Update

Sorry for the lack of team entry. Should have something soon!

As for me, I expect to be back in Phnom Penh by the end of June for an indefinite stay. My husband Dave will join me there as soon as possible.

I will continue working with CHOICE making trips to the villages outside the city. I will also be working closely with LIA orphanges to love on & train the children. And, I will be helping a Cambodian man of God build the vision God has given him in caring for the needy & neglected in the city.

I'm also hoping friends here in the U.S. will form teams to come visit for 1-3 weeks at a time. There's plenty for everyone to do in Cambodia!

Please pray with me for those God is directing to support this long-term mission with prayer & finances. Please pray with me that they will come forward as God leads them, that they will give generously & faithfully, & that they will be blessed out of their socks in doing so.

If you are one of those God is directing to support this long-term mission, please contact me at beckyroehere@yahoo.com

We're back

We all made it back to the States OK, thank God. Altho we're all happy to be back, it was difficult for most of us to leave. For me, it was harder to leave this time than it was last time. I can't wait to get back to Cambodia. If it weren't for my husband being here in the US, I don't think I would've come back at all.

My husband Dave is researching options for our return, so I expect to be back in Cambodia as soon as possible. Hopefully Dave will be able to come along & stay at least a few months at a time.

Thanks for all your prayer support! You are the most important part of the team!!

Look for one more entry next week as the team will have met to discuss high points & low points of the trip & future plans concerning ministry in Cambodia.

From Becky

God has brought me into the path of several amazing people while here in Cambodia. It has been my greatest pleasure to observe & to connect with them. Some are expats, some are locals, some are passing thru.

Ruth Golder, the founder & director of the orphanage we're working with in Phnom Penh, is probably the most amazing person I've ever met next to Jesus. She is a living illustration of faith & grace. The men we affectionately call "the CHOICE guys" who organize & maintain charitable acts in & around the Phnom Penh area, mostly at their own expense, are a refreshing & inspiring group.

Jame (writing the phonetic spelling is beyond me) who literally lives to serve people would put most Western believers to shame with his generosity & his graciousness. It is truly a joyful privilege to him to be able to sacrifice himself for others. He often says, "If I can do, I do. It is my function." It's just that simple to him.

Missa Lay (Mr. Lie) who drives a tuk-tuk 18-20 hours a day to support his family of about a dozen people is definitely a fave too. In the few spare hours he has in the day he takes his toddler son fishing, cares for his triplets so his wife can have a nap, or invites whites (us) into the three-sided shelter he calls home for a dance party in the middle of the day.

There are many, many more I would love to tell you about in greater detail, but I dare not use up my entry space without telling you about a truly incredible group of people here. Each one bravely came here simply because they sensed it is God's desire. They've given generously, sacrificially even, of their time, their efforts, their money, their very bodies & their hearts. They've endured 24-hour energy sapping heat, bug bites & rashes of various kinds, the inconveniences & irritations of living in close quarters with others, the uncertainty & discomfort of being thrust into a less-than-modern culture, severe homesickness, & the soul scarring heartbreak of truly loving the needy but not being able to meet their needs. Of course I'm writing of the group that I came with. I respected each one before we headed this way, but I've developed a true & deep admiration for them all as I've observed them here.

Please remember to pray for the group (including their loved ones who miss them terribly). I know our blog entries sound like we're having a grand experience with a little inconvenience here & there, but you must know that it is God's grace thru the help of your prayer that is sustaining us here. This is a terribly hard place to be & it gets harder every day- physically, emotionally & spiritually. We are in enemy territory. Keep your hands lifted, Moses, for Joshua's battle in the valley is not yet complete.

from Diana Hester

I John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

The Choice group of guys certainly live this verse. They buy and organize medical supplies, food, water filters, mosquito nets, etc. We met them on Sunday morning to load a huge truck that took a step ladder to get into. We headed out to the country to the 1st village. Supplies were passed out. Then on to the 2nd where the clinic was to be held.

