Ratanak International Mission Blog

Our First Khmer Staff!

2012-01-30T19:17:00.000+07:00

So its official! We have just hired our first ever Khmer Staff at Ratanak International (Cambodia). We have an accountant so now it is one less hat that I get to wear!!!Yipee and its one hat I am glad I don't have to wear!! I love numbers (especially if it is to do with stock prices) but accounting, ugh---those debits and credits drive me crazy! Anyway, our new Khmer staff member is named Sathya, a very talented young man who not only has auditing and accounting experience, but he is trained in banking, in microfinance, he is a tax specialist and also advises foreign investors who want to do business in Cambodia. If ever we set up a business here, we have someone who can advise us of all the necessary documentation and processes. God has given us more than what we ever expected when we hired this young man. He has an amazing skill set and also taught himself English. I had to say him, if I could teach myself Khmer like he has taught himself English, I would be so fluent in Khmer! An added bonus is that he and his wife attend the same English service that I do so it will be a wonderful opportunity to worship together.

Sathya will start on March 1st and our accountant Faith from Canada will be flying over for two weeks to train him. Here at Ratanak, we are not a typical NGO. Most NGOs here focus on funding their own projects but God has given us the privilege of not only funding other NGOs in Cambodia but also He has blessed us and given us much favor that we are able to fund our own projects. And so Sathyá will be a busy young man not just monitoring our partner projects to ensure that our donor dollars are being well managed, but he will be instrumental in establishing our Financial and administrative policies and procedures for our Cambodia operations office and also providing financial oversight to any new Ratanak established projects. We look forward to having him on board!

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for our staff. We celebrate this with you as you have partnered with us in prayer. We are continuing in the process of asking the Lord to provide the right staff with the right giftings and experience for our upcoming project. In the months to come, we look forward to sharing with you how the Lord is continuing to give shape and form to the vision He has placed in our hearts to invest in the lives of those who are on a journey from victim to survivor to more than a conqueror in Christ as they discover that they are not only valued and loved by the King but He has a plan for their lives, a plan to prosper them, a plan that is full of hope as He puts a new song and a new dream in their hearts.

Journaling The Soul

2012-01-28T13:20:00.000+07:00

This morning in a chapter I was reading called ''Journaling The Soul'" in a book called Embracing Soul Care by Stephen Smith, I read the following:

Writing our thoughts isn't new but today blogging through the Internet provides instant expression to anyone in the world who cares to connect and listen. Long before cyberspace, Christians such as Augustine of Hippo, Soren Kierkegaard, Blaise Pascal and John Wesley wrote journals that for centuries have been read. Through these writings the reader can explore the souls of people who were used by God in significant ways. In the bible we read that the Lord told the Israelites to remember their history so they wouldn't forget what He had done for them. Much soul shaping appears in the pages of the Old and New Testaments. Luke wrote his gospel and the book of Acts as a personal journal to record the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. So journals help us because over time, they offer a road map about where we've been and where we're headed. David the shepherd boy who became king, poured his soul into poems eventually collected in the book of Psalms. David's words can be our words. He rejoices of intimacy with God in one entry and in the next he complains that God seems far off. The courageous outpouring of one man's heart offers inspiration and even revelation into God's heart.

Journalling then works out what resides in the soul. A personal journal permits the soul to speak about what matters. Whether the pages are bounded by the Internet or bound in leather, personal reflections makes a journal significant.

These reflections by Stephen Smith resonate with me because it is one of the reasons I try to blog as often as time permits for me to do so, as I find it is often therapeutic giving me perspective on what God is trying to say through the situations we find ourselves in here. In many ways it is part of the journey of recounting God's faithfulness to us corporately as we pray and a reminder to me that God is working in the details of my life here. So often it is easy to forget that when we are in the midst of the busyness here or we are dealing with spiritual warfare or we are feeling tired and weary of the journey. But today, these thoughts came to alive in a much sharper way when I read a poem that our Ratanak partner Don Brewster highlighted on his blog. It is a poem of one who has lived through the horrors of sex trafficking and who now testifies what its like to travel the road from victim to victor. As Don says, it is a poem that brings both awareness and hope. We trust that as we share this with you who read our blogs and pray for us that you too will be encouraged and inspired at what our Great God can do in the lives of one who knows what its like to live through the darkness and now walk in the Light! What a blessing it is to have this young woman pour out the deepest pains and struggles of her heart and her life as she shares her history with us. What a blessing to read and be inspired of the hope she has found in the One who is the Source of all Hope.

"In A City With No Hope"

by Linzie Joerres

"There's a girl who's all alone

in a city with no hope

All around her, girls are dying,

she sees it and she's crying

'cause it all started with their trying

to find a better world than the ones they'd always known.

She sits alone on the damp floor in the looming dark.

Her face has gotten hard and dull and painfully stark.

Her heart is growing cold here

as she fights the fear of growing old here,

forever trapped here in these walls, in this cage.

She fights the rage.

She was lied to and deceived

by the hope of something more.

She was tricked into believing

that there was something worth fighting for.

The woman and man,

they opened up their hands to her,

promised life to her dreams,

made her think that these things

were obtainable, reachable,

but as she reached, the shackles came down on her hands,

and all of her plans

went up in smoke as they forced her to smoke

to get her addicted.

Her life thus far has been depicted as

Pain.

All of her life's gains

are now worthless, pointless.

There's no point to her life,

in her darkness there's no light,

but in spite of the disappointment and pain,

stepping out of doubt's rain,

one flame of hope is sparked

inside her heart

and her mind starts spinning.

Maybe there's a chance of winning

the freedom she's been longing for, striving for, dying for, grasping,

Now she's clasping the hands of a man who's faceless, nameless, 9th man today,

meaningless in this seemingly endless display of insanity.

She's trying to keep her sanity as he's screaming profanities at her

because she doesn't please him.

She doesn't want to appease him

'cause she's frightened

that it will bite her, too,

this bug that's killing the others,

but it doesn't bother

or concern the man who's plan is just satisfaction

from her actions.

He doesn't have to use protection,

there's no protection for this girl in a city

where no one's going to pity her, save her.

She's got no saviour,

just accusers who want to use her

as an object for their pleasure.

She doesn't know that she's really a treasure

that should be guarded, secured, protected.

There's no protection for this girl in a city with no hope.

Her body

is racked with pain

from thousands of beatings

Scars eating

away at her soul and her back

reminders of the lashes received

When she fought back

rolling and thrashing

around on the floor.

Now weak

She can’t fight this war anymore

She’s trying to think rationally, to think clearly,

But clearly, she’s become

A casualty

There's a knock at the door,

she gets up from the floor,

bracing herself for more.

She wishes it were over and done,

man number 12, the day's barely begun.

But this man doesn't have the same look in his eyes

as all the men who had come before,

all who shared a similar guise, before.

This man stretched out his hand

not to condemn her or harm her,

but to disarm her doubt.

He told her he wasn't there about that.

He was there to save her,

to be her Saviour,

to show her a hope she had never known before.

She falls to the ground in shock and disbelief,

so afraid that once again she's being deceived.

He picks her up off the floor

where she fell down,

then walks out the door,

his voice in her ear

drowns out

all her fears and insecurities.

She finally has security and protection

because this bold man took action.

For her sake, he put his life at stake,

and for once in her life of trying and striving,

she's now thriving,

experiencing freedom and a life of HOPE."

Another New Year

2012-01-23T20:38:00.000+07:00

So today is Chinese New Year in Cambodia. Most of the stores and businesses are closed for 3 days. I didn't realize how big a holiday it was here. However, those of us in the NGO world are working.

Prior to the New Year celebration, Chinese families apparently give their homes a thorough cleaning. It is believed that the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Yesterday when I was out for my evening walk, I saw many families burning paper. More than likely, they were probably burning Joss Paper which is also known as ghost or spirit money . These are sheets of paper that are burned in traditional Chinese deity or ancestor worship ceremonies during special holidays. Joss paper is also burned in traditional Chinese funerals.

Even though I look Chinese, our family never followed such practices so this is all a foreign concept to me. Nonetheless, when I was walking today, one of the granny beggars that I often see wished me a Happy New Year! Over here, people are quite confused at my ethnicity. Last week I attended two weddings and was asked again and again if I am from China. I told them I was from Canada but decided it would be too complicated to explain to them that I am 6th generation South American Chinese. Each time I said I was from Canada, they all had this confused look on their face. It got even more confusing when I said I only speak English and now I can speak Khmer! Its actually kinda fun to keep people guessing.

All this to say, my ethnicity also raises questions as to why I would come to Cambodia if I lived in Canada. Most if not all Cambodian view anyone from the West as having a lot of money and an amazing lifestyle so why give that all up. They also find it quite odd that I would leave my job and family and move here as a single person. I have noticed what a wonderful open door this has given me to share of my faith in Christ---that He has called me to live in Cambodia and to leave my family. This is a hard concept for Asians and especially Cambodians to understand given the importance that this is a very community oriented and family oriented culture. They have a hard time understanding why someone would want to live on their own. Even my Khmer Christian friends have found this quite odd because for them, it is normal to live with both their immediate and extended families in one place. Part of the reason for this is that it is just too expensive to live on their own. And so when I explain that many Canadians move out and even some Asians live on their own or share a place with their friend, its amazing to see their reaction. This is just unheard of on this side of the pond but nonetheless, it leads to some good cultural discussions. My loak crew once asked if I was afraid to live by myself and I said ''no, I quite enjoy it, I enjoy the freedom of doing whatever I feel like and if God has called me to live here, I don't need to be afraid.'' He smiled.

All this to say, one of the benefits of being a Canadian Chinese here is the opportunity to talk about Christ. So would you join me in prayer that as I continue to interact with many Khmer and as questions are asked about why I would come here and what I am doing, that God would anoint my lips so that I will be able to explain the hope I have in Him and the hope He wants to give them.

Longevity

2012-01-22T19:05:00.000+07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with some missionary friends who I have known since 2000 when I first met them here in Cambodia. At that time, they had been on the field for just over a year with OMF. It is now 12 years later and they have been involved in church planting in a province called Neak Leung near the Vietnamese border. My friends Hak Hyun and Seung Won are from Korea originally but have studied, trained and traveled in the U.S and also equipped a few Korean churches in Canada.

Hak Hyun and Seung Won Cho

One of the benefits I have had of visiting Cambodia for so many years is the opportunity to meet so many people from different cultures. I value Hak Hyun and Seung Won because they have lived in Cambodia in a rural setting which is not easy because its not like the city where you have some side walks or a gym to go to or a hotel with a pool that you can use occasionally. You are living in a setting that is surrounded by rice paddies and little shacks. In spite of that, my friends do not looked like they have aged for all the time they have been here. They display the kind of longevity and resilience that is to be admired. So yesterday, I had the opportunity to pick their brain on several topics. It is friends like these who I can learn from and glean from. One of their secrets to longevity is caring for their souls as a first priority. It is being intentional about pampering yourself and taking the necessary steps to rest and rejuvenate and to guard your boundaries. It is about being kind to yourself and not feeling guilty in saying ''no''.

As Church planters, they are given a day off every week ---typically a Monday since Sunday's are always busy with church activities. But OMF also encourages them every 3 months to take time off for 3 days in addition to 30 days of annual vacation. For those who live in the West, this may seem like a lot of time off but the reality is, over here the challenges whether physical, emotional or spiritual is at a whole different level. One is more susceptible to sickness, emotional and mental fatigue and spiritual exhaustion on a regular basis. Just today I was having lunch with a Mission trainer who comes here annually to prepare OMF missionaries for their home assignment. She said ' Cambodia is such a difficult field. Compared to Thailand and other countries, the workers here seem way more tired than the norm. The spiritual climate is very different here and even I feel tired after a short time.'' This statement is so true for those of us who live and work here. The fatigue level can easily set in and can come in waves, if we are not mindful of taking the proper precautions and times to rest.

My friends Hak Hyun and Seung Won have seen many workers suffer from depression or discouragement because they are so hard on themselves or have not taken the time for personal renewal. I asked them what they do or where they go every 3 months. Typically they stay in Cambodia and some times they stay at home and close the door so they can have some silence even from their Khmer friends. It is a time where ''ministry'' stops for a brief time and where God fills the and renews their spirits as they take an intentional timeout from all the ''doing''.

This was all a good reminder to me as those of us who are natural doers and "A" type personalities which seems to be the personality type of many missionaries are driven people. It is so easy to be performance driven as we bring our North American attitudes and mindset here. We can easily expect Khmer people or others to respond to us with the same level of efficiency that we are used to at home and when they don't, we can easily get irritated or we bombard them with more emails wondering if they got our initial email. As I am approaching my 6 month here, I am appreciating the value of waiting and not rushing, I am appreciating the fact that God is unwinding my ''A'' type personality as I surrender to His timing in all things and in the midst of this He has been teaching me much about self care and soul care. There are a couple ways I am decompressing and relaxing----one of them is to walk for about 1 hour on a regular basis listening to either a sermon on my Ipod or worship music. Such walks are not so much an aerobic exercise, although they do provide that, rather, it is an exercise to work out what's embedded in the soul. Someone once said, this soul exercise allows us to focus, grow quiet, be curious, pray and hear God's voice. It's another way to experience Immanuel, God-with-us.

The second way I seek to decompress is to go for a 1 hour back and shoulder massage---I wish I could do this everyday but I think that might be overindulgence :-) so I try to go twice a month. Its amazing how a massage can totally relax you. For me it provides a time where my brain can rest.A few times I have almost nodded off during the massage but it speaks much to the importance of finding the right balance of work and play.

Perhaps being in my 40s has its advantages after all. At this age, we can't go as fast as a 20 something or 30 something year old. We have to pace ourselves and as my pastor has often said, ''it is not how well you start, but how well you finish.'' The secret to longevity in such a spiritual climate and atmosphere involves discipline, perseverance and intentionality but above all else, it is learning to abide in Christ and asking Him to give us the daily bread we need to sustain us for that day!

A Khmer Wedding

2012-01-18T21:28:00.000+07:00

Last summer I had the opportunity to attend a Khmer wedding in a village not too far from Svay Pak. It was under a canopy on a dirt road. But today's wedding was in a far different setting. In fact, the wedding was over a two day period. It was a more elaborate wedding because the groom's family are extremely wealthy. As a wedding gift, the bride-to-be received a brand new Toyota Camry from the groom's parents. Now those of us in the West may not see that as too expensive of a car but when you consider the import taxes of a brand new car, the price of such a car here is probably around US$40,000 to US$50,000. But that was not all, the bride and groom received two Ptay Lavengs (Khmer houses)---one in which they will live and another one which they can rent out as an investment.

The Wedding Invitation

So today, I had the privilege of attending their wedding as I have known the bride's mum for some years now. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Khmer Wedding culture and tradition. Typically most of the guests arrive at 7am in the morning at the bride's home and they carry fruit baskets into the home which is surrounded by a large canopy that covers the road. If you are the next door neighbor, you can forget about entering or leaving your home during the festivities.

The Morning session of the wedding

My friend suggested that I come at 9am so I skipped the fruit basket ceremony. It was an opportunity for me to wear a traditional Khmer outfit. One of the things I love about Khmer weddings is to see all the beautiful colors, designs and styles that the women wear. It is a sight to see. Whether you are young or old, all the women wear these intricate embroidered close fitting blouses and a traditional Cambodian skirt. (see pictures below).

Jaya and her sister

All the guests eat breakfast which is a rice porridge that those of you who are Chinese or Asian background would call ''juck'' soup and then there would also be fruits. Afterwards, there is a wedding ceremony and given that the bride and groom are not Christian, it was more of a Buddhist style wedding. Loud music was blaring as a hired Khmer singer sang a variety of Khmer songs. This kind of Khmer music is an acquired sound, something that I still have not come to acquire but perhaps if I live here long enough I will a greater appreciation for the loud twangs and the cymbals and gongs. Some of the female guests were ushered to the front as we sat to watch the wedding blessing. For those who just wanted to stay at their tables, there were a few close circuit flat screen TVs to watch the festivities.

Entrance to the home is decorated

One of my favorite highlights was seeing one of the Khmer dances that I have often seen in Svay Pak. It is a flower dance of blessing. The dancers are dressed in balloon like pants but they are ever so graceful. Below some of the dances were getting ready to perform.

After a while, a hair cutting ceremony started. This is to prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple. Their hair is symbolically cut representing a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. The master of ceremony performs the first hair cut and wishes the couple happiness, prosperity and longevity. Then the bride and groom's parents and relatives take turn all of whom wish the couple blessings.I am not sure on my wedding day if I would want several people snipping pieces of my hair but alas the bride and groom sat through this ritual with a grin on their face. Let's hope they don't lose too many strands of hair in the process!

The Bride and Groom

My friend Jaya sitting with her brother next to her new son-in-law and her daughter

The morning events lasted until 1pm but I opted to leave before lunch as I had a meeting to go to which was a good thing as wearing these beautiful close fitting Khmer outfits in the heat is not the most comfortable thing especially when one is used to wearing t-shirts and capris all the time.

The reception was another fair. While the guests are invited to come at 4:30pm, typically most people don't start showing up until 6pm but my friend Catherine and I opted to go at around 5:30pm. This is one of the largest weddings I have ever attended in my life with about 1000 people who were expected to come. We arrived at the convention center and were greeted with the groom's BMW parked outside the entrance to the pavilion.

Both Catherine and myself have known Jaya for several years so it was a privilege to be invited to her daughter's wedding.

Catheine and Jaya

In the evening, I opted to switch into a more western style dress. In these settings, the older Khmer still wear their traditional outfits in the evening but many of the younger Khmer are now dressing more Western wearing sleeveless dresses or mini skirts. We were seated at our table but then were ushered back out to the front of the pavilion so we could take pictures with the bride and groom. The bride and groom have to stand and take pictures with every single guests as they enter into the convention center---that's 1000 people---that's a lot of photos for this young couple who have been up since 3:30am this morning. Its a good thing they are young and have energy!

One of the things I love about Khmer weddings is that you feel you are attending some kind of royal wedding. The colors and the traditional outfits for both men and women are so elegant and elaborate you feel you are in the midst of royalty.

The Wedding Party

Dinner however is a whole different case. There is no seating plan per se and when you arrive, the ushers seat you at a table with people you typically don't know. Their objective is to fill the table so that they can begin to serve the food. I am thankful for my friend Catherine as she was able to give me some insights about Khmer wedding etiquette and what to expect. Unlike Asian weddings back home where every one waits for the guests to arrive and then the bride and groom enter in and the food is served, here the guests eat at different times depending on what time they arrive and if their table is full. So you can actually be finished eating and still seeing guests arriving. It is one of the most strangest experiences but on the other hand, at least you don't starve waiting for ever. I can't imagine having to wait for 1000 people to arrive before we start eating. I guess one could argue that the Khmer way at wedding receptions is efficient.

Unfortunately, there are no speeches but instead we were serenaded by a professional singer who was up front on a stage. The table we were seated at were mostly men and my friend reminded me that if I spoke to the men to greet them as ''Loak''---that's the formal name for a male person of high status that one would typically greet a government official. I am glad she reminded me of this as I realized earlier today when I met the father of the groom, I called him ''Pou'' meaning ''uncle'' and I should have greeted him as ''loak'' as a form of respect. But oh well, this is all part of learning about the culture.

Appetizers

Crisp Roast Suckling Pig

For someone like me who is a bit of a carnivore the nine course meal at tonight's wedding reception was a meat lover's delight. We had fish, seafood, pork and a crab soup to name a few of the dishes. The meal ended with the typical Chinese serving of fried rice and noodles which signifies long life. So with that, my friend Catherine and I watched to see if our male table guests would get up first. And just as she anticipated, they were up and out of there and so we followed suit within a 2 hour time frame. As we left, cars were still piling into the parking lot as guests were still coming in and I was told earlier that the Prime Minister's wife was going to be attended. Am not sure where she was but no doubt, it was a privilege for me to be at such an auspicious occasion.

Learning to write in Khmer!

2012-01-17T20:53:00.000+07:00

So today was another 'new day'' as I started my first language lesson on how to write in Khmer and hopefully one day I will learn to read. These will be miracles in and of themselves as if any of you have seen the Khmer letters you will know its got a lot of squiggly lines.

So I am blogging about this because I will need a lot of prayers for me to not only decipher this script but to learn to write a sentence that is actually legible not only to me but more importantly to anyone who can read. Its like being a kid all over again in kindergarten learning to write the letters of the alphabet. However, despite the challenge, I am not discouraged. Thanks to many of you who have been praying and the graciousness of the Lord, I have been recently encouraged on a few occasions by the Khmer who have complimented me on my accent and who seem to be quite surprised that I have only been studying the language for 4 months. All I can say is that God is good as I am not one to have any abilities in language but I suppose because I love being here and I am so desperate to learn the language, the Lord is answering in some neat ways so that I am not only able to understand but can translate some basic sentences for non-Khmer speakers.

At any rate, based on advice from missionary friends when I first got here, it was suggested that I learn to speak first and then learn to read and write a few months later. Now with our workload increasing immensely, the challenge is to find the right balance between work, language, study and exercise. It is not easy because so often one may plan to do something one day and then out of the blue some thing else comes up and interrupts your schedule. The other day I met a couple who had been living here for 3 years but have not taken the time to study the language. It was a bit shocking for me personally as if we are choosing to live in Cambodia and we want to bless the Cambodian people, it is so important to make the effort to speak and communicate with them in their language. While I don't know all the reasons why this particular couple has chosen not to learn the language, I can honestly say that one misses out on so much of the cultural dimensions without the language.

So, one area that has been non-negotiable for me in terms of time is to be intentional in learning the language. It is so easy to be caught up in the work but more and more as time has flown by and my language acquisition is improving, I am beginning to feel more comfortable in conversing in Khmer or at least making the effort to mix Khmer and English. So how does one try to maintain balance between work and study. Well, I am now studying conversational Khmer 4 days a week for 1 hour in the morning (7:30am to 8:30am) and then in the late afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I am learning to write in Khmer (4:30pm to 5:30pm). Some of my friends here have encouraged me to give myself some ''margin'' and breathing room given the workload so that I don't burn out so this new schedule allows me to have a day off on Friday from language. its a good thing because now I am getting home work from two different loak crews (male teachers).

