We made it back to Indiana safe & sound, thank God. It was difficult to say good-bye to the friends we made in Cambodia. There was lots of hugs & handshakes & bowing, & a few tears too. I'm looking forward to returning in May, but am very, very, very happy to be here in the US for the moment.
The one thing that stands out to me concerning all the experience of the last 2-1/2 weeks is smallness. The smallness of the world, the smallness of our problems, my own smallness.
The internet & global travel have made this entire little world easily accessible to everyone who will take interest in life beyond his own little world. Even so, like most Americans, I knew very little about Cambodia before our trip. It boggles my mind to think I've lived only a day's plane ride away, yet had no idea who was there or how they lived.
Although I've seen several problems that may never be overcome in Cambodia (& here in the US), our problems are nevertheless pretty small. Hunger is so simple to solve. Making sure people have clean water is easy. Reaching out to the lonely, protecting the weak, caring for the infirm-all absolutely do-able. The more I understand this world & its problems, the less I understand why we still have problems. Why are people suffering so? The only reason I can find is lack of compassion. I believe that's our real problem, our only truly big problem.
Which leads to my own smallness. It only took me a day to get to Cambodia & very little effort to solve some problems. On the other hand, I'm just a middle-aged, middle-income, Mid-American homemaker. I'm just one of billions. I'm small. I'm hoping & praying for other small ones to realize the smallness of this world & the smallness of its problems. If we'd all make a small difference we'd see a big change.
(God willing, I'll continue posting over the next several weeks to keep you abreast of preparations for the May trip to Cambodia.)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Almost There
We're in Korea as I type, so it won't be long now b/4 we're back in town.
Our last day in Cambo was riddled w/ power outages, so the blog entry I tried to send couldn't make it out. Oh well, here it is now....I hope. :o)
See you real soon!
**
Today being Sunday, it is a holy day for buddhists. Everywhere we went today, people were begging for money to repair or maintain pagodas, temples & shrines. They were also trying to sell flowers, incense & the like which are offered to idols.
We toured a couple of buddhist landmarks. The first place included walking stone steps up a mountain. Our guides (more about them in a minute) told us how many steps there were, but I don't remember the exact number. Somewhere around 509 or 609. After the first 200 or so I was too hot & tired to take in the more trivial facts such as this.
Upon our arrival at this religious hotspot two young men, 14 & 17 years-old, began to give us a history lesson about the place. We weren't more than a few steps up stone stairway when I realized they expected to give us the whole tour & receive a generous donation in return. They seemed to have their script down pat & they assured us the money would be put toward teacher fees so they could attend english class in the evenings. Evidentally the first thing the english teacher teaches them is a lovely history script to present to tourists such as ourselves. Apparently it's working for them & it sure beats begging as many of the other children do.
In between rehearsed snippets of history & trivia I was able to engage my guide, the younger of the two, in personal conversation. He plans to attend school a few more years, then become a monk to continue his education in english.. He said that all monks receive an excellent education. A sort of scholarship here. Of course, he'll have to do some hard work, to beg & to live a lot less comfortably than he does now. It's worth it to him to learn english well enough to get a good job.
It was very difficult to speak to them about Jesus, but I think Isaac planted a couple of seeds. At the first of several places where shoes were to be removed, I asked why we were supposed to do this. The boys realized we are christians & offered to let us keep our shoes on, but Isaac explained that we would gladly take our shoes off out of respect for them even if we did not believe in their gods. That impressed the boys as their idea of Christianity, like most non-believers, is one of arrogant intolerance of other religions.
The next seed Isaac planted was in a special temple where our tuk-tuk driver told Isaac it was OK to for him to pray to Buddha even though he did not pay a donation or make an offering. Isaac explained that he could not bow to any god but Jesus. The tuk-tuk driver, in turn, explained that Buddha accepted all religions, so Isaac could go ahead & worship him. I nearly laughed out loud at the man trying to convice Isaac that Buddha wouldn't mind if he were a christian. Isaac simply told the man again that we believe only Jesus is God, but that he was happy to wait for the driver to bow on the mat provided.
We admired exquisite architecture, wondered at the beautiful creation provided on & around the mountain, planted a couple of gospel seeds & got a great calf & thigh workout. Not a bad take-away considering the whole thing was centered around false gods, idols & dead people.
Postscript: If you're wondering, yes, it did feel kind of icky to see such warped worship. More than loathing it tho, I pitied it. It was a good culture lesson tho.
Our last day in Cambo was riddled w/ power outages, so the blog entry I tried to send couldn't make it out. Oh well, here it is now....I hope. :o)
See you real soon!
**
Today being Sunday, it is a holy day for buddhists. Everywhere we went today, people were begging for money to repair or maintain pagodas, temples & shrines. They were also trying to sell flowers, incense & the like which are offered to idols.
We toured a couple of buddhist landmarks. The first place included walking stone steps up a mountain. Our guides (more about them in a minute) told us how many steps there were, but I don't remember the exact number. Somewhere around 509 or 609. After the first 200 or so I was too hot & tired to take in the more trivial facts such as this.
Upon our arrival at this religious hotspot two young men, 14 & 17 years-old, began to give us a history lesson about the place. We weren't more than a few steps up stone stairway when I realized they expected to give us the whole tour & receive a generous donation in return. They seemed to have their script down pat & they assured us the money would be put toward teacher fees so they could attend english class in the evenings. Evidentally the first thing the english teacher teaches them is a lovely history script to present to tourists such as ourselves. Apparently it's working for them & it sure beats begging as many of the other children do.
In between rehearsed snippets of history & trivia I was able to engage my guide, the younger of the two, in personal conversation. He plans to attend school a few more years, then become a monk to continue his education in english.. He said that all monks receive an excellent education. A sort of scholarship here. Of course, he'll have to do some hard work, to beg & to live a lot less comfortably than he does now. It's worth it to him to learn english well enough to get a good job.