We approached down a red, dirty road 5 or 6 feet above the fields. Trees formed a shady, green canopy overhead.40-45 stick huts were built out from this road on stilts over the edge of ditches or fields. As we neared the corner in the road a welcoming committee of children eagerly awaited us. When we stopped, they swarmed. Becky Roe began entertaining them with wedding bubbles and her bubbling personality.

Unloading was done with military precision. Part of the group went to help the doctors set up the clinic. They were very fortunate to have lots of people to help Rudi. an EMT from NY who lives here and organizes things: Dr. Mark Truax from Indiana, Emily, a pediatrician from Manhattan, a Cambodian nurse, and her cousin, a nursing student/ God knew they would be needed as this was an unusually large group of patients.

The rest of us loaded a wheelbarrow with food and passed it out to each hut that still had the water filter previously provided by the group.This motivates the people to use the filters, not sell them. Each received a grocery bag containing rice, Romaine noodles, 2 pieces of fruit, fish sauce, and detergent. They also got 1 mosquito net and 1 pair of flip flops. (Thank you Janet and Bruce Jones).

We headed back to the truck and loaded the wheelbarrow with 2 duffel bags of clothing Lisa Turner had brought. 5-6 items were passed out to each family, filter or not. I'm sure she is as happy to not longer carry them around as the villagers were to receive them especially the Cinderella Princess shoes.

Back at the truck Tony has a ball blasting the kids with cold ice water from an ingenious pipe water gun. He fires from the back of the truck and then climbs down and chases them down the road with it.

Cambodians are such warm, beautiful people. The babies could all be in Gerber ads. But the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are overwhelming. Please pray for this country, for leaders with integrity and concern for the people, for the gospel to spread, for those working here on the front lines. Like Ruth and Brett here with the Love in Action orphanage, like the Kellys at the Sihanoukville orphanage, like all the guys here who pay for and make this trip over and over, and all those God uses to help them.

I John 4:21 And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

From Lisa Turner

Thursday was a good day.

There are good days and rough days.

While the med team went out into the province, Isaac, Dayna and I opted to stay in Phnom Penh and make a second, and longer, visit to the girls' house. Dayna wanted to bring fingernail polish to do the girls' nails, so we needed to do a little shopping. Ruth hooked us up with an all-day driver who was a contact of hers. He agreed when he picked us up to take us around for free. Very good guy. Free was good, but his 'Love never fails. God is love.' signs in the tuktuk were even better. Turns out God sent us a Khmer Christian driver who wanted to take our group around for the rest of our time in Phnom Penh. It doesn't take long to pick up on the people's external affection balanced with an internal detachment. Jame was not so. Very compassionate towards us. Overwhelmingly refreshing.

Thank you, Jesus.

After parting ways with Jame, we walked to the girls' house happily expecting some good time with the kids. On the way, God had a sweet visit ready for us. A Khmer man in a hand-pedal wheelchair (almost a bike) with a boy in tow stopped us and asked if we were Christians. Isaac said yes, and the man went on to exchange names and invite us to his home and to his church. He too was a Christian. I didn't catch his name, but I can't tell you how thankful I am for that man. He was evangelizing his neighborhood. They really do love you, Lord.

Again, thank you, Jesus. Your timing is impeccable.

And the good time with the kids? It was a wallowing session, particularly with Isaac, where we're all more like bean bag chairs and jungle gyms instead of people. It makes it fun. I painted We's nails, the lady of the house, and a few of the girls' nails while Dayna and Isaac did likewise. They really do like the personal interaction. It was great to just see them acting like kids. Not with all the fanfare of the first day arrival and festivity. The Lord had an especially touching blessing for Dayna. The two newest orphaned children, there less than a week, have just a heart-breaking story and ended up at the house just before we came. The older brother took to Dayna pretty quickly with his little sister in tow but not too close. However, this afternoon was a breakthrough for her with Dayna. She was actually speaking and waving as Dayna left. Very sweet moments. Thank you, Jesus.

Lord Jesus, your handiwork is magnificent. Your craftsmanship, beautiful. Your precision, uncanny.

Let us spend and gladly be spent for you.