My young loak crew Chheut continues to teach me conversational Khmer in the morning and my other loak crew David, teaches me how to write. While I can get a way with doing the bare minimum on the conversational lessons, unfortunately, I will need more discipline when it comes to writing Khmer as I have to practice writing the Khmer script! Yikes!

Loak Crew David

I got connected to loak crew David through my friends at OMF. He has been a language instructor for OMF workers for the past 10 years and came highly recommended. But David is a man of many talents as he also provides cultural orientation and training so in the near future he will come and teach our small Ratanak team about the Khmer culture. David is also good at finding cars for missionaries and so I enlisted him to find the Ratanak car.

Today as I was talking to loak crew David, I discovered how small a world it is. It turns out that his great grand parents became Christians when the first C&MA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) missionaries---The Ellisons were here in 1923. They were the first Protestant workers to enter Cambodia. Loak crew David is a 4th generation Khmer Christian which is almost unheard of in Cambodia since 90% of the church was wiped out when the Khmer Rouge came into power. What was even more fascinating was when I asked if he knew Marie Ens? It turns out that his parents came to know the Lord through Marie and now loak crew David is good friends with Marie's son David Ens. How cool is that? Its so amazing to now have the privilege of being taught Khmer by a Khmer believer whose family was influenced and became believers by the first Protestant missionaries in Cambodia. Loak crew David has asked if I would come and visit his church one day. I am looking forward to doing so especially since Ratanak has been involved in funding a variety of C&MA development projects over the years and as well, since I also attend a C&MA church back in Canada, this will be an interesting link.

Once again, I continue to be amazed at how the Lord connects people. One of the prayers that I have been praying as the New year has began is for the Lord's favor to be over us individually and corporately as an organization and also to establish the works of our hands. God has certainly been providing some amazing Khmer people who can partner with us. Truly, it is so humbling to see how He is sending some of the best people our way to walk with us and to encourage us. As I think of this, it is the verse from Matthew 6:31-33 that comes to mind: ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Truly, this verse has come alive to me in a greater way since I moved to Cambodia. It has been very clear how the Lord is ordering our steps as He has been giving us favor on a variety of levels and in so doing establishing the works of our hands! Indeed as we have been seeking His kingdom, He has been opening doors and providing the right connections at the right time. He truly is adding everything else that we need.

Whatever You Do For the Least of These

2012-01-14T22:59:00.000+07:00

Here in Cambodia the passage from Matthew 25:35-40 is an ongoing theme. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ For every where one turns, you feel like you are seeing the least of these. You cannot go far without being confronted with the poverty and with the homeless in your midst. So often this can be wearying on the spirit as in some situations we know that parents often use their children to go out and beg. Often a young child will carry his/her baby sibling who looks totally drugged out (and probably is) so that the tourists would have pity and give. It is another form of exploitation but what to do? It is easy for our hearts to grow cold and become cynical. It is easy to turn the other way, it is easy to just ignore it all. We don't want to create dependency by just keep giving handouts.

Yet there are some times, when God's compassion takes over and you feel compelled to respond. My Khmer brothers and sisters in Svay Pak continue to display a level of Christ compassion and a level of love and faith in Him that I hope one day I will have. They are teaching me what it means to love like God does, they are showing me what Christ compassion looks like, they are demonstrating time and time again that the marginalized and the outcasts are the least of these in which we see the face of Jesus.I love visiting Svay Pak and visiting my friends there. It is a place of hope for me, it is a place in which Jesus is at the centre. It is place where I come away encouraged because I often see God's beauty being formed in ashes.

Today was an example of these truths for me. My plan was to go and pick up a blouse I was having altered by one of Pastor Chantha's disciples Siny. But little did I know that the Lord had other plans for me in Svay Pak today. As I sat and chatted with Pastor Chantha and Siny, I learned of a 24 year old girl who has 2 little girls and a new born baby boy who is just 18 days old. This young woman used to work at the garment factory and when she was 5 months pregnant, her husband/boyfriend abandoned her and their two young daughters (a 5 year old and 2 year old). Well as time went on, this young woman ran out of money and found herself giving birth to her baby son a few weeks ago in some dirty bathroom. She was kicked out of the room she rented because she had no funds to pay for the rent and was walking in Phnom Penh when somehow, she found herself in a conversation with one of Pastor Chantha's church members----does this story sound familiar! It almost seems that the church members of Svay Pak are becoming God's angels that He places strategically in the path of the downtrodden.

Anyway, as the story goes, this young woman was brought to Svay Pak and one of the Svay Pak church members offered her and her children a temporary place to stay until Pastor Chantha figures out what to do. Well, he felt compelled to help this young woman (more on that later). So today, I had the wonderful privilege of going with Siny one of Pastor Chantha's disciples to visit this young woman and her 3 children. We went to see them at their temporary home----a home that already houses 4 people of one family, was now housing this young woman and her 3 children. Unlike homes in North America where you would expect separate rooms, the home where this young woman was staying was the equivalent of a shack.

The Temporary Home

The ''home'' is in an area where many of the brick factory workers stay which include some of the Svay Pak church members. Its here that 7 people were living in one big room!

The Two sisters in their temporary home

It was a great joy to use the Ratanak car to help transport this family from their temporary home to their new abode. There was not much to move because this mother has nothing except a bag of clothes. She has no clothes for the her baby son nor any food. She is totally destitute. So we did a mini pit stop in the local market and bought some clothes for her new born son.

18 day old baby boy who still has no name!

Two little sisters sitting in the Ratanak car

At one point as Siny and I were in the store, I looked up and couldn't help but take a photo of these two little sisters sitting in the Ratanak car. They had the biggest smiles on their faces as they waited for us. There is no greater pleasure than seeing these little ones smile.

Shopping for baby clothes

Baby clothes we purchased

We bought some baby clothes and I was asking Siny whether we should buy some baby diapers but here in Cambodia, diapers are use by the wealthy people because they are expensive.While it would be convenient for this young mum to have the diapers, I was grateful to learn from Siny that the average Khmer uses cloth napkins that can be reused and most of all they are cheap and affordable.

At any rate, after our pit stop to the local market, off we went down some dirt roads and side alleys into a narrow road to the new home that would house this single parent family for the short term. Our partners at AIM have instructed Pastor Chantha to do what he thinks is best and so he arranged to rent a small room for this young woman and her child. It happens to be at the home of another Svay Pak church member.

The new home

The room is another little shack but it is spacious enough to house this young family. I can't imagine what it is like to feel so displaced and to have nothing. And yet here once again, we see the soverignty of God intervening in another ''forgotten life'' by intersecting this young woman with one of Pastor Chantha's church members. As I left Svay Pak this afternoon, Bunthan had gone out again to the local market to buy some basic food supplies for the family and an old crib was found in one of the Sanctuary rooms along with some baby blankets...all of these were being sent to this mother for her children.

I am once again humbled by how freely my Khmer brothers and sisters give. They are living out the gospel in such a tangible way demonstrating that the Good News is not just words but includes deeds. God's heart is seen in their heart, God's love is seen in their love. God's compassion is seen in their compassion. They have so little, yet they give so much.

Matthew 9:36 says: When he(Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. These past few months for this young woman has not been easy for her. She has lived a life where her spirit has been harassed because she has nothing, she has felt helpless because she has no where to turn. But the God of this universe has once again stooped down to show her that she can turn to Him because HE has turned to her. He has reached out to her through the hands, voice and feet of His people in Svay Pak. The Shepherd has gone after this sheep and her little lambs and brought them into His fold in Svay Pak. I can only imagine what He will do next in this young woman's life and her children! The Lord goes to great lengths to save and rescue. How much more will He not restore, rebuild and redeem their lives in the years to come!

It was just a matter of when!

2012-01-13T19:36:00.000+07:00

One of the joys of learning a new language is that there will come a time when you meant to say something but instead what you actually said is totally offside or incorrect. Its the perfect opportunity to laugh at one's self and to have others laugh at you. So I knew it was just a matter of time when I would make a language faux pas. However in my defence, I didn't know that two English words could mean a word in Khmer---its interesting the things you discover along the way. So what was my language mistake.

Well, a couple weeks ago after an outreach at a local slum area, I went to dinner with some of Pastor Chantha's disciples. As they are all young people in their late teens and early 20s, I often tease them about all sorts of things. If you have been following the blog, you would know that I have been trying to match make my language instructor with one of Pastor Chantha's disciples. Well, they did meet and it was kinda cute as my little sister 'S'' responded in such a shy way when she met my language teacher that I was a bit shocked as she is usually quite chatty. So it was a good opportunity to ask some cultural questions to my language teacher what is typical kind of interaction between the young men and women. He actually though she was quite pretty and said that it is quite normal for girls to be quiet and act shy. He mentioned that he likes it when the girls are not too chatty.

Of course, when I talk to ''S'' about this with the rest of the disciples, I asked her what she thought of my language teacher and she said he is quite handsome! When I heard that, I couldn't help tease her some more and so I said ''you see, you are both the same age, you would make a perfect match.' All of a sudden she started laughing. So I thought it was because I was teasing her but she said you think we are the ''same age''. She just kept on laughing. At that point, I knew something was up. So I said to her ''hat eye nyack south?' Which means ''why are you laughing?'' She proceeded to tell me that in Khmer the word for a man's penis is ''same age''---at that point, I was totally embarrassed and then she proceeded to tell all the other disciples the story and asked them if they wanted to marry some one with the ''same age''. You can imagine the roar of laughter that erupted around the table.

I am so thankful to be around these young people. At least my language faux pas was said in their company and not some high ranking Cambodian official!

The Ratanak Car!

2012-01-09T19:33:00.000+07:00

Well I'm back from my brief holidays in Singapore and today I jumped back into the saddle to make the final payment for the Ratanak company vehicle---- a Toyota RAV4. Someone once said that buying a vehicle in Cambodia is like stepping into a land mine. You just never know what you are going to get as many cars are imported from the US and the newer the car, the more likelihood it has been in an accident! With that kind of comment, one has to thread carefully as cars here are not cheap. The import tax on a car is so high that the same car in North American can be bought for one third of the price it costs here. So, it pays to have people who are in the know going with you when you are shopping for such big ticket items.

The Ratanak car!

Like everything else I have experienced here, God has been so faithful in going ahead of me and providing the right people at the right time who can help me navigate through these unchartered waters. I think it was Oswald Smith who once said that as Christians we have the largest distribution network but we often don't access it. He is right, it doesn't matter where you go in the world, when you have Christian contacts and connections, it makes a difference in accessing the right type of networks to help sort through all sorts of situations. The Lord has a way of bringing about divine connections at timely moments. Through my missionary contacts here, I got connected with a language instructor who helps missionaries buy cars. He happens to be a Christian and I am actually having him teach me to read and write Khmer given his years of experience in language and cross cultural training. He is like a car agent and goes around and does all the grunt work and then makes a recommendation. Given that he has a good track record, I decided to get his advice.

So after he did all the ground work, I went in test drove the car and then I enlisted a mechanic that a missionary friend recommended to come and check out the car. Ironically this mechanic reminded me so much of my Dad. The man has a passion for cars and he had some machine with him that literally checks to see how 'healthy'' the car engine is and all the other electronic gadgets etc. But more than that, he takes his time examining the car, crawling underneath the car to see if there were any cracks and test driving it for different things. I think the car dealer was intimidated by him but that's a good thing as my greatest concern was buying a lemon! In the end, he gave his green light on the car.

So today, I went with another Khmer friend to pick up the car along with my car agent/language instructor. It was quite an interesting experience. Since it was a bank holiday, the car dealer was initially reticent about taking my cheque. (Over here you don't have to write a certified cheque). The car dealer had had a horrible experience in which a Khmer man had written a fake cheque and then took off with a car. The three of us spent some time persuading them that I was not going to do the same thing. This whole incident once again reminded me of how little trust exists here.This is all understandable given the historical context and so one cannot get upset when situations like this arise. This brought to mind a comment I read recently in a book called The Culture of Honor by Danny Silk. He said: Trust is the key to a successful confrontation. Without it, we will discover our limitations quickly. If and when we find a confrontation not going well, the first thing to check is the trust level. When trust is low, anxiety is usually high. When anxiety rises, our priority in the encounter shifts to self preservation, usually by means of seeking to control each other. If we have someone in front of us who believes that he has to protect himself from us, then we will not be talking to his greatness, but instead to his great survival tactics. To have trust, the person we confront must believe that we are for him or her and will protect his or her best interests throughout the confrontation. And so in the process of negotiating the release of the car, it was fascinating for me to watch my two Khmer friends as they deliberated with the car dealer. They kept their cool, they were smiling and were very calm. They demonstrated this culture of honor, persuasively reassuring the car dealer that we were honest people working for an NGO to help Cambodians. In the end, I gave them a copy of my passport and my business card so that if they had any problems with the cheque they could find me. Our desire was to help the car dealer know that we really were for them. We thanked them for their support in trusting us and I said in Khmer ''May God bless you!"

With that out of the way, we were suppose to go to get the car registered but the Ministry of Transportation was closed because it was a government holiday so that will be tomorrow's job. Nonetheless, I was most paranoid about driving without car insurance. You see in North America, if one plans to buy a car, the car dealer prepares all the legal documents and works together with the car insurance company to get all the necessary paper work ready. Well, the opposite happens in Cambodia. You buy the car, then you take it to the government ministry to get the car registered and to receive a license plate and then you buy your car insurance. Many Cambodians do not have car insurance---its an option not a necessity although I think that is slowly changing with the increasing amounts of vehicles on the road. Thankfully I enlisted a few of my prayer warrior friends and claimed Proverbs 2:8 for myself this morning as I headed out for today's car dealings---for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.

Home at last!

So tonight I arrived home safe and sound with the Ratanak car in tow. I took it to a car wash for them to clean the inside and out for a mere $2.50 and then with the help of my friend, we went to another store to get a remote key alarm installed and then finally to the insurance company. So effective tomorrow the vehicle is insured! It feels weird driving around with no license plates but we are hoping to get the car registered as an NGO vehicle tomorrow which is equivalent to diplomatic status so the car has ’immunity” from any potential fines and that includes the drivers as well!

Tomorrow is part 2 of my car registration. If you remember, please pray for the Lord to continue to go ahead of us and prepare the way. Usually government agencies require a lot of documentation and as I am learning a bit more about all the requirements here, I am taking a long every piece of paper that demonstrates not only my identity but shows that I am living and working here---this includes: my passport, drivers licence, rental lease agreement, employment letter, three passport size photos, cheque book and bank statement. Having all of these papers helps save time as it will avoid a potential second or third trip to the government office. So we'll see!

The Ratanak vehicle will come in handy over the next 6 months as we begin to set up our centre, buy the furniture, have training for staff , participate in meetings with partner organizations and the local church and meet up with the young women who will be part of our program. Pray for God to continue to give us success as He establishes the works of our hands in this land!

New Years Day - Susadie Chanam Thmei!

2012-01-01T18:12:00.000+07:00

So today I couldn't help but think of a better place to spend New Year's day but to attend the church service in Svay Pak with my Khmer friends. It was an opportunity to worship the Lord in a place and with people who are shining His light brightly in the community.

After the service, we headed to a restaurant in one of the suburbs. On behalf of Ratanak International, Beth, Stephen and I had the privilege of hosting a thank you New Year's lunch at a local Khmer restaurant for Pastor Chantha, Bunthan and their disciples. We are so grateful and thankful to these who work on the frontlines seeking to be a voice for those who have no voice. They give off themselves tirelessly each day seeking to make a difference and to make an impact in the lives of young and old in this community. They may not have much in terms of wordly possessions but their lives are rich in faith. They continue to model His love with an intensity and passion in the midst of many challenges. They inspire us with the joy they have in Christ, in the midst of despairing situations. They have thought us what it means to press on and persevere by giving ourselves fully in the service of the Lord. We are so blessed by their partnership and pray God's richest blessings on them and as the New Year enfolds, may they be young men and women who continue to reflect the words in Psalm 1: 2-3, Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prosper.

Today they presented us a beautiful bouquet of flowers and we each received a wonderful team photo along with a plaque full of their names!

We look forward to another year of partnering with these dear friends from Agape International Missions (AIM) and their American co-laborers Don & Bridget Brewster.

On that note, as my Irish friends would say, I am taking a 'wee' break for a week and heading to Singapore for some rest and relaxation! See you when you see me! Thank you for all your prayers and support for those of us in Ratanak Cambodia and beyond!

A Different Kind of New Year's Eve

2011-12-31T23:03:00.000+07:00

Today of all days most people would be getting ready to ring in the New Year with friends and family. Perhaps back home we would be hosting a New Year's Eve party or going to one. We would all be getting dressed up and heading out maybe to a more expensive restaurant than normal and indulging in frivolities of all sorts. Here in Cambodia, the neon lights are on, the streets are busy and indeed in the expat community one will certainly find the kind of night life that would be some what similar in the west. But today, I opted to experience a different kind of New Year's Eve.

Last weekend one of the teachers Thida at the Newsong centre invited me to go and visit a slum area today and asked if I would tell the Christmas story to the kids in the community. Now I'm all for being stretched out of my comfort zone and while my Khmer language skills are improving, its not good enough to tell the reason for Christmas in Khmer to kids so I asked Pastor Chantha if he could provide some help. He quickly enlisted 7 of his disciples which was perfect since they not only speak Khmer but are way more gifted in ministering to kids in these kind of communities than I will ever be. So today came and off we went this afternoon to a particular place that is not too far from my home but yet is known as being much worse than Svay Pak in terms of gangsters, kids being sold etc.

I asked Thida how many kids would attend and she estimated about 100 children so we went to buy some bread to give out as a gift. For 100 loaves, we paid $16.25----that's about $0.16 per loaf. I couldn't help but think of the symbolism behind those loaves. Jesus said He is the Bread of Life and while we were giving them physical bread, our desire is that they would know the One who wants to give them spiritual food that will satisfy their souls.

Thida carrying the bread

Pastor Chantha's disciples heading into the slum area

We headed down towards the water and were warned to keep our eyes on the path as we could step on human feces or smell urine. Well the urine smells were every where although I didn't see any human poo as I was too busy snapping pictures. Pastor Chantha was right, this place is worse than Svay Pak. You think you've seen poverty, then you come here and you see another level of poverty. There are so many narrow alley ways which are all like a maze yet what struck me as we walked into the heart of this slum community was how friendly people were. Every where we turned, people looked up and smiled. This is so different than in Svay Pak where people tend to be more suspicious. Here there is a curious look on their face as we walk by.

One of the many alley ways in the slum

People playing ''bingo''

We finally came to our destination and there before us was a little shack---I think it is the outreach centre. Standing outside were several kids dressed up in their school uniforms and as we entered into the building they greeted us with the biggest smiles and the traditional Khmer Sampea. It never ceases to amaze me in the most poorest areas of this country, how polite the Khmer people can be and how respectful the children are.

You would think living in such squalor conditions, people would not want to smile at any thing nor any one and yet here in Cambodia, in these most poorest of poor communities, Christ is entering in. Mother Teresa once said, let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Today, I felt showered with love as each person I saw offered a welcoming smile to us.

Those who are doing the outreach are local Cambodians, there are no foreigners here, just Khmer Christians who want to share the gospel with their own people and who want to bring His light into this dark area. Thida has been volunteering here with her husband and her brother for the past 2 years. She tells me she has seen no fruit as yet and while it is so easy to be discouraged, she loves being here and helping out with what little she has. Today I got a glimpse of why its a privilege to serve in such a community.

I am so thankful for Pastor Chantha's disciples. They are so used to doing these kind of outreaches to the brick factories near Svay Pak and it was such a joy to see them once again in action as they tried to organize the kids and prepare them for the Christmas story they were going to share. In many ways, as I sat watching them, my mind wondered back to the summer of 2008 when I first went to Svay Pak. The kids there were wild and crazy and were not really listening at the beginning but when we enlisted helpers from CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) they brought order to the chaos. So it was with amusement and yet appreciation that I watched Pastor Chantha's disciples do exactly what the CEF workers did back in 2008. It is not surprising after all, the disciples have also been trained through CEF. It is a beautiful sight to see these young people who themselves were once broken and filled with hopelessness but as Christ has entered into their lives, they are now reflecting His light and taking His light into other broken communities and planting seeds of hope and love into the next generation.

Chantha's disciples asking the kids to pray

As the disciples began to share different stories with the kids, the crowds began to gather as the older people heard the songs, they came by and sat watching. A woman brought her daughter towards the section where the other kids were and I noticed that the little girl had some kind of disability. I helped her as she made her way limping into the crowd of kids towards her big sister who could not be more than 10 years old, who sat with open arms as this little one just threw herself into her lap. It was such a delightful picture to see and I could feel the tears coming towards my eyes. Jesus's love is in this place.

But that scene set the tone for more tears as I looked over to another area towards a boy I saw sitting in a wheel chair who was severely handicapped with some form of mild brain damage. In Cambodia, I have not seen too many disabled children living with families. So often such children are hidden or worst yet disposed off because in a Buddhist culture such as Cambodia, handicapped or disabled children reflect bad karma. The prevailing belief is that the disability was caused by bad actions in a previous life which in turn can lead to discrimination against those with such handicaps. Most people would want to avoid being close to such kids or even keeping such kids because it would be too costly to care for them. Moreover, children in these communities help their parents out with household chores from very young ages but a disabled child, so often is a disposable child. But as I saw this young boy, I also saw his mother who was seeking to place him close enough to all the action so that he could see what was going on. At one point, when all the kids were standing up, the mother took her son out of the wheel chair and held him up so that he could continue to see. It was a beautiful picture of a mother's tender love towards her son. This is not a common sight but here in this poorest of poor areas, God's love and tenderness was displayed. In a country where I am so used to hearing about children being abused, it is a refreshing sight to see such simple acts of love. Everyone has a seat at Christ's banquet table. No one is forgotten, all are welcomed!

I was invited up to the small little shack which was jammed with probably 40 people sitting listening to the Gospel message. The person speaking asked the crowd ''do you want to be saved by God''----amazingly everyone put their hands up. No wonder Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Truly it is in these slum areas, we see a hunger and thirst for Christ that I so often do not see any where else. It is here that I see the words of the bible coming alive in ways, that I do not experience else where. It is here, that I am constantly reminded that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Christ. Many years ago a missionary friend once said, that there are no God forsaken places, only church forsaken places. It is so true, God is here, Christ is visiting this neighborhood, He has not forsaken even the most poorest and broken communities. In the midst of the slime, the dirt, the flies, He is working, He is stirring hearts, He is opening spiritual eyes, He is touching lives and drawing young and old to Himself as they come and see Him, as they come as they are!