It was very difficult to speak to them about Jesus, but I think Isaac planted a couple of seeds. At the first of several places where shoes were to be removed, I asked why we were supposed to do this. The boys realized we are christians & offered to let us keep our shoes on, but Isaac explained that we would gladly take our shoes off out of respect for them even if we did not believe in their gods. That impressed the boys as their idea of Christianity, like most non-believers, is one of arrogant intolerance of other religions.
The next seed Isaac planted was in a special temple where our tuk-tuk driver told Isaac it was OK to for him to pray to Buddha even though he did not pay a donation or make an offering. Isaac explained that he could not bow to any god but Jesus. The tuk-tuk driver, in turn, explained that Buddha accepted all religions, so Isaac could go ahead & worship him. I nearly laughed out loud at the man trying to convice Isaac that Buddha wouldn't mind if he were a christian. Isaac simply told the man again that we believe only Jesus is God, but that he was happy to wait for the driver to bow on the mat provided.
We admired exquisite architecture, wondered at the beautiful creation provided on & around the mountain, planted a couple of gospel seeds & got a great calf & thigh workout. Not a bad take-away considering the whole thing was centered around false gods, idols & dead people.
Postscript: If you're wondering, yes, it did feel kind of icky to see such warped worship. More than loathing it tho, I pitied it. It was a good culture lesson tho.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
O for the day
Today's entry is a rather personal one, if you don't mind.
As one would expect, I have found there are things I have taken for granted as a middle-class American. Some things are rather petty & the desire for them is easily overcome. Things like warm water, truly clean hair & real coffee.
Some desires, altho they cannot be totally put off, can be diminished to a bearable limit. I long for my husband more than I long for air. I'm absolutely convinced that I could swim the ocean to get back to him if necessary. No kiddin'. Nevertheless, I soothe my aching heart by reminding myself that I will soon see him.
Some desires are not so easily put off tho.
For me, the one thing I cannot conquer the desire for, or even slightly soothe, is hearing the name of Jesus. In the U.S. I live among a community of Christians who freely & frequently speak the Name. I hear His name innumerable times thru the day. I cannot accurately express how lonely I am for conversation & congregational singing & recorded music that includes Him & His name. This painful longing makes me all the more enthusiastic for the Day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord is to the glory of the Father.
I cling to this screen looking for emails from my ministry partner Kelly Stanley because she always includes God's name in some form or fashion. I've saved every letter like precious sips of water in a dry & weary wasteland. Evenso, I can hardly wait to hear & to speak the Name again
Brothers & sisters, if you live in a place where you are free to speak & frequently (or even regularly) hear "Jesus," I urge you to thoroughly enjoy that freedom & to fervently pray for those who do not have such luxury. It is a luxury.
As one would expect, I have found there are things I have taken for granted as a middle-class American. Some things are rather petty & the desire for them is easily overcome. Things like warm water, truly clean hair & real coffee.
Some desires, altho they cannot be totally put off, can be diminished to a bearable limit. I long for my husband more than I long for air. I'm absolutely convinced that I could swim the ocean to get back to him if necessary. No kiddin'. Nevertheless, I soothe my aching heart by reminding myself that I will soon see him.
Some desires are not so easily put off tho.
For me, the one thing I cannot conquer the desire for, or even slightly soothe, is hearing the name of Jesus. In the U.S. I live among a community of Christians who freely & frequently speak the Name. I hear His name innumerable times thru the day. I cannot accurately express how lonely I am for conversation & congregational singing & recorded music that includes Him & His name. This painful longing makes me all the more enthusiastic for the Day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord is to the glory of the Father.
I cling to this screen looking for emails from my ministry partner Kelly Stanley because she always includes God's name in some form or fashion. I've saved every letter like precious sips of water in a dry & weary wasteland. Evenso, I can hardly wait to hear & to speak the Name again
Brothers & sisters, if you live in a place where you are free to speak & frequently (or even regularly) hear "Jesus," I urge you to thoroughly enjoy that freedom & to fervently pray for those who do not have such luxury. It is a luxury.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A Day at the Beach
Today we were back to work. We checked out a couple of ministries the May team can be involved with. There's plenty of charities here, but most are corrupt-government agencies & NGO's alike. So, it's absolutely crucial for us to have God's wisdom in scouting these places out. (Thanx Myrtle for constant covering in this area!) We have been blessed to find two trustworthy ministries in Sihanouk Ville.
I thoroughly checked out one called Cambodia Children's Painting Project. Street children, who seem to be innumerable here, are welcomed in to play, eat & paint postcards & 8-1/2 x 11 pictures which are sold to help cover costs. Most of the funding comes thru other means of support tho. These activities keep the children from the danger of the streets, of which there are many. The live-in staff keep track of the children & their families diligently. They make sure the children go to school, even paying tuition, teacher fees & purchasing uniforms. They take seriously wounded & ill children to a local clinic free of charge too. They visit the families encouraging every member to live safe, healthy & with dignity.
I was pleased those in charge wanted to thoroughly check me out too. That's always a good sign in this pedophile infested country. Fyi, any children's charity that welcomes visitors without background checks is a cover for human trafficking or pocketing all the donations.
The other was an easy find. We visited the orphanage Isaac worked with when he was here last year. This orphanage, Mission of Mercy, is by far the best thing I've seen in all of Cambodia. MoM houses about 75 children on a virtually self-sustaining walled-in compound. The children receive the highest quality education in this area & possibly the entire country. In addition, they learn many life skills that are of value at the orphanage & will be of equal value once the children graduate university. Yes, they get to go to college too! Best of all, the children are trained to love Jesus & to spread the Gospel wherever they go. Hallelujah!
