Background...


BACKGROUND...

We will be working with the Cambodian Hope Organisation (CHO), in a border town called Poipet. In Poipet the largest source of employment is day labour, 8-10 thousand people cross the border each day to transport goods back from Thailand; working conditions and pay is poor. Poipet lies in the shadows of ten super-casinos, they provide little economic benefit to the local area. The influx of tourists and gamblers attracted by the casinos has encouraged the sex industry to flourish. Child trafficking has taken a stronghold in Poipet, and its the poor families who are at risk of being lured into sending their children into Thailand where the risk of trafficking is high.

There is Hope! CHO works in the local community, and they envision 'a network of strong, hope-filled communities where adequate physical, psychological and spiritual needs are met.'


The work we will be doing with CHO is varied and includes; Helping to build a safe haven centre for children who have escaped the child trafficking industry, learning Khmer, the local language, taking an active role in children’s clubs and ‘school on a mat’, assisting CHO staff in their work in the community, working with individuals from different cultures and faiths, especially the Buddhist culture, praying for and visiting those suffering with HIV/AIDS, taking an active role in the life of the Church through worship, sharing testimonies, taking bible studies and preaching.


Tuesday 29 June 2010

Guest blogger; 12th - 30th June

Hello!
Welcome to another blog, sorry for the delay. We now have 2 and half weeks left in Poipet and so though this week we would ask Emily Perry to be our guest blogger. Emily has been here for the duration of our time here and was on the same transform trip as us last year and now works with ‘Hope for the Nations’- a NGO working with CHO. We thought it would be interesting to have a different voice give their take on our time here. Enjoy...


After spending nearly six months with the three boys, I feel like I am highly qualified to comment giving all their faithful follows insight into the reality here. On arrival here there was a comment made by a CHO staff member; “their bodies are fully grown but their faces are so young!” since then we have worked them hard, got them a tan and stood and watched these boys turn into men.
Shall we begin with their living standards! Each boy keeps himself well groomed and kept for most of the day light hours; occasionally showing some spontaneity and experimentation with facial hair. However the rooms which they inhabit showed me a different story. They occupy two rooms the first of which has become their dumping ground for many unusual objects and a home for the world’s population of ants. I have caught them purposely leaving food for the ants to continue their city! Their water bottle pile has become something to marvel at. No bottle goes to waste as they collect them all and store them for that one grand final project that is yet to be worked out. A few ideas that have been tested include a bowling alley, sofa, decorations to be hung around the bedroom and a rather successful water feature! One of the regular activities that takes place in the front room is hair cutting. I know this because the pile of various coloured hair is swept up and remains in a corner to surprise any visitors. Maybe they are saving it for an art activity but I haven’t been brave enough to ask that question yet!
Their day consists of devotions, 66% of the team are regular attendants to this early morning activity, the other 33% catches up after breakfast. The morning at the safe haven keeps them busy before they return to the office to spread their sweaty love around us all. The safe haven school gets a treat in the afternoons with having English lessons and bible stories.
Calum enjoys sharing his years of wisdom with people who have limited English language skills and his safe haven grade 1 class! They enjoyed learning the theory of light being a spectrum of colours and the full science behind the theory. They have become the most educated grade 1 class in all of Cambodia!
Paul thoroughly loves the outdoor mans work and looks like proud local farmer with his straw hat coming back from a successful harvest when he has done a morning labouring at the safe haven.
Alex, (the pastor for the people) has his own following who arrive every day at 5 o’clock (often a lot earlier) to enjoy the English lesson. So far we have one love note and a fight started by a protective girl controlling the young rabble.
What a tremendous delight to have been part of their story here and to have them part of mine. They have tales of reaching village groups and whole schools with the gospel, and also memories of moving piles of rocks from one place and then back again the next day. Either way these boys are faithful to the cause and keep their eyes on the bigger picture. Humbly and unified they have impacted this community by simply being.

Blessings, look forward to another guest blog next week.
Calum, Alex and Paul.

6 comments:

  1. Hahaha - so now we hear the truth!

    Hope you have taken lots of pictures of the haricuts I mean haircuts.

    Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks or so and maybe hearing you introduce a Cambodian worship song to us.

    Keep up your good work

    Love and prayers

    Celia & Alex

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  2. Thanks Emily
    Now we recognise the people who left us all those months ago!! I was beginning to wonder if there had been a switch of some personnel somewhere round about Dubai. Can't wait to hear what the water bottle project is to be.

    I know the last two and a half weeks will whizz past, but hope you're able to complete all your work. Looking forward to seeing you soon and hearing all your tales. You are all in our prayers here at HPC.

    Love and God's blessings to you

    Al, xxx

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  3. Hello!

    Neat idea to have the blog done in Emily's perspective.

    So, you're housing a huge ant colony....that's....cool...i suppose...:P

    The water project sounds really cool, make sure to take lots of pictures!

    Wow, so you only have a couple weeks left! Time goes by quickly. Enjoy every last minute of your time over there...

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  4. Hi Calum!

    Got the card yesterday (30/6/10)

    Hope you're all having a great time!

    Archie

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  5. Hey guys (and girl!),

    nice work Emily, very informative and close to the truth. Must say I'm very disappointed to hear that the sofa isn't finished yet!
    Just subtely noticed some exciting news under the 'give thanks for' section to the left - very encouraging indeed :)
    I'm off travelling again, funny to think that two months ago it was to see you guys, and now you're nearly finished! Paul - I hope your tan isn't wearing off during the rainy season as I'll be catching up fast!
    Look forward to receiving the next update, from the guest blogger (who?!)
    God bless,
    Chris

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  6. Alex, have you been asked if you would give a talk to the mens' breakfast on your travel yet? Will you?

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