Orphans doing a Christmas drama

The day ended with a drama of the Christmas story performed by orphans from another place who came to share about Christ. Both old and young gathered around to watch the Christmas pageant. Jesus said 'welcome the little children.' Here it was, orphans ministering to those in this community. These young kids are the future of Cambodia and yet here in this slum, I came away filled with hope, not despair. I came away once again reminded that Christ is at work even in the most forsaken places. I came away thankful for folks like Thida and her friends who God has raised up to serve the people in this community.

Mother Teresa once said: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Today I saw some ripples being casted in this community through Thida, her friends and through Pastor Chantha's disciples. I hope I will have the opportunity to return here to create some ripples. There is much work to be done, but the work has been started and He who began a good work in this place will complete it! I do not believe God just brought me to this community to visit. There is a purpose which perhaps He will reveal at some later date but for now my mind and heart is stirred. I can't help but think, could this be a place of outreach for us at Ratanak?

A Fun Christmas Day!

2011-12-26T11:32:00.000+07:00

Yesterday on Christmas day, the temperature was nice and cool at 24 degrees celsius. In the morning I had the wonderful opportunity and privilege to visit my two little friends in the brothel district as I had gotten them both some sporty outfits. Their grandmother is now back in the village and they are staying with her instead of their parents who are living about 1 km away. SN and C's grandmother is a believer and yesterday morning, the two girls were able to attend Sunday school for the first time since their return to the village. It was a great joy to hang out with them and I felt a bit overwhelmed with them clinging to me....am not the most touchy feel person but it was just fun to be with them as they sat next to me in their grand mother's home and where ever we went they just wanted to hold hands.

Visiting SN and C's home

Anyway, we went with Pastor Chantha's disciple Siny to the local convenience store to buy some ice cream for them. To hear them giggling at the back of the car was a real treat as they sat eating their ice cream cones. I don't think they had ever had an opportunity to be driven in a car so it was quite a novelty. Some thing as simple as this, seem to give them such pleasure. But then again, this is how normal kids should react. They asked if I would go and visit their parents which I was happy to do but when we got to their parents home, no one was there. Apparently the mother had gone to the market and their father had gone to work but we are not exactly sure what work he is doing.

Its too bad really as I was hoping to pray over the parents. I have had a sense that now that they are in the brothel area they are being hemmed in by God and so the need to pray for their salvation is more in the fore front of my mind. After all, this is the ultimate desire for this community to be transformed from the inside out. Unless the hearts of the people are transformed, they will continue to see their children as product and not made in the image of God.

When we were driving back from the parents home, one of the girls remarked that she was glad that she did not see her mother. I couldn't help but wonder if is because they are fearful of their mother. I would not be surprised as its typically the mothers who force their children to be sold. Yet, in talking to Pastor Chantha about this, he said that even though the girls know their parents do bad things, they still want to protect them. Again, we see the inherent stronghold of family honor and obligation that is so endemic within these families. This is something that we will be constantly dealing with as we seek to help in the reintegration process of the older girls. It is one of the most difficult challenges to navigate because family obligation taken to the extreme, distorts the sense of right and wrong when it comes to moral values.

Anne, Lois, Natalie and Judy

Later that afternoon I went for a late lunch at the home of one of my missionary friends Lois. We had a small gathering with all the Christmas trimmings of turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, salad, cranberry sauce and home made whole wheat honey rolls. I think I just added a few more pounds from all that eating. I met up again with Judy who used to live as a missionary kid here in Cambodia. Her parents were one of the first C&MA (Christian & Missionary Alliance) missionaries way back in the early 1930s. She is now working with an NGO here who ministers to boys who are being sexually abused. Natalie is a short termer and a prayer warrior type from Texas who is hoping to move here on a more permanent basis. She is currently working with Lois at Daughters Cambodia, one of our Ratanak partners and my friend Anne is now finishing off her term at Place of Rescue and will be moving to Kampong Speu to oversee the medical needs at her church's new orphanage.

All in all, it was a fun filled and relaxing day, hanging out with both my spiritual children and good friends as we celebrated the birth of our Lord. Whether in Cambodia or in another country, the joy and hope that Christ's birth represents never changes. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Jesus is the Hope of the nations, He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. May each of us this Christmas season and in the new year have the ongoing privilege of experiencing all these attributes of His character as He continues to direct our steps. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas Eve - Khmer Style

2011-12-24T22:04:00.000+07:00

Despite the fact that I am miles away from Toronto the place that has been my home for years, it is here in Cambodia that I am enjoying many firsts. Tonight was my first Christmas Eve in Cambodia and what a joy it was to be part of a Khmer family who is celebrating Christmas. A few weeks ago an old and dear friend named Jaya invited me to join her family for their Christmas Eve celebrations. I couldn't resist another opportunity to learn about Khmer culture. Currently many in the expat community have gone away for Christmas but I think it is such a privilege to be here and to experience Christmas in a somewhat less commercialized form.

Ironically one of the local newspaper's was commenting about the fact that Christmas is a fun and exciting time, a chance to exchange gifts and hang out with friends but there is a need to be careful not to let consumerism and advertisements affect the way one thinks about what it means to be Cambodian. There is a concern that younger Cambodians are becoming too carried away with a festival that has nothing to do with their identity, but is only about buying new things. One perhaps could argue the same point in the West where focus is so much on the gifts and parties, that today's young generation have no idea of what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.

So tonight as I went to Jaya's place, I was curious to learn how Christmas is done here in a middle to upper class family. As soon as I entered the home, I noticed a big Christmas tree---just like we would have at home.

Jaya is young in her faith but none of her children are believers. Nonetheless, it was interesting to observe that as we were waiting for all the guests to arrive, one of the first songs to be played on the family Karoke video was 'Silent Night, Holy Night.'' This was interspersed with other family Christmas carols and songs that we would know in the west.

Jaya had invited one of her old pals, a man who is around 78 years old ---a widow just like herself, to come for dinner. I don't know his name but it doesn't matter as in Cambodian culture, you just call an older man ''Pou'' (pronounced " Poo'') which means ''uncle.'' Its fascinating to see that when an older person arrives, all the young people in the home get up and go towards him, placing their hands together in a prayer like fashion in a traditional Cambodian sampeah. It is a way of showing respect but that applies even to one like me who is a guest---the young people come up and politely greet you with the Sampeah. I can't help but think how North American kids have a lot to learn from Cambodian kids in terms of showing respect for elders. Unlike Western culture which often shows disregard to older people, here in Cambodian, the older you are the more revered you are---this is good to know considering that on this side of the pond, I am considered old although tonight Jaya's family thought I was in my 30s.

Jaya in the red top, with her family and ''Pou"' on the right hand side

So while we waited for the rest of Jaya's family members to arrive, the food started coming out. It was an interesting mix of Western and Asian foods---Jaya enjoys eating spaghetti and so that was on the menu tonight along side, Khmer curry beef, grilled chicken wings, BBQ crab and fish.

BBQuing in Cambodia is quite interesting in and of itself, Khmer people are very practical and so a BBQ pit was set up outside in front of the house on the main street---it doesn't matter if vehicles are driving buy, they just drive around the BBQ pit.

One of the highlights of my visit tonight was to sit and have a conversation with Jaya's older sister. She is unmarried but became a Christian 4 years ago through her boss. She now attends New Life Church here in he city---a church that we have come to appreciate and value given their strong discipleship program. But Jaya's sister works for another organization that is involved in helping trafficking victims and so we had much to talk about. We got onto the subject of living in the Pol Pot era and how Khmers deal with pain. Typically, the older Khmer generation does not like talking about the Khmer Rouge era because the memories and pain is still very much raw. Much of that pain today continues to be buried deep in people's hearts. Yet as I chatted with Jaya's sister it was encouraging to hear her say that when she became a Christian, she was no longer scared to sleep by herself or talk about her experiences during the Khmer Rouge. God has cultivated in her a heart to pray and she is praying away her fears and praying away her pain as she has seen and experienced God's healing over her heart and mind. Now she feels free to talk about the difficulties she endured under the Khmer Rouge. But she attributes all of this to God's healing work in her life. How appropriate it is that God has now placed her in an environment to care and encourage young women who themselves have lived through atrocities where their bodies have been ripped apart in unimaginable ways. God has a wonderful way of redeeming peoples trauma and pain and using them to comfort others.

I can't help but think that if God healed the Khmer people of all the trauma they have experienced during the era of the Khmer Rouge, how much more of a profound impact would they have on ministering to the thousands of girls who are being sold. How much more could they be a blessing to these young women and be a living testimony that no matter the trauma, God is deeper, bigger and greater to bring about healing and restoration and transformation.

As the evening continued, a bit of Christmas commercialism came in with Jaya's son dressed up as Santa Claus handing out bars of chocolate and candy

So Christmas Eve in Cambodia in some ways is not that much different than in the West---there is a lots of food, lots of eating and lots of laughs as family and friends gather together.

Shopping at the Local Market

2011-12-23T22:39:00.000+07:00

Today was one of those days I decided to continue my adventure of entering into a predominantly Khmer environment by visiting the local market known in Khmer as (psah twah madah). This morning I had talked to my language tutor about whether he thought I should drive to the local market or take a tuk tuk. His suggestion was to take a tuk tuk but I chose not to listen to him only because I wanted to go to two different markets and also now that I am borrowing my friend's car, I wanted to explore the city a bit more. So off I went, the driving in Phnom Penh while chaotic at times is actually quite a lot of fun. Its a bit of a puzzle driving through the roads but the advantage of driving a small SUV is that the motos and tuk tuks give way to you. I am discovering that the city is not that big and is like a grid so for the most part, one can't really get lost. The challenge at times is identifying what street you are on since the street numbers are not clearly marked. This probably explains why tuk tuk drivers or motodop drivers use landmarks. It makes sense to do this when you don't know the street numbers.

Psah Orissey

At any rate, my little adventure to Psah Orissey---this is the local market ---found me driving through some really neat streets surrounded with little stalls selling different type of fruits. It was total chaos but you feel like you are in the center of a beehive of activity and you are! Anyway, after getting lost initially, I found the market and the next challenge was to find a parking spot. In this part of Phnom Penh, you don't have regular parking spots and the place was crowded. Now I know why my language instructor said take a tuk tuk. The market is in the center and there is one large road that goes around the market. All the cars park in that vicinity and so I started to pray asking the Lord to open a spot for me....and He did. Over here, you have these young guys who direct the cars and tell them where to park and how to park...I don't know who they are working for but at times like this one is grateful for them as they at least attempt to stop the traffic if you are parking or leaving. Of course you have to tip them when you leave but its worth the 25 cents or 50 cents. You have to put your car in neutral and no hand brake as these 'parking attendants' will move your car forward and backward so that other cars can park.

So off I went into the market to buy my Christmas paper and bags and some gifts from some of my Khmer friends. Because this is the local market, people usually only speak Khmer so one is forced to use the language. This is one of the reasons I went. One of the interesting things about the markets here is that you find the exact same product being sold by several buyers all in the same location. Here people don't quite understand that it is better to not be too close to your competitor. So if you are a shopper, it can be quite overwhelming trying to figure out which store to buy your item especially when 10 or 20 of them sell the exact same item in the same area. You basically dive in and start negotiating hoping that you get a good deal but even if you are not happy with your price, at least you don't have too far to go to bargain with someone else.

One of the advantages of shopping at a local market is things are so much cheaper because this is where the average Khmer shops. As well, one is not harassed as much ie: since I look like a foreigner, they all assume I only speak English and so the sellers are not always bugging you to buy something from them because they are not sure how to respond to you. Of course, one of the challenges for foreigners is that people in the local market tend to use more slang so that is a whole other language. Thankfully, today the Lord connected me with sellers who understand my Khmer.

Well it was noon time and I was getting a tad hungry and broke my cardinal rule of not buying food when I am hungry. I had just loaded all my goodies into the car and across the street my eyes caught the food stalls that sell crispy roast pork. I haven't had this since I've been here so took the opportunity to buy half a kilo.

The Food stall I bought my Crispy Roast Pork from

The photo above is quite interesting---depending on how ravenous you are you can have a piglet or you can have a much bigger size pig. All this to say, it was well worth the $4.00 I paid and I was happy to hear from Bunthan that I got a good deal as typically a full kilo is about $11.00! Next up, I also saw one of my favorite fruits. Over here in South East Asia it is known as the queen of the fruit---in English it is called Mangosteen but in Khmer it is known as Mankut. The king of the fruit is Durian---which smells like a dirty sock but taste creamy ---many missionaries like Durian but it is an acquired taste---a taste that I have not quite acquired :-)

Mangosteen

Anyway, Mangosteens are one of the most exotic fruits. Their exterior is not exactly pretty but when you cut it open you encounter a pearl of white figs that has the most unusual but special taste. I'm always so amazed at the variety of fruits that God has created for us.

So my adventure to the local market turned out to be a whole lot of fun. While it took a couple hours to navigate in and out of the market, it is a place I hope to go to regularly as like any good Asian, I can't resist a good deal and look forward to the bargaining process.

From Melanie's Weekly Devotional Group #2

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000+07:00

Fast for Freedom

Is this not thefast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavyburdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

~ Isaiah 58:6

In March 2010, myself, and eleven others from mychurch embarked on a mission trip to the world’s most notorious brotheldistrict: the village of Sway Pak in Cambodia. This area is renown for its saleof young girls, even as young as five years old. A few years ago, someChristian organizations began working in Sway Pak to prevent such atrocities.Since they literally moved into the darkness to fight for the lives of thehelpless who have no voice, things have begun to change.

We had the privilege of painting a building that wasoriginally being built as a pedophile hotel but was never completed. Ratanak,the organization we represented, bought the unfinished building and made itinto a church, school, housing and medical centre. We also painted a muralinside a former brothel a few doors away. Two years earlier, a group had comeand knocked down the walls of the rape cubicles of this particular brothel, aswell as the back entrance -- a door that was cemented shut to prevent the girlsfrom escaping. To that group, knocking down those walls must have seemed like atangible way to do the fast spoken of in today’s verse. As the light cameflooding in to those prison cells, it must have felt like those sore, blisteredhands had claimed victory and, on some level, broken every yoke and let theoppressed go free!

This is just what Jesus did when He hung on the cross.He was the Son of God who died to save our lives. He was the light of the worldwho obliterated our darkness. He was the ransom that bought our freedom. He wasthe one who was broken to break the bonds of wickedness. He carried our sinload and broke the heavy yokes.

These verses in Isaiah give tangible ways to “fast” ina manner that is pleasing to God. They are not what we usually equate withtypical fasting. It is a fast of a much different sort. We are to loose thebonds of wickedness and undo the heavy burdens. We are directed to let theoppressed go free and break every yoke. The verses that follow today’s verse(see vs. 7-10 of Isaiah 58) note that such things as: feeding the hungry,bringing the homeless into your home, and giving clothes to those who havenone, are practical “fast” fundamentals.

You may never break down the cement walls of abrothel, but there are many other barriers you can break down, seen or unseen,to help gain another’s freedom. You may never risk your life to save animprisoned girl, but you can visit her in her “prison”. You may never feed fivethousand in one sitting, but you can feed five thousand a meal at a time. Youmay never die for someone, but you can point him to the One who did.

Be blessed to know that you are close tothe heart of God when you care for the “least of these.”

Christmas at Svay Pak - Surprised!

2011-12-18T19:51:00.002+07:00

Today we headed to Svay Pak at 7am on a cool and breezy day. The main street was taken over by a large 'canopy' like covering that is commonly used for any social events like weddings or funerals. Pastor Chantha and Bunthan expected 600 people to come and they were right. The birthday party for Jesus was about to begin with the Sunday morning service. Initially we sat behind the first row but were ushered up to the front close to the stage. The crowd had started to gather and get seated for the morning service while others were still piling into the tent.. The little kids who typically are at the Sunday service were standing along the side of the stage wanting to get a glimpse close up and personnel of all the festivities that were about to begin.

Seated in the front were some of the local officials --- two different chiefs from the Sangkhat (province) who were invited to the service. These are very important people as they have a lot of influence in their communities. If one is setting up a ministry or buying land in the local village of commune, the Sangkhat chiefs have to be consulted to get their approval.

Sangkhat Chiefs in beige

The service started with a familiar Khmer worship song led byPastor Chantha's 40 disciples who were all dressed in red golf -t-shirts that said Merry Christmas 2011.

Following that was one of my favorites--a traditional Khmer Apsara ballet type dance signifying an offering that was led by Phally and some of the other female disciples. Many of you know Phally's story and so seeing her here with the others all dressed up looking like a Khmer princess served as a reminder that Jesus is restoring beauty for ashes.

Phally

This dance is so beautiful to watch and speaks much to the Khmer classical dance as it requires much in the way of balance, elegance and precision. Whenever I see young Khmer girls or youth dressed up in such traditional Khmer attire, I can't help but think of how regal they look, reflecting in many ways their identity that in God's kingdom their are His princesses!

It was not too long after this dance finished that I was looking across the stage at the people walking by when two little girls caught my eyes. At first I was in a bit of a shock. They certainly did not look like the princesses dressed up in ragged clothes but it was them---it was Srey Neth (not her real name) and her sister Channa (nor her real name). Just over a month ago on November 8th, I had blogged that these two sisters were taken by their father probably to Siem Reap since their parents owned a brothel in that area. We were all worried and concerned knowing that they were once again at risk of being sold. See link for more details of their story and history in Svay Pak. http://ratanakmissions.blogspot.com/2011/11/here-we-go-again.html About 20 minutes passed by when I got a tap on my shoulder, it was Siny one of pastor Chantha's disciples bringing Srey Neth and Channa over to me and telling me 'I thought you might want to see your two friends.'' I could barely contain my emotions as Srey Neth hugged and then held on to me and I to her and her little sister. The tears started flowing no matter how hard I tried to stay in control. It was no use. Once again, God had answered the prayers that many of us had been praying daily over this past month for these two. I just stood with them trying to regain composure and almost in a state of shock. God had given to me and to many of you, an early Christmas gift. He had once again shown His faithfulness to her and to us. It was then that a comment came to my mind that a dear intercessor had sent me last month when I had first written about Srey Neth's unexpected disappearance from Svay Pak.

She wrote: My heart ached for you and with you as you wrote of Srey Neth's current situation...I am so glad you are in her life...you are there as a spiritual watchmen over her even tho' right now she is temporarily beyond your view/sight...yet, she remains "in your vision" and that is a preserving force around her right now. Father, let her know that Your eye is upon Srey Neth even when her eyes cannot see her. Let Lisa know that You attend her declaration that "hope cannot disappoint us". You stand behind your Word to fulfill it! And, Father, let her know reassuringly that even tho' she is a sent one, yet You have actually asked her to come with you...to walk at your side hearing the whispers of Your heart as You lead her into the fruitfulness you have coming...We are confident that the fruit is even now in the seeds of this season. These words have sustained me over this time not just as I have prayed for Srey Neth but as I think of so many whose names we do not know and yet who like Srey Neth, find themselves in the same predicament of being sold as sex slaves. They may not be in our visible sight but they remain in our vision because God has impressed upon our hearts to be spiritual watchmen over their lives, to pray unceasingly, not losing hope but holding onto His promises that Hope does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

We are still trying to gather information on Srey Neth and her sister, but from the initial discussions it seems that her parents cannot go back to Siem Reap because the police want to arrest them so they may have no choice but to stay in Svay Pak and Srey Neth may live with her grandmother who maybe returning from Vietnam. God has an unusual way of answering prayers when we pray that He frustrates the plans of the wicked! His promises are so true!

Srey Neth has lost weight and does not look well. The smile and joy that was once visibly evident seems to have been smothered. But here again, we look to the Lord to do His healing work in her and her sister. He does not forget where He plants the seed and so often in our prayers for Srey Neth and for Channa, we have declared that Christ had the last word over them, not Satan, not their parents, but Jesus. And so, the Lord has brought His broken and bruised back to this little village that is notorious for destroying the sacred within these little ones. He has brought her back to a place which became her refuge, a place where she encountered Him as her Fortress, her Shield and her Deliverer. So yet again we are confident of this, that He will bind up her wounds, He will restore and rebuild the broken gates and walls within her, He will redeem her pain because He has the last word over her life!

Well after that encounter, you can imagine I was a bit distracted as the program continued with Youth Pastor Ratanak and several others performed a drama re-enacting the story of Jesus's birth.

The angel visiting Mary

Marty and Joseph with baby Jesus

The sheep being distracted with their food (popcorn)

Following the story of Jesus's birth, there were more performances, with songs led by the church group leaders and also a dance performed by some of the girls from Newsong.

Svay Pak Church group leaders

While all this was happening, the little kids were crowding around the stage, trying to get a peak at all the activities and then the disciples returned with another drama performance once again highlighting how Christ rescued a person from sin and sets them free if they receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

Sin has been broken, this young man receives Christ into his life

The youth group came up also to do a dance performance. Once again, it was such a privilege and honor to see the next generation being raised up in Svay Pak. Pastor Chantha's disciples are ministering to these youth

Svay Pak Youth Group

as they disciple them and mentor them. As I think of this, I once again stand in awe of the Lord. Just two years ago, Pastor Chantha was discipling his first group of young people and now here it is, a new youth group being formed that are now being discipled by those whom Pastor Chantha has trained up.

God indeed is building His kingdom in Svay Pak. The transformation of this community some times seem slow because the pedophiles are still coming, the traffickers are still selling the kids and so often we sound like the prophet Habakkuk when he complained to the Lord: ² How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? ³ Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. ⁴ Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. (Hab 1:2-4) But today, God showed me again through Srey Neth and through the young people in the Svay Pak church that God's plans ALWAYS prevail. His PROMISES are TRUE! His VISIONS speak of a time when all that He has spoken will come to pass. ³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.(Hab 2:3)

Christmas at Newsong

2011-12-17T21:52:00.000+07:00

Today has been a very special day. A day that I have been looking forward to for some time. It was the annual Christmas party at the Newsong centre. I wish I could show you all the photos that I took because there is a saying that a picture tells a thousand words.It is my hope that what I share will give you a glimpse of the experience we had today. We (Beth, Stephen and I) arrived all dressed up in our Khmer outfits as we were advised by the staff at Newsong that since it was a special occasion all the staff would be wearing their traditional outfits.

