Cambodia 2011: The Mission Continues

Picnic Ground

2011-01-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today we arrived at the “Picnic Ground”, a remote resort and picnic area where we’ll be staying while we work the Steung Som Roun home. The resort is located on a mountain side and is made up of several small, minimalist cabins equipped with a fan and plenty of mosquito netting. In the central part of the resort is a large restaurant with a full bar a Cambodian karaoke. The yard around the restaurant is equipped with playground equipment and an odd mix of brightly painted concrete zoo animals.

As we settle in to our rooms I learn, much to my excitement, that I will be leaving tonight to go to the home at Kong Pixay – the same home we served last year. What a blessing! To be able to have an extra two days with the kids of Kong Pixay is such an unexpected opportunity. I will be going with our interpreter and guide, Jork, who was with us last year, and Jamie (another team member from last year) and Julia (a new team member this year).

Our next stop is the Steung Som Roun home to meet the kids and get started on our projects. As we arrive at the home the children rush out to meet our vans. The smiles are wide and we are welcomed with open arms. The home parents are there with the traditional Cambodia greeting of hands together in front of their face and a short bow. While the love and happiness are overflowing it is clear that this home is in need of some significant work.

Our projects include removing an old fence and replacing with a concrete security fence, building structural improvements including adding a girls restroom, concrete sidewalks and pad, replacement of a roof and support structure over the eating area, and many more miscellaneous items. It is easily apparent our team of 20 will not be enough so FCOP has sent a few helpers, and we will be hiring additional workers from around the community.

The local community is very impoverished and much in need of the work. Wages in this area for constriction labor are about $2/day. The Lord has definitely brought us to a place in much need of our help, and we hope to bless not only the home, but the entire community.

Roadblocks

2011-01-21T06:03:00.000-08:00

Our team arrived in Phnom Penh two nights ago. Our plane out of Seattle was delayed and because of a short time between flights in Seoul we had to run through the airport to catch our connecting flight. As it was, the airline held the connecting plane for about half an hour for our group of twenty. We made it! Unfortunately, the luggage didn’t. I felt very thankful I didn’t check any luggage.

The first night we stayed in the hotel I found last year; The Hotel Cara. The Hotel Cara is a nice hotel in Phnom Penh not too far from the Royal Palace and the Tonle Sap River. I was very excited to go for a run down by the river the next morning. It felt great to be back in Cambodia.

The next day we learned that the luggage wouldn’t be in Cambodia until after 11:00 pm that night so we delayed our trip to the orphanage by a day. Everyone was anxious to get to the home so this setback was a disappointment. While we waited of the luggage we decided to learn more about the history of Cambodia by visiting some of the major sites such as Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, and Choueng Ek – the killing fields.

Even though this was my third trip to these sites I was still overwhelmed by emotion as we went through the tours. It is so hard to believe that something so brutal, so horrific, as the genocide of a people by their own people had happened in my lifetime. It makes me wonder about places like Darfur, and other areas that are or have experienced mass killings – how does this happen in this century?

An indelible mark has been left on the hearts of the Cambodian people yet they, for the most part, have accepted the event as a part of their history and moved on with their lives. Education and remembrance is used to teach future generations so that events such as these will never happen again.

Though the events happened nearly 40 years ago, the impact is still evident and no where is it seen more than in the children. Thousands of Cambodian children have been left parentless by land mines, poverty, and disease. The primary home we are serving this year, Steung Som Roun, is located in a very poor area of Cambodia about three hours outside Phnom Penh.

With all the luggage gathered we packed into the bus to get our trip underway – only to be told we would be delayed yet again. This time there was a roadblock.

From the moment we started planning this trip many months ago, nearly everyone in the group has had some sort of attack set against their participation in this mission. From work related issues, to family trials, to health, the roadblocks have been many. We gather together to pray, mostly in thanks for the opportunity to be here to serve, but also for divine providence and favor as we set out to do the work we were called to do. As if in answer to our prayers, the roadblock clears and we are on our way.

Under Attack!

