In February 2007 I visited Saigon, or Ho Chi Min City, in the beautiful south of Vietnam. I visited a couple of propaganda-filled museums, took a couple photos on the street, then put my camera away and enjoyed the city.

The photos I took (see the set or slideshow) aren’t the most comprehensive, but they still give a couple more glimpses into that fascinating world. Enjoy!

[Spectacles, by webel]

Something about this photo, displayed in the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, really messes with me.

Today I’m leaving to go to the Smoky Mountains for the weekend with some friends. We’ll be staying at this cozy little cabin, hiking around the mountain trails, taking in the scenery, playing lots of games, and soaking in the hot tub (oh, yeah). Sure, summer’s right around the corner … but I still need a break.

Truth is, work has been really hard for me this year. I’ve had to find a way to fit back into a culture and system that is both familiar and foreign, to juggle both the-way-things-used-to-be and the-way-things-have-become at the same time. I’ve had more interpersonal conflicts at work this year than ever before, and there were many more days when that ever-elusive joy was simply impossible to find. And the pace itself has been difficult to deal with … sure, I’m slowing down, but I also think there’s just something futile about the rate at which we live.

So yeah … this weekend should be a much needed break from the grind and a chance to be around some pretty fantastic folks. And when I get back, I’m going to take yet another personal day to relax at home with some movies and blankets. If I’m gonna do it, I figure, I might as well do it right.

This past week, I had the pleasure of joining four other adults and twenty-four eighth graders on a trip to Monterrey, the third-largest city in Mexico. The majority of our time was spent serving the people, facilities, and children of Back2Back Ministries, an organization that helps several children’s homes (the positive name for an orphanage) throughout the city.

The time was saturated with hard work, intentional growth, and plain-old good times … and God really did a number on my heart too. But instead of telling you stories right now, I’d like to just share my photos. I’ve posted about two hundred online … so if you want to see what we did, check out the set or the slideshow.

What captivation!

By the way, I’m going to Mexico in ten days.

[Tranquil, by Lance Webel]

In February 2007 I traveled across the Cambodian border into Vietnam to meet up with Rick, Natalie, and Amy. We spent our first few days in Mui Ne, a sleepy little fishing village on the eastern shore … and it was glorious.

Here’s a set and slideshow of the nineteen shots I got before my batteries ran out. Oh, how I’d like to be there right now, sipping on a banana milkshake as the ocean breeze swirls all around!

During my trip to Cambodia in February 2007, I had the sobering privilege of witnessing the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge’s genocide of 2 million Cambodians (30% of the population) under Pol Pot’s rule. Seeing how that country had been torn apart by cruelty and hatred was sobering … but in the end, I was amazed by the healthy way that history was remembered and the uncommon hope that I saw in the people.

I took thirty five photos (set, slideshow) … the first twenty one are from the Killing Fields, a murder camp outside of Phnom Penh. The last fourteen photos depict S-21, a high school that was converted into a prison and torture facility.

In February 2007 I got up at 4am and hired a motorcycle driver to take me around Angkor, a 900-year-old city of temples near the central Cambodian city of Siem Reap. It was an absolutely surreal experience!

I’ve finally finished the titles and descriptions for all 79 photos … if you’d like, you can check out the set or slideshow on Flickr.

Well, I’m off to Gettysburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry for the next three days on the annual eighth grade trip. It’ll be the first time I’ve gotten to ride in the bus with the kiddos … and I’m really looking forward to hanging out with the fantastic group of girls that I’m chaperoning.

Historical America, here we come!

I spent the last week and a half with my parents, three siblings, and their families (including ten kids!) at a big house in Tazeville, Tennessee. It was great … I golfed a few rounds, kayaked a bit, played a ton of Monopoly, went tubing on the lake, chatted it up with my family, and ate a lot of good food.

I’ve uploaded 38 photos from the vacation (see the set or slideshow). As you can see, it was constantly entertaining and really refreshing too!