseas. Part of my role now is to explore new revenue opportunities, so I’m working on a Vietnam/Cambodia cycle “awareness tour” and a new Hagar apparel product range (e.g. t-shirts/jewellery).

We would appreciate your prayers as we continue our work here. We miss NZ (friends and family mainly) a lot and should make it back in time for the best of summer!

- Logan