2011-01-14T15:59:00.000-08:00

3 more days and I’ll be boarding a plane to return to Cambodia. I can still hear the laughter and cheerful “Hello’s” of the orphans, and I can still see the bright smiles on their faces. I am excited to see how they’ve grown and changed in the last year. I remember each of their names and could each one of them out in a crowd. Will they remember me? I’ve been praying for them and following some of the changes on the Warm Blankets website - http://homes.warmblankets.org/Cambodia/Kompong_Speu_/Church_Orp_184/

I still find myself captivated by the pure joy they express amidst an extremely harsh environment. But what would happen to these sweet, precious children if the homes were suddenly shut down?

Recently, Foursquare Children of Promise / Warm Blankets Orphan Care International have come under attack from a woman who is one of the directors of “The Ministry of Social Concerns”, a Cambodian governmental agency. It appears the attacks are being driven and “funded” by a large, international children’s rights organization (who I will not name, but you would immediately recognize). This organization is determined to shut down the homes, because they hate the fact that as the largest orphan care provider in Cambodia, we are leading thousands of kids, and whole communities, to Christ.

They are using their international “standards” in their “Convention on the Rights of the Child” to try to revoke the permits necessary to operate the homes in Cambodia. These standards are written by Europeans and totally Secular Humanist in their approach. And, while they may outline ideal standards of living in ideal circumstances, they by no means consider the reality of life in a particular country, area or neighborhood. In fact, the “standards” are totally foreign to Cambodian village life.

Currently, the orphan homes in Cambodia run by Foursquare Children of Promise / Warm Blankets Orphan Care International have no issues with health, education, nurture or nutrition. In fact, the orphan homes are often superior to the average home in the village in which they are located. The orphans in the homes have better nutrition, better health, and better education. While ideally these children will be raised in an environment where they are loved, healthy, educated and in relationship with Christ, the intent is not to set their standards of living so high that they cannot live with the average family in comfort.

Foursquare Children of Promise / Warm Blankets Orphan Care International have been given until June to the orphan home facilities. Those homes that are found to be “unacceptable” will not be permitted to continue caring and loving these beautiful, innocent children.

Our initial intent was to send one team to serve the Kong Pixay home that we visited last year and another team to a new home adopted by The Church of Living Water called Steung Somrong. http://homes.warmblankets.org/Cambodia/Koh_Kong_/Steung_Som_138/

Given the current state of affairs, and the significant need at the Steung Somrong home we’ve been asked to consolidate our team and our resources to maximize our efforts. Steung Somrong is located in a very poor area in Cambodia and the building needs many improvements. Our projects will include rehabilitating the existing building as well as making other structural changes, building a security fence, painting, and anything else that we can accomplish given the short amount of time and limited funding and resources.

While the change of plans certainly pulls on my heart and the hearts of those who got to know the children of Kong Pixay last year, we are committed to providing service where we are most needed. We will have a community outreach at Kong Pixay on Sunday, and will have a chance to see the children and the home parents at that time. I am praying for an opportunity for some additional time there as well.

As always, please pray for the children of Cambodia, the many dedicated home parents and staff, Foursquare Children of Promise / Warm Blankets Orphan Care International, and the 19 of us who will be there over the next two weeks. And, if you would like to go on a mission trip in the future or support the orphans of Cambodia financially, please contact me and I will answer any questions or connect you with the right resource.

The Journey Continues - Mission: Camobodia 2011

2010-05-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

Mission: Cambodia 2011 is in the works! We're taking two teams to serve in Cambodia January 16-30. Watch here for more information or contact me directly if you'd like to be a part of this amazing, life changing trip.

The End of The Beginning

2010-01-30T15:56:00.000-08:00

Until We Meet Again

2010-01-29T23:49:00.001-08:00

When I set out on this trip I thought it would be a great adventure. A trip to a far away land, a foreign culture, and a radical new experience. And, it was easy to justify because it had a righteous mission. But, I certainly didn’t set out to fall in love.

Along the way I experienced the amazing generosity and heartfelt joy of the Khmer people. Everywhere we went we were welcomed with open arms and greeted with a smile. We felt the warm embrace of the community around our orphan home, and were blessed even as we tried to serve and bless others.

Encounters with God often happen when you least expect them. And, to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect or even if God would show up on this trip. But, in Matthew 19:14 Jesus says, “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven.” This trip proved that verse to be true. For His reflection was in the face of everyone of these children.

These are my friends, my children, and I will see them again.

