Chnganye/ Delicious

Crispy Fried Tarantulas (and pickles)

Tears in the Slum

I have been visiting many of World Relief's ministries since arriving here, which have all been very eye-opening, but they can also be extremely sobering at times. 

Friday was one of those particularly heavy experiences. I went with a woman named Chantea to an very poor area where she meets with people to encourage them and mobilize them to educate people about HIV/AIDS, trafficking, abuse, and other prevalent issues. Chantea and other World Relief workers meet with many groups each, and then these people are empowered to go out to teach the people around them.

We stopped at several places in this slum area. This area is built with little wooden houses hovering over putrid water, filled so thickly with garbage that they created islands of filth. There was something very oppressive and forlorn in the air, which seemed to lay weights upon the shoulders of these people. Although I felt uncomfortable photographing a lot of what I saw, I snapped one photo from my hip as we were leaving: so you can see one of the rows of homes above the water. These rows kept going and going in a windy maze of tin and wood. Half-rotten wooden slats across the water provided footholds to avoid sloshing through the rubbish-filled water.

That being said: Here are some encounters we had with the different people we went to see:

Many people were sitting around playing some card game and drinking. Chantea frowned at me and told me about how people in these areas often waste what little time and money they have gambling, drinking, and doing drugs. Little kids ran around, usually with one article of clothing. A lot of them had bleached looking hair. We talked to one woman who was actually Vietnamese. Apparently there are many Vietnamese people in Cambodia, often living in slums along rivers, because they are often fishers. They are the lowest of the low, because Cambodians often look down on them and show animosity. I am not sure of the details of this social dynamic, but it's something I'd like to look into a bit more.

We slipped behind a little fruit stand, (covered in flies), and visited a family that Chantea works for. The women seemed to be blind. She was sitting on the floor trying to tidy up around her. The man was very skinny and stood behind. Chantea asked about their family. The old woman smiled and told us about her cute little grandson. But she said it was difficult taking care of him so much, because her daughter's husband had just left her and she was alone, and so she would go to work in the evenings, (as a prostitute), and leave the child with them. Chantea told me that in this community there were many woman who's husbands had either left them or they continually abuse them. If the husband has left, prostitution is often what the mothers must turn to for financial support.

Another visit brought us to a house with a younger woman sitting down with her face in her hands. Chantea called to her from the door. The woman mumbled something but didn't move. Her son (probably around 8), was pushing things around on the floor and looked up at us. Chantea went over to the woman, who finally looked up. Her eye was swollen shut and she was crying. Chantea tried to care for the woman's eye while talking to her, looking concerned. I crouched by the little boy to say hi. He was very quiet, but gave me a little smile. As we left that house, Chantea told me it was as she suspected: The woman's husband had been beating her. There was apparently another woman. I couldn't believe what she was telling me or what I had seen. We made our way around a corner and I almost ran into a woman dressed in tall heels, smeared make-up, and a short, tight, black dress. A prostitute returning home after a night of work. I was just so overwhelmed. Chantea asked me if I had questions or anything, but my eyes filled up with tears and I could not say anything. How could people live like this and treat their fellow humans so badly? These seemed to be typical encounters for Chantea's ministry. She continued informing me about it as we walked back to the moto to go home.

The story ends there by all chronological sense, but in my mind, there was an encounter before that that will still mark the day with hope, so I end here:

In one of the first groups, there were about 8 women and a few of their children in a dark, bare room as we crawled into a little home for Chantea to give her presentation on educating about trafficking. She gave them pictures and material to use, and then when she had finished her presentation, she turned to me expectantly and said, “OK, can you say something to these women? Or ask question?” I looked around and the women seemed eager to here me speak. I was impressed and inspired by the ministry that they were a part of, but I could not for the life of me think of anything important or eloquent enough to say in for the situation. I had a momentary freak out inside my head. “This is a moment to bless people, to produce words and wrap them up as a gift for people who had so little!” I thought. But alas, words did not come. I eventually just asked a few questions about the program and how world relief had helped each of them individually, and I said I thought it was a really good thing they were all doing, because many people they spoke to were not very easy to deal with. Then Chantea asked the women if they had any questions for me. They asked about my home and school and work here, as Chantea translated. Then one woman said “Can I tell you about Jesus?” When I heard these words, I think my brain did a little back flip in my skull. Here I was, desperately trying to present help to these women, who I had mistakenly pitied. One woman looked at me and desired to give me the gift of the greatest thing she possesses. She wanted to help me, to minister to me, as I sat bewildered in her dark little home. “I know Jesus!” I answered, maybe a little too loudly. I'm not sure why, but I don't think I've ever been as excited to say those words. It was like when you meet a new person and talk for a little while and realize that you have a mutual friend who is dear to both of you. We had a mutual saviour! This woman and I didn't have to exchange gifts or try to help each other. We had something to share. So we sat and talked about our mutual saviour for a while.

