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18 January 2009
14 January 2009
Feelings Now...
Since blogging about the Youth Christmas Party and our frustrations with the youth we have had quite a number of emails from friends expressing their sympathy, empathy and support. Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement, for the Bible verses that you highlighted to us, and the prayers that have been uttered. The emails were humbling to read and made us feel that it isn't a hopeless situation, that the youth can change. But that it would have to be God that did the changing, not us or their pastors.
In the end Alvin and I didn't do any of the clearing up. We decided to sit and wait and see what would happen, whether the youth would say anything about tidying up or do it without being asked. The tent frame and stage were left for another week and a half, and by that time the Somrong Christmas Party was going to take place, so Pastor Kea decided that the things should be left there as they would be useful for the party. So no tidying up there.
We attended the Somrong Christmas Party on the 1st January and were surprised to see the whole church looking so clean and tidy. The grass area in front of the church had been swept of all the litter from the Youth Party. We assumed that Pastor Kea told the youth to tidy up, but we never asked.
One lady who we have had the privilage of meeting is Christina. She is from Singapore and taught English in Baray for a year, so she knows some of the youth quite well. And having been in Cambodia for a few years now she was able to tell us a little more about the Cambodian way of thinking. She asked us about how the Youth Party went, so we told her and then we asked how it could be that the same youth who were here today, could be doing exactly the things that we had wanted them to do 2 weeks previously. We chatted about this for a while and concluded on two points:
1. The youth did not feel that they "owned" the Youth Party. That they saw it as an event run by foreigners for them. It didn't matter that the pastors, Alvin and I had told the youth it was an evangelistic event. That it would be used to give the gospel to their friends. Maybe many didn't hear the instruction to pray for the friends they would invite. Nothing we had said about "do you love your friend enough to give them the gospel?" was heard, so there was no ownership of the event. Christina explained that the thought process is "the foreigners are planning a party for my friends, that means it's for me as well, that means I don't have to do anything, so I won't help."
2. Some of the youth really are just very self-orientated. Enough said.
I guess the first point explains why the youth were doing everything so well during the Somrong Christmas Party. They do it every year, and it's a church celebration, their church - ownership. So they help and they know exactly what they need to do. But it makes us question why they don't feel that way towards their friends. Maybe God will reveal this to us later on, but right now it still baffles us.
Anyhow. How are the youth now you ask? We see them at the prayer meeting on Saturday evening, and then on Sunday at the youth service, and occasionally during the week when they come to hang out in Pastor Kea's front yard. They are carrying on as they have always done, I don't think they know about how frustrated Alvin and I were at them. This whole thing reminds me of Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:34 when He says "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." How true. So what else can we do but forgive them? There's no point being angry about it because they don't even know we're angry, it would just be us fuelling the anger ourselves, mulling it over until it devours and destroys us. Ha, dramatic I know. But it's true. So we forgive them, and we will pray for them.
We ended up going with some of the youth to the concert that Peanut organised and it was great fun singing and messing around with them. Here are just a few of us with some famous dude in the background.
One incident was very humbling and showed me yet another side to the youth. There was a drunken guy who was disturbing everyone, and was moving closer to us. I heard one of the girls called Rachel say "boong Alice" - sister Alice, and then one of the guys nodded. When the drunk man got close the male youth shielded me from the drunk man, I tried to turn to look at the drunk man and Rachel grabbed my head, turned it the other way and said "no look!" They were trying to protect me! I can't say how humbled I felt at that point.
In the end Alvin and I didn't do any of the clearing up. We decided to sit and wait and see what would happen, whether the youth would say anything about tidying up or do it without being asked. The tent frame and stage were left for another week and a half, and by that time the Somrong Christmas Party was going to take place, so Pastor Kea decided that the things should be left there as they would be useful for the party. So no tidying up there.
We attended the Somrong Christmas Party on the 1st January and were surprised to see the whole church looking so clean and tidy. The grass area in front of the church had been swept of all the litter from the Youth Party. We assumed that Pastor Kea told the youth to tidy up, but we never asked.
The programme that day was very much like the one we had planned for the Youth Party, with worship, a drama, gospel message and then food afterwards. The youth were very much involved in the running of the programme, they led the worship, performed the drama, set up the table and chairs for food in the evening and cleared everything up afterwards. Alvin and I were extremely confused at how efficient the youth were being, they were all helping out, they were in the right place at the right time, they knew what they had to do. Where these really the same youth that were supposed to be helping out at the Youth Party? The difference in behaviour was staggering!