Village Clinic - by Mark

Thursday ll:00 a.m.
We're one hour east of Phnom Penh on Highway 1, the main road to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon, for us older folks). We're on the bank of the Mekong River at a narrow spot, 3/4 mile wide here. It's 95 degrees and sticky under the hot sun. Women and children surround our van offering fruits that I've never seen before, along with waffles and coca cola. They pass their wares through our windows as we sit in our air conditioned van. After a 30 minute wait we board the ferry with 20 other trucks, cars, assorted motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and vendors still hawking their food and drink.

1:30 p.m.
Two hours later we arrive in Svey Rieno for lunch at a roadside restaurant-fried rice with chicken and cokes as the 4 kids we brought with us watch Vietnamese music videos on the tv.while hot dusty air blows in (there are only 3 walls). We're 30 miles from the Vietnam border.

We cover our drivers lunch. Though a modern 2 lane highway, there are many obstacles on highway 1 including motorcycles, bicycles, slow trucks, cattle, and water buffalo. He's good with brakes, accelerator, and uses both lanes to his advantage.

2:30 p.m.
We drive by an attractive and well built local school in the middle of a field as children, well dressed in clean uniforms arrive for their afternoon lessons. Today we leave a cloud of dust. Soon the rainy season will arrive and the road we are on will be a gooy mess- definitely 4WD material. After several miles of teeth jarring dirt road, we eventually arrive at our village

We're greeted by the head of the village, a Christian who pastors people in his home. Rudy (a paramedic from New York City who now lives in Phnom Penh to serve the poor), and I see the villagers under some shady trees in the dusty back yard. The 4 teens we brought with us from the Ruth's orphanage act as translators as the others in our group take temperatures and help dispense the supplies that we had sorted and bagged the night before. Kim Lon, a 15 year old orphan hopes to be a doctor someday because he wants to help the poor. He is a good student, his translating was excellent and his bedside manner is better than some professionals I have seen. It is obvious he is fully capable of success but God will have to open doors for him. Surrounding us, the villagers (approximately 150) watch the entertainment. Maladies include fevers, headache, diarrhea, weakness, burns, weight loss, strokes, and rashes- many rashes. We dispense our bags of medicine-Tylenol, vitamins, iron, occasional antibiotics, worm medication, eye drops, and salves. Rudy and I see around 125 people in 4 hours, the last hour by flashlight.

This area was part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam war and was carpet bombed by B-52's for 17 straight days along with lots of Agent Orange in the early 1970's. All the buildings (primitive huts) and vegetation are new. This area has the greatest concentration of land mines in the world- planted by Cambodian troops, North and South Vietnames troops, and of course the Khmer Rouge. Removal of the mines is slow and injuries and deaths continue. I'm surprised after all this, the gratitude these people display toward us. These people expect nothing more than to survive each day (thirst, hunger, illness). Our visit has been an unusual break for them.

We know the medications we leave will offer comfort for only a short time. LIA will return in a month or two. Our touch, questions of concern, and our prayers are the medicine that will last. Most of the villagers are still Buddhists, a few have converted to Christianity under the pastor's teaching. Hopefully they will remember us as Christians who came and showed love for a day.

Getting a Footing

With such a limited time frame for ministry, we thought it best to get the team immediately immersed in the culture on day one. Upon rising we ate a local restaurant (that's when & where the laptop died) & walked about the downtown area taking note of the idols, memorials, temple, palace, traffic, & local shop houses & street businesses. Next we headed into the market. Most of the team couldn't stomach the "food court," so we didn't get nearer than we had to, but they did have a long look-see in the other areas & did a good deal of souvenir shopping.