Hush

Last night, as the herd of cats stampeded across my roof and started to fight, emitting ear-shattering screeches; as the neighbourhood dogs began to howl at the commotion; as the Karaoke club blasted its eerie tunes through the humid air; as the neighbor's baby would not stop wailing; as the hand-sized coakroaches emerged with vigor from their hiding places... I heard the universe telling me, "Hush little child, go to sleep."

Ahr Khun/ Thank you

Amidst the craziness of a new country and lifestyle, my most prominent feeling now is thankfulness. It may seem strange. I was certainly surprised. My first word to learn in Khmer was “Ahr-khun” or thankyou, and I use it about 100 times a day, partly because I don't know what else to say, but also because I am just full of thankfulness for the blessings around me. 

I am thankful for the little random things that were too little to be thankful for before, and I am thankful for the big, central things, that may have been to big to be thankful for before. The strap on my backpack that I never noticed before is now a necessity to make it stay on as I ride on the back of motorcycles every day. My camera, my education, a family that would never reject me or try to sell me. I'm so thankful for these things. 

My host family lives a simplistic lifestyle, but we are all thankful for every mouthful of food, every restful night of sleep. I'm thankful for clean, cold water. If I give my host mother a compliment, she often responds “because of Jesus.” It can be kind of funny if I say, “nice nails,” or “Your English is very good,” and she says “Because of Jesus,” but I love that attitude. Jesus is so good to me. Even my fingernails and my language learning capabilities come from Him. Every good gift comes from above. The fact that I am here in this beautiful country, meeting amazing people, and spending each moment having my eyes and ears opened to new things, is only by the grace of God. So maybe it's my honeymoon phase or something, but I want to hold on to this thankfulness, even when things inevitably start getting hard, because that's what faith is about.

Breakfast Surprise

 After waking up, we usually just eat something quick or pack a breakfast, but Mala was excited this time. "What is it?" I asked. "Amerik breakfast!" she said. That's crazy! Did she really make scrambled eggs and toast? "Pig and Paun." She said. Paun is the word for bread. I was confused. She finally revealed the special treat. 

Yup...She knew I was American, so she made me a hamburger for breakfast! 

Week 1

Safely here in Phnom Penh. This is my room at my host family's house, (Mala and Banan and their kids Yoswey and Moria). Complete with bed, mosquito net, window (with a beautiful view of the neighbour's house,) and even a lamp

The outside of their house. The inside of the house is pretty much just two beds for 4 people and a kitchen, so they do almost everything out here.

Some of my most interesting moments so far have been on this moto. I ride with Mala to work everyday, because they like about 10 miles from World Relief. You can see 4 or 5 people on 1 moto pretty often, and people carrying everything from lumber to live chickens. I even saw a guy on his way gack from the hospital on a moto holding his IV above him.  I was borrowing a helmet, but that meant that someone else didn't have one, so I asked if I could buy one on the way home one day. So I purchased my first moto helmet. Mala helped me barter the guy down to 8 dollars for a good one. WHen I payed the guy asked. "You friends" pointing to Mala. I said yes. Mala said "no no. Sistaa!" It's nice to sort of be a part of their family here. 

I have been helping with an ESL/Photography teaching program for the staff here at World Relief. It is 2 weeks long, and then I think we move on to do it in the next provinces. It combines English learning with a practical skill that the staff can use while on the field to document what goes on. This is some of my section. They are all pretty amazing/genius.

One of the programs through WR is HIV/AIDS support groups in various areas. This is one of those groups that meets in a poor area outside the city. There were some intense stories told, mostly of women getting HIV/AIDS--one from working in a night club because her husband left her and her son and she had to get money, one from her husband when he worked in the city and slept around, and other places. 

These people seemed very poor and marginalized, with relatives who kept getting sick, and the constant scare that it could be AIDS. When Phnom Penh started developing the buildings, they cleared out a lot of residential land and moved people to these villages outside the city. Now they cannot afford the gas to work in the city, but the city is really the only place they can make good money. SO they are stuck in a viscous cycle. 

Yesterday I went with the Hope for Children Cambodia team to another poor village where they work with the children, educating them about health, and providing them a chance to learn and play and learn Bible stories. 

A rush for the pencils and paper

 A puppet show about the evil dengue fever mosquito

One of the guys who beat up the good samaritan--looks too cute to be a bad guy. 

Another ESL/Photography Lesson. Today we learned about light and composition. Some of these concepts are pretty complicated even for a native speaker. I'm very proud of this class. 

