My Little Oasis

I know it might not seem much to you looking on, but this is my little oasis - Maaike's own private little corner of Cambodia.  

One of the things I enjoy most about living in the province is the space that we have. Our wooden house with its accompanying land seems a million miles from the concrete jungle that we have endured in Phnom Penh.

In Phnom Penh it was almost impossible to really garden, since added to the fact that more than 80% of our land space was concrete, the constant heat and humidity left me exhausted after only a short time. But here in the cooler temperature of Ratanakiri, one of my favorite things to do in my spare time has been to “create” a garden space for myself in a corner of the paddock like land that surrounds our home.

At times I wonder if it’s worth it – since our landlord has the freedom to cancel our contract and force us to leave this house whenever his mood takes him. It’s not only the time and the money I’ve invested in the garden, but the treasures of moments spent with my children, my husband, even my mum, sister and brother, digging, planting and watering there. The dreaming and planning of where to put what and the joy of watching little buds grow, and flowers bloom.

Since we married, six years ago, Wim and I have lived in six different houses. Except for one, they were all rented. You kinda get used to the fact that you might never have a permanent place to call home – but what seems vital to me is to make every place in some way my own. I decided early on in this missionary adventure, that every house would be a home, and I would invest a piece of myself wherever we went, no matter how short that time might be.

Martin Luther said that even if he knew Jesus were coming back tomorrow, he would plant an apple tree today.

So I garden as though I were to live in this house, enjoying its garden for years and years to come. I invest in it for myself and for my family, building memories and keeping photos, so one day I will have a tapestry of gardens to look back on and enjoy.