From the moment I met Chhang Ngat it was clear that there was something special about him. He is a leader among the children. Very intelligent and quick witted he was very helpful in helping me communicate with the other children. It was very heartbreaking when we heard that Ngat tested positive for Hepatitis B, but he will be tested again and we are believing for clean test results. We developed a strong bond and as I left he held me and sobbed uncontrollably. I asked the English teacher, Chheng Hak how to say I will come back – gallot moanyeng (phonetic).

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Chhum Sok (pronounced very similar to the way it is spelled) is a sweet boy with a generous heart. He is constantly watching over his sister Chhum Srey Put, and whenever there were treats handed out he made sure to get one for her. Sok’s relationship with the Lord is very strong and he loves praise and worship. He is very smart and helped with translations even with his limited English. Sok and Chhang Ngat are good friends and I wouldn’t be surprised if they stayed friends for life.

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Chhum Srey Put (pronounced very similar to the way it is spelled)is a beautiful little girl who you can’t help but fall in love with the first time you meet her. She has a smile that will light up the room and is always cheerful and fun loving. Srey Put is the sister of Chhum Sok.

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Meas Pov (pronounced Mr. Pwa) has a very gentle spirit. He is extremely soft spoken and just a bit shy. Mr. Pwa loved bringing me his English lesson book where I asked him to find certain pictures in the book such as a cat, a teacher, or a banana. I can’t help but feel a bit sad to think that this adorable little boy doesn’t have a Mom or Dad to sit him on their knee and just read to him. He held on to me and sobbed the evening we left. It’s an image I will never forget.

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Chum Sreyphors (pronounced Sray poor) is one of the older girls in the house. She possesses a quiet confidence and is definitely a leader amongst the children.

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Yen Sarom always wears a smile on his face. One look and he is grinning from ear to ear, and you cannot help but to smile with him. Yen Sarom is destined to spread joy to those around him.

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One of the brightest smiles in the group belongs to Preoung Vey (pronounced Mr. Wii). Like Yen Sarom, Mr. Wii couldn’t help but crack a huge smile whenever your eyes met his. Quiet, but engaged in the action Mr. Wii can light up a room.

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Of all the children, one stands out as the clear leader in the group. Pheoun Bross (pronounced Mr. Pron) is the oldest, probably around 15, and has really developed the qualities of servant leadership. He is constantly looking for ways to help, whether it is a member of our team, or a member of the home family. He works tirelessly alongside the adults, and does so with a smile. Mr. Pron is bound for great things in life.

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Phal Chany and Mar Soheng are two precious little girls who love to laugh and play as little girls do. Both are bold, yet nurturing, and care deeply for the other children.

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Phoss Sey (pronounced Mr. Sigh) and Meas Set Rov (pronounced Mr. Rao are two of the younger children. They are so full of energy and life. With a smile on their face, and just a touch of mischievousness on their minds they sets out to tackle each and every minute of the day.

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There are many other children including the kids from the surrounding homes. from Yav Veasana to Srey Rua to Korm Leap Meas Srey Pov the list goes on and on. Before boarding the bus I looked each of the children in the eye and said “Gallot moanyeng, gallot moanyeng.” “Yes,” they each said, “yes.”

Gallot moanyeng. I will come back.

An Oasis in the Desert

2010-01-28T08:30:00.001-08:00

As our journey comes too quickly to its conclusion we prepare for our last day to visit the home. I have mixed emotions as I am anxious to be home with my family, but more than a few of these children have become my children. And, now we must leave them behind.

Our day starts with a trip to the market for supplies. As we wait someone spies a woman selling loaves of bread on the street. She is carrying a large basket with 20-25 loaves. What a great treat for the home so we negotiate to purchase all of the loaves and the basket for $20. We also buy some sweet palm candy from a street vendor and start our bumpy ride to the home.

When we arrive at the home we quickly start our projects. We all want to get as much done as we can as quickly as possible so we have more time to spend with the kids. One of our projects has been the rebuild of the sidewalk around the home. The original contractor provided less than adequate construction on the current sidewalk so it was in a state of severe disrepair. This project turned out to be quite an adventure. See for yourself:

We found three rats, three frogs, and one one snake living under the sidewalk. What a sight to see the children when a rat tried to get away. Unlike the screams of fear and terror we would hear back home the children shrieked with delight as everyone chased the rat to capture and kill it.

Like all of our projects everyone chipped in and did their part including the children.

