Vietnamese Ministry

The following is my journal entry for 18 June.

Today is the Queen Mother's birthday, and in celebration the schools have a holiday so no Logos this morning. Instead, Lois p'own sray, Lisa and I went to Miss Kim's house. When there isn't school she invites her youth group over for the morning and lunch. They are all Vietnamese kids whose parents came to Phnom Penh some time ago. They tens to be some of the poorest here since the can't get papers for real work or citizenship since they are Vietnamese ethnicity. Because of the poverty the parents sometimes sell their daughters to brothels for money. After meeting and getting to know a few of these beautiful, young ladies it breaks my heart to think about what could be the reality of their future.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays we teach English at New Hope School which is just for the Vietnamese. The first 3 classes I was with the youth but now I am with kids who are about 5 years younger and are just learning English. So far, this has been my favorite ministry experience. I did not expect any exposure to Vietnamese when we were making plans for this trip. The kids are so fun and sweet. It is difficult to teach English to those who are just learning, but it is important. The goal of the English classes is to help the kids get into Cambodian public schools, which for the girls means staying out of the brothels. When a girl starts to miss a lot of school then the staff know or suspect she will likely be sold soon. I look at their beautiful faces and bright spirits and wonder who could ever think of selling them. I have never had to live in such poverty though. What would I do to provide for my family? This is where the rubber meets the road with trusting God.

The youth group we spent time with today is really like a house church. Many in their families do not know God. It was an enriching and rewarding experience. We taught them a few songs in English, listened while they had Bible quizzes and teaching, did an origami craft, and played a few games. The Vietnamese language is written in English letters with tonal marks. Some of the books of the Bible have the same names. Most of the kids had their own Bibles and you could tell they really read and used them. We ate lunch with them as well. They were very kind, welcoming, served us and each other. I, who feel like I have so much to give, could only receive.

Again, this has been one of my favorite ministry experiences. On Tuesday, Lisa and I were praying, and as I prayed for this ministry I just started crying as I thought about what might happen to some of the girls. While it is not unusual for me to cry, it is unusual for me to cry like that. I am getting a hint of helplessness--that I cannot help or protect these girls. I hope that none of them will be sold, especially while I am here.

Please pray for this ministry and these children! Our English classes are 5:30-6:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you happen to be awake Tuesday/Thursday mornings 5:30-6:30 central time or 6:30-7:30 eastern time, please remember us!

Week One

We have been in the country a little over a week, returned to normal sleep patterns after jet lag, and already experienced some different ministries. It was a very hard first week. I experienced some culture stress as Cambodia is nothing like I imagined or expected. I will record more of my cultural observations and struggles on this blog in the next few days as I journal about them. I also had a hard week physically. Not with stomach problems as many might suppose, although my stomach is adjusting as well, but with a really bad heat rash that was all over my back, arms, and thighs. It has taken a few days but is now starting to clear up. Two main things I learned from this week are 1.) God is the only Sustainer and 2.) this trip is not going to be anything like my trip to Japan.

Week 2 has begun and everything looks brighter. Monday we started teaching summer school at Logos International School. I thought I was going to be teaching art for two weeks, but after a visit to the school last week I found out that I would also be teaching space/dinosaurs and English reading/skills. Fortunately, I had a few lesson plans for dinosaurs, the school had novelized versions of a Shakespeare play, and I can use the internet to find stuff to do for space. Flexibility is the name of the missions game! Anyways, class started Monday and I have 22 3rd and 4th graders. The boys are loving learning about dinosaurs, the girls are enjoying the art projects, and everyone is excited to read and act out a Shakespeare play. Who are these kids? Answer: blessings from God. Their teacher during the school year is serving as a helper in the class, and I am so thankful for her! She has helped me with ideas, finding supplies, making copies, and has really been encouraging. God is with me in this process!

Memorial of Genocide

Background: In 1975 Pol Pot and the communist party Khmer Rouge came to power. The face they put on for the world was one of an ideal communist society, but the truth behind the mask was one of terror, mistrust, and murder. For four years, Cambodia endured and struggled for survival. Help came in the form of an invasion by the Vietnamese army, and the world was made aware of the millions of deaths that had been ignored, denied, or unheard. It is estimated that approximately 2 million people died directly from the genocide and another million died from the forced famine. The world had seen genocide before but not one committed against a group's own people group. This is thirty years later....