Beth, Bunthan and I

We arrived at 1pm and as we entered into the drive way, the Christmas decorations were up and a Christmas tree was surrounded with many presents. The house mums are responsible for buying the gifts for the girls that are under their care and the Khmer staff along with the girls help with all the decorations. They did an incredible job. Of course when I saw Bunthan, I was teasing her that she had dressed like a ''barang'' (foreigner). She just giggled at me.

A Nativity Scene

Don & Bridget (Diretors of Newsong)

The festivities started at around 2pm and all the girls were dressed up. Some of the older ones were wearing Prom dresses that were donated by a young woman from Kansas city who managed to get old prom dresses from her friends and send 100 of them over. The young girls were all dressed up in costumes as they were part of a Christmas play that depicted the birth of Christ. Some of them dressed as angels, others as shepherds, the 3 wisemen and of course Mary and Joseph. One little girl wearing a red and white elf outfit with a matching hat, came up to me and give me the biggest hug and then led me to my seat as if she was the hostess for the event. I found out later she was little 'M' --- the five year old that was recently rescued by the staff in Svay Pak. Medical tests have shown that she too did not escape the abuse that is so prevalent of girls who come from Svay Pak. But here she was, full of smiles, happy and clearly adjusting well to her new home with all her new friends and family. Once again, I am amazed at how these little ones have the ability to give love so graciously in spite of all they have been through.

Some of the staff at Newsong led us in a time of worship in Khmer. It was so good to hear Khmer Christmas songs and see the girls worshipping the Lord in their own language.

Staff at Newsong leading the worship time

There are over 100 people at the Christmas party with Khmer staff from other local partners such as International Justice Mission, Chab Dai, Aple and MOSAVY participating in the Christmas party. After the worship time, several of the young girls came on stage performing a traditional Cambodian dance wearing white tops and red balloon pants. Seeing them dance so gracefully and looking at their beautiful faces, I could feel the tears come to my eyes. Both Bridget and I just sat, wiping our eyes as we looked at these young women before us. These who have been through horrors that we cannot imagine and yet here they were, ever poised as they concentrated on their dance with smiles on their faces. It is an incredible privilege to see the transforming power of the Gospel before my eyes. It is through the lives of the young girls, that inspire many of us to press on and persevere in prayer, persevere in raising funds and awareness and persevere in telling their stories because in and through them, we see the truths of the bible laid out before our eyes. We see what Hope in Christ can do, we see what love compelled by Christ can do, we see what joy in Christ can bring. They are a living testimony that God is in the business of doing the impossible and putting a new song in the hearts of those who for many years were only singing songs of lament.

Following the traditional Khmer dance, several of the young girls performed the Christmas story of Jesus's birth. It was so much fun watching them as they were totally immersed in their roles as they acted out the drama. Many of them laughing and smiling as they played their parts full of joy.

Next up were the teachers and house mums who did another Christmas song in Khmer. These are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes caring and walking with the these young ones through their journey from brokenness to wholeness. It is their efforts along with the social workers and counselors who work the long hours dealing with all sorts of unpredictable behaviors of these young girls, yet, they consistently demonstrate and pour out Christ love in such a tangible way that the girls feel loved no matter how they behave.

Next up were two girls reading the bible story from Matthews gospel in English and Khmer in preparation for the message that Don shared about the type of people that were looking for Christ and the type of people He is asking us to be as we serve and bless others.

Following Don's message a young 16 year old did a solo rendition of a praise song. Her desire is to be a singer and she certainly has potential. She has only been at Newsong for 6 months but here she was singing at the top of her lungs, praising the Lord she has come to know. Indeed she is well on her way to becoming a worshipper of the Lord Jesus.

Dinner

It was dinner time sitting with some of the girls and Khmer staff. A five course meal made of up pork, chicken, seafood soup, rice and fish in addition to some noodles....this is a protein lover's delight---yeah for those of us who love meat! In this setting, the older ones are learning to serve the young ones. Everyone is part of a big family here and as we were eating the house mums would call out the names of the girls so they could come and receive their Christmas presents. There is nothing like being around young kids during Christmas as they share their joy and excitement running up to receive their presents and shrieking loudly when their name is called or when they open their gifts.

We were now 4 hours into the celebrations in a cool evening as the sun was setting and one young girl who I thought was about 14 years old but was really 18 years old came up to chat with me. It was another opportunity practice my Khmer although her English was excellent. She wanted to know if I was enjoying myself and what food I liked to eat and what were my favorite fruits. She disappeared for a few minutes and brought me some fruit as we continued our conversation. The music started and some of the girls were beginning to dance. So my young friend asked if I liked to dance. I told her, it was years since I danced (actually it was 2 years ago when I was on a short term team here that we used to dance with the girls at Daughters Cambodia). But here, with everyone all dressed up, we decided to join into the dancing festivities. My young friend offering to teach me a Khmer dance. Unfortunately, I found the steps too confusing for me but she tried for a good 15 minutes as everyone else was already up and dancing.

It was a night to remember. I don't think any of us wanted to leave. It was a night full of laughter, joy and love. It was a night that filled me with much hope as I reflected on the future of these young women. It was a night witnessing His presence in them, a night in which God gave us glimpses of how He restores dignity, value and worth into such precious lives. It was a night when I came home filled with praise and thank giving for the One who was born over 2000 years ago and who we now have the privilege of celebrating His birthday once again on December 25th. It is His birthday that we celebrated today at Newsong and in doing so, it is His birthday that has brought joy, love and hope anew in the lives of these young girls. They are being born anew in Him as they discover the gift of salvation that He is offering them.

Tomorrow its Christmas in Svay Pak---I can't wait to see the team there. I hear they have been practicing over the past few weeks and are expecting 600 people! Stay tuned!

Driving Solo

2011-12-15T23:17:00.000+07:00

Today one of my friends left for a 3 week vacation to her homeland and has given me her car to use for the next 2 to 3 weeks. This is a good opportunity to develop my driving skills here as Ratanak hopes to get a company car some time in the new year. So today, I had my first experience driving solo. One of the nice things about driving here is having the opportunity to learn the streets and be more familiar with my surroundings. But more than that, it gives a sense of freedom and independence as I do not have to wait on tuk tuks which at times can be a huge time waster.

Now when I first came to Cambodia 11 years ago, there were hardly any cars on the roads. In fact, there were a lot of cyclos --those 3 wheel bicycles,and there were motodops ie: motocyles and there were few SUVs back then. The roads were not crowded, nor really paved, nor where there lines to identify the lanes and the traffic lights were few and far in between. There were also no concrete barriers or dividers in the middle of the road so back in the good old days, people would drive up and down any side of the road they pleased. Driving was an adventure all in of itself as you never knew what to expect. You would even see cars with steering wheels on both the right and left hand side. One would call it organize chaos and even today, I still see some cars with steering wheels on the right hand side. I'm still trying to figure out if they are illegal or not but here in Cambodia, people will drive any thing.

About 6 years ago, tuk tuks became another mode of transportation and as the nation's wealth or those in the upper echelons of society have accumulated wealth, SUVs started appearing---today much has changed and much has also not changed. The roads are jammed with large SUVs---Landrovers, Lexus', Toyota Land Cruisers, then there are the BMWs, Mercedes and I even saw a Ferrari one day. Tuk tuks are the main mode of transportation for tourists and a convenient way to get around the city without danger of being hurt. Motodops are still around and there are many of them. As for the cyclos, you will often see them in the poor areas of the city, in the local market or around the tourist area where they are used by tourists who want to experience the good old days.

Today we have traffic lights, concrete or road dividers in the middle of the road all with the hopes of organizing the traffic flows. But with more vehicles on the road, the traffic at rush hour is still organized chaos. Lane markings don't mean much here as the motorcycles are like ants, they are everywhere weaving in and out. Cars go about 30kms per hour and they all crowd around each other heading in the same direction. Yet despite the close quarters, it is amazing how patient people are in waiting their turn. I have often seen SUVs who are in the far right hand lane decide to drive diagonally across the front of the road because they have suddenly decided they want to make a left turn instead. Its quite remarkable how acceptable a practice that is without anyone honking or getting annoyed. Try doing that in North America---I think not! Road rage does not seem to exist here. So driving here in rush hour is an experience in and of itself. The only saving grace is you cannot go fast and one's car brakes gets good use.

So as I got into the car to head downtown to my home from the suburbs, I do what most people (hopefully) do when they are in a new situation and are not sure what to expect. I prayed and asked the Lord to help me and to put His angels around the car and protect me as I drove home. It was not as bad as I thought. You literally go with the flow and while people are honking all the time, it is more to let you know they are close to you or you are close to them---you don't take it personally---so if you are one of those sensitive people, driving in Phnom Penh is not for you! One advantage of having a lot of motorcycles ahead of you is that they act as a motorcade, they block the oncoming traffic and yet pave the way for you to move forward. It was great....I couldn't help but have an amusing conversation with the Lord as I thanked Him for giving me what seem to be personal moto escorts on the way home. He really does prepare the way and goes ahead of us on so many dimensions! So while I may be driving solo, I really am not, the Lord is with me and helping me to navigate through these unfamiliar but familiar road ways. Tomorrow I'm off to visit our partners at Chab Dai. It will be great to drive there using the landmarks that I have observed. For here in Cambodia, the best directions are not street numbers nor using maps. Landmarks are the key! Thank goodness we also have the privilege of relying on the One who knows the way.

Offerings

2011-12-14T21:21:00.000+07:00

Its 'winter' here in Cambodia and so with the cooler temperatures especially in the morning, I have been opening up the door to the front balcony to get some fresh air into the office and to sit and have my breakfast outside on the balcony.

The view from our balcony

This morning after the first hour of my language lesson, we took a 5 minute break and went outside on the balcony. Its interesting what you see when you just stand and observe the daily activities of life in the city. As the Ratanak office/apartment is located near one of the major Wats (Temple/Pagoda), one can often see the monks with their saffron robes and yellow umbrellas walking the streets.

Monks heading to homes to receive food

Today was no different but what I found rather fascinating was the fact that every few minutes, monks would show up at the entrance of our landlord's home which is on the ground floor of the apartment building In a space of 5 minutes, six monks came by. Each of them were given a packet of food and they took turns chanting prayers giving a blessing to the person who gave them the food.

Monks waiting for their alms

According to my language instructor, the monks will come out from the Wat between 8am to 10am and go the houses around their neighborhood waiting patiently outside the homes on the street until someone from the home offers them food. The reason for this is that the only time they are allowed to eat is in the morning. Once noon time rolls around, they are not allowed to eat for the rest of the day and if they do they would be in trouble since they broke the rules. From what I understand, such rule breaking could lead to expulsion from the Wat.

Here in Cambodia, 95% of the population is Buddhist and monks are revered because they represent Buddha in human form. What I didn't know until today was that monks come so frequently every single day. So in a two hour span, the owner of a home would have to give offerings to every single monk that stops by their home---that's a lot of offerings every single day.

Receiving a blessing

All of this had me thinking what kind of offering we give to Christ each day? Romans 12:1-2 says to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. So while followers of Buddha give offerings or alms of food or money each day to the monks, Christ calls us to give our lives to Him. He wants all of us not just the things that we can give him. He wants us. Eugene Peterson in The Message says it more succinctly: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

What a difference in offering between those of us who are followers of Christ and those who follow Buddhism. As we offer our lives completely and unreservedly to Christ, He brings out the best in us and enables us to fulfill our God given destinies as we seek first His kingdom.

Its Cold in Cambodia But Thankful for The Warmth of Friends

2011-12-11T21:40:00.000+07:00

Its cold here----yes I know it may seem that I am becoming a bit of a wimp on this end but since the beginning of December that temperature has changed for the better. It is cooler something that I have never experienced before in all my years of visiting Cambodia. Okay so there is no snow and its not like a Canadian winter but it is winter in Cambodia at least for the next two months. So what's the temperature? Well normally we are used to 90 to 95 degrees each day but in the evening we are now going down to temperatures of 72 to 73 degrees and during the day time it is in the low 80s. Yes I know that sounds hot but really when you are sitting on a tuk-tuk and you get the breeze blowing you feel cold. The past two days, I had to wear long sleeve shirts and had my Krama (Cambodian scarf) around my neck. Tonight, I even had to wear my jacket. Now I know why people here wear fleece at night. You actually do need it. However, I haven't quite gone extreme in my clothing wear. Some times I see Khmer people wearing mittens....its cold but it ain't that cold ;-)

Srey Lin, Jaya and Jaya's grand-daughter Nah-Lisa

Anyway tonight I was out visiting some old Khmer friends who I have known since 2007. Jaya used to the country director of a transitional program (for girls who were once trafficked) that Ratanak funded many years ago. Two weeks ago, she spotted me on a tuk tuk when I was going to my bank and tonight she invited me over to her home for dinner. I also had the opportunity to meet Srey Lin, who used to be part of this program. Srey Lin was sold many years ago by her mother who is now serving a 14 year sentence in a Cambodian jail but many years ago she wrote a letter to her mother forgiving her for what she had done. Over the years, Srey Lin has worked at different jobs and now she is employed in a food store. At 24 years old, she works very hard, 7 days a week from 6am to 5pm and then goes to study English for 1 1/2 hours each day in the evening. When she gets home, she makes dinner for her siblings and father. I asked her tonight if she was tired from working so much without having any days off, but she said no. She likes what she does. Somehow I think young people her age in North America would not be able to handle such a workload. She demonstrates to me the resilience that I have so often seen among Khmer people. God seems to have given them an inner strength to persevere and overcome in some of the most dire and difficult circumstances.

Jaya too has an interesting background as her father was a Christian who is of Indian ancestry. Her mother who is still alive is half Cambodian and Thai. Her father used to work in the American embassy and so was able to leave Cambodia before the Pol Pot era. Unfortunately, Jaya and 3 other siblings stayed in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era as they were living with their grandparents who didn't anticipate that Phnom Penh would fall into the hands of the Khmer Rouge in April 1975. While many of Jaya's relatives were murdered during that time, she managed to convince the Khmer Rouge that she was of Khmer descent. She tells the story of how the Khmer Rouge had arrested her and had tied her up and began to question her about her family background and where she lived and what her family did. They accused her of not being Khmer even though she has a dark complexion. In the Khmer Rouge era, any one who was of a fair complexion were seen as city people who were of the bourgeois and so they were often executed.

But Jaya managed to convince her interrogators that she was Khmer because she spoke the Khmer language like a Cambodian, she had the same colour skin as those who lived in the countryside and she told them that she was loyal to Angka (this was the name given to the 'Organization' by the Khmer Rouge. For the first two years of Khmer Rouge regime, most Cambodians had no idea who was running the country. All they were told was that the country was now run by Angka. No leaders were mentioned by name - there was only Angka. The less the people knew about Angka, so the idea went, the more effective (and powerful) Angka would be. For Jaya, her quick thinking at that moment prevented her from being executed on the spot. But as she shared tonight, she said 'I really believe that God protected me during that time because I don't know why they didn't kill me.'

A Khmer dinner!

Tonight despite the cool temperatures it was great to be around the warmth of such friends and to experience the Khmer hospitality. Dinner tonight was made by Jaya's daughter-in-law and consisted of Vietnamese spring rolls, fish, Khmer vegetable soup, stir fried spinach in garlic and rice. A simple but very tasty meal. I got to meet Jaya's grand-daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, daughter and brother. For in Khmer homes, its not just one or two people who live there but the extended family and so in this home, there are 8 people who live here.

Jaya has asked if I could come and spend Christmas Eve with them and pray a blessing over her family. I count that a privilege and honor to be part of their family activities on such a night. God is showing me once again that during these special holidays, even though I am away from my own blood relatives, that in Him, He provides a family where ever I go or where ever I live. I am looking forward to spending time with this Khmer family and another opportunity to experience the warmth of Khmer hospitality! What a gift that will be for Christmas.

High Tea with a purpose

2011-12-10T21:56:00.000+07:00

The Haven Tea Room

Today I went to the Haven Tea room for high tea....yes even in Cambodia there are places to go for high tea. It almost sounds snobbish but Haven Tea room was established 2 years ago by an Australian couple who are helping to provide employment to girls who either were abused or were at risk of being trafficked The tea room offers a selection of delicious home cooked pastries, finger sandwiches and some serious little cup cakes --- all of which will add some additional love handles to your waist but it is worth it.

I went with 23 other women who all attend the International church that I go to. It was a fun time, sipping tea in fine bone china that was brought all the way from Australia. So we ate from 3pm to 6pm----okay we didn't eat for 3 hours straight but we ate a lot in a short space of time so much so that I did not eat dinner tonight. The total cost is $6.00 per person and you can eat all you want. So for those of you who love this kind of environment, it is money well spent (and calories well added) when you think of the fact that you are supporting a ministry that provides employment for former victims of trafficking as well as other marginalized young people. Indeed it is high tea with a purpose!

In Phnom Penh, it is not surprising to see different organizations or groups trying to find ways to create sustainable employment for the vulnerable. The folks who run The Haven Tea room also have a beauty salon that is now a training centre for 14 girls, some of whom had been rescued from the sex trade and human trafficking in Cambodia. This is a grassroots project which is teaching skills that will empower young women to create new lives and career. Providing the appropriate life skills is a step towards greater freedom for these young people as they begin a new chapter in their lives discovering their talents and gifts that will one day bless the communities they live in.

And so as you think of us at Ratanak, pray that the Lord will give us His visions on how best we can encourage, affirm and empower the young women who will be part of our centre and which organizations we should be partnering with who can provide the necessary training to strengthen and develop their God given potential.

Carol Sing-A-Long

2011-12-07T22:52:00.000+07:00

Well December has arrived and everyone in Canada is talking about Christmas but here in Cambodia, its hard to get into the spirit of Christmas. There is no snow, there is no Christmas decorations on all the streets, the few malls we have here don't have Christmas music playing in the background so how does one get into the Christmas season?

Tonight Marie Ens invited me to join her as we went to a Carol Sing-a-long at a local cafe called Cafe Eden. It was an opportunity to sing both English and Khmer carols. We arrived and it was quite dark with a few lighted candles thinking that this was the atmosphere our hosts were creating but here in Cambodia, you always have to expect the unexpected and the unexpected was there was no power! So one has to improvise. We sat at a small candle lit round table as we ordered our pizza since neither of us had eaten. We were here for the apple cider and ginger cookies but they were not to come until later. Sure enough, people started arriving and surprisingly many friends from the English church I attended came as they live nearby.

Just as the carol sing was about to begin, the power came back on and then went off again briefly before it stayed on for good. This is Cambodia so you go with the flow. We all gathered together and started to sing some of the old familiar songs that I am used to hearing back in Toronto at this time of the year. Here we were, expats from all over the world---Australians, New Zealanders, Irish, English, Canadian, American, Dutch along with some Khmer Christians---all of us declaring God's praises as we belted out the songs at the top of our lungs. It was beginning to feel like the Christmas season as we sang --- Away In A Manager, Silent Night, Joy To The World, O'Holy Night----I sat there for a while just taking in the environment---an open air house/restaurant at a street corner in a neighborhood surrounded by Khmer people proclaiming these truths of Christ in songs. I asked Marie what it would have been like during the 1960s and 1970s. She said in the 1960s it was so quiet here but in the 1970s, Pol Pot tried to shut all this down, to quiet the voices of those who would declare such praises to the Lord. God's plans will not be thwarted. His plans always prevail. What a wonderful opportunity for us to just proclaim who God is in song in this place at this time.

Julie leading us in worship accompanied by Jill from Ireland and Sirac from Cambodia

Tonight as I began to reflect a bit more about Christmas, I am struck by the fact that that first Christmas some 2000 years ago was not full of fanfare as we see in North America. There were no Christmas trees, there were no lights decorating the streets, there were no fancy decorations. It was simple. A baby born in a manger, in a barn and not in a fancy home or hospital. The baby was surrounded by shepherds, not exactly important people. Jesus birth was in a poor place, not unlike many of the areas that are here in Cambodia. So, in a strange way, celebrating Christmas in Cambodia is very special because all the materialism and consumerism of the West is stripped away and all we have and really all we celebrate is Jesus, nothing more and nothing less! The true meaning of Christmas is seen for all it is -- that Christ the Savior of the world was born and that is what makes it feel like Christmas! It is not a season, it is not a place, but it is a person---Christ Himself, God becoming incarnate that we might know Him personally!

The Gate

2011-12-06T13:40:00.000+07:00

Last Friday I was in Svay Pak and noticed that the new gate is up outside of the Sanctuary. Why has this gate been added? God has provided much favor between the staff in Svay Pak and the local community. However, there are some elements of the community that want to intimidate our partners who are seeking to protect the children in Svay Pak. For some while, the staff have experienced persistent attacks at night when the main gate was closed. Stones are often thrown at the main entrance door, so much so that those who live on the ground floor of The Sanctuary building were often kept awake at night and were concerned about their safety.

Recently we shared this concern and in a short space of time the Lord raised up a generous donor in Australia who wanted to fund a new and more secure gate around the outside of the Sanctuary. Once again we continue to see how the Lord provides and watches over His people who are seeking to protect the vulnerable within that community. This more secure gate blesses the staff with greater peace of mind and ultimately contributes to a safe haven for all who live and work and participate in the activities in The Sanctuary. Psalm 125 says: ¹ Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. ² As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Precious Women

2011-12-03T19:39:00.000+07:00

Last night I went on an outreach with a local NGO called Precious Women that was established just over a year ago by a gifted young Khmer woman by the name of Solida. God birthed in Solida's heart a desire to reach out to the women in the beer gardens and karoke bars. The women who work in these entertainment establishments are known as entertainment workers who are often propositioned for sex and can be subject to harassment from male guests. The girls are encouraged by their employers to encourage men to drink as much alcohol as possible and so the job often involves drinking with men. You can only imagine the type of raucous activity and behavior that can develop under those kind of circumstances. These situations ultimately lead to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Precious Women like many of the other organizations who want to help vulnerable women, desires to see these young women live with dignity, equality and hope. So last night, I joined two other missionary friends in this outreach. We first went to the office of Precious Women where we met the other volunteers. For me, it was a joy to meet young Khmer brothers and sisters in Christ who also have a passion to reach out to these exploited women. So often in Cambodian culture, women who are involved in any kind of sexual exploitation are shunned and so how encouraging it was to see that the Lord is changing the hearts of His people here, especially the younger generation who understand that to be followers of Christ is to demonstrate His love in tangible ways by reaching out to those who are in desperate situations.