One of the highlights of the day was the completion of the well. One of the pastors found a hand pump in good condition so we immediately purchased it and after the cement pad was set we installed the pump. After just a few pumps fresh water flowed freely to the sound of cheers. This well will be used by the entire community.

We've established some great relationships and have been blessed beyond measure by just having the opportunity to serve these people. This orphanage has become more than just a home it has become hope. With the electricity it has become a beacon of light in a dark land. With the new fence is has become a place of safety and security. And, with the well this home has become an oasis in the desert, and from it will flow springs of living water.

A Family, A Community

2010-01-27T02:50:00.001-08:00

The pace here can only be described as steadfast. Each day the sun rises at 6:00 am and the day begins. By 6:15 am the streets are buzzing with activity. Children dressed in navy blue pants or skirts and crisp white shirts ride their bicycles or motos to school. Shopkeepers open their gates and setup their small businesses. Everything can be purchased in small “kiosks” located on the street – bread, water, beer, even gasoline can be purchased in coke bottles to fill your moto.

And, around 6:00 pm the sun sets and it ends as quickly as it began. Only the main streets are open past dark. There is limited electricity in this country town and the night is so dark the stars shine brightly evoking memories of a summer camping trip.

Everyday as we drive through the countryside on our way to the orphanage we are greeted by friendly smiles, waves and the now very familiar, sing-song “Hello”. At first it seemed that people were a bit shy, but as the come to recognize us they are very enthusiastic in their greetings.

Today is the day before our last day, and we are excited for all the relationships we are building and for the progress we have made,but their is a noticeable heaviness as we know the end our time is near. Our arrival at the home is always joyous occasion. Women and children gather around waiting to greet us as we walk the path to the home. This morning we brought loaves of bread and jars of jelly from town. Our children as well as the neighbor children crowd around excitedly as they eagerly await a piece of bread. One cannot help but notice how this home is becoming a hub in the community.

We greet all the children and then work quickly begins. Our main focus is erecting the security fence, but we have made progress on a new sidewalk, installation of a solar panel with wiring, switches, and lighting in each room of the house including the outhouse and a concrete pad for the well.

Our team has built a clothes line and today we are putting up a volleyball net. Volleyball appears to be very popular in Cambodia. We see nets at many houses and the children know the fundamentals of the game surprisingly well. On one of the first days when we brought out a soccer ball they took it to a makeshift line strung between a tree and a pole to play volley back and forth.

The children are beautiful. Their smiles are radiant and they all possess a sweet innocence that is only emphasized by their strength and independence. You realize they are truly a family as you watch them interact. The older children watch over the younger, and everyone does their part when it comes to daily chores. Mealtime is a treat and the children pulled me in to the covered meal area and asked me to sit with them. As I did one of them quickly ran to get another bowl of rice for me. Lunch was steamed rice and a hot broth made of vegetables and what seemed to be chicken stock.

While they don’t have much, the one thing they will always have is their name so I’ve made it a point to try and learn each one of their names. Everyday we go through a drill. I say, “Good morning!” They say, “Good morning. How are you?” I answer, “I am fine, thank you. How are you?” They reply, “I am fine sank (thank) you.” If I don’t remember a name I will say, “What is your name.” and the answer comes back, “My name is Chum Sok (or whoever I am speaking too) what is your name?” We repeat each others name and because there is such a difference in our languages we each struggle with pronunciation. They call me Brick or Frick (with heavily rolled r’s). They are quick to correct me when I get the pronunciation of their names wrong, and we all laugh together as we try to make it work.

As we continue to work many of the adults and elders of the neighborhood come to watch what we are doing. Every day there seems to be more and more. Most of the watch shyly form the border of the property, but some interact with us and some have come to help. The improvements on the home will bless the entire community.

With buckets of gravel in hand I hear some laughing and then my name is called out by one of the house parents, Chang Hak. Apparently, a couple of ladies in the village have asked about me (don’t worry honey, I only have eyes for you). They giggle as I look up and say hello.

They laugh as I run over for a picture but, I’m not sure what happened in the next picture.

All in all I know we are building something bigger here than a security fence or a sidewalk. We are building a community.