On Tuesday, my second day here, we visited Tuol Sleng or S-21. This was a high school that the Khmer Rouge used as a torture center where people accused of committing crimes against the party would be taken before they were executed. Only 7 out of 17,000-20,000 people survived. The compound is surrounded by the city but isolated from its rhythm of life. They stand silent, but you can almost hear the despair when you look at the fences put up around the balconies to prevent people from committing suicide in order to escape the horror, when you see a tear running down the woman's cheek in a picture taken of her at the beginning of her confinement, when you read the list of rules for the prisoners which if violated resulted in death, when you look at cells 2 1/2 x 4 feet that housed two people, when you see the instruments of torture on display. Voices were silenced.

Our tour guide was very young at the time. She survived by fleeing to Vietnam with her mother and a sister. Her father, brother, and a sister did not survive. It was good to hear her story and some of the facts of the genocide from her. She was calm but there was a degree of despair. (How many times had she given this tour and had to remember what happened to her people and family?) Why did this happen? Why did other countries (US, China, Thailand) further it instead of stopping it? Why were so many of the Khmer Rouge allowed to go free?

The genocide silenced so many voices. What is the voice of Cambodia saying now? Will it be as silent as the buildings of S-21? Will it ever be heard with richness and fullness? The reality of genocide is hard to comprehend but it forms the backdrop of the mentality here. This is a country struggling to gain its footing after so much has been lost. This is Cambodia.

Preparing Thoughts

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, 

Because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 

To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; 

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD

And the day of vengeance of our God; 

To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

~ Isaiah 61:1-3

This passage of Scripture described the ministry of the Messiah, and the people would know of the arrival of the Messiah by witnessing these works. Jesus read this passage at the beginningof His ministry to declare His Messiahship and what He was going to do among them (cf. Luke 4:17-21). For some reason I have always been struck by this passage. It speaks of liberation and restoration, that what was once broken will not only be mended but also made beautiful. I long for world to be restored, be made whole again, for shalom. It is not enough to be rescued but to also be restored, and all for His glory. 

I have decided to claim this passage as the theme for the Cambodia trip. I am starting to pray that this passage will become a reality for the people with whom I will interact. In no way do I consider myself to be the Savior of the people. There is only One. I pray that He will work through me to make the broken whole and plant seeds that the Lord will grow into oaks of righteousness. Above all, I pray that He will be glorified and magnified in Cambodia. There is no greated goal.

I leave tonight!

Less than a week!

In less than a week Lisa and I will be leaving for Cambodia! The vaccinations are complete, the packing has begun, and the excitement is starting to build. My life has been such a whirlwind lately that I am (somewhat) looking forward to being enclosed in a plane for 20ish hours. It is hard to imagine that a week from now I will be in a different country (yay!) adjusting to a 12-hour time difference (hmmm). For those of you who would like specific times, we leave Dallas at 10:30 p.m. Saturday and arrive in Phnom Penh at 11:35 am on June 8th. Gotta love crossing the international date line! My brother once told me it is sort of like flying to the future. 

 

I will have email access at an internet cafe while I am there, but I do not know how often I will be able to go. I will try to send out updates as often as possible. Please feel free to email me if you wish, but I might not respond quickly. 

 

Now on to the Cambodia portion of the email!

 

MINISTRIES

Lisa & I will be partnering with the following ministries most or all of our time in Cambodia. Below is just a snapshot of each ministry with available links if you want more information.

 

Daughters of Cambodia

(www.daughterscambodia.org) This ministry helps women and young girls leave the sex trade. In Cambodia, many are sold into the sex trade in order to pay off family debts or provide income for the families. DoC finds jobs for the girls so that they can get out immediately and still provide income for the family. It also cares for the girls in holistic ways. 

 

Logos International School

(www.logoscambodia.org) This is a western-based school whose student body is mostly comprised of Cambodian orphans. There are also Cambodian children from wealthy families and expatriate children. Lisa & I will be teaching a two week summer camp. My lessons will focus on art, specifically styles of some of the masters. Many years ago when I worked at a daycare center, I had to plan summer camp activities and the lesson plans I will use in Cambodia were the result. It is cool to see how God is using those past experiences to build His kingdom among the nations.

 

Child of Peace

This is an orphanage, and we will be doing crafts and teaching English. I am really looking forward to this experience because I have not worked with orphans before. I feel that God is leading me to love those who have no one to love them, and this opportunity will be useful in that area. Plus, you know how much I love to play with kids and hug them! 

 

PRAYER

I have attached a prayer guide if you would like more directed ways to pray for us. Other prayer requests and praises are below.

- Pray for protection, strength, and endurance from spiritual warfare

- Pray for safe travel

- Pray for quick adjustments and recovery from jet lag

- Praise for all of you who are supporting us through prayer

 

Again, thank you all for your prayers, support, and hugs. I will be praying for you as well.