One lady who we have had the privilage of meeting is Christina. She is from Singapore and taught English in Baray for a year, so she knows some of the youth quite well. And having been in Cambodia for a few years now she was able to tell us a little more about the Cambodian way of thinking. She asked us about how the Youth Party went, so we told her and then we asked how it could be that the same youth who were here today, could be doing exactly the things that we had wanted them to do 2 weeks previously. We chatted about this for a while and concluded on two points:
1. The youth did not feel that they "owned" the Youth Party. That they saw it as an event run by foreigners for them. It didn't matter that the pastors, Alvin and I had told the youth it was an evangelistic event. That it would be used to give the gospel to their friends. Maybe many didn't hear the instruction to pray for the friends they would invite. Nothing we had said about "do you love your friend enough to give them the gospel?" was heard, so there was no ownership of the event. Christina explained that the thought process is "the foreigners are planning a party for my friends, that means it's for me as well, that means I don't have to do anything, so I won't help."
2. Some of the youth really are just very self-orientated. Enough said.
I guess the first point explains why the youth were doing everything so well during the Somrong Christmas Party. They do it every year, and it's a church celebration, their church - ownership. So they help and they know exactly what they need to do. But it makes us question why they don't feel that way towards their friends. Maybe God will reveal this to us later on, but right now it still baffles us.
Anyhow. How are the youth now you ask? We see them at the prayer meeting on Saturday evening, and then on Sunday at the youth service, and occasionally during the week when they come to hang out in Pastor Kea's front yard. They are carrying on as they have always done, I don't think they know about how frustrated Alvin and I were at them. This whole thing reminds me of Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:34 when He says "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." How true. So what else can we do but forgive them? There's no point being angry about it because they don't even know we're angry, it would just be us fuelling the anger ourselves, mulling it over until it devours and destroys us. Ha, dramatic I know. But it's true. So we forgive them, and we will pray for them.
We ended up going with some of the youth to the concert that Peanut organised and it was great fun singing and messing around with them. Here are just a few of us with some famous dude in the background.
One incident was very humbling and showed me yet another side to the youth. There was a drunken guy who was disturbing everyone, and was moving closer to us. I heard one of the girls called Rachel say "boong Alice" - sister Alice, and then one of the guys nodded. When the drunk man got close the male youth shielded me from the drunk man, I tried to turn to look at the drunk man and Rachel grabbed my head, turned it the other way and said "no look!" They were trying to protect me! I can't say how humbled I felt at that point.
So that's about all really. Youth around the world are all the same underneath. For me I feel the same way about them as I do for the youth at CCIL; frustrated to the point of strangulation because I know they that can be so much more and they don't realise it, but yet they bring me so much joy and so many blessings that I can't help but love them. It's a funny world.
Hanging out with Cambodian Celebs..
That's right, we've been rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous of Cambodia's pop scene. Ok, maybe I exaggerated a little. We've been hanging out with one Cambodian Celeb. For anonymity we'll call him Peanut because he reminds me of a peanut.
On Saturday night (10th Jan) a Toyota Camry pulled up in the courtyard of CMS. Alvin and I have a perfect view from our place to see who comes and goes, we thought it was just some regular Khmer's wanting to see the Homestay.
Saturday night is usually prayer meeting night for the youth, so I went down to join at the normal time and found that there were only 4 youth out of the 20 or so who usually go. We found the of them in the homestay, hiding behind various pillars and pot plants, giggling away, staring at Peanut eating. Once he'd finished eating he was nice enough to talk to the youth, and then Alvin helped them to take some pictures with him. Afterwards they all went to touch his car and then join the prayer meeting - I have never seen them sing so loudly and so joyfully in the 4 months I have been here, they were all so excited. I guess for these guys, seeing Peanut is the equivalent of us seeing Robbie Williams or something like that.