Day of Rest

2010-01-25T04:24:00.001-08:00

Today we attended church service at the home. I was greeted by several of the boys – with a big hug they grabbed my hand and walked me from the road to the home. I am going to miss them a lot…

What an amazing church service! Although I could only understand two words – Hallelujah and Amen – it was easy to feel the passion, joy, and presence of the Holy Spirit. During praise I thought to myself that these children and this church really put us to shame with their intense involvement and passion. As these thoughts rolled through my head I really felt the Lord say, “This is what you have when you have nothing else but me.”

The service was organized similar to our church services, and started with a few songs of praise followed by a word from the assistant pastor and then the message from the pastor. The sanctuary was nearly full and there were not enough chairs to seat everyone, but it was not a problem, they sat on the floor or shared seats.

We were all excited to have to opportunity to share in the service, but this day was particularly exciting because after church we planned to take the children to the market. It is not uncommon to see vehicles in Cambodia overflowing with people – such as 5 people riding a two person scooter. Today we experienced it firsthand as we crowded all of the children, the entire staff, and our group onto our bus. What fun as we rode to the market!

Each of the children was given two dollars to spend as they wished. I was surprised that the first place they went was to buy pens, but after they each had a pen they headed in to find backpacks and shoes. Although the $2 didn’t cover the clothing items we made sure everyone had a new pair of shoes and backpack if needed. We also purchased shoes for the home staff as well.

On the way back we stopped to buy some new cookware, two kitchen cabinets, dishes and other items such as brooms and mops. Everyone was very happy and it was really a lot like Christmas. We didn’t stay long after returning to the home. Everyone needed rest after a few days of intense work so we returned to the guest house.

A few of us walked to the local market near our guest house to see what we could see. Earlier in the trip we discussed eating balut egg, an egg that contains a partially formed chicken. As we look through the market we see baskets of crickets and beetles as well as many unrecognizable items for sale. Finally we found balut egg at a small street cart. My roommate James, and another group member, Trong were brave enough to give it a try.

All About The Kong Pixay Orphan Home

2010-01-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Kong Pixay Orphan Home is located a couple of hours outside of Phnom Penh. It is a very rural area and the poverty is extreme. The people who live in this area are subsistence farmers whose crops can only feed them for about four months out of the year. There is no plumbing, and electricity is only by battery or generator although we purchased a solar panel for the home. The panel will provide lights in the sanctuary, bedrooms, and the bathrooms (more on those later).

The house itself consists of four rooms and a covered patio/kitchen area. One of the rooms houses the pastor and his wife. The largest room is the sanctuary for the church and the two other rooms are the children’s bedrooms. The children sleep in a room with hard, tile floors and no beds or pillows. The rooms are very sparse and each child appears to have two changes of clothing including a school uniform. All of which is kept in a semi-organized pile in the corner.

Considering all the surrounding dust the house itself is very clean. The floors are swept constantly and shoes are not allowed in the house. Laundry is washed by hand and hung to dry on bushes and tree branches so we installed a clothes line and purchased some clothes pins.

The kitchen is very makeshift with cracked pots and pans and a wood fire “stove”. I was a bit surprised to see a litter of dogs on the floor under the prep table. Meals consist of rice and a kind of soup using locally grown vegetables. Sometimes chicken and pork are served, and although I haven’t seen them I assume the serve eggs from the chickens as well.
The yard itself is about 80x120 yards. It contains a rice paddy, pig pen, well, a makeshift chicken coop, and a newly dug fish pond. There is also an outhouse consisting of two rooms with what is essentially a shallow toilet bowl on the floor – commonly referred to by foreigners as a “squatty potty”. There is a trough of water connecting the two rooms with a dip bucket used for “flushing” the toilet. The area near the outhouse contains two large urns filled with water. This area is used for makeshift outdoor showers.

The adjacent property is primarily made up of rice paddies with neighboring homes on the front border. Cows are used to graze and fertilize rice paddies in the off season and because there are no fences they often wander into the property.

One of our projects is to build a security fence. The fences will be made up of a brick pony wall plus chain link in front and full chain link around the rest of the property. Part of the reason for the fencing we are installing is to keep the cows out so a vegetable garden can be planted. To install the fence we have had to trench the front section and dig holes for the concrete posts. Along the back and sides we installed wooden posts.