I was surprised to see one young man who I met previously at the Chab Dai meetings. He and his wife have been volunteering at Precious Women for a year. Then there was another young guy who apparently remembered me from New Life Church. He is with YWAM and had brought some of his other sisters in Christ to join the outreach. Being in this setting with these younger Khmer was such a privilege. The meeting was conducted in Khmer and surprisingly I could understand enough of the conversation even if I couldn't necessarily speak it out:-). After the team leader shared about the protocols, we spent some time in prayer for the evening's activities. Then, we split up into two groups. It is important to have male volunteers as they act as our 'protectors' and so off I went with my 4 other young friends in a tuk tuk. It was another opportunity to practise my Khmer!

The particular beer garden is one that volunteers have gone to before so when we arrived, the men who work in the beer garden knew one of the guy volunteers and ushered us all in. At the entrance, were only 3 women that were sitting outside as the others were already busy entertaining people. The atmosphere in this place was not what I was expected. It was just like a restaurant, except all the tables were separated in their own little cubicles surrounded by plants---I suppose that's why they call it a beer garden! As we were escorted to our table, we quickly glanced over to all the other tables and one could see two beer garden girls sitting with the group of Khmer men. Obviously, it is very uncommon for women guests to be visiting this place but as Pastor Chantha had said to me earlier in the day, its pretty safe if you are a woman as you will not be harassed. That makes sense as part of the protocols that we had to be mindful of is actually ''protecting'' our male colleagues from being hit on!

So we sat down, ordered some food (fried rice and fried frog legs) and they served us a bunch of fruit drinks, water and pop. I actually decided to try the fried frog legs---not bad---it taste like fried chicken and if it was not so hot, I probably would have eaten it out but I succumb to the pepper and handed it over to one of my Khmer buddies. While we waited for a young woman to join us, one of the volunteers was telling me that in these kind of establishments you may have about 20 girls who act as hostesses, but behind the scenes you have waitresses, girls who wash the dishes and glasses, cleaners---so they are a lot of women beyond the 20 young women who maybe entertaining the clientele.

About 20 minutes later, a young woman appeared and came to sit with us. Like many of the women here, she is dressed up in a long satin type like dress. Each of them wear different colours---for those of you who are Asian, it looks like a Chinese Cheong-Sam---very fitted to show the shape of the body except the top portion of the outfit is cut in a somewhat v-neck shape to show some cleavage. The young lady who I will call 'Soriya'' was very friendly as she sat down. Our role was to simply ask her several questions as this is part of gathering info and just getting a sense of how we can help these young women. Between the 5 of us, we had asked her different questions like what her name was, how old she was, what province she came from, was she married or divorce. How did you find this job? What do you think about your job? How do you feel about your life? What dreams or hopes do you have? etc.

If the women are open to sharing, we let them know that we are with Precious Women and invite her to come to a fellowship group to learn more about other opportunities for employment, to get counselling and ultimately to help her to know that she has value and worth and that a new life filled with hope is possible. Last night, as we interacted with this young woman, I came away once again reminded that in Cambodia, we need to think holistically ---yes we need to share the gospel but also we need to find practical ways to empower these young women as there is such a desperate need for good jobs. So many of these young women have no choice. What is it like to live in an environment where you are so desperate to earn a living and if you have limited education, your choices are so limited. There is no social services here, there is no welfare support like we have in the West. For Soriya, she had only been working at this beer garden for 3 months. She needed money to pay for her rent. She was not married and had no children and her family actually encouraged her to go and work in the beer garden. She has limited education but she was working at the beer garden so that she could make money as she is studying to become a hairdresser. Her dream is to open a beauty salon.

Soriya like many of the girls she represents have dreams for a better life. In many ways it is these dreams that keep their hope alive and enables them to persevere in the midst of working in such challenging and degrading environments. So often the women in these situations have to 'pretend'with a permanent smile on their face that they are happy despite the fact that they dislike their jobs. In Soriya's case, she doesn't even like to drink beer and yet here she is, forced to drink it with her patrons. Desperation in such settings causes one to do desperate things. In many ways, these girls are trapped as they have to pretend to be someone else in order to survive. My heart goes out to them. I can't even fathom the type of bondage they are on. What is it like to not live in freedom? What is it like to not have choice? What is it like to live in desperation? Poverty has many faces---this outreach shows me the realities of poverty at another level---how it robs people of freedom, of joy and ultimately of life.

This is why Jesus came. He came to point people to know that in Him they can find true freedom, true joy, true hope,true love and ultimate true life because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He came that each of these young women would know that in Him they do not have to live a life of pretense but instead, He wants to clothe them with new robes, robes that are filled with new dreams, robes that are filled with a life of hope, meaning and purpose and most importantly, robes that are filled with His love that in Him they would know their self worth, their dignity and their value.

For me the glimmer of light in this dark world of beer gardens and karoke bars is the fact that some of these young women have hope---like Soriya, they are studying to become hairdressers or some other type of profession that does not degrade their humanity. It is this small 'hope'that we hold onto and pray into for their lives. Someone once said that the reason we grow weary and want to give up is because we have lost hope. I am so thankful that the Lord in His own way is giving them hope so that they endure, press on and persevere. Their courage, their resilience and their inner strength inspire me because they are living against all the odds but I am so thankful that God has heard their cries and He has raised up organizations like Precious Women to reach out to them. As 1 John 3:16-18 says: ¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Indeed Precious Women is choosing to love these girls as Christ loves them--they are not just loving these girls with words or speech but with actions. They are reaching out with His compassion with the hope that He will draw them to Himself, He will lift them up, He will build His kingdom in their hearts and He will give them a new life in Him.

Redeeming the Land - Introducing the Courtyard!

2011-12-02T17:36:00.000+07:00

Today Ratanak International is the proud owners of a sewage dump in Svay Pak! Yes we bought some land but it not just any land, it is located behind the Sanctuary which we had purchased in 2009. Why this land and why this time? Well, it was a good opportunity at a good price and we are hoping to convert it into a playground for the kids who attend school and the kids club at The Sanctuary. As someone said recently if Jesus can turn water in wine, surely He can turn sewage into gold!

The Courtyard!

So in the near future, all the filth, garbage and sewage that has been collecting in what was once an old fish pond for years, will be dredged out and replaced with sand. This place that was once a cesspool and breathing ground for all sorts of raw sewage will literally be cleansed. We look forward to seeing it be transformed into a place where the kids in the village can just run around and play without fear of being in danger from predators or traffic.

Last year when I was serving in Svay Pak, I remember going up to the top floor of The Sanctuary and praying over this land with Pastor Chantha as we claimed it as part of the promised land that God wanted to give us. I am sure many others have been praying the same prayer as well! God continues to amaze me in how He answers prayers.

And then a few weeks ago when we were all praying about whether to buy the land or not, the Lord laid on my heart these verses from Ezekiel 37 and I couldn't help but wonder if this is what the future of Svay Pak would look like. ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. ²² I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. ²³They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.... . ²⁵ They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. ²⁶ I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. ²⁷ My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. ²⁸ Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’”

We have often said that Jesus is not just visiting Svay Pak. He has moved in and taken residence in Svay Pak and just as He wants to redeem the people who live there, so too He wants to redeem the land that has been barren, desolate and filthy. And as He redeems the land, He will gather all those who have been scattered, these include not only the ones who have been sold and trafficked but the ones who are the sellers of these children. It is He who will make them One nation, it is He who will be their king. It is He who will redeem them so that they no longer defile themselves or defile others. It is He who will cleanse them and repair the ancient ruins within them and among them. It is He who will make a covenant of peace with each of them.Perhaps one day this land indeed will be flowing with milk and honey both literally and figuratively as He breathes life into these dry and barren places. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

I am struck by the words in Ezekiel 37:27-28 I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my SANCTUARY among them forever. ²⁷ My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. ²⁸ Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my SANCTUARY is among them forever. God's sanctuary indeed is among His people. It is a picture of our God who chooses to go and dwell in the most forsaken places among a forgotten people so that He can reveal to them that He has not forsaken them but passionately pursues them so that they may know that they are not the forgotten but the chosen. For just as He redeems one child at a time, so He redeems one building at a time and redeems one piece of land at a time. Jesus indeed has the last word on everything and on everyone, including the buildings and the land!

Matchmaking

2011-12-01T20:24:00.000+07:00

I've been itching to write this blog for some time but couldn't really do it as the timing was off. But its time to talk about Matchmaking :-). One of the blessings of living in Cambodia is the fact that there are many young people. In fact, over 50% of the population is under the age of 25. So as we think of the future generation, we have a wonderful opportunity and privilege to invest in their lives. And that investing, can come in various shapes and forms.

So last night I got a call from one of my younger sisters in Svay Pak. She is young to me but in Cambodian culture she is considered old at the ripe age of 25 years because she is not yet married. Many of the other students that are discipled by Pastor Chantha are much younger and so they are always teasing her about why she is not married and when will she get married. My little sister who I shall call 'Sohka' called to chat. Its been a couple weeks since I've been to Svay Pak and ironically she had been in my thoughts earlier that day for a variety of reasons and so it was a pleasant surprise to get a phone call from her. I didn't anticipate we would have a 3 hour phone chat but here in Cambodia, one has more time to develop relationships and so she called and wanted to get my advice about her future spouse. This is a conversation we have had before as her future spouse is not a believer but she is. Bunthan and others have had similar conversations with her warning her and expressing concern about her future husband. They have shared scripture from 1 Corinthians 7 about being unequally yoked.

But now the countdown is on as her future husband is coming to Cambodia next year to marry her and she is faced with a tension before her ---a deep longing to be married coupled with cultural and family pressure to be married on one side, and on the other side, confronted with the truth of God that this type of marriage is not right. So we talked and talked but then I asked her, are you open to meeting other people who are believers. You see for the past few months, she has heard me talk about my Loak Crew (language instructor) who is a young man the same age as her. He loves God as much as she does and hopes one day to become a pastor. Interestingly enough, she wants to marry a pastor! So of course, knowing all this info, I've been waiting over these past few months to try to match make them. Every time I would go to Svay Pak, I would tell her about his good qualities in front of Pastor Chantha and Bunthan. They would laugh and she would blush. Most recently, I told her that I had shown my loak crew a picture of her and he said how beautiful she was. So the stage was set! So last night as we were talking, she actually said that she was open to meeting up with my loak crew! Yeah!

As for my loak crew, for months as we have had our language classes, I would ask him what kind of wife or girlfriend he was looking for? What were the qualities he wanted in his spouse. Of course I couldn't resist planting little seeds in those conversations with him, letting him know that my younger sister in Svay pak had those qualities. We would then have a good laugh together but he has always said, he was open to meeting her. So today you can imagine when I shared the news with him that the date was being set. He had a big smile on his face!

You see Sokha asked if she could come and spend a couple days at my home so I am using that opportunity to chaperon them over a meal. It will be interesting and fun at the same time. They are two very special people to me but I have told them there is no pressure to meet but they both seem open to connecting. Matchmaking can be dangerous in one's own culture especially if it doesn't work, you could lose a friend. But here in Cambodia, I am hoping and praying that God would use this meeting to help Sokha know that there are young men out there who share similar values and similar visions as she does and she does not need to compromise her values for the sake of being married. More importantly, I pray that God would give her the courage to stand firm in her faith in Him, to not bow down to family pressure or cultural pressure or her own internal pressures but instead, trust that in His timing, He will bring the right man into her life. How easy it is for marriage to become an idol in this culture especially as one gets pass the 'apparent' marrying age. My little sister Sokha is discovering for herself that following the Lord involves giving Him control in all dimensions of her life and not just in some areas.

As you think of Sokha and the two days she will be spending at my home on December 11th and 12th, pray that God would use that time to bring conviction in her heart about her current relationship. Pray that the matchmaking lunch date would be an opportunity for both my young friends to encourage each other in their journey in Christ.

KTV - Karoke TV or Is it?

2011-11-27T22:13:00.000+07:00

Today I was up in one of the familiar suburbs where I used to stay when I first came to Cambodia in the early 2000s. This sleepy community was a place where one would find a lot of NGOs or development organizations. While some of them are still located there, the surrounding area has changed immensely. There are new service apartments and condominiums as well as large mansions that dot the suburban surroundings but one of the newest sights has been the arrival of several KTV (Karoke TV) clubs which can be spotted all along the main street. What exactly is KTV anyway?

KTV stands for Karoke Television where many people come and hang out in private booths to sing karoke songs. But it is not like the Karoke places that I and many of my friends used to visit back home when we were in university. Here it is really a front for another style of brothel. Someone has described KTV as 'Knocking Trading Virgins'. At around 5pm all the young women can be seen sitting outside these KTV places waiting for customers. When the customers come, they are escorted into these Karoke booths and the girls attend to their needs whatever that maybe. It is interesting to see how the sex trade has morphed into a whole new style of entertainment.

This picture above is off a new KTV operations. There are no windows on this building---a dead giveaway of the type of activity that will take place in here. The photo below displays what customers can expect if they go inside one of the rooms. This advertisement is freely displayed in the outside of the building.

I went around this area today with a friend of mind. God seems to be birthing a vision in her heart for these young women who work in this area so today we felt like Joshua and Caleb checking out the 'promised land'. Our first stop was to visit a local beauty salon where we got a pedicure for the incredible price of 75 cents. My friend has begun to prayer walk this area and this particular salon is a place that the girls will come in the early afternoon to get their hair and makeup done as they prepare for their evening at KTV. So we thought it would be a good idea to just visit the beauty salon and get to know some of the girls who work there. With both of us being Asian and being small in stature, we blend in somewhat into the atmosphere although the owner of the salon found it somewhat humorous that we would chose her salon. I suspect they probably thought we were 'wealthier' and would go to a more high end salon. One of the blessings of knowing the language is that it has its own ways of opening doors and so my friend did most of the talking while I sat listening and taking in the environment. My friend is hoping to make regular weekly visits to this place and to just prayer walk around the area as a first step to seeing where the Lord will lead. This reminds me of how Joshua walked around the walls of Jericho. As we left the salon, the building next to it was a local KTV establishment, we passed by 4 young girls----they didn't look much older than 14 to 16 years old----they smiled at us as we smiled at them. We didn't want to be too obvious so we decided to not stop but kept walking although a part of me would have liked to have just stopped and chatted with them briefly. But all in God's timing. My friend alluded to the fact that many of the girls in these places seem so young. They certainly look young and I wouldn't be surprise if they were in their early teens.

So here in Cambodia, KTV establishments are popping all over the place because of their increased popularity. Sadly, they are just another front for the exploitation of young women who are desperately looking to earn a living but are caught in a web that continues to treat them as a commodity. Pray for God to protect these young women, many of them we believe are teenagers. Pray that the Lord will raise up people like my friend who will be given a vision on how best to reach out to this new vulnerable population.

Celebrating American Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T16:24:00.000+07:00

Brian and Jody---our hosts (to the left) for U.S Thanksgiving Dinner

So last night I participated in another Thanksgiving dinner. One of the advantage of living here in a multicultural expat community is that people come from all over the place. Last night I joined my fellow Canadian Lois and her American team from Crossworld Missions for a U.S Thanksgiving dinner with all the wonderful American trimmings---everything was homemade---the turkey, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the breadrolls, the pasta and beans dish, the walnut cheese cake and pumpkin pie. I could go on but I would probably make you drool! It's amazing the food one can find here---that is if you know how to cook and want to cook! Given that I don't like to cook, I think God has been very gracious. He has surrounded me with people who have a passion for cooking and so even here, I get to indulge and gain a few pounds thanks to many other international workers whose culinary talents far surpass any such talents that I will or do have in that area! I'm thankful for that and as I think if this am reminded of the scripture that God has given to His body different gifts---- am so glad He has given others the gift of ''cooking'' and given me the 'gift of eating''---okay I know those are not spiritual gifts but talents! All of this simply means that when we use our gifts or talents for His kingdom---even with such a Thanksgiving meal----we are administering and blessing each other with His grace (1 Peter 4:10).

It was great to hang out with the team from Crossworld who are all serving here some for a short time but others have moved here permanently. Some are from the U.S, others from Holland, South Africa and then Lois is Canadian and is the team leader. One of their colleagues even came over from a neighboring country so he could celebrate American thanksgiving. We had a wonderful time sharing reasons of what we are thankful to God for.

Lois and Alta

I met Alta who has been an international worker here for 15 years. She is from South Africa and has many stories to tell of all that she has experienced during those years and the changes that she has seen in Cambodia. I often find it very fascinating to chat with people who have dedicated their lives here and have lived through the days when life in Phnom Penh was often known as the 'Wild West'because it was often common to go to the local market and buy an AK47 or walk down the street and see people with handguns and AK47s. Back then the çurfew time was 6pm....one had to be back home by 6pm and because there wasn't much to do, you went to sleep at 9pm. Now here we are several years later and our curfew time is 9pm and I might add some of us do go to bed at 9pm :-). However, many of the young Khmer (especially the non-believers) usually don't adhere to returning home at such a time. They are more apt to be out drinking and dancing till the wee hours of the morning when it is definitely more dangerous.

This morning Pastor Chantha called to wish me Happy Thanksgiving and I thanked him but told him it was an American Thanksgiving and I as a Canadian had already celebrated my thanksgiving. He laughed and then I proceeded to ask him ''does Cambodia have a thanksgiving holiday.' I love his response----here in Cambodia, we don't have one day for thanksgiving, we have thanksgiving every day because in Christ we are thankful for all He gives us and all that He had done for us! Nothing like a spiritual response to remind us of where our focus should be! He is right. We ought to be thankful everyday to the One who gives us life, who has chosen us as His own and who loves us unconditionally! Thank you Jesus for the incredible privilege we have of being your children!

An Unusual Drug

2011-11-24T21:30:00.000+07:00

In Cambodia there is always something new to learn about. Some of the new things contribute to a sense of joy and expectation and yet other things, can so easily create or feed fear. Thankfully for those of us who believe in Christ, we are often reminded in scripture that perfect love cast out fear (1 John 4:18). We do not have a spirit of fear or one of timidity but one of power and love (2 Timothy 1:7). So even as I blog about this unusual drug that I have been gathering info about, it can easily lead to fear. But the purpose of this is not just to create awareness of it but hopefully to encourage you to keep on praying for those of us who live here, that we will all walk not by fear but by faith in God who promises to be our shield and fortress regardless of the visible reality. So what is this drug?

A week ago, I was having a conversation with my language instructor and since then I have been talking to some other Khmer friends about it. The comments seem to be consistent about this drug and its effect. It seems there is a particular drug that makes people compliant. It doesn't sound all that unusual but how is this drug ingested. It is done with a simple touch on your shoulder, on your back or wherever. What it does is make the person compliant that they turn into a zombie like state and will follow the person who touches them. They will feel sleep and fatigued---I might add many of us often feel quite tired and exhausted but that has more to do with the heat. At any rate, whatever that person tells you to do, you do it. So if it is giving them the money in your purse or pocket, taking off your earings and shoes, and even taking off your clothes, the person will do it. They will have no idea what they are doing and what is interesting is that when the drug wears off, the person who was affected by the drug will have no recollection of what they did, where they were and who encouraged them to do these things. Moreoever, if you were to have your blood tested, there would be no trace of any drugs in your blood system. If you think of the implications of this drug, you will realize that it has the potential to create havoc and more importantly, in the sordid exploitation of children and women, it can lead to devastating effects. In many ways, it is similar to a date rape type drug.

Today, Yeng the country director from Chab Dai was over for a meeting and I was asking him more details about this drug. He told me that one of his neighbors experienced these exact symptoms when she was shopping in a local market. She gave up all her jewelery and money to some stranger but had no recollection of why, who or what. A similar story happen to my language instructor's Mum about 4 years ago and most recently, one of his teenage neighbors described similar effects. She had disappeared for two days and when the police found her, she had no money and had no recollection of where she was or how she got there.

Yeng mentioned that the drug comes from a neighboring country and it is often used in the trafficking of girls. I'm not surprised. With such a drug that makes one so compliant, its the perfect tool to trick an innocent and vulnerable person. So who are the targets of this drug. I am told that if you are shopping in a local market, dress simple, no jewelry, carry little cash. Most of the targets have been Cambodian people from the countryside who come to the city. In many cases, they come wearing all their gold and diamonds and usually have a lot of cash in their purses or pockets versus a Westerner who may use debit cards or ATM cards. As such, it is people who stand out in the crowd with all of their fancy jewelry that draw attention from these unscrupulous characters who prey on them.

It is easy to become paranoid when one hears such news but as Psalm 112:6-8 says: Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

Education Challenges

2011-11-23T11:51:00.001+07:00

One of the advantages of having a teacher that is 25 years old who is studying in university is the opportunity to learn first hand about the educational challenges in his generation. Chheut my loak crew (male teacher) recently started studying English literature at university----why anyone would want to study English literature is beyond me (that's because I'm a numbers person) but according to my loak crew, he chose that course of study so that he can improve his English. He is a brave man as I think if it were me, there would be far many other courses I would choose. The other day he was showing me his curriculum and it was interesting to learn that they have to read King Lear among other Shakespearean books. I remember my days in high school studying Shakespeare and it was a nightmare trying to figure out that ''old Enlgish", so its hard for me to imagine a non-native English speaker learning this. But bless his heart for taking this on. It just goes to show how much the young Khmer are hungering to study, learn and speak English. At the rate he is going, he'll probably speak it better than me! :-)

Chheut seems to have a lot of influence in his English course as the other students are always asking him for help. I asked him why that was and he mentioned that many of the Khmer students who are taking this course hardly can speak English but they want to learn the language. So they sit in class, nod their heads when the teacher is talking about the lesson and when he is finished, they quietly go to Chheut to ask him to translate. One of the challenges in the education system that I have heard about and seems to be a recurring theme as I talk to Chheut is that the students in the past would bribe their teachers to pass the tests or they will copy homework from another student and claim it as their own. One dimension of this is exactly what is happening in Chheut's class. Because he has a good command of the English language---amazing considering he has only been studying English for 3 years-----Chheut's peers have asked him if they could copy his homework.

In this context, what does one do with such a request? I asked Chheut how he has responded and he acknowledged that it is very difficult because he wants to help his fellow peers and yet feels guilty for letting them copy his homework. As a Christian, he wants to encourage them in their studies but knows that this is not the right way to do it. So we ended up talking about what Christ would have him do? It was encouraging to hear that he offered to tutor his fellow peers in English for free so that they could have a better understanding of English. He set aside a time during the day for them to meet but sadly, none of them showed up even though they are not working like him.

