New House - Before Pictures

Hi everyone! We are moved into our new (new for us) house and we finally got internet Monday night. So, I am able to post some pics.! Yay! :) Here are the BEFORE pictures of our lovely home. When we get back from the States, we are going to paint, decorate, etc. So, you'll have to wait a few months to see the AFTER pics.

Our move went smoothly. It was the best move we have ever done! We had a truck rental make 2 trips ($15.00 per trip). It was wonderful! They lugged all the stuff out of the house, over balconies, etc and then moved them into the new place. Tim dropped me off at the new house at 7 a.m. and I cleaned the kitchen about an hour and half or so. When the movers came with our stuff, I stood and directed - that's all!! It was the easiest move for me! I've always done the carrying, etc along with Tim and others and this was such a treat. This way I could concentrate on unpacking and cleaning...we also had Logos kids (from school) who live in this neighborhood show up to help clean, unpack, etc. It went so fast!! Of course, it helps that we don't have lots of things! :)

By Sat night late afternoon we were unpacked. That evening Tim and I arranged, made our bed, unpacked our clothes, etc. What a blessing it was to have the help after moving our stuff in! Some of the boys even cleaned windows for me!!!

We are just amazed how God opened up this opportunity and provided this home for us and we moved on faith that He would provide the funds for our monthly payment, which is double what the other apt was. But we believe God wants us here. Already, He is using us in this neighborhood. The boys' home is on the same street as we are. The boys and girls homes are ministries of Asian Hope, as is Logos School, where we teach. These are kids that are orphans or the parents aren't able to care for them. Each home has "parents" that live with the kids. We feel at home here and it feels like a community. It is so nice to have people around that speak English and that we know. Logos families live on the same street or the next street down. The students, and adults, walk by and yell out, "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Jones." So cool! :) We felt so isolated over at the apts. Oh, and there are no rats and no sewer smell here! When we get back after the summer, one of the missionary kids is going to live with us. Her parents live about 6 hrs from here. She attends Logos. The plan is for her to finish out her last two years at Logos and to live with us during that time. So, we'll have a teenager around the house again!! Scary...just kidding. She is currently one of Tim's students, but she won't be next year. She is such a sweet, easy-going young lady. :) There will be adjustments of course, but we are excited for this new ministry God has sent our way. We want this home to be a haven, a safe place for kids to come visit and to learn about His love and acceptance. We know this house will be filled with love and laughter, because as many of you know, if you have one teenager living with you their friends show up too and hang out! LOL

It is so quiet and peaceful here. Already it has been healing to my soul and heart. Tim and I just can't believe that God provided such a NICE place to live here in Cambodia!! We feel so luxurious. :) Sure there are repairs and things need fixing, but it's so worth it!

As you look at the pictures below, yes it's huge and beautiful. It seems like it would be sooo expensive. But it's only $450 a month. There is no way you're going to get something like this in the States, but it is quite expensive for here! :) There are 3 stories - 4 bedrooms (2 on the second floor and 2 on the third floor). Each bedroom has it's own connecting bathroom! And there is a half bath downstairs. Amazing huh?

So, here's the BEFORE pics. Below is a picture of the street we are on. Notice the CLEAN streets. No piles of garbage lining the streets. We pay a monthly trash fee for them to keep the streets clean and pick up garbage 2 xs a week.


Some of the pretty houses on the other side of the streets. These are bigger than ours. Notice the basket - that's what you put your garbage bags in and they empty it. :)

Below is our new home. It's a duplex, this is our side. Yes, there are 3 stories, including the ground level!! That satelite dish has been removed, it belonged to the previous owners. We still don't have a t.v. but may get one after we get back. We've been informed by the students who live in this neighborhood (most of them are Tim's students) that we need a t.v. so they can come over and watch it! LOL :)

The front patio/courtyard - don't you just love that Mexican tile?

Another view of the front patio - that's our side wall dividing the duplex on the other side and that's our front metal gate which rolls open if necessary and if we had a car, which we don't. :)

Huge, wide front door (with a screen)! and front windows

Living room, you can see the front door. Those are marble tiles - yes, big 24" marble tiles! Beautiful!

another view of living room with barren walls. We'll paint and decorate later.

I love the ground floor; it has a great room. The living area is off to the left there - you can see the back of the rattan couch. That's the dining room in the background. You can see the start of the kitchen to the left of the dining room, see the black and white tile?

The kitchen. Those are lighted balls which I need to properly stream still...working on that...

Look at this staircase!! Isn't it absolutely amazing?!

Here's a close up of the staircase. See the balls. They will light up when I find an extension cord and plug them in. Those colors are what we'll be painting and decorating with. We decided to go with Mexican/Carribean colors - it fits the house. Bright, bold colors - lime green, bright medium blue, bright orange.
Here's the master bedroom. Umm...the curtains are orange striped - these are in all the bedrooms. Not thrilled about the colors, but hey they are free, came with the house and they are nice and thick to help keep the hot sun out!

Our huge bed (which we already had). We found a mint green cotton comforter at the market. It's comfy and light enough not to be too hot, but warm enough for me, cuz our new aircon is terrific and blasts out cold air!! :)

Here's our wardrobe closets. Everything looks so small, cuz the bdrm is sooo big! Obviously we have some painting and decorating to do in this room too! :)

Here's the master bdrm bathroom - notice the bathtub, a luxury here!! Don't you love our colorful towels? Those are what we used before it's all that we have right now...:)