The fence has been a very labor intensive project. The trenches while easy to dig in some sandy areas were extremely difficult in areas with hard baked clay. The tools are all manual and there is no Home Depot. All of the concrete must be mixed by hand. The rocks and sand are carried in one and five gallon buckets. The heat is sweltering and simply doesn’t let up – everyone drinks several gallons of water each day, but we’ve still had a couple minor instances of dehydration. Nevertheless, we placed all of the posts and hope to start the chain link tomorrow.

While the work has been extremely difficult it is so satisfying to not only see the progress we are making, but to see the joy of the people in the orphan home, and in the surrounding neighborhood. The neighbor children come to play every day and the elders come and watch the work being done. We have been told that our presence has renewed the spirit of the neighborhood. This home is truly an oasis in the desert giving hope, building community, and from it will flow springs of living water.

Bicycles, Needles, and Broken Hearts

2010-01-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

The sun was shining bright and hot as we arrived at the home. Some of the kids were still at school including my new found friend, Chang Ngat, but the rest were eagerly awaiting our return. This morning we all quickly started work again on the fence. The work is 100% back breaking labor, but there is definitely a sense of fulfillment as we start to see our progress. The kids love helping with the work, and are very hard workers. One of my jobs today was layering the trench we dug first with large rocks then with smaller gravel as we prepared to lay a concrete footer for the fence. The children ran back and forth between me and the rock piles carrying small buckets of rocks – nothing could have made the work more fun. One of the kids couldn’t have been more than three, but he brought buckets as full as he could carry right along with the rest of the crew.
The test results from yesterday’s doctor visit came back and, sadly, we have one child who tested positive for Hepatitis B. The disease was likely passed from the mother during childbirth. Because of the positive test the doctor must administer vaccinations for all of the children. It’s going to be another day with needles. The kids are all gathered in an outdoor room for the doctor to administer the vaccinations.

As we watched and handed out small toys after each shot I glanced down at the roster that showed the kids names and status. My friend Chang Ngat’s name was highlighted in green. As I looked further down the row my heart dropped as I saw the notes that indicated his Hepatitis B positive status. I was crushed. But, it only got harder when at the end of the vaccinations Chang Ngat awaited his only to be told he wouldn’t be getting one, and then the doctor explained that he was sick. The sadness and fear was easily visible although he tried to keep a strong appearance. I found myself unable to talk as I was so choked up, but I knew I needed to shake it off quickly so he didn’t see. I gave him a hug and prayed for him. While he may not have been able to understand the words there was no doubt he knew what was happening. He'll be retested again in a month or so, please believe with me for a clean bill of health.

We gave some money to some of the staff members to get some much needed things for the home including chairs, tables, and a few bicycles that the kids could share and ride to school. As the truck filled with the goodies pulled onto the property and the kids ran towards it screaming with delight. Although there is very little English spoken the word “bicycle” rang through the air over and over. In addition we were able to purchase new school uniforms, and we held those back as a final surprise. We brought them in to the sanctuary, lined them up by size and everyone handed out the uniforms. I wish everyone could have seen their faces light up when they saw the new clothes.

As we continue to work throughout the day Chang Ngat’s countenance is noticeably different. He goes from being much more formal to more affectionate. In two short days he has become my interpreter and we spend a few moments here and there teaching each other words in the other’s language. Most of the English he knows (as well as the rest of the kids) is based on memorization of a few phrases with the appropriate response. “My name is … What is your name?” Chang Ngat has a better grasp of the language than the others so he often helps with communication. While there really is no spoken conversation it is impressive how much can be communicated with very few words. I am surprised when at one point in the day Chang Ngat says “I am sick.” It seems like such an odd phrase for him to know given his limited English skills. Not so much, though, as the sadness it brings to hear him say it.

First Day at the Orphanage

2010-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

Thursday January 21, 2010

Early Thursday morning our bus bounced along a muddy dirt road for about an hour and a half through small villages and rice paddies. Occasionally, we would pass a Buddhist pagoda, ornate with bright colors and painted gold detail. The standard of living is noticeably lower in the rural areas of Cambodia. The people are friendly and wave as they watch our bus patch. Our anticipation is high as we approach the orphanage.

The children meet us with an excited, sing-sing “Hello” and we are lead into the main building. They’ve prepared a song to welcome us – check out the video below. At the end of the song they break into a mind-blowing praise session. It couldn’t be clearer how much they love God.