We also saw again how the less fortunate children are forced to live here. I cannot tell you how many tourists we saw "escorting" children today. Neither can I count how many children begged me for money or offered me some cheap trinket or service for purchase. Even those who attend school work after class is dismissed. I'm not talking about teenagers flipping burgers for pocket money here. I'm talking about 6 & 7 year-olds hawking tourists here to support their familes....if they have a family to live with.
Schools share in the corruption as well. Families are charged a hefty tuition & must purchase the school's uniforms (generally half a month's wages). Plus, the children must daily pay "teacher fees" to enter the classroom. Teachers charge students $1 or $2 per day for general education & english classes usually run even higher.
It's not a matter of Googling local charities or contacting the local Red Cross here. To find trustworthy, worthwhile charities that are really making a long-term, helpful difference is like finding a needle in a rice paddy here. Please join us in thanking the God whose eyes are roaming to & fro across the earth looking for faith, for today He has shown us where He's found it in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia.
I thoroughly checked out one called Cambodia Children's Painting Project. Street children, who seem to be innumerable here, are welcomed in to play, eat & paint postcards & 8-1/2 x 11 pictures which are sold to help cover costs. Most of the funding comes thru other means of support tho. These activities keep the children from the danger of the streets, of which there are many. The live-in staff keep track of the children & their families diligently. They make sure the children go to school, even paying tuition, teacher fees & purchasing uniforms. They take seriously wounded & ill children to a local clinic free of charge too. They visit the families encouraging every member to live safe, healthy & with dignity.
I was pleased those in charge wanted to thoroughly check me out too. That's always a good sign in this pedophile infested country. Fyi, any children's charity that welcomes visitors without background checks is a cover for human trafficking or pocketing all the donations.
The other was an easy find. We visited the orphanage Isaac worked with when he was here last year. This orphanage, Mission of Mercy, is by far the best thing I've seen in all of Cambodia. MoM houses about 75 children on a virtually self-sustaining walled-in compound. The children receive the highest quality education in this area & possibly the entire country. In addition, they learn many life skills that are of value at the orphanage & will be of equal value once the children graduate university. Yes, they get to go to college too! Best of all, the children are trained to love Jesus & to spread the Gospel wherever they go. Hallelujah!
We also saw again how the less fortunate children are forced to live here. I cannot tell you how many tourists we saw "escorting" children today. Neither can I count how many children begged me for money or offered me some cheap trinket or service for purchase. Even those who attend school work after class is dismissed. I'm not talking about teenagers flipping burgers for pocket money here. I'm talking about 6 & 7 year-olds hawking tourists here to support their familes....if they have a family to live with.
Schools share in the corruption as well. Families are charged a hefty tuition & must purchase the school's uniforms (generally half a month's wages). Plus, the children must daily pay "teacher fees" to enter the classroom. Teachers charge students $1 or $2 per day for general education & english classes usually run even higher.
It's not a matter of Googling local charities or contacting the local Red Cross here. To find trustworthy, worthwhile charities that are really making a long-term, helpful difference is like finding a needle in a rice paddy here. Please join us in thanking the God whose eyes are roaming to & fro across the earth looking for faith, for today He has shown us where He's found it in Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A real day off
We knew God wanted us to take the first couple days in Sihanouk Ville off to fully rest & fully rehydrate, but it was very difficult to fully obey. We kept feeling like we should be doing something else. Constantly surrounded by need, it's hard not to jump in with some kind of relief. So, we spent the majority of our first day in our room just trying to be still & reminding each other that it is God's plan for us & it is good for us & those we'll be ministering to later in the week.
I was ashamed of my sin & hated my struggle. All I could do was confess my failing, ask partners to pray & trust God's mercy. Whoda' thought anyone would need God's grace to relax & have fun?
Bless God, His mercies are new every morning! This morning I slept in. If you know me, you know that's rare even when I'm in the States. Surprised to see the sun already up, I got dressed straightaway & headed for the beach hoping to have a little time with God before the tourists dragged their hangovers into the streets. He ministered to my soul in the awesome beauty of His creation & in the last few chapters of Psalms.
Isaac & I determined to have a relaxing, refreshing, fun day. We headed out the front of the hotel to meet a tuk-tuk driver we've been using. We told him we wanted to eat & to enjoy the day. We left the rest to him.
We've had a GREAT time today! Ly (Lie) is a Godsend, to be sure. He took us to places whites don't go. Quiet places. Beautiful places. Fun places. He even took us to his own home! Ly is very much in love with his family & they adore him even more. They were very hospitable. In fact, the whole neighborhood was friendly....or at least curious. Whites don't get to that section of town, so we were quite a draw. They were, as usual, especially fascinated by Isaac because he is so "fiat" (that's fat, which to Khmer indicates any kind of big).
We have finally seen compassion in Cambodia! It came from a poor tuk-tuk driver who recognized weariness & did something about it.
Ain't God funny? He's the best. Or, as Psalm 148 says, "Let them praise the name of the LORD for His name alone is exalted."
I was ashamed of my sin & hated my struggle. All I could do was confess my failing, ask partners to pray & trust God's mercy. Whoda' thought anyone would need God's grace to relax & have fun?
Bless God, His mercies are new every morning! This morning I slept in. If you know me, you know that's rare even when I'm in the States. Surprised to see the sun already up, I got dressed straightaway & headed for the beach hoping to have a little time with God before the tourists dragged their hangovers into the streets. He ministered to my soul in the awesome beauty of His creation & in the last few chapters of Psalms.
Isaac & I determined to have a relaxing, refreshing, fun day. We headed out the front of the hotel to meet a tuk-tuk driver we've been using. We told him we wanted to eat & to enjoy the day. We left the rest to him.