We talked about how we could walk blameless and with integrity in the midst of an environment in which cheating on exams, tests and assignments is all too common a phenomenon. Chheut is learning that to follow Christ means saying 'no' to the ways of the world, to endure ridicule and insults. He is learning to pray and ask Jesus to help him before he goes to class so that he can stand firm and politely speak truth to his fellow students, challenging them to develop new study habits instead of the acceptable 'norms and practices.' For a culture that is so community oriented, this is a challenge and yet it is encouraging to see young Khmer Christians like Chheut desiring to walk with integrity and not seeking to please man but to please God!

This past Monday, he wrote his first English test and before he went, I spent some time praying with him that God would give him clarity and understanding as he answered the questions and that he would do well. On the day of the test, he shared how all this fellow students had finished the exam so quickly and he only was able to answer about 90% of the questions but he felt he had passed. Of course we were both baffled at how they could finish so quickly given their limited understanding of English. I couldn't help but wonder if they had been able to get hold of the exam prior to writing it. After all, that is quite a possibility. So today, Chheut got the results and was quite excited to share the news that he had passed. He did extremely well and as for his fellow students. Many of them failed. It seemed that his teacher had been very strict with the class. No one was allowed to talk to each other during the test----you would think this is a standard practice here, but as I'm learning, don't ever assume that what happens in North America happens here ---it just is not so!

As I think of many young Khmer Christians who work during the day and study at night, they too will face similar challenges like Chheut. Pray for them as they are growing up in a very competitive environment where jobs are limited. Pray that God would bless them with wisdom and discernment to navigate the cultural minefields and that they will have a willingness to stand for truth. Pray that it would be their desire to honor God and not to cave into peer pressure. Psalm 84:11-12 says: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. May they indeed learn to trust the Lord in the midst of these challenges.

Deworming

2011-11-20T20:09:00.000+07:00

There are many aspects that one learns about when you live in a third world country. One of the advantages of having friends who have lived in Cambodia for a long time is that they can give you valuable advice on all sort of things---especially things that you were not even aware about or that were not on your radar screen. So the other day I discovered that I need to 'deworm' every 4 to 6 months. Now if you are like me and have limited medical experience and don't remember basic biology that you learned in grade 9, the first place you go to check out what deworming means is google. Surprisingly if you were to type in the word 'deworming' you will discover that you can get websites related to 'deworming dogs and cats' but there is hardly any info on deworming human beings. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing but alas, one has to have a sense of humor with such inquiries. If you take yourself too seriously in this environment and worry about all the medical issues, you will be paranoid about everything.

So my friend Catherine told me that her mission organization has all their workers deworm every six months. There is a whole new vocabulary that you learn about when you live here so I had to ask her what she meant by deworming and what was involved. Worm infestation can occur if you eat raw vegetables, dairy products, untreated drinking water, or under cooked meat. Being a carnivore, this only adds to my case to avoid veggies:-)---just kidding Mum! One website I read said: Parasites and worms once established in your body, will eat the same foods you eat or they will eat you! Great.

Deworming Medication

Thankfully one of my other friends Anne who works at Place of Rescue as the resident nurse was able to give me some details about the specific deworming medication I need to get. So today, Catherine and I went to the local pharmacy to buy Mebendazole---the cost of 3 tablets is $1.50---for whatever reason my friend only paid $1.00 for the same tablets---I think its because she looks more local than me! And in case you are wondering, you don't need a prescription to get drugs in Cambodia---but that is another story for another day. At any rate, I have to take 1 tablet for 3 days. It is more of a preventative medication. I couldn't resist asking my friend Anne to describe the symptoms if one has worms---digestive problems, gas & bloating, explosive diarrhea (I can only imagine what that would be like--probably TMI for this blog), mucusy stools---these are just a few effects. Thankfully as far as I can tell, I have none of the symptoms so praise God I am still healthy and so far so good---no worm infestation!

So as you think of us who live and work here, do pray for the Lord to keep us healthy. He who created and formed our bodies, knows where the worms are located (if any) and so in this aspect of life as in many other dimensions, it is trusting that as He has called us here, He will protect our bodies and keep them clean from any such parasites!

RATANAK UK - The Final Chapter

2011-11-19T07:36:00.003+07:00

The Final Chapter

The last night of the 2011 Ratanak vision trip has arrived and with it the final blog. Today we met with Adam from Prison Fellowship Cambodia (PFC) at the rehabilitation centre, the only one of its kind in Cambodia. Here Prison Fellowship carry significant influence which has developed over many years of hard work and determination. Success stories like the one from Correctional Centre 3, funded by Ratanak Canada, do not happen by accident. Here, with a prison population of 1500, over 900 have received Christ. The consequences are quite staggering which have not gone unnoticed by the authorities both in the prison itself and the wider circle. A full programme of vocational training, language classes, healthcare and rehabilitation programmes have changed the face of this prison. The governor insists that any prisoner who is to be promoted is a Christian; he himself has remained in post for a much longer time than usual due primarily to the changes seen.

This programme is now duplicated at Kampong Thom prison supported by Ratanak UK. Having only begun last year the impact of the work by the PFC team are already being noticed. This is a part of a programme to adopt a prison incorporating church partnerships both in Cambodia and outside. For just over $2 per month per inmate we have been able to provide the outlined services. For more information of what this entails and how to get involved in this please drop me an email.

This afternoon a funny thing happened. We dropped into the local market for some last minute shopping before heading for the mandatory chocolate brownie at Café Yejj! As I crossed the road I was followed by a small girl aged around 10 – she was in fact begging. I had no small change so, knowing it was my last time here, gave her $1 (this is actually a huge donation here). Time passed and a lady arrived with her young some also begging. Feeling a little obliged I again placed a dollar into an empty bowl whilst the same girl smiled at me from across the road. It was then I discovered this was a tag team of mother and daughter! I finished my coffee and saw across the road the little girl appear. She wandered across to the middle of the highway to show me a bag of fruit and snacks which she pointed out were bought with the dollar. As she walked back away she turned again, smiled and mouthed ‘thank you’ before waving and disappearing from view.

Statistics show that 70% of this country exists on less than $2 a day and 33% on less than 50 cents. Today I witnessed the reality of that where a mere dollar (65 pence) gave a child a meal she may never have had. I guess I tell you this to try to explain how far finances can stretch here and what a significant difference even the smallest donation can make whether it is educating a prisoner, feeding a child or providing refuge for a victim of sex trafficking.

I thought that the first trip 2 years ago was life changing and that this time it would be about building on relationships. Whilst that has definitely been the case – it has also been life changing. From being told you will never be forgotten by an 8 year old victim through the celebration that is Daughters shop to the child on the street being thankful for a meal, this trip has served to set my determination greater than ever to work for and alongside the people of Cambodia to effect changes that will last. I have seen Gods hand at work in very young children to a group of old ladies in a Ratanak funded night shelter. And – by no means least – I have spent time with some people who are beyond description. People who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice in so many ways to show the love of Jesus to the Khmer in deeds and words. I am greatly humbled by each of them and count it an absolute honour to be called their friend.

Thank you to everyone for following this journey and being patient with me through the tough times. I have had the support of a great team from Northern Ireland, Canada and Australia.

In closing I read a quote from Sydney J Harris – ‘Regrets for the things we did can be tempered by time: regrets for the things we did not do – that is inconsolable.’

To God be the glory.

RATANAK UK: Sons & Daughters

2011-11-18T07:19:00.004+07:00

So, the penultimate day of visits arrived with a day spent at Daughters of Cambodia. Daughters seeks to help victims of sexual exploitation to find ways out of this situation and into one of safety, freedom and dignity, to find wholeness, and to become all that God created them to be. The vision is to empower clients with the internal capacity and the external resources to change their own lives. Internal resources involve empowering clients to make changes to their own lives, within their own cultural and social contexts, promoting healthy decision making so that changes are internal, voluntary and sustainable rather than imposed.

At the main centre we were introduced to many of the staff who receive a variety of training in making clothes, jewellery, wood crafts, etc. all of which are then sold through outlets including the shop in Phnom Penh. All the girls given employment here were working in street prostitution and have chosen to walk away from that to work here.

Since I was last here a new programme called Sons has started reaching out to the highly marginalised lady boys. This group are hugely persecuted and are given no value or respect in this society. Here they find training & teaching – but more importantly hope.

The next part of the visit was very special – we went to the shop, exhibition centre and café which was the first project Ratanak UK was able to support. What a wonderful privilege it was and what an amazing place it is. Offering employment to 15 people across a broad range of areas including beauty, retail, catering and hospitality, the store oozes charm. It was a touching experience to see the reality. Every detail is beautifully taken care of

Please pray for Ruth, the founder of this programme, who has sacrificed so much to do this. Her drive, compassion and tenacity are an inspiration. Pray also for the staff and clients of Daughters who work so very hard.

Throughout this trip the common theme has been that of hope. It is so easy to see the darkness around us as we negotiate the different areas and yet the one thing we have to hold on to is the hope that is found nowhere else than in Christ. At Daughters today on the wall was written out the hymn – ‘On Christ alone my hope is found’. Whether we are on the streets with children who are being sold, in the foster home where they are safe, at the café eating beautiful cakes or in the shop admiring the amazing creations – the one thing that runs through all is hope. The hope of a better future and a restored life.

RATANAK UK TEAM: An Extravagant God

2011-11-16T18:10:00.001+07:00

After a hectic week it has been great today to have a slightly more relaxing day allowing the team time to reflect and catch up a little. This morning we headed off to Bloom Vocational Training Centre and Café to meet with Ruth, Murray & Tanya from Australia. Carrying the strap line ‘Too beautiful to eat too delicious to resist’ Bloom rightly describes itself as an oasis in the middle of Phnom Penh. Here 32 girls take lessons and have qualified in a variety of hospitality and catering subjects – including cake making and decorating. The cakes meet the description and are totally breath taking –tasting pretty good too! The final pieces made for the exams are on display and are extravagant in their design together with a cabinet of simply amazing cupcakes. These cakes are sold to a largely local clientele and through the café for a variety of occasions and have attracted media coverage around the globe.

The centre has only been operating since January 2010 and has clients from the Prime Minister down. Capable of making and decorating cakes of up to 7 tiers this centre is a hive of industry. As you know Tim & Debs are here as part of their honeymoon and to celebrate their marriage we had a cake made!

As I have thought more on the day and the opulence of these cakes I reflected on the character of God. The exceeding abundance with which he loves us, cares for us and desires to live our lives to the fullest measure are reflected in the magnificent creations which exceed anything you could imagine. We should be eternally thankful that we serve a God who wants to bless us to excess and lavish himself on us for no other reason than he can do it.

Tomorrow we head to Daughters and the visitor centre which was the first project we funded from the UK. It’s likely to be more cake I’m afraid…!

RATANAK UK TEAM - Beauty for Ashes

2011-11-16T06:42:00.001+07:00

Today was the day I was so very much looking forward to since this trip became a reality. It is the day we spent with our partners from Hagar – an organisation who, to quote the words of staff, deal with the things in the too difficult basket. That resonates with everything I am and everything we strive to be as an organisation. When this journey began just over 3 years ago I was warned to stay away from working with sexually exploited in Cambodia as ‘it is too difficult and too dangerous’. How far away from the truth can that be. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it dangerous? Sometimes yes. Is it impossible – with God absolutely not. In him can be found all hope and through him full restoration can be found and through him all things are possible.

After a day out we freshened up before a tuk tuk drive through a totally gridlocked Phnom Penh to the mall and Lucky Burger. I would like to describe this as rush hour though we were rushing nowhere!! I was so excited for this moment. Here we met up with some Hagar staff and 10 girls from 2 foster care homes funded by Ratanak International – 1 from the UK and 1 from Canada. We sat amongst the girls and chatted about family and what brought us to Cambodia like old friends as we shared a meal together. These kids have suffered abuse on a scale that a normal human being cannot and should not be able to conceive. That humanity would stoop so low to exploit a child to such an extent is beyond my levels of comprehension.

After eating it is time for gifts with Liz and Susan handing out bracelets, toiletries and hair bands. Girls chatter comparing their new gifts with beaming faces. I reached into a bag I brought over and took out a bunch of Ratanak teddy bears. The gasp is audible and as each bear is received it is hugged and held onto tightly before being decorated with the bands and bracelets then hugged a little more. A little 8 year old girl then leans over and asks my name before naming her teddy after me. After ice cream and more conversation it is time to say farewell and head off. At the bottom of a set of steps the same 8 year old wanders over and asks her mentor how to say some words to me in English. I kneel on the pavement as she look into my eyes and says, ‘Thank you, I will never forget you’.

Tonight, once again, my heart aches but this time it is with the joy of seeing young lives rescued and restored. I am now beginning to understand with a little more clarity what it means to be in awe of God as I witness his hand at work in the lives of these children. Moreover, I appreciate more fully that we serve a mighty, mighty God who is able to do everything we can ask or imagine – and often more than we dare imagine.

Please pray for the Hagar staff who work with these and many more children and who listen to the terrible stories many times. Pray for strength and wisdom for them and that they will experience more of God at work through them. Pray also for the team of Liz, Susan, Tim & Debs from the UK, Brian & Melissa from Canada, Brian & Jason from Australia and Lisa who now lives here together with all those around the world that volunteer their help with us. Thank you.

Seeing My Young Friends

2011-11-15T18:31:00.000+07:00

This afternoon I spent the day with a team visiting from Canada. They have been involved in ministry with a Chinese church in Phnom Penh and have also supported our work in Cambodia. So today, I took four of their team members to the brothel district to visit The Sanctuary and to see the kids club etc. The place was humming with activity when we arrived around 2:30pm. Pastor Chantha and Bunthan came out to say hi in the midst of their busy schedule as they have been hosting a team from the US who is doing medical ministry in Svay Pak as well as helping out at the Kids Club.

We headed up to the third floor to see the kids club. The place was jammed pack with over 200 kids. There are many new faces that I haven't seen before but there are also familiar faces. One of them caught my eye---it was Theary---one of the newest disciples of Pastor Chantha. For those of you not familiar with Theary's story check out the blog comment called 'Not Forgotten'' on September 23, 2011. There was Theary up front on the platform as part of the team leading the kids in worship with a variety of worship actions. I couldn't help but smile and praised God for the new work He is doing in Theary's life. Later on, she was part of the crew that was serving the kids during the craft time. A few nights ago, Theary had come to visit me with some of the other disciples. That evening as we were walking along the busy streets near my home, I noticed she was singing a Khmer worship song and had this big smile on her face. So I said to her, ''you like to sing about Jesus?" She smiled and then proceeded to asked me if I loved Jesus and I said ''yes". I then asked her the same question and when she said ''yes, I love Jesus,' I asked her 'why?'' Her response was simple: ''because He has blessed me so much.'' This is a young woman who has only known Jesus just over a month ago and yet she is so filled with His love. She has tasted of the Lord and has discovered that He is good indeed. He truly continues to put a new song in her heart and each day she is just being saturated with His love as she serves Him. It is such a joy to watch God's beauty in Theary enfold as she walks with Him and discovers for herself that she has been fearfully and wonderfully made by Him.

But today I had another surprise from another little friend called Sparky. Sparky grew up in this brothel district but now lives at Newsong. You can read more about her story in the blog titled: A Little Friend Called Sparky. While she tells the teachers at Newsong that I am her mother, whenever I visit Newsong she always runs away and hides from me because she is so shy (such is the effect I have on her). So today while I was in the brothel district, who should I see but little Sparky sitting in the back of the Newsong van as they were about to leave to head home after the kids club. I quickly ran after the van and called out her name. There she was with her beautiful big smile and long hair looking towards me. I quickly said ''I'm so glad to see you finally.'' She smiled almost sheepishly. But it was her beautiful smile that was a gift to me this day as I thought of my other little friend ''Srey Neth" who is no longer here. This is the paradox of this ministry---one child safe, another child sold! But I'm thankful for the Lord for these brief opportunities to see my young friends. I am thankful for the privilege of seeing Him transform their sadness into joy. I am thankful that they not only can smile again but they are discovering the One who rejoices over them with singing, the One who has created them to worship Him. Indeed He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. (Psalm 113:7-8)

RATANAK UK TEAM - Light In The Darkness

2011-11-15T06:32:00.002+07:00

Today we headed over to NewSong to meet with Bridget. Living here are 54 girls between 5 and 20, all who have been subjected to some of the most unimaginable abuse. It is so hard to create a picture of this place for you. The surroundings are beautiful and the staff are beyond words. Their love for these children is so clear and that is reciprocated by the kids. Here children recover something of their lost lives. It is an incredible experience and blessing to come here and meet children who arrived with the belief that they were worthless, dirty and unlovable. This could be no further from the truth and through the patient work and testimony of the staff lives are being changed. These kids have come to know the love of Christ who died for them and loves unreservedly and without condition. One little girl aged somewhere around 14 was never far away - she now suffers from minor brain damage following the amount of drugs forced into her in the brothels.

Then we were treated to lunch with the girls – green Thai curry! To sit amongst these kids, many of whom have been the victims of white western men, is an honour again I can barely describe.

After lunch we take another long tuk tuk drive to visit The Sanctuary, Rahab’s House and The Lords Gym. As we arrived a bus full of very young children pulled up who were brought in from the brick kilns where their families are held in bonded labour. The last time I was here The Sanctuary was an aspiration and a wreck. Today it resonates to the sound of children at the kids club singing songs to Jesus and being allowed the luxury of being children for 2 hours of the day. Many of these kids will leave here and be sold tonight to satisfy the cravings of the men who prey on them. Bridget commented, “We live at the gates of hell – but there is a lot of hope here.” It cannot be put more succinctly than that. In the midst of a tangible darkness the light of Christ burns with a fierce intensity. This community is being turned around one life at a time.

As we wander through the buildings I meet with girls making bracelets. I ask for one with my wife’s name on and am told it will take around 30 minutes. True to form the bracelet is delivered by a lovely girl who says a few words and leaves. I then find out that she has hardly spoken a word since her rescue several years ago – so deep is the trauma locked inside.

Don & Bridget are an incredible couple who acted in response to a need. Described so aptly today as Nike Christianity – they just did it. No qualifications or experience in this area – just a heart for children in a land far from home who needed help. Pray for them and the staff who they work so closely with. Pray for safety in a hostile environment, for provision to do more and for wisdom to act in the right way at the right time. Pray for these children and for their protection and for this community that it will turn to Jesus and away from the trade it is world renowned for.

Making Keys

2011-11-14T17:20:00.000+07:00

Getting anything done in Cambodia is always quite interesting. You can learn a lot about a place by the way things are done and so it is with having an extra set of keys made. Today after doing some banking which I might add is becoming much easier as I know the routine now and long gone are the days I am in the bank for an hour just to make a deposit or withdraw funds or to get a bank statement. Now its in and out for the most part, or at most it takes 30 minutes. All of these little things are reasons for rejoicing!

So with some time to spare, I was on the hunt to find a place that would make me a set of new keys for the Ratanak office apartment. Who better to ask that my tuk tuk driver. After all, tuk tuk drivers are the human version of the yellow pages or the google website in Cambodia. They usually know where to find everything or any thing you need as long as you can explain it properly, they will find it. My tuk tuk driver is a sweet young man and so off we went on the hunt. Its not like you can go to a mall and find a store that copies keys. Rather, you go on a treasure hunt search, driving a long the streets of Phnom Penh looking for a small kiosk just like a street vendor that says ''Copy Key''---thankfully I just learned the word for ''key" the other day so the best way to practice the language is to use what you have learned right away so that you have a better chance to remember it all. If any of you have ever seen the T.V show called Ámazing Race---that show best describes what it likes to enter into a new culture and new environment. You are constantly on the hunt to find stuff and search for the right people to help you.

Anyway, I digress, so after one unsuccessful attempt we found our copy key man. He pulled out his 'key machine' from his small cabinet/cupboard and went to work making my two extra keys. He charged $1.00 per key which is about the same that I had paid previously and really, in the whole scheme of things there are times that bargaining for a 20 cent discount or less is just not worth the time nor the energy. While he got to work in making the extra keys, I was most amused at how he was getting his electric power to use his machine. The wires were attached to a tree next to his vendor stand and they were crudely connected to the electric cables wires that were above the tree.

Unfortunately the picture above does not provide a great view of the "electric power" connection but if you look closely you can see the wires going up the street. In this part of the world, this kind of set up works. I'm not exactly sure if the vendor is getting free electricity this way but if anything, I am always amused at the innovative ways that Cambodian people have in getting the simplest tasks done. They really know how to make do with less and they teach me much about creativity---something that this left brain person is certainly lacking!

RATANAK UK TEAM - Hope Where There Is No Hope

2011-11-14T07:24:00.000+07:00

Comments from Steve Norman, Ratanak UK Director

Today has been a long day. We set out this morning for a visit to Tuol Sleng Museum in the heart of Phnom Penh. This former secondary school was turned into a prison of torture during the Khmer Rouge campaign between 1975-79. Between 14 and 22,000 people of all ages were systematically and brutally tortured to admit crimes against the revolution they had not committed. Each victim was meticulously photographed before being subjected to unimaginable horror. As I walked around I read of the Buddhist belief that unless a person receives a proper burial then they will wander around as ghosts and not find rest. This is a huge issue in this nation and, given that over 2.5 million people died at the hands of this regime, it is understandable why the faces of many are downcast for their relatives who they believe are still in this place.

From Tuol Sleng we took a 15km tuk tuk ride to Cheoung Ek – a genocide memorial and the final resting place for the thousands of tortured victims. Walking around this is a peaceful environment with large colourful swallowtail butterflies and dragon flies in an assortment of colours. And yet – only a few short years ago, while I was a happy 11 year old, thousands of people met their end with the cruel blow of a bamboo pole to the skull and babies were smashed against a tree which still bears the marks. Along the walkway bones and teeth are visible as the earth gives up the dead after the rains. To imagine this place back then is beyond imagination. It is a necessary experience and yet an unpleasant one. I have walked this path before 2 years ago and was saddened the – today I am broken.

I thank my Lord tonight for the stability of the nation in which I reside.