After the song we all walk down the line of children and introductions are made. You can tell they’ve been practicing their English and each of them know a few phrases like “What is your name?’, “My name is…”, and “Nice to meet you.” They are all so cute, and it doesn’t take long to realize our hearts are going to be breaking at some point in this trip.

Two of the boys, Chang Ngat and Chumm Sok, and I became quick friends. We play cards for awhile – they are very quick learners – I taught them to play Go Fish, Concentration, and Slap Jack. For the most part they beat me. Tomorrow, Texas Hold ‘em – maybe I’ll have an edge. Or not.

Many of the local neighbors have gathered around the orphanage. I’m not sure if it is to see us or just to check out the excitement. Either way there are at least 30 kids in addition to the children who live at the home.

Too soon we had to breakaway from the kids and start our projects. Today we are building a security fence. It doesn’t take long to realize it’s going to be an intense project. The perimeter fence will be about 400 yards total. We have to dig holes for foundations and footings as well as set posts. As luck would have it it’s the hottest day sine I’ve been here. The kids have fun as they do their best to work along side us.

After lunch we take a short break and play a little more with the children. I’ve found the kids here are fascinated with getting their pictures taken and seeing their images on the screen. Even more so they love taking pictures so I let them take a few – shown below.

At some point in the day the doctor comes to test the children for disease and check their overall health. Hepatitis B and AIDS are a problem in this country, especially in the poor rural areas.

Between digging trench, setting posts, and trying to drink enough water we laugh and play with the kids. It’s is fascinating the simple things that bring laughter and joy to them. I show them how to shoot the caps off of water bottles – pretty soon there are a dozen or more kids chasing each other around shooting each other (and us) with caps. A couple people in the group setup a bowling lane with water bottles and a coconut for a little impromptu Gilligan bowling.

I think the game that touched me the most though was a game of catch played with a ball made of old wadded up plastic grocery bags – see video below. One can’t help but notice the disparity between their standard of living and ours, but these children are rich beyond measure in a currency we could all use more of – joy. Maybe they’re closer to the source.

If you'd like to check out the Church of Living Water Cambodian Mission Blog you can see it here:

http://livingwatercambodiamission.blogspot.com

Out of The Killing Fields

2010-01-19T01:30:00.001-08:00

Today began with a nice run along the river. It’s overcast today with just a few drops of rain falling here and there – perfect weather for a run. I’m up early enough that I notice many locals doing exercise along the river. Most are doing some sort of Tai Chi, but I actually saw a few who were running – yesterday I thought everyone was looking at me like I was crazy as I ran by – now I just think they thought I was lazy because it was 7:30. Things start early here. The streets are noisy with and I am amazed by the industrious nature of the Cambodian people. They are extremely hard workers – most work 6-7 days per week and make somewhere around $1 per day. Everywhere you look there is some kind stand being setup and the occasional scent of meat on a stick as it roasts on a makeshift grill.

Around 10:00 my friend, John the tuk-tuk driver, picked me up to take me out to the Choueng Ek Genocidal Center also known as “The Killing Fields” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields. I don’t think words can quite describe this place. Brutal. Painful. Incomprehensible. Especially for someone who only knows this kind of atrocity from movies, television, and a vaguely remembered history lesson. In 1975, Communist dictator Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge sacked Phnom Penh. In attempt to setup their communist government they rounded up doctors, lawyers, professors – any of the well educated, as well as religious priest, monks, etc. and put them in torture camps such as the Toul Sleng mentioned in my last post. From there, they were brought to what is now “The Killing Fields” – a place created to further torture and then kill these “dissidents”. Over 2 million Cambodians were killed in this time. Many of them killed by young children who were turned into soldiers and executioners by this cruel regime. At this location 20,000 were killed and buried in mass grave. To this day bones and clothing remain visible on and in the ground.

On our way back to town we decided to take a detour through the countryside. It is a beautiful place full of extremes. Luxurious houses next door to hovels. A brand new Mercedes sharing the road with a foot drawn cart. Huge, deep riverbeds dry and dusty. But, the best extreme of all is the people themselves. They are a downtrodden people, from a war-torn country, who are as proud and friendly as any in the world, and who give new meaning to the word perspective.