We've had a GREAT time today! Ly (Lie) is a Godsend, to be sure. He took us to places whites don't go. Quiet places. Beautiful places. Fun places. He even took us to his own home! Ly is very much in love with his family & they adore him even more. They were very hospitable. In fact, the whole neighborhood was friendly....or at least curious. Whites don't get to that section of town, so we were quite a draw. They were, as usual, especially fascinated by Isaac because he is so "fiat" (that's fat, which to Khmer indicates any kind of big).
We have finally seen compassion in Cambodia! It came from a poor tuk-tuk driver who recognized weariness & did something about it.
Ain't God funny? He's the best. Or, as Psalm 148 says, "Let them praise the name of the LORD for His name alone is exalted."
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Day Off
Last time we tried to take a day off Isaac got violently ill before we even made a real start of it, so we've tried again. We took the Mekong Express Limosine Bus to Sihanouk Ville on the southwest coast. It was a fairly comfortable four-hour ride in "aircon" (air-conditioning). We were served a cool bottle of water & a flat bun, & were able to watch "K-TV" (karioke TV) on a small television which hung over the driver's head.
Two long-legged foreigners on holiday were dissastisfied with their assigned seats in front of us because of lack of room, so moved to the back seat (a bench seat right behind us). The stewardess tried to coax them back into their seats because the rear is her assigned seat, where she stores her bag & her only work space. Unfortunately for her, the Asian culture would not permit her to do as you or I would simply saying, "Sit in your seat or sit in the street." No, no, she was much kinder in her efforts to persuade, but did go so far as to say, "I must sit here for my job." I'm not sure if the foreigners were actually trying to be compromising or just sassy when they offered her a seat between them because half of my attention was toward keeping Isaac from tossing them out the window (He understands the culture & cannot stand a bully in any country). The culture here also prohibits the stewardess from sharing a seat with men as it would be a sign of permiscuousness. She resigned herself to stand for the duration. To help the woman out Isaac moved forward a seat & I told the stewardess she could sit next to me. She was visibly relieved & very appreciative.
The stewardess, Leang, was quite talkative, so once she served the bread & water we enjoyed pleasant conversation. She told me that she is from China, her family moved to Cambodia to work in the province-that is, to work in rice paddies outside of town. Her parents arranged for her to stay with an aunt in Phnom Penh so she could secure a job beyond rice work. She was not allowed to go to school because she is Chinese, but learned khmer & english from her relatives. She makes $18 a month working 15 hours a day with one day off every fourteen to twenty-one days. She gives some to her aunt & some to her parents. You can understand better what Leang's earning by considering that a studio apartment rents for $30 per month (electricity is included but there are no appliances). You can also understand why she was distraught at having last month's pay cut by $3. She received the cut because a costumer complained.
Part of Leang's duty is to make an offering & pray at a buddhist shrine about halfway through the trip. She offered a large bunch of bananas & incense sticks at the roadside shrine praying we would have safe travel & that all passengers would have prosperity. She was very tired, but regularly got up & made light conversation with other passengers, which is also part of her job. In addition, at regular intervals she went to the front of the bus to make announcements in khmer, english & chinese. Announcements such as, "Mekong Express Limosine Bus Service is very sorry & much regret to say water is full, so passengers may wait until Sihanouk Ville to use water closet. So very sorry for inconvenience." (translation: The bucket is full, you'll have to hold it.) Once passengers disembark, it is up to Leang to clean the interior of the bus & prepare it for the next trip.
Leang's greatest concern is that she is not yet married & truly has no time for prospects because of her long work hours. Marrying age here is between 16 & 20 years-old. Those who are not married by their mid-twenties rarely find a mate because they are past child bearing age. Remember, the average life expectantcy is mid-50's, so this thinking isn't really out of line. Because she is Chinese she has no chance of being promoted in her job (eg. working at the ticket desk) & her current position is for "young" women only.
Despite her concerns, Leang considers herself very fortunate. She has a home, a job & food (rice & bits of meat wrapped in leaves...I think it's meat anyway. She offered me a bite, but I wasn't brave enough to accept. Besides, it's customary here to refuse food offered understanding that it's an extravagant gift).
As a gesture of friendship Leang offered me all she could: a bite of her rice roll & two extra moist wipes. I accepted the wipes with much bowing & thanks, a short embrace & a little blessing as we stepped off the bus into a mass of ambitious tuk-tuk & moto drivers pulling at our arms for business. I hope my report to Mekong Express about the wonderful stewardess we enjoyed will bring her salary back up to $18 this month.
Two long-legged foreigners on holiday were dissastisfied with their assigned seats in front of us because of lack of room, so moved to the back seat (a bench seat right behind us). The stewardess tried to coax them back into their seats because the rear is her assigned seat, where she stores her bag & her only work space. Unfortunately for her, the Asian culture would not permit her to do as you or I would simply saying, "Sit in your seat or sit in the street." No, no, she was much kinder in her efforts to persuade, but did go so far as to say, "I must sit here for my job." I'm not sure if the foreigners were actually trying to be compromising or just sassy when they offered her a seat between them because half of my attention was toward keeping Isaac from tossing them out the window (He understands the culture & cannot stand a bully in any country). The culture here also prohibits the stewardess from sharing a seat with men as it would be a sign of permiscuousness. She resigned herself to stand for the duration. To help the woman out Isaac moved forward a seat & I told the stewardess she could sit next to me. She was visibly relieved & very appreciative.
The stewardess, Leang, was quite talkative, so once she served the bread & water we enjoyed pleasant conversation. She told me that she is from China, her family moved to Cambodia to work in the province-that is, to work in rice paddies outside of town. Her parents arranged for her to stay with an aunt in Phnom Penh so she could secure a job beyond rice work. She was not allowed to go to school because she is Chinese, but learned khmer & english from her relatives. She makes $18 a month working 15 hours a day with one day off every fourteen to twenty-one days. She gives some to her aunt & some to her parents. You can understand better what Leang's earning by considering that a studio apartment rents for $30 per month (electricity is included but there are no appliances). You can also understand why she was distraught at having last month's pay cut by $3. She received the cut because a costumer complained.
