Imagine..
Imagine you're just a young kid and imagine that your parents struggle to pay the monthly rent. Imagine that you don't speak the local language. Imagine that you're sent out from sunrise to sunset in scorching heat to comb the streets looking for other peoples' rubbish to sell to help your mum & dad make ends meet. Imagine that if only you could, you'd actually like to go to school.
Got a picture in your mind? Well, these are the Vietnamese 'ep-chai' kids of Cambodia. More about them later.
In my last entry, I outlined the origins of the Vietnamese people in Cambodia and some of their struggles living in this country. Last Sunday, I visited the floating village of Kampong Khlong with Kim the Vietnamese lady who runs the ministry. It took about an hour to get there, by jeep and then by boat and on the way we stopped off for a breakfast of sticky rice cooked in bamboo; it was actually delicious and very cheap too.
We went to the Vietnamese church service on a floating barge and I taught English, funnily enough, mid-way through the service! It was an eye-opener seeing how these people live and the economic difficulties they undergo and as they struggle to maintain their floating wooden homes on an ever-changing tide.
Back in Siemreap, most days I'm teaching five classes: four at the Vietnamese school and one at the Siemreap Church. The Khmer students at the church are intermediate-level so there's quite a contrast between the two schools. On Tuesday evening, I taught them for the first time and even though we're at the end of the monsoon season, didn't it ever bucket it down! We were in the church building due to the mozzie-fest taking place outside but the rain was battering the tin roof so much we couldn't hear ourselves speak!
It is with the Vietnamese though that I am currently mostly utilised. It's hard teaching 26 Vietnamese children most under the age of ten when they are complete beginners at English and when you consider that I'm an utter novice at Vietnamese, it makes for interesting times.
The kids come to lessons with their young siblings and are then back out on the streets; some have battered cycles but many are on foot, trawling the dusty pavements and forecourts for anything that has been discarded. They then take what they've collected back to their village where a recycling centre exists. Not like your council-run drive-in dump-off and drive out - this is just a guy on the entrance to the village who pays the kids a small amount for whatever they may have. It's hard for these kids as they don't speak Khmer and are truly on the edge of society.
Teaching them this week has been an experience: during one lesson, I was filmed by a Canadian cable TV company who are aiming to raise the profile of Christian projects in Asia. These lessons are in themselves quite extraordinary because the classroom is always packed to capacity with the children and there is even a mother with a young daughter who comes to every morning class but follows the lesson by looking in through the open-grilled window, babe and schoolbook in arms.
That morning there was a full class, and outside there were two adults and another child peering in through the window plus a person filming me from various angles! Add to that the relentless heat - no pressure or anything.. oh and even the Vietnamese Maths and Khmer language teacher attends my afternoon class with all the kids and is a very enthusiastic student!
Admittedly, it was hard teaching these kids at first; they knew no English whatsoever but they're improving and I just love the look on their faces when I discipline them with my scant Vietnamese.
Despite their circumstances, their hotchpotch uniforms, toothless grins and dirty fingernails these kids are the most adorable kids imaginable. Children in the UK really don't know how blessed they are. This school ministry is a lifeline for these children; run by two Vietnamese teachers who are committed Christians whose heart is to give these kids a chance, to give them something other than walking the streets picking rubbish. To give them the chance of discovering their destiny in Christ.
So the plan's unfolding just as expected.
"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." Psalms 5:11
Indeed, trust in Him.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Friday, 12 November 2010
You wat?
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
I am trying to learn some basic Khmer and my efforts seem to go a long way, especially with the staff here at the guest house. However, I do need to work on my pronunciation as the other night I proudly announced (to their amusement) “I'm going to sleep in the frying pan” instead of “I'm going to sleep in my room”.
Visited a community of displaced Vietnamese people of which there are around 40,000 in Cambodia. Originally arriving around AD 400 to fish the Mekong, they are long established here yet greatly marginalized. Being Vietnamese they have few rights and cannot own their own land, cannot return to communist Vietnam as they were not born there and struggle to make a living amongst the Khmers of Cambodia. Debt is a huge problem as illiteracy leads to gambling and monsoon rains can severely limit their ability to earn enough money to pay both the interest on their debts and their rent.
It is very difficult for the Vietnamese children to access education as they don't speak Khmer and many can be seen traipsing around the streets of Siemreap looking for plastics and other items that can be sold to raise enough money for their families to survive. However, there is a Canadian Christian NGO that has a school in Siemreap which enables these children access to basic education. They are taught Khmer, Vietnamese, English and maths and it is understood that there are limited scholarships available to those who are proficient enough to go to university. After school, many of them still have to go looking for recyclable items.
