Another Update

Well, my attempts at blogging have been few because….well, I’ve been exhausted! Though the pace of life here is much slower than we’re used to back home, our days have been filled to the brim to maximize our time here.

On Sunday, November 2nd we attended the New Life Church – pastored by Keat and Sally Cove. My dad preached while Keat interpreted for him. It was amazing to me how even though we do not speak the same language you can totally tell that we share the same love and reverence for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We were able to tour their Primary School facility – New Hope School following the service. They are building a 4-story concrete addition which will house 20 classrooms and 20 guest rooms. Though not completed, the children are already using about 6 of the classrooms now for school. After the tour, we enjoyed a wonderful home-cooked meal in Keat and Sally’s home with their lovely adopted daughter, Hannah. They have two grown sons, both in the states…and adopted Hannah. She is 10.

Our afternoon, in my opinion, was the highlight of the day! We took an adventurous Tuk Tuk ride out to a ferry…ferried about 30 minutes to an island…and had a most interesting, hilarious, muddy Tuk Tuk ride out to a small church/village. It had rained both the night before and earlier that day, so the standing water and mud was unbelievable! We got stuck several times…and had to get off and push our little Tuk Tuk out of the mud holes! It was quite comical, to say the least!

We were greeted by about 20 island children singing, “Jesus Loves Me” as we entered their church building. It was the sweetest sound I think I have ever heard! These people were the most gentle, gracious, loving people…and they are unbelievably poor! They were so generous…giving us Cokes and a variety of fresh cut fruit and bananas. The bananas here are the sweetest I have ever tasted…we have no idea at home how much we’re missing in the fruit category! We had a chance to speak briefly to the people, and then their pastor distributed the rice we brought for them. I was brought to tears as we watched these people begin to tithe rice back to the church. I was ashamed of myself as I witnessed the poorest of poor be obedient to the instructions God gives in His Word about tithing…and I, even though not wealthy, tend to keep most of my money to help make ends meet for me at home. These amazing people have no money to give, so they gave from their rice! Wow, what a special moment to witness! Then in the midst of that, the pastor’s daughter came to us asking if we would pray, and dedicate a beautiful baby girl that was born only 5 days before. Her mother walked a far distance with her baby to the church to ask us to do this for her. As we prayed with her…I realized that these people rely much more heavily on our God than I think I do…and that their prayers are surely heard more often than mine because of their faithfulness! It’s so easy for me to become self-reliant…and lose my way. We can skate through many days, weeks, and months when things are going well and forget to even acknowledge God in our lives…until crisis hits! Ugh, I don’t want to be that gal! I want a great thirst and hunger for learning more, and being more!

Upon returning to our hotel, we went downstairs for dinner…and unfortunately I had such a horrible headache that I had to head to bed before I was even able to finish eating. I think this was probably the only night we didn’t have a game of UNO going! Hee hee! I have become the UNO Queen! J

Monday, November 3rd

This day began with an early breakfast with our sweet server, Nary (who actually took care of us for both breakfast and dinner for almost our entire stay) She has such a sweet, gentle way about her. She commented on the fact that we have brought her many smiles…she loves to see our laughing faces. How sweet is that! It’s been sad for me to see how most people do not interact at all with the hotel staff. I feel like we have become friends with some of them…actually looking forward to seeing them and interacting during meals!

After breakfast we were met by Pastor Betouen Ouk – who took us down to Sihanouk Ville (a southern town on the ocean) where we made hotel/conference arrangements for a local pastors’ conference to be held in March…this conference is being put on by a local council of pastors, but staffed by American teachers/pastors. We were able to have lunch at a local Korean restaurant with Mr. David Koo – a Korean man who founded the Life University…an international school with 900 primary/secondary students and over 500 college students. In my opinion, we had the best meal of my life! Mr. Koo ordered for us (we wouldn’t have had a clue what anything was w/out him.) We were able to eat with Mr. Koo, and both the President and Vice-President of Life University. The University is the ONLY Christian university in Cambodia…and offers 7 colleges of study! They are in the process of building a hospital on their campus…hoping to open next fall! The university sits up on a hillside – and has the most beautiful views of the city and ocean! It’s so exciting to see how God is using his people, through education, to reach the people of this nation!