Anyhow, Alvin didn't end up joining the prayer meeting that evening. He and Peanut somehow got chatting. Peanut was in Baray to host a concert featuring Cambodia's hottest new star, this was going to take place on Monday night in Tuol Dam Nak village 7Km north of us. One topic led to another and Peanut ended up spilling out his life story to Alvin. He started to become famous around 10 years ago, whilst he was a high school English teacher in Phnom Penh. He made it big in Cambodia, everyone loved him and his songs. It was all good at first being famous, but then it led to heavy drinking, gambling, drugs, casual sex, bankruptcy and then a breakdown. However, he has a friend, his Arts Director, who is a Christian. He told Alvin how his friend brought him to church and he likes how Christians accept him for who he is, that they treat him like a normal person and not like a god. So Alvin invited Peanut to come to church the next morning. He accepted, but he wouldn't be able to come to the adult service as it was too early, he'd come for the youth service at 9:30 instead. We of course didn't tell the youth this, there would be chaos otherwise.
So Sunday morning, everything's as normal, the youth are hanging around waiting for service to start and then the Toyota Camry pulls up. All the youth and the aunties from the adult service just stopped what they were doing and stood there staring and giggling for a good 20 minutes. Alvin and I however were having a conversation with Peanut about what Christians believe, and ended up asking him whether he had or would like to accept Jesus as his Saviour. His reply was that he thought Christianity is a very loving religion, but that he thinks it's not healthy to get too into something - I guess that's a no then.
He only ended up staying for the worship and the Bible reading in the end as he had to prepare for the concert. But he shared with the youth before he left how their singing had really touched him and that he could see that they loved God very much. After he had left Pastor Kea gave the youth an on the spot sermon about being ready, you never know who is going to come to your church service - be it Peanut or even Jesus coming back himself, so be ready...and please keep the church clean and tidy from now on!!
Later on that day, Alvin was able to spend a little more time with Peanut. He shared a little more about how after he had his breakdown all the people around him abandoned him. His long-term girlfriend left him and took everything with her, his so-called friends now didn't want to be associated with him. He shared how his Christian friend cared for him and took him fishing just to get away from it. He can see that Christians love each other very much, and he thinks it's cool that they even accept people like him and show him love. But now he's back on his feet, promoting himself and new stars, his fans are returning and he's earning back some of the money he lost, he's in a good place. It is so sad for Alvin and I to see the lies that have been planted in his mind, this thought that "I'm alright, I'm doing fine and I don't need God."
Peanut and Alvin exchanged phone numbers before he left, so we hope to see him in Phnom Penh before we leave Cambodia - assuming he's not busy with celebrity stuff. We pray that God would continue to work in Peanut's life, that he would come to realise one day that he too needs a Saviour and we hope that you would pray for him as well.
Thanks for reading guys! Sorry it's a bit long winded.
On Saturday night (10th Jan) a Toyota Camry pulled up in the courtyard of CMS. Alvin and I have a perfect view from our place to see who comes and goes, we thought it was just some regular Khmer's wanting to see the Homestay.
Saturday night is usually prayer meeting night for the youth, so I went down to join at the normal time and found that there were only 4 youth out of the 20 or so who usually go. We found the of them in the homestay, hiding behind various pillars and pot plants, giggling away, staring at Peanut eating. Once he'd finished eating he was nice enough to talk to the youth, and then Alvin helped them to take some pictures with him. Afterwards they all went to touch his car and then join the prayer meeting - I have never seen them sing so loudly and so joyfully in the 4 months I have been here, they were all so excited. I guess for these guys, seeing Peanut is the equivalent of us seeing Robbie Williams or something like that.
Anyhow, Alvin didn't end up joining the prayer meeting that evening. He and Peanut somehow got chatting. Peanut was in Baray to host a concert featuring Cambodia's hottest new star, this was going to take place on Monday night in Tuol Dam Nak village 7Km north of us. One topic led to another and Peanut ended up spilling out his life story to Alvin. He started to become famous around 10 years ago, whilst he was a high school English teacher in Phnom Penh. He made it big in Cambodia, everyone loved him and his songs. It was all good at first being famous, but then it led to heavy drinking, gambling, drugs, casual sex, bankruptcy and then a breakdown. However, he has a friend, his Arts Director, who is a Christian. He told Alvin how his friend brought him to church and he likes how Christians accept him for who he is, that they treat him like a normal person and not like a god. So Alvin invited Peanut to come to church the next morning. He accepted, but he wouldn't be able to come to the adult service as it was too early, he'd come for the youth service at 9:30 instead. We of course didn't tell the youth this, there would be chaos otherwise.