Spent a day cycling to the various temples within the world famous Angkor Wat temple complex. It's far enough cycling there from the guest house and by the time I'd ridden to a couple of the other temple sites and then back home again, I began to understand what Major Bumsore must've been feeling when he penned 'Ten Years in the Saddle'. Angkor Wat was built in the mid-twelfth century and was then rediscovered in the 1850's by some French botanists. It had become overgrown and since then, various teams from around the world have been involved in its restoration. In the 1980's an Indian team were brought in to remove some Portland stone which had been unsuccessfully used in a previous restoration attempt and during the Khmer Rouge era, restorative work was suspended, leaving the site to fall into further disrepair.
During my noodle soup lunch I was surrounded by sellers of all kinds of things: t-shirts, books, scarves, paintings but as they were waiting so patiently for a chance of securing a dollar or two, I took the opportunity to share Jesus with one of the sellers, a buddhist, who stated that she had a cousin who was a Christian. It was a great time of sharing and encouragement – her name was Narin and I said I'd pray for her. Learning that Jesus loved her seemed to strike a chord and hopefully that seed will be watered.
As vast and sprawling as it is, an interesting part of the ancient complex is Ta Prohm which is known as the 'Jungle Temple' where the relics have literally been taken over by immense banyan trees which have rather artistically twisted their way through the remaining stonework. During Pol Pot's reign many of the Hindu and Buddhist idols were defaced, many having had their heads removed due to the fact that the Marxist regime at the time wanted all religion removed from Cambodian society.Nowadays, Cambodia is a country rapidly rediscovering its identity and the people seem remarkably gracious, open and receptive.
Driving in Cambodia is a whole new world; they drive on the right... and on the left when they feel like it and you have to be aware of motorists using mobile phones oblivious to your presence; tuk-tuks, dogs, people, cattle and people driving straight towards you are common hazards so you need eyes everywhere. This reminds me somewhat of Proverbs 3:6 as indeed, if we acknowledge Him and trust for our paths to be strengthened then surely we'll reach our destination. Moreover though, this applies to how we conduct ourselves in view of others, especially over here. I often wonder what some cultures think of the West, with the way be behave abroad; this nation, these Cambodians, are looking for something that is authentic, something that they can aspire to and model. As well as considering this verse whilst using the road we should also acknowledge Him to make straight the pathways throughout all of our lives.
So for now it's "chum reap lear" from me, which is a polite way of saying goodbye in Khmer - just don't ask me to actually say it though as it'll probably come out meaning something completely different.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
I am trying to learn some basic Khmer and my efforts seem to go a long way, especially with the staff here at the guest house. However, I do need to work on my pronunciation as the other night I proudly announced (to their amusement) “I'm going to sleep in the frying pan” instead of “I'm going to sleep in my room”.
Visited a community of displaced Vietnamese people of which there are around 40,000 in Cambodia. Originally arriving around AD 400 to fish the Mekong, they are long established here yet greatly marginalized. Being Vietnamese they have few rights and cannot own their own land, cannot return to communist Vietnam as they were not born there and struggle to make a living amongst the Khmers of Cambodia. Debt is a huge problem as illiteracy leads to gambling and monsoon rains can severely limit their ability to earn enough money to pay both the interest on their debts and their rent.
It is very difficult for the Vietnamese children to access education as they don't speak Khmer and many can be seen traipsing around the streets of Siemreap looking for plastics and other items that can be sold to raise enough money for their families to survive. However, there is a Canadian Christian NGO that has a school in Siemreap which enables these children access to basic education. They are taught Khmer, Vietnamese, English and maths and it is understood that there are limited scholarships available to those who are proficient enough to go to university. After school, many of them still have to go looking for recyclable items.
Spent a day cycling to the various temples within the world famous Angkor Wat temple complex. It's far enough cycling there from the guest house and by the time I'd ridden to a couple of the other temple sites and then back home again, I began to understand what Major Bumsore must've been feeling when he penned 'Ten Years in the Saddle'. Angkor Wat was built in the mid-twelfth century and was then rediscovered in the 1850's by some French botanists. It had become overgrown and since then, various teams from around the world have been involved in its restoration. In the 1980's an Indian team were brought in to remove some Portland stone which had been unsuccessfully used in a previous restoration attempt and during the Khmer Rouge era, restorative work was suspended, leaving the site to fall into further disrepair.