Part of Leang's duty is to make an offering & pray at a buddhist shrine about halfway through the trip. She offered a large bunch of bananas & incense sticks at the roadside shrine praying we would have safe travel & that all passengers would have prosperity. She was very tired, but regularly got up & made light conversation with other passengers, which is also part of her job. In addition, at regular intervals she went to the front of the bus to make announcements in khmer, english & chinese. Announcements such as, "Mekong Express Limosine Bus Service is very sorry & much regret to say water is full, so passengers may wait until Sihanouk Ville to use water closet. So very sorry for inconvenience." (translation: The bucket is full, you'll have to hold it.) Once passengers disembark, it is up to Leang to clean the interior of the bus & prepare it for the next trip.
Leang's greatest concern is that she is not yet married & truly has no time for prospects because of her long work hours. Marrying age here is between 16 & 20 years-old. Those who are not married by their mid-twenties rarely find a mate because they are past child bearing age. Remember, the average life expectantcy is mid-50's, so this thinking isn't really out of line. Because she is Chinese she has no chance of being promoted in her job (eg. working at the ticket desk) & her current position is for "young" women only.
Despite her concerns, Leang considers herself very fortunate. She has a home, a job & food (rice & bits of meat wrapped in leaves...I think it's meat anyway. She offered me a bite, but I wasn't brave enough to accept. Besides, it's customary here to refuse food offered understanding that it's an extravagant gift).
As a gesture of friendship Leang offered me all she could: a bite of her rice roll & two extra moist wipes. I accepted the wipes with much bowing & thanks, a short embrace & a little blessing as we stepped off the bus into a mass of ambitious tuk-tuk & moto drivers pulling at our arms for business. I hope my report to Mekong Express about the wonderful stewardess we enjoyed will bring her salary back up to $18 this month.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Day Out
Praise be to the one, true, living God! Isaac & I have been miraculously restored to full health!! Thank you all so very much for your prayer support. God heard & responded in mercy & power. Hallelujah!
Today we went out to the "roadside villages." I could not have imagined such a place. Wide paths run between rice fields. Alongside these "roads" are several makeshift shelters. Most are made of rough grasses weaved into walls (think Giligan's Island), but nearer to town have the luxury of scrap metal & discarded sheets of plastic.
The people living there drink, bathe & wash clothes & dishes in the ditch water between their huts & the fields. They eat rats, very small fish they catch in the rice, some rice & whatever vegetation they can find around the area.
Some moved into the area to find work in the rice fields. Some families have one member working & living in town who visits regularly to bring what little supply he can afford. Some have simply been born & raised there & remain there all their lives not knowing hope for anything else.
As is the case everywhere around Cambodia, the people are very friendly & eager to see what's going on when strangers come around. We took bags of food supplies to each hut, visited with the people (best one can without speaking the same language anyway) & played with children. The team's paramedic saw everyone in the village. Not that everyone needed to be seen, but everyone wanted to be seen. For those who had no need of medical treatment but were insistent to be treated, we gave bottles of rehydration mixture, vitamins, or rubbed a patch of skin with iodine.
Unfortunately there were several who really did need medical treatment & a few who needed treatment beyond the paramedics capabilities. I saw several cases that seemed sadly needless. The problem is just this, even a superficial wound not properly treated at the first can quickly become a serious infection. One little girl suffered a hot oil burn a few weeks back. Painful, to be sure, but if it had been treated right when it happened, she'd be fine today. Unfortunately, it was not treated well at all. They popped & peeled the large blisters, rinsed it with the ditch water & let it go. It is such a mess now that I wouldn't have identified it as a burn of any kind. I had to step away.
Even those who do not suffer from some obvious injury or condition are in very poor health. One woman was especially fond of me for some reason. She spent most of our visit holding my hand, hugging me & chattering thanks in Khmer. I was surprised to see someone so old. She looked to be in her early 90's. One of the volunteers who is very familiar with all the villagers told me that "gramma'" was 40 years-old. A woman I would've sworn was twice my age is actually years younger than I. I reckon washing down rat fillet with ditch water will do that to a person, but it was still a shock to see up close.
I know that all people have been individually created & formed & particularly placed on the planet by God out of love & for His glory & pleasure. I look at that "old" woman & wonder what He has in mind. Perhaps she looks at me & wonders the same.
Today we went out to the "roadside villages." I could not have imagined such a place. Wide paths run between rice fields. Alongside these "roads" are several makeshift shelters. Most are made of rough grasses weaved into walls (think Giligan's Island), but nearer to town have the luxury of scrap metal & discarded sheets of plastic.
The people living there drink, bathe & wash clothes & dishes in the ditch water between their huts & the fields. They eat rats, very small fish they catch in the rice, some rice & whatever vegetation they can find around the area.
Some moved into the area to find work in the rice fields. Some families have one member working & living in town who visits regularly to bring what little supply he can afford. Some have simply been born & raised there & remain there all their lives not knowing hope for anything else.
As is the case everywhere around Cambodia, the people are very friendly & eager to see what's going on when strangers come around. We took bags of food supplies to each hut, visited with the people (best one can without speaking the same language anyway) & played with children. The team's paramedic saw everyone in the village. Not that everyone needed to be seen, but everyone wanted to be seen. For those who had no need of medical treatment but were insistent to be treated, we gave bottles of rehydration mixture, vitamins, or rubbed a patch of skin with iodine.