Tomorrow we will be visiting NewSong and Svey Pak. In the afternoon we will be at the kids club where we will join 350 children – many of whom are being subjected to sexual assault as I type. We will also visit The Sanctuary and Rahab’s house and see that there is hope even in this darkest of places. A hope that Christ only can bring.

RATANAK UK TEAM - A Weekend in Siem Reap

2011-11-13T15:15:00.000+07:00

Ratanak UK Team Visiting Siem Reap

Comments from Steve Norman - Ratanak UK Director
The two days spent in Siem Reap have produced so many memories and encounters. From the official dedication on the library through the majesty of Angkor Wat to a final farewell to children and university students working tirelessly to effect change not only on their own lives but also on their communities.

The opening ceremony was attended by nearly 300 people from all walks of life including Government officials, the Chief of Police, community elders and the children. To have a celebration with such an overtly Christian content amongst such dignitaries is in itself unusual. Here I was able to present the Chief of Police with a speed radar which was kindly donated for me to bring over. What followed was a radio call and an impromptu training session to around 15 members of the local force! We all stood in the middle of a dirt track whilst they took it in turns to ride up and down so each could observe and learn. The hope is that with some official endorsement lives will be saved on the surrounding roads.

The community library project provides opportunities for up to 10,000 children in the catchment area to access the internet and use the library and sports facilities. This is the only internet anywhere in this area and for the first time children are able to experience the wider world. They work tirelessly to perfect their reading and computer skills as well as enjoying the recreational facilities. These children live in some of the poorest situations imaginable so readily grasp these opportunities to change their situations.

I also had the privilege to meet the two young men who we are sponsoring through university as they sat and shared devotions and a personal time of worship. Both are doing well in their first term.

Today we visited Angkor Wat, a world heritage site and location of some 1200 year old temples. As I looked at these vast monuments with their intricate carvings all I could ponder was how much time and energy was put into building these over centuries. Then I reflected on how much time I sometimes put in to my relationship with God and stood ashamed.

Now we are back in Phnom Penh and the tougher second week begins with a visit to S21 – a prison during the Khmer Rouge reign where between 14 and 22,000 people were ritually tortured. It is then on to Cheoung Ek – the killing where each of these individuals were executed including children and babies. To see this is to begin to understand the tragedy experienced by the majority of the populous.

The team are doing great and this evening we have been joined by Jason from Australia who has fitted right in. Thank you again for your messages of support and ongoing prayers

RATANAK UK TEAM - Only In Cambodia

2011-11-12T15:54:00.000+07:00

Steve Norman, Ratanak UK Director is visiting with a team of 5 people from the UK. Here are some of their blog postings from the last couple of days.

Today was the first full day for the UK team in Cambodia. Having spent 17 hours on 3 different aircraft over some 8000 mile we boarded yet another plane to head up to Siem Reap. Thank fully this was a mere 50 minutes! The temperature on leaving Phnom Penh was 34 and on negotiating customs I was asked to surrender my deodorant as it exceeded the maximum size – you can only imagine! Thankfully things cooled down to a lesser 30 degrees by Siem Reap though the crisis remained. Somewhat ironically my other luggage carried speed detection equipment consisting of battery, wires, etc. and this was not questioned…!

Cambodia is a beautiful nation and this is no different when in the air. From this point we were able to observe the extent of the floods which have claimed 147 lives since September and left many homes damaged beyond repair. As the paddy fields emerge from the flood waters the extent of the damage is being discovered. In amongst this devastation there may be still time if additional crops are planted quickly. With rice forming a significant part of the staple diet this action is so drastically needed to avert a crisis in the coming months.

After a short freshen up we were than away to the Hotel Mondial to experience an evening of traditional Khmer dance. The beauty and grace of the dancers is quite special. With a 7am start ahead, and the need to catch up on jet lag, it was time for an early night – or so we hoped. Inserting the card into the reader brought a definite lack of any form of response. Several attempts later with the same response drew the attention of a member of hotel staff. She too had no success until there were 4 all trying different cards and methods of entry to no avail. Eventually we were alerted to the sighs of relief and headed to the room to find a sight that will remain with me for many years. One of the hotel staff standing in the doorway with something resembling a washing line around his waist…! Yes – he had indeed abseiled through the window from the room above on the third floor on little less than string! Looking a little bemused he calmly picked up the string and walked away with it still coiled around him as if this was a normal everyday task. So – we are now in another room with a key that works, oh and another can of deodorant.

Tomorrow we all leave early for the dedication of the Library and the presentation to the district governor of the aforementioned speed equipment. We are then challenged to a game of ground hockey outside in 30 plus degrees – no sweat! Sadly the plans to head out to Kopreach village with Reaksa on Saturday is cancelled as all the roads have been washed away – I guess that’s quite a good excuse!

2011 Cambodia Trip

Posted on November 1, 2011

A team of 5 people from the UK will be heading to Cambodia for a 12 day trip on 8^thNovember 2011. To start the team will be travelling north to Siem Reap to join with our partner Reaksa Himm for the formal dedication of the rural library. Here we will present speed detection equipment to the regional governor kindly donated by Unipar. This is the first device of its kind anywhere in Cambodia and it is hoped that it will help in reducing the number of road deaths in the area. Later the team will travel with Reaksa to Kopreach village.

On return to Phnom Penh we will be visiting the Foster Care centres, NewSong, Transitional Living and the Elder Care programme together with having meetings with Chab Dai and Prison Fellowship. A highlight of the trip will be on Wednesday evening when we will be privileged to take the girls from the two foster homes for tea together with their chaperones. The team, consisting of Liz, Susan, Tim, Debs and Steve, will be aiming to post regular updates on the blog pages – be sure to keep in touch

Water Festival

2011-11-11T21:13:00.000+07:00

Since this past Wednesday, we have had a three day holiday in Cambodia although I was working for the past two days. These 3 days are the annual water festival (known locally as Bon Om Touk) where many tourists and people from the countryside come to the city to watch the boat races along the Tonle Sap river. However, as many of you know there has been a lot of flooding especially in Thailand but Cambodia has had its share. As a result, the Cambodian government decided to cancel the boat races this year and use the funds that were designated for the Water Festival to help those who have experienced losses as a result of the floods. The festival is also known as the reversing current. It is a celebration each year of the river reversing from its course upward towards the Tonle Sap Lake to flow downstream allowing the Tonle Sap lake to empty its waters to the Mekong river leaving behind fish in abundance.

Nonetheless, the three day holiday is still on and as I live near the downtown core, close to the Independence Monument and a 15 to 20 minute walk down to the waterfront, the streets are buzzing with traffic and many people. Some of the main streets have been closed off as many people head down to the water to just hang out with their friends and families. It really is a beautiful site to see all the different little street vendors that appear from nowhere suddenly selling their food items. Others were selling fake designer handbags in the middle of the sidewalks not far from the police station. Its like an outdoor market as you walk along the parks. There are the street photographers who will take your photo at the park. There is an outdoor concert where there are a variety of cultural dances. Many families bring their mats and camp out in the park or alongside the boardwalks having what appears to be a picnic. All of this creates a carnival atmosphere.

Tonight some of my 'Khmer Family' from Svay Pak came to visit me so that we could hang out together and walk down to the waterfront. I was trying to figure out what I could feed them and thankfully my friend Catherine came over to help me go shopping at the New Market (Psah Thamie) so that I could buy some local treats. One of the vendors we went to made some stir fried noodles with beef so we ordered 21 packets each costing just over $1.00.

The 'Noodle Shop'

'BBQ squid and shrimp'

I wanted to buy some BBQ squid but the price was a bit high so we ended up buying some other deep fried rice and onion cakes and for dessert a coconut rice cake wrapped in banana leaves. Anyway, my entire meal for 20 people came up to $1.60 per person. It pays to shop locally and to eat locally!

Some of Pastor Chantha's disciples eating in the living room

Night Concert

Vendors selling green mangoes with a hot sauce---a local treat

Traffic on one of the main streets

After our meal we went for a walk down to the park and were headed to the local 'Disneyland' called "Dreamland'but there was quite a crowd to get in and decided that it was too much of a hassle so we opted to walk around but there were people every where.

Typically during the annual water festival, about 4 million people come to Phnom Penh ---either locals coming from the province or tourists. Well tonight as I walked around, I had never seen it so busy. The city really comes alive at night. One of the things I am getting to enjoy is crossing the street. That in itself seems like such a silly comment to make but in this environment, on a busy day the streets look like the photo above and crossing them is like trying to navigate yourself through a traffic puzzle as you walk in between the motos and cars. It is actually quite a lot of fun trying to figure out what path you are going to take. In some ways its actually better being a pedestrian as the vehicles literally drive around you. But you have to be willing to jump into the fray of the traffic otherwise you will never cross the street. Tonight is the end of the water festival and tomorrow its business as usual.

Here We Go Again!

2011-11-08T23:16:00.000+07:00

Two years ago in the summer of 2009, I met a young girl in the brothel district who I shall call Srey Neth (not her real name). At the time she was about 9 years old and she had come to the pastor letting him know that her father was coming to take her to a brothel the next day. This was not a new experience for her, in fact she had been seen in undercover video tape, being sold for sex as a tiny girl. The investigators were unable to catch the pedophiles, as a Khmer man has to actually be “in the act” of sex with a child in order to be prosecuted. Every day, Srey Neth would come to the Kids Club and every night, she was forced to sleep with grown men. It had been going on for years. That day, I laid hands over her along with my team members and many people prayed for God to intervene in her life. At night I fasted for the first time in my life, pleading to God to spare her life. After all, she was in the kids choir singing weekly about her love for Jesus and her desire to serve Him. I gave her my necklace with a cross telling her that Jesus loved her and that whenever she felt scared to call on His name for protection. I also gave her a pendant with my name in Khmer on it and told her that I loved her and would pray daily for her and then I left not knowing whether I would see her again. God was challenging me to drink the cup of brokenness, the cup of suffering and the cup of faith – all at once as I entrusted Srey Neth into His safe keeping He was challenging me that in drinking this cup of investing in the lives of child sex slaves, we have to be willing to enter into their pain, their sorrow and their struggles.

Since that day in July 2009, Srey Neth had never been sold again. Her father never showed up to take her to the brothel. She is a cheeky eleven year old student, enrolled in not one but two schools, learning both English and Khmer! Srey Neth's grandmother who attends the church in this brothel community stood up to the pedophiles and said, “No!” It was Srey Neth's story that inspired me to pray big and bold prayers to the Lord as I and many others witnessed His intervention in her life. So when I arrived in Cambodia 3 months ago, whenever I would visit Svay Pak, I always made it a point to see her and say hi and whenever she saw me, she would run up and just give me the biggest hug and would just hang onto me as we walked about the village. She was and is one of the spiritual children that I believe the Lord has blessed me with in this brothel community.

This past Sunday as I was sitting with Pastor Chantha asking him how each of my little friends were doing, he told me that Srey Neth's grandmother was no longer living here and had moved to Vietnam last week. She had wanted to take Srey Neth and her sister Channa (not her real name) with her but their father was against that. Srey Neth and Channa have now been taken by their parents to live in Siem Reap. Pastor Chantha echoed my sentiments that he was worried and felt she was now at risk again of being sold given that her parents own a brothel in Siem Reap.

So here we go again. This little girl who God used in my life to deepen my faith and prayer life has disappeared. For two years, she was on a journey of freedom---free from abuse, free to be a child again and most importantly free to worship the Lord she has come to know and love and who she so wanted to serve. So what do we do with this? How does one cope with this news? After all, this is the ongoing issue for all of us who serve in this ministry. We constantly face bitter/sweet experiences --- one child rescued and then one child sold. How do we deal with the emotional rollercoaster of such a visible reality? How do we keep on going in the face of such news? How do we avoid being discouraged?

Earlier tonight, I shared with Melissa my Ratanak colleague that there are some burdens that we are called to bear and there are other burdens that we are called to give to the Lord. So in the face of this news, God once again is calling me to get on my knees and pray for Srey Neth. This is how He is challenging me to 'invest' in her life. To stand in the gap for her life, to not give up despite the unknown and the uncertainty surrounding her whereabouts. This is the 'burden' that I am called to bear---to be faithful to the process of praying for her but to leave the outcome to the Lord. The burden that I am called to give to the Lord is to entrust her safety into His care. It is times like this, we are called to stand in the truth in the midst of the darkness. God still sits on the throne. God is sovereign, God is in control of this situation, God knows exactly where Srey Neth is. God is faithful, He never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Do we believe that in the face of this present reality? Do we believe that God can once again intervene in Srey Neth's life? Do we believe the Lord is mighty to save and deliver her from the hands of those who are seeking to destroy her life?

This ministry will challenge our faith in Christ at the very core as we 'walk' with these young girls because we are called to Hope against all hope just like Abraham did. We are called to take God at His word that He can and is able to do the impossible in their circumstances. How fitting it is that tonight of all nights, I would receive an email from a pastor who writes the following: I think about the Already/Not-Yet reality that defines the New Testament and the Church (then and now). The “Already” is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His ministry of renewal has already begun. We as the church are meant to experience, daily, forgiveness of sins, his resurrection power over sin and the strength to join him in his work of renewing the world. This means living and preaching a message of hope in Jesus Christ, and demonstrating that hope by the way we love others. The other dimension of the Kingdom is the “Not Yet”. While the renewal process has begun, with the resurrection of Jesus, all has not been made new and right on the earth. Injustice, sin and death still pervade our broken world. And the scriptures are clear that this present earth and heaven are passing away. Eventually, when Christ returns, he will usher in the new heaven and new earth, where finally Christ shall reign and have dominion “From sea to sea” and where all sickness, sorrow and pain will be gone. We recognize then that until this happens, we will continually experience and interact with pain and hardship and the devastating effects of sin. These encounters are meant to remind us that a better day is coming. As Paul says in 1 Cor 15, if the only hope we have is for this life, then we are to be pitied most.

Srey Neth's situation serves to remind me that we are once again faced with interacting with loss, suffering and pain. This is the 'not yet' dimension of God’s Kingdom; it’s why we engage now, today. But we do this because we believe that Christ is their and our ultimate hope and as such, we are called to be the 'repairers and restorers' of the broken gates and walls as we actively pray, intercede and persevere in our commitment to see God's kingdom come in the lives of the young girls. And so, we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:4-5) May we demonstrate His hope and His love for the Srey Neth's of this world, by committing to battle in prayer for their lives believing that as we do, the 'already dimension' of God's kingdom has begun. The renewal process has begun because we are the carriers of His hope to those who live in hopeless situations.

Old Chicken, New Chicken!

2011-11-07T18:01:00.002+07:00

For those of you who are new to our blog, the word "chicken" is the code name we use when we see a new pedophile visit the brothel community. Yesterday while Melissa and I were about to leave the village to head back to Phnom Penh, we were alerted to two ''Barang" another name for foreigner who were sauntering down the main street in their motos. One of them I recognized from last year when I was serving in Svay Pak. He apparently lives--- in Phnom Penh. He had a new friend on the back of his moto---an older gentlemen. They happen to drive up right in front of our building but their attention was focused on a building opposite The Sanctuary where some Vietnamese women were sitting. Shortly thereafter, they were seated just outside this home and someone from the local coffee shop brought them some ice coffees. It seems they know the women or at least the daughter of the women as she apparently speaks English. We were told that these women also want to protect the kids but I guess time will tell.

Old and New Chickens

I continue to be amazed at how open some of these chickens are. One of them clearly was taking some notes as if he was doing research. They seem so unaware (or perhaps they didn''t care) that there were people subtly looking in their directions. Some of Pastor Chantha's disciples were sitting in my tuk tuk 'hanging out' about 10 feet from them, while Melissa and I were with Pastor Chantha and Bunthan standing at the Sanctuary entry. It was a perfect photo opportunity.

These days it is very unusual to see the chickens sitting so casually and visibly for all to see. This was more reminiscent of the past as nowadays, most of the wheeling and dealing is done in the alley ways away from the main street to avoid detection. At any rate, for any who think that child sex trafficking is not alive and well in this area, we can tell them otherwise. We are aware that there are 17 girls under the age of 12 who come to the Sanctuary that are being sold on a daily basis. Out of those 17, there are two girls who are 5 years old. These are the ones that are known to the staff but we all believe that the numbers are much higher.

It is for these young ones that we ask that you would continually intercede for. God has brought them to His Sanctuary. It is not by accident or coincidence that they are there. It is these young ones that He is calling us His church to speak up for, to seek justice on their behalf. We continue to be thankful to our partners in this community whose very presence provides solace to many of these young lives. They act as God's watchmen and His shepherds, seeking to gather the little sheep and lambs from the wild animals that are preying upon them. They indeed act like The Shepherd in Ezekiel 34:11-16. ¹¹ “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.¹² As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. ¹⁴ I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. ¹⁶ I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

A New Home

2011-11-06T22:03:00.000+07:00

This morning I went with Melissa (one of my Ratanak colleagues from Canada) to the brothel district. After the church service we went to visit the home of some new church members. Some of pastor Chantha's disciples have been helping to rebuild homes that have been severely damaged because of the recent flooding along the Tonle Sap river. Of course the word 'home' here connotes a different meaning for in the area that we went to, we in the West would probably describe this as a 'slum.' So off we went along some narrow wooden planks that meandered through the walk way with many houses built on wooden stilts on the river.

Youth Pastor Ratanak pointed out several little shacks that were destroyed by a rain storm that we had over night. He was taking us to visit one family who the church has started to help.

Enroute we saw this 'shack' above which had no roof. But it didn't seem to bother the resident who was having a nap in the morning. Many of these homes have been made with bamboo or crude pieces of wood that have been nailed together.

We finally arrived at our destination--- a little shack at the end of a row of several 'homes'. This was a family of nine with one person who was the sole breadwinner who worked at a factory. The grandparents were not well and were too old to work so they looked after the kids. The father of the kids unfortunately had died years ago, drowning in the Tonle Sap river. The church had given the owners a blue tarp to act as a wall since all of that was destroyed. They also provided a blanket and the disciples hope to replace the zinc roof which has several holes in it. Can you imagine sleeping with such a roof above you in the rainy season. Unfortunately with the recent floods, part of the home was destroyed and lies partially submerged in the muddy water next to the current 'home'. The wooden planks that represent the 'floor' of the home are all uneven and provide natural ventilation to the water below. It is incredible that kind of environment and conditions that people have to live in.

As we talking with the family, I am once again amazed at how gracious Cambodians are and how the poor in general are so thoughtful with what little they have. As we were about to sit on the wooden planks, the grandmother brought out their one and only mat so that we could sit on it. This may not seem like a big deal to us but for a family like this who literally has nothing, they offer what little they have in order to be hospitable to us. It is through the poor, I once again learn about generosity, it is through the poor, that I discover a new level of giving and it is through the poor, that I see the heart of God.

The Other Gender

2011-11-04T20:55:00.000+07:00

So often in our discussions we talk about girls that have been sexually abused. Today at the Chab Dai Coalition member meetings, I had the opportunity to sit in on a session for sexually abused boys. We at Ratanak have had the privilege of partnering with Hagar to set up one of the first foster care homes for boys in Cambodia so for me, today's session provided some more insights into ministering to boys who have been sexually abused. There were 4 NGOs who are involved in different aspects of this ministry---one targeting boys in massage parlors, another organization focusing on boys on the street who are at risk or have been sexually abused, then their was a presenter who was speaking about lady boys and finally another organization that is focused on providing a variety off social services to help male survivors of sexual abuse.

There are several myths over here regarding sexual abuse of boys. One of them is that it actually doesn't happen that much here. According to one of the organizations that was presenting today, research in Cambodia and other places in the world suggest that at least one in six boys and men will have experienced some form of sexual abuse in their lives (16.5%). It may even be higher. In Cambodia, it is believed that most of the abuse is done by foreigners. This is false. While there are some foreigners who abuse boys and travel here with that intention, the reality is that the abuser can be anyone ---including parents, family members, friends, neighbors and other people known to the boy and in positions of trust. This includes women and other young people. The research appears to indicate that Cambodians are responsible for most abuse of the children in this country and not the foreigners. Granted that the cases involving foreigners tend to be more visible as they are highlighted in the newspapers so it is easy to understand why people would conclude that foreigners are the main culprits.

Another myth over here is that it is not serious when a boy is abused, because he can recover quickly. Again the research indicates that Cambodian culture and social views that boys are strong, tough and not having virginity and a reputation to lose, leads many to believe that the the boy can recover fast. But this too is false. The Cambodian proverb that boys are 'pure gold' and do not lose value if they have sex or are abused perpetuates this false thinking because the reality is that boys are also human beings and can be physically and emotionally hurt just like anyone else. One of the common practices here is that the genitals of young boys, teenagers and even adult men are often touched and played with by their relatives. I asked one of the staff of our partner organizations why this is such an acceptable practice since it certainly is not done to girls. She said its simply a way of playing and having fun with the boys and is viewed as harmless. What I was surprised to learn is that this practice can happen between grown teenage boys and even uncles and their nephews. So you can only imagine the cultural challenges that NGOs face as they share in rural villages about inappropriate touching of boys as it pertains to sexual abuse. One Khmer participant who educates communities about this issue reported that he experienced animosity from the boys parents after this presentation was done in a village because the families do not see anything wrong with such behavior. It was after all part of their cultural practice. So it is quite an uphill battle for organizations who are seeking to educate communities on sexual abuse of boys for they have to navigate cultural values that seem contrary to what they are trying to promote.

Another myth is that it is easier for boys to talk about their sexual abuse because they are not shy like the girls. Again the research shows that most boys experience great shame and try and hide what happened to them. Most never talk about it because they know that they will not be believed but rather, they will be mocked and laughed at. In fact, we heard of a situation where a judge commented to a young boy that boys can't be raped. This kind of thinking unfortunately re-victimizes the boys and as a result, some times boys may joke about the abuse and act as if they don't care about it. Acting like this is a common way for a boy or man to cover up their true feelings. What the presenter noted was that many boys and young men often feel that they have to act tough or deny the seriousness of abuse as a way of coping with their stress.

As for the staff, many of them feel totally inadequate in helping the boys due to a lack of training and insufficient support services. As such, the staff often can feel isolated since they don't really know what to do. It is no wonder, that those who serve in this ministry can become so easily weighed down by these burdens. Someone said today that ''seeking justice and doing justice is a 24 hour job''----there is so much truth to that statement.

