Today, was probably the busiest day we have had
so far. As usual, the day started with prayer and worship. After this we
divided into teams, and spent time preparing for time with the children. Each
team went to a different village, and we had 2 interpreters along with us. We
had Narith again, and it felt like a privilege to spend time with him again. He
is a wonderful man, and he has such gifting with children. He shared that his
dream is to be a full-time children’s pastor. While we were throwing ideas
around for what to do with the children, I remembered the creation song from
Babies Bible Class. Babies Bible Class is a simple programme, founded by Ann
Robinson, that we used in our church way back when Jenni and Kerrin were
little. How I wished I had my picture set with me! But then I realised that the
pictures are so simple that it would be easy to recreate them. So that is exactly
what we did. Each person got to draw something, and within 10 minutes our
materials were created. It was such fun to revisit an old and favourite
experience. I taught the song to the team, with a lot of laughter and joking
around on their part, and then we were off to the village. The song was
slightly complicated in that we had to pause after each phrase so that Narith
could translate it for us :-))) But our pictures worked brilliantly! And then
we did the song with actions, and Narith translated, and soon all the children
were doing the actions too. So there you go Ann... did you ever dream that your
Babies Bible Class would go all the way to Cambodia? It works so well that I
hope to send a set of materials to Narith.... I wish we had a photo to show you,
but we were all involved in the singing, so there was no-one to take it.
After this we did a skit (Jesus heals the blind man), and this was a lot of fun! The we handed out colouring pages and balloons and bubbles, and enjoyed spending time with the kids. They LOVED the bubbles, and balloons were a big success too. These things are easy and inexpensive to provide, and they bring enormous delight.... something to remember if (when!) I get to come back again! It was hard to leave the children; they were so sweet and very loving, eager to hug us and hold our hands. Jean was very much loved by her group, and when she bent down to say ‘Goodbye’ to them, 3 of them rushed over and kissed her on the cheek. Needless to say, she was reduced to tears....
Back at CHO we had lunch, and then we divided into groups and prayed for CHO, and for the businesses up and down the streets of Poipet. And after a break we went in small groups of five or so to various brothels and karaoke bars. Our group paid for an hour of time with 2 girls – we talked with them, sharing about ourselves and asking them to tell us more about themselves. We also asked if there was anything they would like us to pray for. The young woman I spoke with is 20 years of age, but looks about 16. She told us that she is the eldest child in a family with 12 children, and that she comes from a far away village – 2 days travel away – and that because it is so far away, she only goes home twice a year. She said that she misses her family very much. She said that she came to work in Poipet in order to help her family. When we asked if there was anything she would like us to pray for her, she asked if we would pray for her family, because she worries about them, and because they also worry about her, and she does not want them to be worried.. Talk about a sacrificial heart. I was moved beyond words.... We told her about CHO, and suggested that she go and ask if they could help her train for a different kind of work. She said she would love to learn to sew. We told her that Cho trains girls like her in sewing. But she then said that she is not allowed to leave her place of work at all... and that she cannot therefore go to CHO. The CHO member of staff who accompanied us then took down her details and told us that they would try to follow up on the matter. Right now, without the brothel owner’s ‘goodwill’, CHO would be severely limited in what they are trying to do, so these issues have to be skilfully negotiated! Of course, we would have liked to have just taken her with us there and then!!! It was hard....
Over supper we traded stories with other team members. In situation after situation, the girls said that they did not want to be where they were or do the work that they did, but felt they had no other choice, because there are no employment opportunities out there. In one short afternoon I learned never to judge or otherwise condemn a prostitute. There is far too much heartbreak behind the pretty face and the suggestive smile.
We concluded our very busy day with a showing of the ‘Jesus’ movie in the main street of Poipet. I got back to my hotel room at 23h30, and tumbled into bed footsore, weary, tired out in every possible way you could think of! But well contented with life and fully cognisant of the great privilege of being here in Cambodia .
After this we did a skit (Jesus heals the blind man), and this was a lot of fun! The we handed out colouring pages and balloons and bubbles, and enjoyed spending time with the kids. They LOVED the bubbles, and balloons were a big success too. These things are easy and inexpensive to provide, and they bring enormous delight.... something to remember if (when!) I get to come back again! It was hard to leave the children; they were so sweet and very loving, eager to hug us and hold our hands. Jean was very much loved by her group, and when she bent down to say ‘Goodbye’ to them, 3 of them rushed over and kissed her on the cheek. Needless to say, she was reduced to tears....
Back at CHO we had lunch, and then we divided into groups and prayed for CHO, and for the businesses up and down the streets of Poipet. And after a break we went in small groups of five or so to various brothels and karaoke bars. Our group paid for an hour of time with 2 girls – we talked with them, sharing about ourselves and asking them to tell us more about themselves. We also asked if there was anything they would like us to pray for. The young woman I spoke with is 20 years of age, but looks about 16. She told us that she is the eldest child in a family with 12 children, and that she comes from a far away village – 2 days travel away – and that because it is so far away, she only goes home twice a year. She said that she misses her family very much. She said that she came to work in Poipet in order to help her family. When we asked if there was anything she would like us to pray for her, she asked if we would pray for her family, because she worries about them, and because they also worry about her, and she does not want them to be worried.. Talk about a sacrificial heart. I was moved beyond words.... We told her about CHO, and suggested that she go and ask if they could help her train for a different kind of work. She said she would love to learn to sew. We told her that Cho trains girls like her in sewing. But she then said that she is not allowed to leave her place of work at all... and that she cannot therefore go to CHO. The CHO member of staff who accompanied us then took down her details and told us that they would try to follow up on the matter. Right now, without the brothel owner’s ‘goodwill’, CHO would be severely limited in what they are trying to do, so these issues have to be skilfully negotiated! Of course, we would have liked to have just taken her with us there and then!!! It was hard....
Over supper we traded stories with other team members. In situation after situation, the girls said that they did not want to be where they were or do the work that they did, but felt they had no other choice, because there are no employment opportunities out there. In one short afternoon I learned never to judge or otherwise condemn a prostitute. There is far too much heartbreak behind the pretty face and the suggestive smile.
We concluded our very busy day with a showing of the ‘Jesus’ movie in the main street of Poipet. I got back to my hotel room at 23h30, and tumbled into bed footsore, weary, tired out in every possible way you could think of! But well contented with life and fully cognisant of the great privilege of being here in Cambodia .
No comments:
Post a Comment