A few months ago I shared that Esther, a young Cambodian woman, would be volunteering at the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Pennsylvania through MCC’s IVEP program. I’m happy to share that she received her visa, attended orientation at the MCC office in Akron, and is now in the Souderton area.

For our friends in the area, please keep an eye out for her and say hello if you meet her.

The 50th Annual Apple Butter Frolic – which is organized by the Mennonite Heritage Center – is coming up on October 7th and would be a great time to say hello to Esther. It was also one of our favorite activities to join while we were living in the Harleysville, as I shared last time.

In the short time she’s been in Pennsylvania, Esther has already gone hunting for crayfish in nearby creeks and had a Khmer meal with Sokun, a former IVEPer, who now lives in the Harleysville area.

During her IVEP year, Sokun was placed at a Mennonite Disability Non-Profit called Peaceful Living which, as many of you may know, was where I was working before returning to MCC. Another connection is that Peaceful Living currently rents it’s office space from the Mennonite Heritage Center where Esther will be volunteering.

Sokun’s brother, Mokra, actually married one of Crystal’s High School friends, Lauren, and – a few months ago – surprised us by coming over for a visit. Our first personal visitors since we moved to Cambodia!

If you do meet up with Esther please take a photo together and send it our way. It helps us feel connected despite being on the other side of the world.