So Sunday morning, everything's as normal, the youth are hanging around waiting for service to start and then the Toyota Camry pulls up. All the youth and the aunties from the adult service just stopped what they were doing and stood there staring and giggling for a good 20 minutes. Alvin and I however were having a conversation with Peanut about what Christians believe, and ended up asking him whether he had or would like to accept Jesus as his Saviour. His reply was that he thought Christianity is a very loving religion, but that he thinks it's not healthy to get too into something - I guess that's a no then.
He only ended up staying for the worship and the Bible reading in the end as he had to prepare for the concert. But he shared with the youth before he left how their singing had really touched him and that he could see that they loved God very much. After he had left Pastor Kea gave the youth an on the spot sermon about being ready, you never know who is going to come to your church service - be it Peanut or even Jesus coming back himself, so be ready...and please keep the church clean and tidy from now on!!
Later on that day, Alvin was able to spend a little more time with Peanut. He shared a little more about how after he had his breakdown all the people around him abandoned him. His long-term girlfriend left him and took everything with her, his so-called friends now didn't want to be associated with him. He shared how his Christian friend cared for him and took him fishing just to get away from it. He can see that Christians love each other very much, and he thinks it's cool that they even accept people like him and show him love. But now he's back on his feet, promoting himself and new stars, his fans are returning and he's earning back some of the money he lost, he's in a good place. It is so sad for Alvin and I to see the lies that have been planted in his mind, this thought that "I'm alright, I'm doing fine and I don't need God."
Peanut and Alvin exchanged phone numbers before he left, so we hope to see him in Phnom Penh before we leave Cambodia - assuming he's not busy with celebrity stuff. We pray that God would continue to work in Peanut's life, that he would come to realise one day that he too needs a Saviour and we hope that you would pray for him as well.
Thanks for reading guys! Sorry it's a bit long winded.
Bong Riel Floating Village
I mentioned in my prayer requests that on the 7th January we would be going with Pastor Kea to a village on the Tonle Sap Lake, slight mistake there, should have said Tonle Sap river. Well anyway we went, and it was a great afternoon.
Seven of us went in total, on three mopeds...you do the maths. The village was 7km or so east through a very sandy patch of land, it was like going dirt biking through the Sahara or something. Alvin has never driven in such conditions before, so needless to say I was very worried for my life and his. We were slipping and slidding around the place, I was sitting behind him holding on for dear life and trying not to scream everytime we skidded. Anyway, after the nightmare sandy patch we reached a muddy patch. Great. It was too wet for the motos to drive through so we had to abandon them...and walk!! Alvin had unfortunately worn his big heavy Timberland boots with socks, so he ended up with very wet shoes. I had my quick dry trekker sandals on so was ok. Alvin told me afterwards when we got home that there was a small white wiggly thing that was trying to bore it's way into his boot. I freaked out and ran to the bathroom to scrub my feet. I'd hate to think that something had burrowed into my skin, only time will tell if I have Bilharzia or not! No rashes since that day so that's a good sign.
The village itself was very small, there were around 10 or so huts on stilts. The people were indeed very very poor, and none of the children or the adults there are educated. The water they drink is not filtered or boiled and is the same water that they urinate and excrete into, but for some reason there is no illness. The children were all very healthy looking, with dark hair and white teeth. It was strange, I thought they'd all be suffering from diarrhoea from drinking dirty water. Although the water is dirty there was no sign of rubbish anywhere, the river looked very clean. One of the things we have observed in Cambodia is that there is rubbish absolutely everywhere, people will throw a wrapper or plastic bag straight onto the floor without a thought about littering their country. On the river however there wasn't a sweet wrapper floating anywhere, spotless.
He was kind enough to give us a ride in his boat part way through the muddy water when we left. Here's him and his boat with his house in the background.
Whilst we were on house visitation, three of the team taught the children of the village on the long boats. Balloons are a must have in Cambodian Sunday schools, the kids love them and it seems to help them absorb the teaching!
Pastor Kea explained to us that the plan is to start up a temporary school there when the area has dried up some more. By March the waters will have receded by approximately 50metres, leaving a dry patch of ground on which the school can be conducted. Whilst the youth are there teaching the childern how to read and write Khmer, the adults will have a cell group. They hope that through the cell group and the school the village will all come to know Christ. Following this there is another floating village across the river that haven't heard the gospel yet, so there is still much work to be done!