Unfortunately there were several who really did need medical treatment & a few who needed treatment beyond the paramedics capabilities. I saw several cases that seemed sadly needless. The problem is just this, even a superficial wound not properly treated at the first can quickly become a serious infection. One little girl suffered a hot oil burn a few weeks back. Painful, to be sure, but if it had been treated right when it happened, she'd be fine today. Unfortunately, it was not treated well at all. They popped & peeled the large blisters, rinsed it with the ditch water & let it go. It is such a mess now that I wouldn't have identified it as a burn of any kind. I had to step away.
Even those who do not suffer from some obvious injury or condition are in very poor health. One woman was especially fond of me for some reason. She spent most of our visit holding my hand, hugging me & chattering thanks in Khmer. I was surprised to see someone so old. She looked to be in her early 90's. One of the volunteers who is very familiar with all the villagers told me that "gramma'" was 40 years-old. A woman I would've sworn was twice my age is actually years younger than I. I reckon washing down rat fillet with ditch water will do that to a person, but it was still a shock to see up close.
I know that all people have been individually created & formed & particularly placed on the planet by God out of love & for His glory & pleasure. I look at that "old" woman & wonder what He has in mind. Perhaps she looks at me & wonders the same.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Lack
There is more lack in Cambodia than I have seen anywhere else. Lack of food, lack of clean water, lack of sanitation, lack of money, lack of education, lack of justice. By far, the worst we've seen so far is the lack of compassion. Even when helping another would be simple & convenient, there is not even the slightest show of concern. "Love your neighbor as yourself" makes no sense to the Khmer.
The people we've met have been confused by our acts of compassion. They give us puzzled looks, ask us why we would do such a thing, sometimes laugh at us. Some confuse our kindness for foolishness & try to take advantage of our generosity (sometimes we let them). Sadly, the Christians in this area don't seem to be more than half a step ahead of the unchurched when it comes to compassion, but there is a growing interest & action.
Last time I was at the orphanage, my favorite child Surey Pen (Sree Ping) was in great pain because of an oozing sore. Although I was certain the house mother Wie (Wee) knew of the sore, I pointed it out to her. She squeezed it hard, causing such pain Surey Pen cried out. There was no show of emotion at all on Wie's face, no kiss on the head, no wiping of tears, nothing. She just wiped the ooze with a rag she happened to have in her hand, then walked away. I sat down with Surey Pen, letting her snuggle herself into my chest & rocked her gently.
When my own tears began to drop on her head, she looked up with wonder. Soon the other children crowded in closer (they're always close) to get a good look at my tears. They pointed at me & whispered among themselves with amazement & great confusion. One of the older girls finally asked, "Why are you crying?" I pointed to Surey Pen's sore & said, "She is hurt." Twenty-some blank stares was the only response I got.
They understood why Pen would cry, but could not grasp why I would cry too. However, the children love to imitate adults, so they all sat down around Pen & I looking very sad, trying to make themselves cry eventhough they didn't know why.
Perhaps that's the only way they can learn compassion. Seeing it & participating the best they can. This is Ruth's hope for the children. She often gives them opportunity & responsibility to serve one another & those outside the orphanage. Hopefully such exposure will unlock something in their minds so that real compassion may develop.
The people we've met have been confused by our acts of compassion. They give us puzzled looks, ask us why we would do such a thing, sometimes laugh at us. Some confuse our kindness for foolishness & try to take advantage of our generosity (sometimes we let them). Sadly, the Christians in this area don't seem to be more than half a step ahead of the unchurched when it comes to compassion, but there is a growing interest & action.
Last time I was at the orphanage, my favorite child Surey Pen (Sree Ping) was in great pain because of an oozing sore. Although I was certain the house mother Wie (Wee) knew of the sore, I pointed it out to her. She squeezed it hard, causing such pain Surey Pen cried out. There was no show of emotion at all on Wie's face, no kiss on the head, no wiping of tears, nothing. She just wiped the ooze with a rag she happened to have in her hand, then walked away. I sat down with Surey Pen, letting her snuggle herself into my chest & rocked her gently.
When my own tears began to drop on her head, she looked up with wonder. Soon the other children crowded in closer (they're always close) to get a good look at my tears. They pointed at me & whispered among themselves with amazement & great confusion. One of the older girls finally asked, "Why are you crying?" I pointed to Surey Pen's sore & said, "She is hurt." Twenty-some blank stares was the only response I got.
They understood why Pen would cry, but could not grasp why I would cry too. However, the children love to imitate adults, so they all sat down around Pen & I looking very sad, trying to make themselves cry eventhough they didn't know why.
Perhaps that's the only way they can learn compassion. Seeing it & participating the best they can. This is Ruth's hope for the children. She often gives them opportunity & responsibility to serve one another & those outside the orphanage. Hopefully such exposure will unlock something in their minds so that real compassion may develop.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Becky is now sick, too
Hello this is Isaac, I hacked moms email in order to send out a prayer request for her, she seems to have the same thing that I do, pleaase pray for her as this is not good, and well being sick is never good, but in a foreigen country is even worse, thank you all for your prayers
Isaac Update
Glory to God! Isaac is muuuuuuch better this evening! We went out a bit late this afternoon as kind of a test run & he did fairly well, just weak & sore. After more rest he was able to eat. He's still sore & tired, but a good night's rest should solve that. Thank you all so very, very much for your prayer help. God has heard our pleas & granted mercy. Thank You, God!
His~
Becky
His~
Becky
PAY DAY
Isaac was terribly sick all thru the night, but, praise God, he is better this afternoon after sleeping most of the morning & occassionally sipping 7Up & water.