Our car ride with Pastor Betouen was an experience to behold. There are no speed limits in Cambodia…and if you intend to get anywhere…you must drive quickly and aggressively. It would be an understatement to say that we put our life in his hands on the roads of Cambodia. We maintained speeds close to 80 the entire way…slowing to 60 in highly populated school zones.

Upon return to the hotel…we had dinner (consisting of cheeseburgers – tasting nothing like ours, but tolerable) then retreated to a small lounge area on our floor for cokes and several highly competitive games of UNO before heading to bed! With a much needed shower and a couple Tylenol PM…I slept like a baby!

Tuesday, November 4th

Tuesday began with breakfast buffet downstairs in the main restaurant…and a fun little visit with our new waiter friend, Rattana. After breakfast, we met Chorn (our Tuk Tuk driver) and his precious litte girl…for a ride to the New Hope School to meet the children and take some candy and balloons. We were greeted by all 170ish students who shouted out hellos and a welcome in Khmer. It was so precious! We then visited each classroom introducing ourselves and answering questions. While with the preschoolers (age 3) we got to play Duck-Duck-Goose Cambodian style with the kiddos. What fun! It was so fun to play and giggle with these kids. Every time we took a picture we showed the kids their faces on the camera…most of them had not seen themselves on camera before. It was like fighting off swarms as they all tried to pull the camera away to get a peak!

Chorn then took us to Chab Dai…a foundation working with over 40 Christian partners to provide refuge, counseling, health and legal support for women and children bound by sexual abuse and sold into the human trafficking markets. We learned that the young girls in this society are often sexually and physically abused by their fathers while their mothers are away during the day making a living for their families…and the young boys are sodomized mostly by foreigners, but often by local pedophiles. The Cambodian people as a whole do not communicate about private things. Parents and children do not have open relationships…and it is seen a weakness if you share details of your life to friends and especially strangers. They believe if you talk about what happens in your family you are an easy target for people to take advantage of or control you. Therefore, one must stay silent to survive. Chab Dai is working to educate the Cambodian people about the atrocities happening within their communities…and often within the walls of the homes of people in their own churches…providing hope and a safe future for women and children. It is acceptable in this society for men, Christian men included, to have a mistress…and changing this mindset is a huge challenge. Women are not precious…or valued here…mostly just a possession.

As many of you know…I unfortunately have a history of physical and sexual abuse…and my heart aches for these women and children. As I meet and hear stories of the abuse here…I am grateful for my own healing and the love of our Lord who is both my Refuge and my Strength to survive and move forward with a healthy heart! I pray for the safety and eternal healing for these broken people.

After leaving Chab Dai, we had the opportunity to visit the Fountain of Wisdom Publishing company and Steve and Mary Westergren. It’s funny to learn that Steve’s sister is married to my cousin, Pete…and we sing, “It’s a small world after all…” This publishing house is the only place that translates and publishes Christian books in the Khmer language. There are currently only 13 Christian books in print…but there are about 7 more books in progress…most of which are children’s books designed to help all the abused and traumatized children in Cambodia. Steve is working in partnership with Chab Dai to produce this material. I am extremely excited to see the progress they are making as they work to provide these materials as a tool to work through the emotional damage and hopeful recovery from abuse.

We had a relaxing long lunch with Mary and Steve at a Greek restaurant called “Steve’s Steakhouse” I thought that was an ironic name for a Greek place. LOL! It was nice to be able to talk to Americans who spoke very clear…understandable English! It was also very helpful to get observations of these wonderful people about the Cambodian people and their ways. Steve and Mary have lived in Cambodia for over 11 years and know and love the people and their culture. They were able to give great advice for communication and expectations!