Mala, practicing using a camera for her class, took pictures of our lovely dinner together. Left to Right: Moria, Marisa, Banan, Yuswei. We were eating ground fish stuffed into tomatoes and soup and rice and some kind of delicious fruit. 

I had to get one with Mala in it. 

Teenager Ministry with Sineth and Tomm--games

Jouchty and I posing as Sineth practices photography

Someone running off with Tomm's shoes

Sineth talking about trafficking and HIV. He's a very good teacher. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I leave tomorrow morning! 

I've been getting a lot of the same questions from people these past few days regarding my internship, so I decided I would do this post in FAQ format. 

Who are you going with?

Although the HNGR (Human Needs and Global Resources) program is through Wheaton College, I go alone, not with a group. There are 20 other students doing a 6 month internship like I am, but in different countries, with different organizations, and different academic majors.

Who are you staying with?

I'll be staying with a host Cambodian family for at least the first month or so. 

What will you be doing specifically?
This is all I know at this point: 

1. Interning with World Relief in communications--photojournalism, helping with information documentation and publication in their various human development programs and working with church relations as they seek to empower the local church
2. Taking classes through the Wheaton HNGR program: Global Christian Perspectives, Anthropology, and Development. (Includes course reading, reflection papers, an ethnographical study of a location, and a pastoral interview).
3. An Independent Study Project through the Wheaton Communications department.

When do you go and come back?

I leave Tokyo June 9 and get back to Tokyo December 9, traveling through Korea. I will travel to the United States a few weeks later to go back to school for one more semester before graduating.

Why?

Why not? Or is that not a good enough answer. I signed up for HNGR originally for various reasons. I couldn't stay put in Wheaton for all 4 years, I wanted to experience poverty and social justice work in the developing world first hand, I wanted to apply my academic interest to practical social development, and I wanted to do something on my own, giving God the opportunity to work in and through my life and teach me crazy things. I find my primary purposes at this point to be to learn and to serve. I want to listen for how God wants me to serve and for what He has to teach me through new cultures, relationships, work experience, and perspectives.

What have you been doing during this preparatory time between school and HNGR? 

Reading, writing papers, touring with Frances, renewing my alien registration/ Japanese residency, Red cross certification, US state department registration, filling out several forms, packing, catching up with old friends, visiting up north, MC-ing and performing in a concert, hanging with my family, celebrating birthdays, graduations, and engagements, hanging with my family, eating delicious food, childcare, and other various activities

Photo taken by Philip Foxwell

Photo taken by Hikari Morimoto

Is it dangerous?

Answer for my father: Of course not, because I will be accompanied by 2 large, armed guards at all times, and whenever I step outside my padlocked concrete house, I will wear my sandwich board that says “You touch me, my Daddy's coming after you!” (And he would too... I think the movie Taken was based on him)

For everyone else: Any poor urban setting can present danger and any circumstance can pose a possible risk, but with common sense, preventative measures, a safety-conscious organization like World Relief, and the grace of God, I am not worried

What are you excited for?

A lot of people have asked me this question. I am very excited, but I don't know what I am excited about exactly. I hope to hear lots of amazing stories and make some of my own. I'm excited to learn more about the world and myself and others and God...also I hear they have great coffee...that's exciting.

What are you nervous/fearful about?

Nothing. I'm fearless. Nervousness and fear are not words in my dictionary. (Last night I combatted a giant spider in the bathroom with a kind of valour that has not been seen in these parts for centuries). Well...I'd like to be able to say that I am ready to confront every obstacle and overcome every emotion, but it's not true. (Maybe my biggest fear should be that people will not understand my sarcasm?) In all seriousness, what I fear is not any concrete danger or huge disaster. I fear letting people down. I know it just shows lack of faith on my part to fear people's disappointment, annoyance, or confrontation, and to think that the opinions of people matter in my own self worth, but it still worries me. I worry that I will disappoint the people I have come to work for and with. I fear that I will overwhelm people. I fear that I will underwhelm people. I fear that I will not live up to something, although I'm not sure what, and that my relationships with the people in my life, wherever they are, will suffer, and this all eats away at me until I have no confidence. I know that with the love of God we don't have to fear anything, in fact we are commanded not to fear so many times. I am trying to live with confidence in this truth. But I'm just trying to be honest about my fearful little heart. 

What do you want to do with your life after HNGR and graduation?

Get back to me in approximately 24 years.

MOST frequently asked question: So, are you ready for HNGR?!

Am I ready for an adventure in a new place, learning new things and meeting new people? YEAH! Did I accomplish my whole check list of things to do before leaving? Pretty much. Am I actually prepared for and aware of everything I am about to encounter? Of course not, but if I knew all things, then what would be the point in going?