Seven of us went in total, on three mopeds...you do the maths. The village was 7km or so east through a very sandy patch of land, it was like going dirt biking through the Sahara or something. Alvin has never driven in such conditions before, so needless to say I was very worried for my life and his. We were slipping and slidding around the place, I was sitting behind him holding on for dear life and trying not to scream everytime we skidded. Anyway, after the nightmare sandy patch we reached a muddy patch. Great. It was too wet for the motos to drive through so we had to abandon them...and walk!! Alvin had unfortunately worn his big heavy Timberland boots with socks, so he ended up with very wet shoes. I had my quick dry trekker sandals on so was ok. Alvin told me afterwards when we got home that there was a small white wiggly thing that was trying to bore it's way into his boot. I freaked out and ran to the bathroom to scrub my feet. I'd hate to think that something had burrowed into my skin, only time will tell if I have Bilharzia or not! No rashes since that day so that's a good sign.
The village itself was very small, there were around 10 or so huts on stilts. The people were indeed very very poor, and none of the children or the adults there are educated. The water they drink is not filtered or boiled and is the same water that they urinate and excrete into, but for some reason there is no illness. The children were all very healthy looking, with dark hair and white teeth. It was strange, I thought they'd all be suffering from diarrhoea from drinking dirty water. Although the water is dirty there was no sign of rubbish anywhere, the river looked very clean. One of the things we have observed in Cambodia is that there is rubbish absolutely everywhere, people will throw a wrapper or plastic bag straight onto the floor without a thought about littering their country. On the river however there wasn't a sweet wrapper floating anywhere, spotless.
Although the huts they lived in were sparse and not very sturdy, there was something very beautiful and serene about the way they lived. The place was so peaceful, and the view was beautiful. The simplicity of life there is strangely attractive. One man told us how he had moved to live on the lake 30 years ago, straight after the Khmer Rouge lost power. He had no land so had to settle on the river. This has been his view for the last 30 years.
He was kind enough to give us a ride in his boat part way through the muddy water when we left. Here's him and his boat with his house in the background.
Whilst we were on house visitation, three of the team taught the children of the village on the long boats. Balloons are a must have in Cambodian Sunday schools, the kids love them and it seems to help them absorb the teaching!
Pastor Kea explained to us that the plan is to start up a temporary school there when the area has dried up some more. By March the waters will have receded by approximately 50metres, leaving a dry patch of ground on which the school can be conducted. Whilst the youth are there teaching the childern how to read and write Khmer, the adults will have a cell group. They hope that through the cell group and the school the village will all come to know Christ. Following this there is another floating village across the river that haven't heard the gospel yet, so there is still much work to be done!
03 January 2009
He did it, Alvin did it...
He ate a spider, the whole thing, all by himself. Said the legs tasted like prawns and the abdomen tasted like fish eggs.
The spiders in the bag before he gobbled them up.
Only One Please...
On Monday we tagged along with Mordigai the dentist to see the work that he does and try to assist him.
In one of the villages we went to, there was a lady who requested for one tooth to be taken out as it was causing her pain. When she opened her mouth Mordgai had a very exasperated look on his face. This was what her teeth looked like:
In one of the villages we went to, there was a lady who requested for one tooth to be taken out as it was causing her pain. When she opened her mouth Mordgai had a very exasperated look on his face. This was what her teeth looked like:
Most of her teeth had rotted away leaving the roots, she wanted to have the brown coloured molar on her left pulled out. Mordigai turned to us and said "what is the point really? I might as well pull everything out, they'll only end up rotting away as well." In the end he only pulled the molar out and the lady went away very happy.
We saw 34 patients that day and pulled 66 teeth out.
The Manga Messiah
A couple of you have asked exactly what Jesus looks like in Manga form. So here He is:
On the cover - with what looks like designer stubble
Jesus from baby to toddler to teenager
Jesus after he was baptised - Alvin says "check out the bod!"
Jesus during the transfiguration - the hair is truly awesome.
Another character to note is the Angel Gabriel - again, awesome hair. I would love to see the Sunday school dress up their angel like this for Christmas 2009.
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