After lunch, Steve took us to the Tuol Sleng Prison…which was originally a high school, but was turned into a place of interrogation and torture chamber during Pol Pot’s reign of terror in Cambodia. We stood in the rooms where the Khmer Rouge soldiers (often only 12-14 years old) heinously beat, tortured, and often killed Cambodian civilians. Over 20,000 men, women, and children were tortured here before being taken to Choeung EK to be killed…by starvation, beheaded, or most commonly buried alive. It was horrifying to see pictures of these young boys getting pure satisfaction out of killing babies…they would throw them into the air and shoot them like we would target practice with clay pigeons. Please forgive the bold description, but that’s the nicest way I can describe it. We left that place with a horrible feeling of sadness and anger towards the whole Khmer Rouge regime. Over 20 Khmer Rouge soldiers and military leaders are awaiting trial in Cambodian prisons today.

After a very solemn ride back to the hotel my dad left for a dinner meeting with the local pastors’ council and Sonja and I enjoyed a quiet dinner. We had the opportunity to visit with a few of the staff…and were educated on the names of many local fruits. We all laughed a lot. The employees smiled and giggled more than I had seen them all week so far. Many other hotel guests frowned upon our interaction with them…but I LOVED it! It was great to learn little pieces about their lives outside of the Phnom Penh Hotel. They are such a lovely people!

Wednesday, November 5th

We headed out early once again….this time with Pastor Theng. We visited a women’s center in Kampong Chinnang (approximately a 2 hour drive from Phnom Penh). I was sure that I had experienced the most terrifying car ride of my life with Pastor Betouen, but “hory cow” (Sonja’s and my new saying) this was by far the worst. Often reaching speeds of 90…cows and children walk at your own risk. Sadly, we hit a dog crossing the road. It took every ounce of Sonja’s being and focus not to vomit after that one. It was awful! I can’t even tell you how many times we locked up the brakes trying to avoid hitting a cow or water buffalo crossing the road. OMGosh!

The women’s center offered housing, meals, and job training for about 30 women who have been “rescued” out of prostitution and severe sexual abuse situations. They are taught “sawing” otherwise known as sewing, and cosmetology. These women agree to spend at least one year at the center to gain the training they need to be able to prosper in society by themselves. We learned that several women have died at the center of AIDS. They were unable to get any medical treatment because of people’s fear of the disease. Their bodies were put inside barrels and cremated after death because they were even too afraid and ashamed to touch them. This center had received a huge generator donated from someone in the states over 2 years ago that has never worked…how fantastic is that? The American’s give a “used” gift that doesn’t even work! Hopefully, we can find out some information on it back at home to help them by at least getting an owner’s manual for it. We distributed more feminine products to these women than I have ever seen in one place expect on the shelves at Wal-Mart! Imagine the embarrassment of Pastor Theng as he had to translate the use and purpose of a tampon. Insert giggle here!

We also visited Transitions Cambodia in Battambang….a trade school where women learn computers and sewing…much like the women’s center in Kampong Chinnang.
Our adventure on Wednesday truly began upon arrival at our hotel in Battambang…the Golden Palace Hotel. Wow…what an experience! We had gecko lizards scurrying up the walls…and were lucky to have running water…our showers took about 3 times the normal amount of time due to a severe lack of water pressure. Once showered, we braved a walk around town in search of a “safe” place to eat. We drank Cokes at the White Rose Restaurant…then ventured to the fittingly named Gecko Restaurant where they offered Western-style food and 30-minute foot massages for $4. Who knew one could eat and get a massage at the same place. We had a splendid meal of beef/rice for only $4 per person with fresh squeezed lime juice and club soda…with no ice cuz we weren’t sure how safe the water/ice were…we’re desperately trying to avoid Montezuma’s revenge! J After dinner we walked back to our hotel…showered and camped out in dad’s room for our evening ritual…UNO! Once again…I kicked butt!