John picked the place for lunch. Someplace that only locals could find, hidden amongst the many shops and doorways along a busy road. We entered through what looked to be a residential gateway, and were led through what might have been a garage, and down some stairs to a beautiful outdoor restaurant along one of the local rivers. It was another lunch of traditional Cambodian food – excellent, but not as good as John’s mother’s cooking. Lunch seems to be a big meal here - I was stuffed! The view was fantastic, and we had great conversation as we watched the fishing boats and ferries on the river.

The evening ended with some American cuisine (club sandwich and fries) at the Foreign Correspondents Club. Although some guys on the street tried to get me to go to the place pictured below.

In a few minutes I leave to go to the airport and meet up with the rest of the group. Tomorrow we head to the orphanage - I am looking forward to what awaits!

An Amazing First Day in Phnom Penh

2010-01-18T00:39:00.000-08:00

What an amazing morning! I tried to stay in bed this morning to adapt to the new time zone, but was restless and had to get up at 6:00. Went down to breakfast which was simple, but delicious (emphasis on delicious) fare. I won’t bore you with details, but I could have stayed for awhile. There is no fitness center so I decided to take a run on the street. What a great decision! There was a nice breeze blowing and it was in the low to mid 70’s by 7:30 am.

I am fascinated by the traffic – people everywhere and most of them on “motos” or scooters. And, they have up to 4 people on one bike! No lanes to speak of so the roads are fairly chaotic. There are quite a few police officers / military on the streets – at first it seemed unusual, but mid-run they shut the road down and a convoy of police cars escorted 3 dark Mercedes down the street – they even told me to stop running until they passed. The street was eerily quiet. Then, as soon as they passed, the masses oozed back into the streets to fill the void.

My run took me to Wat Phnom, a beautiful temple on a small hill in the middle of the city. The park around the temple is filled with people. Some are tourists, some are vendors, but most appear to be seeking the generosity of others. As I slowly jog around the temple I spot a vendor with an elephant. Then from there I ran along the river – an area where 4 rivers, including the Mekong, converge. What a sight - it is truly a beautiful day!

From there I hired a tuk-tuk to take me around the city for the day. The driver, John, spoke very good English. I toured most of the main cultural attractions including the Royal Palace where I met Pala, a tour guide who took me through the palace, the National Museum, Russian and Central Markets, and The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum – what a surreal place.

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was formerly a high school that was converted into a prison / torture center. Touring the site is very somber. It is very hard to imagine the horrors that happened there.

The best part of the day was easily lunch. Although I offered to buy him lunch, John the tuk-tuk driver, was kind enough to take me to his home to see authentic Cambodian living. His wife and mother cooked some fantastic Khmer cuisine while John and I talked as his 4-year old son, Jim, ran around and played. Jim was fascinated with getting his pictures taken both my camera and video camera – he couldn’t stop laughing as he watched the images on the screen. The generosity was incredible – can you imagine your New York taxi driver taking you home for lunch? I am definitely learning a lesson about hospitality, and I’ve only been here a day.

Tomorrow will be another day of exploring, and most importantly, getting to know the people of this great, if not underrated country. I’ll also be meeting up with the rest of the group and Wednesday we’ll be heading to another province where the orphanage is located.

Korea

2010-01-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

I have a short layover today/tonight (depending on where you're at in the world) in Korea before heading to Phnom Pehn. The Seoul Incheon Airport is a very nice, very modern airport. And, while it is obvious on many levels that I am in a foreign land it is nice to know there's always a little bit of home to be found:

Here We Go

2010-01-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Last year, our church adopted the Kong Pixay Orphanage in Cambodia. The Kong Pixay Orphanage provides a home for 16 children - some of whom were abandoned in this impoverished country - others who lost their parents to disease or, believe it or not, land mines.

This coming Saturday, January 16th, I'll be leaving on a trip to Cambodia as part of a mission team of twelve people from The Church of Living Water http://www.livingwater.com/. We will spend our time in Cambodia building a security fence, stocking fish ponds and serving the needs of the children and their host parents. You can learn more about the orphanage here: http://homes.warmblankets.org/Cambodia/Kompong_Speu_/Church_Orp_184/

Along the way I hope to experience the culture of Cambodia, eat some incredible food, see some beautiful sights, and, most of all, minister to the needs of the Cambodian people. I will update this blog as often as internet service allows with posts, pictures, and video. Please come along and share the adventure.

God bless!

Rick