I lost myself in the Cambodian countryside on our thirty minute drive. When I got out of the car I was surrounded by nothing. The dustry road beneath us, a brown canal before us and the occasional squatter shack which dotted the horizon were all the eye could see. Our driver led us down a steep metal ramp to a dock at which were docked multiple long rickety boats. We climbed from the bow of one boat to the bow of another trying to keep our balance as they rocked back and forth. Finally, the driver stopped on the third boat and said, “mind your head” as we stooped to step down into the boat. Our seats were green wicker chairs; a few of them had cushions. Despite seeing water through the thin, widely spaced floor boards, I decided I would not grow nervous. The boat engine vomited a thick black cloud of smoke that wreaked of fuel and we lurched forward on the murky water. Our voyage had begun. We were headed to the Floating Villages of Cambodia. The Floating Villages is a community of over 7000 Cambodians and Vietnamese illegal immigrants that live in a floating community of house boats and shops.
This is what I saw:
As the boat puttered along God provided many opportunities to laugh and find joy in him!
He gave opportunities to worship and praise him and pray to him throughout the day.
But as we passed boat loads and boat loads of tourists my mind couldn’t help but wonder . . .
He gave opportunities to worship and praise him and pray to him throughout the day.
But as we passed boat loads and boat loads of tourists my mind couldn’t help but wonder . . .
What is it like to live in the floating villages?
How do the people of the floating villages feel about tourists invading their neighborhood?
How do the people of the floating villages feel about tourists invading their neighborhood?
What do they feel when people snap pictures of their lives? their homes?
Do they feel like monkeys is a cage?
Where does all the money go that is generated by this tourist industry?
Do these people ever see it?
Do they understand concepts of bettering their surroundings?
Do they wish for improvement?
Are they content?
Would they know how to use the money to change their situations if they had it?
Do their children have dreams of a bright future?
or do they think it will always be their lot in life to sell cheap beverages to tourists?
Do they go to school?
Do they have a chance at education?
Do they understand concepts of bettering their surroundings?
Do they wish for improvement?
Are they content?
Would they know how to use the money to change their situations if they had it?
Do their children have dreams of a bright future?
or do they think it will always be their lot in life to sell cheap beverages to tourists?
Do they go to school?
Do they have a chance at education?
Are these children able to play and enjoy childhood or are they child laborers?
What do they earn in a day?
What do they earn in a day?
Was the canal always this dirty?
or was it the influx of tourists and increase of rickety boats that caused the green murky water?
What health problems have arisen from the influx of boats and the increase in pollution?
How long will the child live if he keeps drinking this polluted water?
Do they recognize that it is gasoline floating on the surface of their waters?
Do they know how it can harm them when they swim and play and drink this water?
or was it the influx of tourists and increase of rickety boats that caused the green murky water?
What health problems have arisen from the influx of boats and the increase in pollution?
How long will the child live if he keeps drinking this polluted water?
Do they recognize that it is gasoline floating on the surface of their waters?
Do they know how it can harm them when they swim and play and drink this water?
What was this community like 20 years ago?
Was this a tremendous fishing community?
How did they earn their livelihood?
Did we ruin their fishing economy with our pollution?
and in doing so make them dependent on our tourist economy to survive?
Did we do this to them?
Would it be so fascinating if it was a community of nice house boats like you see in Florida?
or is it their poverty and living situations that draw a crowd?
Do those who earn the money from this industry keep these people oppressed to ensure that business thrives?
By being on this boat am I exploiting them?
Am I fueling the the engine of injustice that is keeping them oppressed?
Why are mothers and small children begging money from tourists in this community?
Why is a blind beggar ignored by those invading his neighborhood?
Would it be so fascinating if it was a community of nice house boats like you see in Florida?
or is it their poverty and living situations that draw a crowd?
Do those who earn the money from this industry keep these people oppressed to ensure that business thrives?
By being on this boat am I exploiting them?
Am I fueling the the engine of injustice that is keeping them oppressed?
Why are mothers and small children begging money from tourists in this community?
Why is a blind beggar ignored by those invading his neighborhood?
Do they know the name of Jesus?
Have these people ever heard?
Do they know of a Savior who desires to fight injustice for them?
Heal their wounds? And save them?
Can they see beyond their current situation?
Hope deferred?
Does this describe them?
Does this describe them?
