It's Tuesday morning and I've just arrived at work... it's a lot cooler today because of the rain last night, which is always pleasant, but am feeling a little fragile... I got a ride on a tuc tuc today with a consultant who's here with us for the next few weeks, but normally I would be riding on the back of a motorbike taxi, something I've been doing ever since coming to Cambodia six years ago.  For the past 2 ½ years I have had one particular driver who has driven me all around Phnom Penh, taking me to work and back, to meet friends, to church... he's always available and so careful when he drives and always with a big friendly smile... My Mr Lo... known to all back home in England, has even featured on PowerPoint presentations as a big part of my life here in Cambodia.

On Sunday Mr Lo suffered a stroke, he's only 44 years old.  Just writing this my eyes well up... He's paralyzed on his left side and lying in a Cambodian hospital with his loving wife and two small daughters by his side.  I went to visit him at lunch time yesterday and he started sobbing... I couldn't help but feel his helplessness and fear of the unknown, his wife trying to put on a brave face while at the same time asking if he will ever be able to ride again.  This is his livelihood, it's what supports his family, food, rent, schooling for the two girls.  In Cambodia there is no state welfare support, you get treatment if you can pay... doctors were not giving him an essential CT scan because they couldn't pay... once paid they rushed him off to check the damage... I went back to the office, sat at my desk and wept. I wept for my friend, for his family, for their future. In the evening I was very moved seeing his two daughters, one on either side of him, massaging his arm and smiling at their dad, it's very clear they're love for their father.  In just a few weeks I will be moving to Afghanistan, and it's hard knowing that they will be in a difficult situation, but I know God is bigger than this and I have to trust there will be a way forward for them.  His road to recovery is going to be a long one... but already I have been given a contact of people giving free physiotherapy and a place to stay for the family...there will be a way...