Altho I had no intentions of shopping, I ended up buying a few pieces of fruit. Wish I could tell you what it is, but I have no idea. Tastes good tho. See, while the others were looking over market goods, I sat down next to an older woman to rest & fan myself. The woman offered me a piece of the fruit she was selling and when I refused, she peeled it, dug the pit out with her (very dirty) finger & stuck it in my mouth. She force fed me two or three that way. Compassion & generosity are extremely unusual here especially where food is concerned (I wouldn't doubt I experienced "angels unaware"), so I was compelled to purchase a few more. She wanted a dollar for a kilo and nearly flipped when I gave her the dollar but only took a few. Funny that we were both shocked by one another's generosity. By then the team was ready to move on, so the old lady & I hugged & kissed goodbye.

The next morning our LIA team leader took us to the famous S21 torture prison of the Khmer Rouge & to the Killing Fields monument where victims of the Khmer Rouge were disposed of. The horrific evil that took place there is unspeakable & I refuse to give the devil any glory for his work. Suffice it to say it was a deeply somber trip for all of us that shook us to the core & lingers still. It was important to experience this part of Cambo's history, painful as it was, so that we could better understand why the people are the way they are now.

The first two days were overwhelming in various ways at various times for every member of the team, but almost all are bucking up in God's strength & determined to accomplish His work regardless of culture & circumstance.

Beauty from Ashes

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3.

Our first entry (on Monday) was almost completed when the laptop died. For good. So now there is much to catch up on. But we will start from the beginning. One of the main prayer requests we all had was for "divine appointments" and the Lord certainly wasted no time in answering. On the 5 hour flight from Seoul to Phnom Penh, Mark and I were seated next to Mr. Sarith Ou of Wisconsin. To try to summarize his story will be impossible, but it is worth reading on his organization's website, www.khmerschool.org. His story is also told in the book, "Leaving the House of Ghosts" by Sarah Street. He did not dwell on his past at all, because he is a man who looks to the future. I hope you do go to his website because his past really motivates all that he has accomplished. The only part of his story that we learned on the flight was that half of his entire extended and immediate family was killed by the Khmer Rouge. He also did not waste time by telling us the long list of accomplishments he has made on behalf of Cambodian refugees since the time he was sponsored by a church in Wisconsin and became a naturalized citizen. All this we learned through the website. He speaks only of his consuming passion which is the work of today. After returning to his devastated homeland in 1995, that passion has gone into helping build a future for the children of his province, Siem Reap. He has inspired many to join in his efforts, beginning with many churches in Wisconsin. Sarith is not content to do relief work. Instead he looks at the problems wholistically and his innovative ideas help create permanent solutions. First, he taught the poorest women of his province to sew school uniforms. Since the children had only the clothes on their backs, this was a great incentive for them to attend. The women learned a skill, his organization donated the materials, and the children got clothes. Then he built 4 schools where there had been none. If the children are to have any future, they need English in order to find employment. So his schools emphasize English as a second language. Since he taught English to refugees in Wisconsin, he was able to write a curriculum. Not content to stop there, Sarith looked at the poverty of the parents and had another idea. Cooking oil is imported to Cambodia. Why not teach the ethnic people of the highlands to grow sunflowers? The oil could not only be used for cooking, but sold as income. On this trip, Sarith is setting up an oil press. The wheels never stop turning in his head.

His English teachers are Cambodian and do not have good conversational English, so he has invited us to come and give the children practice. It is too far from where we are and there is not enough time. This time. But we know there was a reason we were seated next to him. We will wait to see just what it is.

The thing that strikes me most is how Sarith's smiling face beams with enthusiasm and hope as he travels between his two countries. Having endured more than any of us can even imagine, he is not defeated and he won't let others be defeated.

A wonderful metaphor can be found in the ground where his family's farmhouse had been burned. Out of these literal ashes, he has begun an organic garden and is teaching agricultural practices. Also on this plot, he has dug a well. Life from death. Beauty from ashes. And as a Christian, I am struck with these two pictures- seeds and water. Jesus used these more than any other in his parables and teachings referrig to eternal life. In Matthew 13, he explains that the the Word is seed which is life. And in John 4, Jesus tells the woman at the well that whoever drinks the water He gives will never thirst again, and that the water will become a spring welling up into eternal life.

I do not know if Sarith Ou is a Christian or not. But I do know he is practicing what Jesus taught in caring for the least of these.