Before you start reading I need to acknowledge that most of the credit of this blog goes to my squad mate, Laura Gamble, who simply wrote an incredibly accurate description of our experience in Cambodia. Instead of wasting precious time, I am borrowing most of her blog with permission. Why re-invent the wheel, right?
At the beginning of this month, we had our four month debrief in Siem Reap. This is basically a time to rest, worship, learn from one another, check in with our leaders, and enjoy community. We also had the opportunity to do some sight-seeing, including going to Angkor Wat.
When our short time at debrief was over, Team Salt Shakers departed for our ministry with the Rock Foundation Cambodia near Phnom Penh. We're placed with another team this month, which means there are currently fourteen of us sharing three bedrooms and a small common living area. The bathroom consists of a large basin of water and a half-sized toilet. Bathing requires a tupperware bowl, as well as quick reflexes to avoid the plethora of mosquitoes that inhabit the water basin. Its incredibly hot and humid here, so we're thankful for the fans (when the electricity is working, that is).
Our first day of ministry, we had the opportunity to visit Choeung Ek, one of many Killing Fields from the Khmer Rouge regime of the late 1970s. It was a sobering reminder of the recent past of many Cambodians and the many issues the country and its people still face as a result of the genocide.
Our day to day ministry has included visiting a number of villages where our contact works. They are all squatter communities that are a direct result of the Khmer Rouge Genocide that our contact, Brett and his right-hand man, Thyvenn, have been pouring into for at least a year or more. They lead Bible studies, discipleship opportunities, and often bring food to help feed the hungry families.
One of these villages is simply called the Rock Village. It’s a community that lives in a rock quarry, chipping out rock and crushing it into gravel to be sold. Seven days a week, 365 days a year, these families work to make a mere $30 a month. We've been able to help prepare a larger meal with them on Fridays, which is often the only good meal they'll eat all week.
The second village we have been working in is called the Flooded Village, which is located in a ditch that floods 6 to 7 feet deep in the rainy season. ThyVenn conducts Bible studies and Brett has been able to work with the community to rebuild the homes there on stilts so they don’t have to evacuate the ditch and sleep on the road which is the only high ground, but extremely dangerous.
The third village we’ve been working in, we call the Dump Village, where families dig through the nearby dump in order to collect wire, electronics, and other recyclables to turn in for money. They rent $5 rice bag shacks and too often are unable to even make that rent. The smell is putrid and the children are naked and dirty. But the Holy Spirit is moving there and several people have come to have a relationship with Jesus as a result of Brett and ThyVenns love and time investment.
In the evenings, we've been teaching a free English class at the church, as well as helping with Bible studies and church services on the weekends. Our schedule has been keeping us really busy, but I've enjoyed my time here, our ministry contact, our translators and the work we've been partnering with.
This weekend the men headed off to the "middle-of-no-where-Cambodia" to improve a hector (330' by 330') of land recently purchased by our contact, Brett. The goal is to make the land a functional mango farm. By doing so Brett creates a job and income for a poor family at the rock village (moving them out to the piece of land) and simultaneously creates a stream of income for his ministry.
If you would like to learn more about the Rock Foundation Cambodia, you can check out their Facebook page or visit their website at: http://www.rockfoundationcambodia.webs.com
Another ministry I had a brief encounter with while I was here was Daughters of Cambodia. This Christian organization provides women, girls and lady-boys with alternative skills and work to provide a way out of the sex trade industry. I was able to visit their shop where they have handicrafts being made in front of you, a spa, a coffee shop, and a boutique to sell their beautiful goods. I’ve seen a lot of souveneir shops and this one was more than that. It was just, different. You’ll have to see it for yourself. Check it out future Racers and travelers 🙂
Ok. Hochimin, Vietnam next week…wow. I tell you what, WOW.
Also, check out my other blog: http://theadventureofexistence.blogspot.com