With Isaac laid up I was on my own this morning. What an adventure! The first part sounds like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. On the way to the orphanage I noticed something that looked like a US dollar bill in the road. It was $100! It lay near an open gate, so I called in to the people to let them know they dropped a HUGE chunk of money. The woman whom I tried to hand the bill to was either very honest or didn't recognize what I had in my hand because she refused to take it. I looked around to see if anyone else was around. Not a soul. So, I pocketed the money & walked on. I didn't get far before I found another $100 bill. I laughed out loud & said, "Lord, are You kidding me?!" I pocketed it thinking how much help $200 can provide in the slums of Cambodia. I hadn't thought long when I stepped on another $100 bill!
I pocketed it as well & prayed, "Lord, what is this about?" I was reminded how this trip was made possible. People just came to me with money saying something like, "God told me to give you this money," or "We really want to help out on this mission." I didn't ask for anything, it just came to me by God's people. I realized that here in Cambodia there are no believers to come to me in such a way, so God used a different tack to accomplish His desire. Now I think I have an inkling how Peter felt when Jesus provided cash in a fish's mouth.
I've given $100 to Ruth & trust God will show me what to do with the other $200. Please pray with me for clear direction & quick obedience.
Yesterday I noticed the children's hair was quite a mess. They said the comb was lost, so I set about to provide a few combs. I took seven in this morning thinking that would be plenty to share. Truly, it is plenty. However, the children suckered me into getting a new comb for each child. Straightaway I headed for the market & being in a hurry I accepted the first moto offer (motos are the Cambodian answer to taxi cabs-a moped with a large seat) thinking the man spoke some english. I soon found out that all he understood was "market," "English," & "OK." Unfortunately, the market I was referring to was not the market he headed for. Long story short: we were able to get enough combs for every child & after stopping at every store begging, "English? Please, english?" the driver finally gave up & went back to where we started not realizing that's what I'd been trying to tell him for about 30 minutes. Hahahahahahaha!
I also learned to do laundry today, but that's a story that will have to wait until I return because the lesson came mostly in pantomime.
With Isaac laid up I was on my own this morning. What an adventure! The first part sounds like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. On the way to the orphanage I noticed something that looked like a US dollar bill in the road. It was $100! It lay near an open gate, so I called in to the people to let them know they dropped a HUGE chunk of money. The woman whom I tried to hand the bill to was either very honest or didn't recognize what I had in my hand because she refused to take it. I looked around to see if anyone else was around. Not a soul. So, I pocketed the money & walked on. I didn't get far before I found another $100 bill. I laughed out loud & said, "Lord, are You kidding me?!" I pocketed it thinking how much help $200 can provide in the slums of Cambodia. I hadn't thought long when I stepped on another $100 bill!
I pocketed it as well & prayed, "Lord, what is this about?" I was reminded how this trip was made possible. People just came to me with money saying something like, "God told me to give you this money," or "We really want to help out on this mission." I didn't ask for anything, it just came to me by God's people. I realized that here in Cambodia there are no believers to come to me in such a way, so God used a different tack to accomplish His desire. Now I think I have an inkling how Peter felt when Jesus provided cash in a fish's mouth.
I've given $100 to Ruth & trust God will show me what to do with the other $200. Please pray with me for clear direction & quick obedience.
Yesterday I noticed the children's hair was quite a mess. They said the comb was lost, so I set about to provide a few combs. I took seven in this morning thinking that would be plenty to share. Truly, it is plenty. However, the children suckered me into getting a new comb for each child. Straightaway I headed for the market & being in a hurry I accepted the first moto offer (motos are the Cambodian answer to taxi cabs-a moped with a large seat) thinking the man spoke some english. I soon found out that all he understood was "market," "English," & "OK." Unfortunately, the market I was referring to was not the market he headed for. Long story short: we were able to get enough combs for every child & after stopping at every store begging, "English? Please, english?" the driver finally gave up & went back to where we started not realizing that's what I'd been trying to tell him for about 30 minutes. Hahahahahahaha!
I also learned to do laundry today, but that's a story that will have to wait until I return because the lesson came mostly in pantomime.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Isaac Update
As I type it is 7:20am here. Isaac has been up & down most of the night, but has been able to rest the last few hours. He requested 7Up this morning & altho' he only took a few sips, it's staying down. Hallelujah! He is wisely taking bedrest & sips of 7Up & water for the day. I will give him the rehydration salts when he wakes later this morning. Now that he's finally sleeping, I hate to wake him.
We're fairly convinced it was the curry he had for lunch yesterday. We did eat in the tourist section of town (safer food there for us "farrangs"), but suppose the soup was not boiled long enough. We'll not risk curry again just to be safe.
Please continue to pray for Isaac's full recovery. I will keep you all posted on his condition.
The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.
We're fairly convinced it was the curry he had for lunch yesterday. We did eat in the tourist section of town (safer food there for us "farrangs"), but suppose the soup was not boiled long enough. We'll not risk curry again just to be safe.
Please continue to pray for Isaac's full recovery. I will keep you all posted on his condition.
The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.
Another day
Today has been difficult for us as Isaac was struck ill suddenly this afternoon. We were going to take the afternoon off to see some of Cambodia's beauty starting with the king's palace, but we were barely in the palace gates when Isaac began to feel queasy. We cut the tour short & returned to our digs just in time for him to get sick full blast. I do mean full blast.
We immediately sent out prayer requests, then Isaac laid on the cool tile floor sipping (& vomiting) water for a hours. Please continue to pray for quick & complete recovery.
Before Isaac's episode, we visited one of the Love In Action orphanages. As usual, the children lit up when we knocked on their gate & climbed all over us as soon as we were thru it. These children do not wish for toys or games or outings like most of the children we know. They have no idea what a vacation is, have never had a birthday party, wouldn't know what to put on a Christmas wish list even if they could conceive of the idea of making such a list. They deeply desire acceptance & affection. They are mostly shunned by this society simply because they are orphaned or abandoned. Just to have someone look them in the eye & offer kind attention is more than they expect. Some like to play & climb on Isaac while others like to be snuggled, kissed & whispered to by me.