Despite all these challenges, it is encouraging to see that the Lord has raised up a few organizations here who are focusing more on helping the boys and providing the necessary care and support they need. Like many of the projects here, we are all learning as we go along. It is not easy trying to sort through cultural complexities, but despite all the obstacles, we take heart in knowing that He has not forgotten this often hidden and marginalized group and surely He will find a way to bring deep and lasting healing in the lives of these young boys so that they can discover their true value in Him. As I think of those who are ministering to the young boys it is Hebrews 6:10-12 that comes to mind: God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Indeed may they stay the course with committed faith despite the visible reality knowing that it is God who will equip them and give them all they need to fulfill His purposes in the lives of the boys.

Inspired

2011-11-03T21:48:00.000+07:00

Today was a very long and tiring day but yet a day in which I had the privilege of attending the first of a two day meeting that is organized by one of our partners Chab Dai. The Chab Dai Coalition Member meetings are held twice a year, once in May and the second time in November. It is an opportunity for the staff and volunteers from all 52 Christian NGOs who are part of the coalition that work in Cambodia to gather together. This is my first time attending and I came away inspired at the army that God is building here of both foreign workers and local Cambodians who are passionate in seeking justice for victims of trafficking.

Helen Sworn with her staff person Rithy

Much of the hard work in pulling together this coalition was the brainchild of Helen Sworn, Chab Dai's International director and founder who has lived with her family in Cambodia for over 12 years. God gave her a vision 6 yrs ago to develop an umbrella organization that aims to bring an end to trafficking and sexual exploitation through coalition building, community prevention, advocacy and research. I felt like I was attending a mini version of the UN with many different expats intertwined with Cambodian believers who are passionate in being a voice for the voiceless. We all had headsets which we used depending on whether the presenter was Khmer speaking or English speaking.

Chab Dai Coalition Member meeting

The day started off with an encouraging devotional from Sue Hanna who is also one of our partners from Hagar. She shared from Psalm 40:2-3 which says: ² He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ³ He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Sue noted that when Jesus came to save us, He came to lift us out of the 'mud' and to set our feet on a Rock. So too, our role as we minister to those who are coming out of sex trafficking is to to take them from the mud to the mountain. She used the analogy of a scale of minus ten, zero and ten and pointed out that the victims are at minus ten. Survivors are at zero and Advocates are at plus 10. She reminded us that it is not enough to take a victim to the survivor stage, but our care must enable these young women to become resilient so that they are able to to stand on firm footing as God puts a new song in their heart such that they can become all He intended them to be so that they move to a plus 10.

One of the many blessings of today was the opportunity to to hear presentations from different organizations who are involved in different aspects of the ministry here. One in particular was from a Khmer lady named Solida who recently started her own organization called Precious Women just over a year ago. She used to work at Chab Dai and is only 25 years old, yet 5 years ago the Lord laid on her heart a vision to help women who work in the beer gardens, karoke bars and brothels. God has made that vision become a reality and part of Solida's vision is to to empower local churches in Phnom Penh to be involved in this ministry. Each week outreach teams visit local bars where the women work in order to share the love of God, to build relationships with the women and to offer the women an alternative source of income through vocational training and dignifying job opportunities. I am inspired by this young Khmer woman who communicates with much passion and energy and who challenged us all to be united in our efforts. I first heard of her through one of my other missionary friends who is her mentor, and then met her recently at the Khmer church I have been attending. In a couple weeks, some of my friends and I are hoping to join her in one of her Friday night outreaches. But what encourages me most, is seeing and meeting many Cambodians like Solida today, who God is using to be His repairers and restorers of the broken gates and walls in the lives of the communities in Cambodia.

For me as a first time attendee, it was refreshing to network with old and new friends, both Khmer and expat NGO workers.It was encouraging to see joint partnership and input from Khmer brothers and sisters sharing their hearts along side Westerners. It brought back to my mind the verses from John 17:20-23, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. It was a joy to experience such a oneness of heart and such a spirit of unity as we share a common goal and desire to end sex trafficking in Cambodia!

Tomorrow we meet again and I will once again be able to participate in a variety of workshops that are being done by other members of the coalition. Truly, the timing of these meetings and workshops are a blessing on so many levels. I feel like I am getting a crash course on all the different aspects of the ministry on this end from prevention, to intervention, to child protection, to family issues, to aftercare, to alternative care, rehabilitation and reintegration---I am learning a whole new language and all in two days!

One more thing, in the next two weeks, we will have Ratanak volunteers from Canada, UK and Australia visiting Cambodia. So don't be surprised if you see some new bloggers on this Ratanak Mission Blog!

Thinking Like An Asian - well sometimes!

2011-11-02T19:49:00.002+07:00

After a few busy days of meetings, I wanted to share some of the lighter observations as I live here. Its seems strange that I would title today's blog 'Thinking Like An Asian'....what does that really mean anyway. For those who know of my background, I am 6th generation South American Chinese which means I ONLY speak English (or least I claim that as my official language). I do not speak any Chinese languages although I did attempt to learn Mandarin---"attempt" being the operative word many years ago when I lived in Singapore but I had problems with the 2nd and 4th tones---I guess one could say I am tone deaf! I learned to count in Cantonese many years ago for strategic reasons. If you have ever been to Dim Sum in Toronto, most of the waiters and waitresses only speak Cantonese and when you are waiting to sit at your table, the hostess calls out the table numbers in Cantonese. My theory was that if I learned to count in Chinese, I would hear my table number and not be overlooked because I wanted to make sure that I got served my food. So the real reason for learning numbers in Cantonese was to eat at a Dim Sum Restaurant. Now you are all reading this and wondering what does this have to do with Cambodia? Probably nothing other than the fact that while I look Asian, I'm not really that Asian in my thinking or at least that's what I thought!

We 'westerners' like our space, we like our independence, we are more concerned about individual rights while here in the East, space is not something that really is in the Cambodian psyche. After all, many families live in small shacks in the poor community all together in one room. For those who are a bit better off, both the immediate and extended family tend to still all live together in a typical family Khmer home called a 'P'thay Lahvang' and if you have been following our blog, you would have read about pressures and the deep sense of obligations that girls feel to provide for their family needs which often leads to them selling themselves. So individual rights and independent thinking is not a cultural norm here.

But as I am now into my third month of living here, I'm starting to act and perhaps think a bit more Asian at least in one dimension. My fair complexion is starting to get a bit darker with all the walking I am doing and despite laddering myself with a high level of sun screen UV protection, I'm still getting a bit more tanned. So I am starting to avoid walking in the sun and now try to walk in the shaded areas (which are few and far between) because I don't want to get darker! :-). This is exactly what the Khmer do. But its not easy to avoid the sun here, its sunny all the time and it seems the rainy season has ended which is a bit of a shame as it was much cooler and overcast so one did not have to worry about getting dark! Some times when I go out in the middle of the afternoon, I will pray and ask the Lord to bring some clouds in the sky. After all, He did promise to be a pillar of cloud by day ---so I figured I would ask!

Often you will see many Khmer girls wearing long sleeve shirts, hoodies and even turtle necks, socks and gloves when they are on their motorcycles during the day. All of this is to keep themselves from getting darker because being fair in this environment is considered beautiful. Well, not to worry, vanity has not consumed me to such a level that I have resorted to being fully clothed in a turtle neck in 90+ temperatures. The thought of that makes me hot!

However, Khmer women are quite serious about cultivating a 'white complexion.' The other day when I was in a store I was curious to see the prices of cosmetics. Prices here are quite exorbitant for the same products we would buy in Canada. Everything here is 3 or 4 times more expensive and the selection is very limited. One common theme as I walked down the makeup aisle is how many 'whitening'products they have, all promising a much fairer complexion. It is quite a big business here. Sadly, one can often notice the whitening makeup on girls who are sitting outside beer gardens or brothels. It is also one of the reasons why Vietnamese girls are often the preferred choice at least among Asian sex tourists, because they tend to be of a much fairer complexion than Khmer girls.

Nonetheless, one of the positives of getting a bit tanned is that I am starting to blend in as I have been asked recently if I was Khmer Chinese. Last week, I even got stopped by a cyclo driver asking me in Khmer if I could help as he had an Australian tourist trying to explain to him where he wanted him to go. So there I was acting as a translator between the Aussie and the cyclo driver. It was actually a bit fun and let's hope that can also translate into cheaper prices when I go bargaining in the markets.

All this to say, some aspects of the culture are starting to rub off on me ---no pun intended. As I think of all of these issues of beauty and image, it was my mentor a while back that reminded me that the Lord had made me an Asian and encouraged me to appreciate the 'Asianness' in me for to deny that or to be disparaging of that was to be critical of the Creator who made me that way. And so as I think of the Khmer people and especially the young women who are so longing to have that fairer complexion, it is my prayer that they too would come to discover, accept and appreciate that their brown and/or beige skin complexion is to be valued; that it is a gift from God who has created them uniquely to reflect a dimension of His beauty that cannot be found in any other culture or people group.

Building a Network

2011-11-01T22:42:00.000+07:00

Today one of our corporate donors from Canada was in town for a 1 day visit with her husband and so we did a world wind tour visiting the Newsong centre, Bloom Training Cafe, Daughters Cambodia shop and Svay Pak. Initially the plan was to give them the 'Cambodian experience' of using a tuk tuk to transport us all over the place but given the location of where each of these places were it would have been a bit more difficult to do such a one day whirl wind tour given the distance, the traffic and the heat, so we opted to rent a van. I am often amazed at the timing of how God provides for our needs on this end. For it was only 3 weeks ago, I happen to be in Svay Pak when I was talking to a young Khmer man who was visiting Svay Pak with a team from the U.S. He told me that he worked for a Christian company that rents vans for people who visit Cambodia.

Over here, networking is the key so whenever I meet people, I'm always interested in getting their contact info especially when they provide services that we most likely will need. Its all part of 'building' our resource base as we connect with organizations that can help support our ministries here. So last night, I called my rental van friend to make the arrangements and this morning his driver arrived to pick me up at home before we headed off to a hotel in another part of the city to pick up our guests. The van rental staff are all Christian who speak English and this particular driver is actually a young man training to be a pastor. He is working to save money as he will be going to study at a seminary in the Philippines for 2 years. He was such a blessing as he knew all the places we were visiting. It was like having our own personal 'Ratanak' driver as I did not have to worry about telling him the directions to get to the different places. When you find drivers that are knowledgeable, it is one less thing to think about because you don't get lost, you save time and you can then focus on hosting your guests without being distracted. I will definitely be using this van rental service again especially since we do not have our own vehicles.

One of the challenges here is that not everyone knows all the places we go and in the case of tuk tuk drivers, over the past few months I have been collecting a list of tuk tuk drivers and trying them out. Some are Christian and others non-Christian. I now have a team of '6' tuk tuk drivers some speak various levels of English and others only Khmer. Why do I have so many? Well, they are not always available when I need them and so I go down the list. But it also is a way of testing out who is reliable and how well they know the city. In essence, one has to go through a few 'training session' with each tuk tuk driver. This can be time consuming in and of itself as you have to expect that they may get lost or in other situations, some of them have a habit of keeping you waiting after you have finished your meetings so I'm always looking out for time conscious tuk tuk drivers. Thankfully God continues to provide more than we often expect as my Christian tuk tuk drivers who are students, also happen to attend the Khmer church that I have been visiting recently.

All this to say, this is all part of the adjustment to a new culture and new modes of transportation when you do not have your own wheels. In many ways, it is a loss of independence as you have to rely on others to help you. But more than that, it is ultimately trusting the Lord and leaning on Him and this in and of itself is a good thing!

Looking for a Community

2011-10-30T19:46:00.000+07:00

For the past few weeks I have been visiting a Khmer church about 15 minutes from my home. Our desire is to connect the girls in our ministry with a community that can come along side them and nurture them on a variety of levels. For young women who have experienced betrayal by their own family members, one of the dimensions of their restoration is to find a community where they can experience a sense of belonging and where they can feel part of a family. A community who will welcome them and not judge their past but love them and nurture their spiritual journey. A community who has young people their age who they can relate to and who they can have meaningful fellowship with.

This church I have been visiting has been recommended by many. It is one of the largest Khmer churches in Cambodia that was established by American missionaries many years ago. It is a place I visited in 2006 and so it has been neat to attend again and see so many young Cambodians who lead the worship service and prayer time. It is always so encouraging to see how the Lord is raising up many in the next generation in this land not only to be followers of Him but take on leadership roles. They sing all the popular Hillsong music in Khmer but there is English subtitles for those who are foreigners. They also provide simultaneous translation of the sermon for those of us who have limited or no Khmer. It is definitely a place where the Spirit of God is flowing freely. It is a place where emotions are expressed openly, some thing that Marie Ens noted was so needed given the fact that Cambodians are so used to suppressing their emotions due to the Khmer Rouge era. It is a place where one can encounter passionate prayers being lifted up to the Lord on behalf of those in the congregation who openly express a need for prayer. But it is also a place where young and old are welcomed to come to the altar to receive prayer ministry at the end of the service.

As you think of us, pray for the Lord to direct our paths to work along side a church community who will be a spiritual umbrella for the young lives that God is entrusting into our care. We long to see them be grounded in the word of God, to know the One in whose image that have been made, the One who is not only the healer of their hearts, but the One who loves them with an everlasting love and who wants to given them an abundant life in Him!

Cultural Complexities

2011-10-28T16:51:00.146+07:00

One of the common stories that we reading and hearing about is the increasing level of rapes in Cambodia. Some of these occur because young men are watching pornographic videos and want to act out what they see. In other instances, we are hearing about difficult rape cases, where young girls are being raped by their fathers or relatives or people who live near their village communes.

One of the most difficult situations a young teenage girl has to deal with beyond the repeated rapes by her father is the fact that she is pregnant with a child from the rape. This has got to be one of the most difficult situations to comprehend and reconcile in one's mind. What are the thoughts that are flowing through this teenager's mind as she carries this baby to full term? How does she deal with the daily reminder that this pregnancy was borne not out of love but borne out of a violation against her soul? How does she deal with the shame, the guilt and the embarrassment? In this kind of environment, the girl is given the option of either giving up the baby for adoption or keeping it. The question that again came to my mind is how do you identify such a child who in effect has a half sister and mother in the same person-----I don't really understand how or what to call this baby. It is very confusing! But this is what evil does. This is what the darkness seeks to do---create confusion of God ordained family structures by totally messing them up. As the bible says, Satan seeks to kill, steal and destroy and in the visible reality it certainly seems that he is winning, but as always, he does not have the last word in these lives, God does. This is something we have to constantly remind ourselves---to keep claiming and standing on God's truth especially as we come across complex issues here.

But there are other complexities that such teenagers has to work through beyond the emotional, physical and mental trauma. In Cambodian culture as is the case in many Asian cultures, family allegiance is so strong and the bond is so tight, that she also has to deal with external pressures. A young woman in this situation faces pressures from her father's relatives who want her to drop the charges and/or change her story and say that it is someone else who raped her. These are not easy decisions for an adult, how much more so for a 14 year old girl who is still a child herself and who is struggling to deal with her own emotional anguish. How does one advise such a young girl?

Seeking justice in the midst of such complexities is not as black and white as we in the West would like to believe. For a young woman in this situation has to work through the implications of her choices and the impact it will have not just on her life in the future, but the life of her family. She is caught between two worlds---facing a family that will ostracize her and further abandon and reject her, if she chooses to stand for truth and maintain her story, or she can deny the truth to 'protect her father', preserve her family relationships and live with the internal turmoil that comes from such a choice.In Asian culture, where family honor and obligation is of utmost importance, one has to have much wisdom in navigating such complexities.

How can Christ enter into this picture to bring truth, healing and wholeness back to a life that is suffering much pain and living with such tension? It is not easy and Satan uses these cultural strongholds, to keep people in bondage. While each culture has good elements to it, there are many aspects to each of our cultures that need to be redeemed. This is one such example of how cultural norms associated with families can create further enslavement of the soul. But Jesus came to invade cultures and to bring about a new culture---a culture of honor, a culture of freedom and a culture of love that enables a person to live out of their true selves. When a cultural norm seeks to control its people responses through fear instead of love, through pressure instead of through freedom of choice, it cultivates an environment where individuals do not live out of their true selves but out of their 'false selves.' They are forced to conform to cultural obligations and expectations that suppresses the truth.

No wonder Jesus said that 'when we know the truth, the truth will set us free.' Until or unless a girl in this situation becomes rooted in Christ and not in her family, she faces an uphill battle. For when we know that we are loved by God unconditionally, when we know that it is He who defines us and not our families, nor the cultures we live in, nor the painful experiences in our lives, when we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us, when we know that He is always for us, we have the courage and the hope to move forward despite the opposition. These are easy words to share with a person who has never experienced such abuse and trauma like these girls have. But, it takes times for these truths to sink into a young girl whose life has been filled with a relentless attack of accusations and experiences that feed her belief that she has no value, she is of no worth and she is garbage.

This is why it is nothing short of a miracle from the Lord to transform such wounded souls. We know it is possible. We are seeing it in the story of Phally and other girls who are at Newsong as the Lord overrides their story with His story. We know that through the power of prayer as we intentionally devote ourselves to interceding on behalf of these young girls, as we ask the Lord to break off and tear down ungodly soul ties in families or cultural strongholds that limits a person's freedom, the Holy Spirit can and is able to do the work of opening their eyes to see and experience the truth that in Christ---- they have value, they have dignity and they have worth so that a journey of healing and hope can begin. Transformation is not some kind of wishful thinking, for in Christ, the impossible become the possible. But it involves ongoing commitment and investment in the lives of these young women. It is a journey of faith that God has called us to enter into as we seek to minister to these precious ones. He is asking each of us to walk not by sight but by faith as we believe and hold fast in the promises of God and are fully persuaded that He has power to do what he had promised. (Roman 4:21)

Avoiding Cynicism

2011-10-27T21:28:00.000+07:00

One of the interesting aspects of living in Cambodia as a foreigner is the concern that you are often paying more for every thing outside the Western supermarkets. If you go to the local markets you pretty much bargain for everything unless the seller says it is a fixed price. It is easy to get cynical and if we are not careful, it has the potential to lead to mistrust of everyone as the enemy uses that as a foothold to make you believe that you are getting ripped off as you can easily believe that everyone is out to get you. You may feel your rights are violated. If you are paranoid or fearful, this just adds to the fear of mistrust.

One of the advantages of living here instead of vacationing, is that you learn what the real prices are. A case in point, outside the hotel where we arrange for our Ratanak guests and volunteers to stay, there are several tuk tuk drivers. As I am living here, they all know me as I used to use one of those tuk tuk drivers on a regular basis so whenever I go to the hotel to meet guests or drop off stuff, I have a little 'fan club' that greets me. They all want to know if I need a tuk tuk. Now that I can speak a certain level of Khmer, I often joke with them that I am not a foreigner and therefore should not pay foreign prices. Typically a 'borathai''---a foreigner, could pay about US$20 a day on the high end if they use one of those tuk tuk drivers. So recently, when I was talking to my 'tuk tuk fan club' and trying to arrange for potential tuk tuk drivers to take Ratanak volunteers who will be coming here shortly, my friendly tuk tuk drivers were asking for a minimum of US$15.00 a day. I simply laughed at them all and told them in Khmer that they were crazy and that I was not a foreigner, therefore I should get a cheaper price. Bargaining here is an art...the secret is to keep smiling as you negotiate the price and to not take things personally. So they asked what I wanted to pay and I told them US$10.00. They in turned laughed at me. But I know that is a good price as I have a new tuk tuk driver who is a young Christian student that goes to a local Khmer church that I have been attending recently and he gladly accepts that price. All this made me realize that last year I was paying too much when I was here for 2 months. But more than that, my strategy now is to find student tuk tuk drivers and train them up. They tend to speak some English which is helpful if you have guests and more than that, they tend to be more punctual and reliable.

Anyway, the verdict is still out as to whether I will use these other tuk tuk drivers who hang out at the hotel. In one sense I can appreciate their thinking. After all, they are just being capitalists, trying to get the best price for their services. Yet, in a conversation I had with one of them, I was trying to explain to them that if they gave me a good deal, our firm would use them on a regular basis since we have people passing through constantly, so that they could receive regular and steady income. This was my attempt at persuading them to reconsider and give me a discount. But to no avail. Here in Cambodia, it is all about the short term, it is about surviving and making sure you have enough for today. Much of this again can be attributed to the history of this country during the Khmer Rouge era where people lost all their possessions and belongings and so its understandable that such a short term mindset exist today. Saving or putting funds a way for a rainy day is not something that is too common here. For one thing, people just don't have that kind of disposal income here and secondly, their focus is on surviving in the present.

My other bargaining experience was at the hands of my 'Mango man'' who I call 'Pou Swai'---that means Úncle Mango.' Every week there is a man that rides his bicycle in my neighborhood selling mangoes. So each week I would buy six mangoes for US$2.00 but in talking with my missionary friends they told me that I was paying way too much as I could get a dozen for the same price. Armed with that knowledge, the next time I saw my Pou Swai, I shared with him my new found revelation and he suggested those were little mangoes that the market was selling and his were much larger. Like a good capitalist, he had to find an angle for why his mangoes were worth the extra price. Actually I think he was right. Nonetheless, I decided to haggle with him until He would give me a reasonable deal. I finally got him to give me 9 large mangoes for US$2.00. Since that sale, I think he's avoiding me now as he is not making much money off of me.

All this to say, one of the ways to avoid cynicism in all of these situations is to really just laugh it off. If you take yourself too seriously, if you are always suspicious of people, if you tend to focus on the negative it can easily lead to paranoia such that you trust no one. Ironically, this is the kind of mindset that was prevalent during the Khmer Rouge era as people did not trust anyone and were suspicious of their neighbors. So it is not surprising that this kind of spirit still is perpetuated here. However, the bigger picture and really the most important truth in all of this is knowing that the Lord is sovereign and even if we are over paying or do get ripped off, even if we feel we might be taken advantage off, He knows, He sees and He will redeem the situation. It is this knowledge that the Lord is in control of every dimension of my life here that allows me to not live in fear,to not worry or be anxious, but to try to see the best in each person and each situation knowing that even if their intentions may appear to be disingenuous or there is a hidden agenda, it doesn't matter, His purposes and His plans will not be thwarted. God still sits on the throne and He will provide for all my needs despite man's attempts to over charge me. As Romans 8:31 says ''if God is with us, who can be against us.''