While visiting we discovered the one hair comb there had been lost sometime yesterday, so I set out to find combs at the local market. By God's grace, I hit the jackpot! I was able to purchase seven sturdy combs, some colorful hair ties & bobbypins, & a shuttlecock like I've seen children playing with in the streets. All this for less than $2! The children will be so very pleased when we bring these things in the morning.
Know that we are praying for you & are counting on you praying for us. Your prayer support is absolutely essential to this mission. This is most assuredly a team effort, so please don't give up. Of course Isaac's restoration is of the utmost importance right now, but there are other needs as well. The oppression here is thick. The depression here is sickening. The hopelessness & immorality spawned by hopelessness is at times overwhelming.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day Two
We spent a few hours this morning walking around the neighborhood taking photos. The scenery is such a mishmash of wealth & poverty it's confusing to the eye. Across the road from a palace (yes, a literal palace) is a three-sided shack. As we were moving out of the way of a Lexus SUV backing out of his drive, we had to step over waste oozing down the side of the road. One house has razor wire & a security guard, the next house doesn't even have a front door.
After our little jaunt around the neighborhood we treated ourselves to a tuk-tuk ride to the tourist side of town for doughnuts. (We really can't eat from the neighborhood market anyway.) Our driver Vandeth began to speak to me of his childhood as we passed the king's palace. Vandeth was nine when the bombs came followed directly by a communist reign of terror. He hid in the forest with his family during that time. He saw many, many people killed during his boyhood years. Rather than become fearful or bitter, Vandeth chooses hope. He works very hard & encourages his children to "study, study for good future, so no one can trick you in lies like Communism." Vandeth learned to speak English by watching TV & learned to write in English by looking at local papers written for tourists. He gave us his phone number so he can be "our" driver while we're here. We loved him up good & gave him a generous fare.
We also visited the Love In Action orphanage today. All the children wanted their photos taken & to take photos of each other. Isaac said all total about 200 pictures were taken. (Thanx for the cool camera, Andrew!) All the children also wanted to be hugged & held. Fortunately they're very small, so we could hold two or three at a time.
Ruth, the "Mommy" of Love In Action has wisely maintained the orphanage in a very simple fashion. She reasoned that giving the children "more & better" would only lead to heartbreak & resentment as they have no way to maintain such a lifestyle when they move out as adults. She says she is raising them to be Cambodians, not Westerners. Smart woman that Ruthie is.
Our goal here at Love In Action is to love on the children as much as possible & to see to the needs of Ruth & the volunteer staff. We feel certain our time is to be invested in ministering to the ministers as well as the children.
Thank you so very much for the prayer support. We can definitely sense your help. We are also sensing God's direction in our decisions & know He has made wonderful provision for us. We're praying for you too!
After our little jaunt around the neighborhood we treated ourselves to a tuk-tuk ride to the tourist side of town for doughnuts. (We really can't eat from the neighborhood market anyway.) Our driver Vandeth began to speak to me of his childhood as we passed the king's palace. Vandeth was nine when the bombs came followed directly by a communist reign of terror. He hid in the forest with his family during that time. He saw many, many people killed during his boyhood years. Rather than become fearful or bitter, Vandeth chooses hope. He works very hard & encourages his children to "study, study for good future, so no one can trick you in lies like Communism." Vandeth learned to speak English by watching TV & learned to write in English by looking at local papers written for tourists. He gave us his phone number so he can be "our" driver while we're here. We loved him up good & gave him a generous fare.
We also visited the Love In Action orphanage today. All the children wanted their photos taken & to take photos of each other. Isaac said all total about 200 pictures were taken. (Thanx for the cool camera, Andrew!) All the children also wanted to be hugged & held. Fortunately they're very small, so we could hold two or three at a time.
Ruth, the "Mommy" of Love In Action has wisely maintained the orphanage in a very simple fashion. She reasoned that giving the children "more & better" would only lead to heartbreak & resentment as they have no way to maintain such a lifestyle when they move out as adults. She says she is raising them to be Cambodians, not Westerners. Smart woman that Ruthie is.
Our goal here at Love In Action is to love on the children as much as possible & to see to the needs of Ruth & the volunteer staff. We feel certain our time is to be invested in ministering to the ministers as well as the children.
Thank you so very much for the prayer support. We can definitely sense your help. We are also sensing God's direction in our decisions & know He has made wonderful provision for us. We're praying for you too!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day One
Our first night's accommodations were humble but clean. I think we both slept well enough just from sheer exhaustion. We were up & ready to roll fairly early the next morning, so we took a walk around the neighborhood. We even took a tuk-tuk (a two-wheeled wagon strapped to a moped) to the Russian Market.
The culture is so far removed from anything we Hoosiers know that it is difficult to describe. There is a strange mix of wealth & poverty here. I will say, the people are very friendly, especially the children. Although Phnom Penh is incredibly crowded everyone is pleasantly polite & easygoing.
Right after lunch we met with our contacts Ross & Rob who took us to Ruth's place. Ruth is a lovely christian sister who oversees two orphanages-one for boys & one for girls-called Love In Action. We had a great visit with Ruth & will be staying at her place a few days to help out at the orphanages.
The culture is so far removed from anything we Hoosiers know that it is difficult to describe. There is a strange mix of wealth & poverty here. I will say, the people are very friendly, especially the children. Although Phnom Penh is incredibly crowded everyone is pleasantly polite & easygoing.
Right after lunch we met with our contacts Ross & Rob who took us to Ruth's place. Ruth is a lovely christian sister who oversees two orphanages-one for boys & one for girls-called Love In Action. We had a great visit with Ruth & will be staying at her place a few days to help out at the orphanages.
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