During my noodle soup lunch I was surrounded by sellers of all kinds of things: t-shirts, books, scarves, paintings but as they were waiting so patiently for a chance of securing a dollar or two, I took the opportunity to share Jesus with one of the sellers, a buddhist, who stated that she had a cousin who was a Christian. It was a great time of sharing and encouragement – her name was Narin and I said I'd pray for her. Learning that Jesus loved her seemed to strike a chord and hopefully that seed will be watered.
As vast and sprawling as it is, an interesting part of the ancient complex is Ta Prohm which is known as the 'Jungle Temple' where the relics have literally been taken over by immense banyan trees which have rather artistically twisted their way through the remaining stonework. During Pol Pot's reign many of the Hindu and Buddhist idols were defaced, many having had their heads removed due to the fact that the Marxist regime at the time wanted all religion removed from Cambodian society.Nowadays, Cambodia is a country rapidly rediscovering its identity and the people seem remarkably gracious, open and receptive.
Driving in Cambodia is a whole new world; they drive on the right... and on the left when they feel like it and you have to be aware of motorists using mobile phones oblivious to your presence; tuk-tuks, dogs, people, cattle and people driving straight towards you are common hazards so you need eyes everywhere. This reminds me somewhat of Proverbs 3:6 as indeed, if we acknowledge Him and trust for our paths to be strengthened then surely we'll reach our destination. Moreover though, this applies to how we conduct ourselves in view of others, especially over here. I often wonder what some cultures think of the West, with the way be behave abroad; this nation, these Cambodians, are looking for something that is authentic, something that they can aspire to and model. As well as considering this verse whilst using the road we should also acknowledge Him to make straight the pathways throughout all of our lives.
So for now it's "chum reap lear" from me, which is a polite way of saying goodbye in Khmer - just don't ask me to actually say it though as it'll probably come out meaning something completely different.
Saturday, 6 November 2010
Flying Thai and Reaping Rewards
'You will keep him in perfect peace' Isaiah 26:3
You know, people in this life sometimes leave us wanting to tear our hair out and as you read this, I'm sure someone has already come to mind. It's difficult not to react sometimes when people rub us up the wrong way; the situation I had with the taxi driver the other day is the perfect example. As hard as it is sometimes, it is so worth just 'letting go and letting God'. As we were hurtling through Bangkok in totally the wrong direction, I prayed that I would be able to extend grace in the situation and to be given greater understanding of the driver as a person.
His English was poor, as is my Thai, but as frustrating as the whole situation was, we muddled through and he (eventually) got me to my destination. What would the point be of creating a scene? Not that I would, but back in the day this may have been how I would've reacted, in desperation for resolution. Out here, nothing is as predictable as life back home and you have to expect the unexpected and factor in the probability of frustration and annoyance.
Obviously when you've a 'plane to catch, you don't want to be late; well, I'm glad I set out early as the airport bus got stuck in the notorious Bangkok traffic and the ladyboy working in the travel agents advised that the bus was running late - in fact, it ended up being one-and-a-half hours late. Actually, although it was a bit touch and go at first, perfect time was made and I breezed through security at the ultra-modern Suvarnabhumi Airport and into the departure lounge.
Note to self: when doing a bit of the old 'splash-it-all-over' with the testers in the airport duty-free area, make sure it's the men's fragrances that are taken advantage of – you never know what kind of wrong attention you may attract.
The flight to Cambodia was about an hour and no sooner had we left behind the blue, smoggy skies of Bangkok, we were coming in to land at hot, humid and overcast Siemreap. Again, the immigration process was seamless, I got my passport back with relevant visa and walked out of the airport towards a Khmer chap holding up a board that read: 'Mr. Danny Youg'. Of course, it was for me and I jumped aboard the tuk-tuk, bags and all, and sped off towards town. Upon arrival at the guest house, I discovered that my room wasn't ready so spent the night in the guest house over the road. Oh, and the internet didn't work either.
So despite these unexpected happenings, we can call upon Him to act on our behalf and for the circumstances to be glorifying to Him despite the frustrations we may feel.
You know, people in this life sometimes leave us wanting to tear our hair out and as you read this, I'm sure someone has already come to mind. It's difficult not to react sometimes when people rub us up the wrong way; the situation I had with the taxi driver the other day is the perfect example. As hard as it is sometimes, it is so worth just 'letting go and letting God'. As we were hurtling through Bangkok in totally the wrong direction, I prayed that I would be able to extend grace in the situation and to be given greater understanding of the driver as a person.
His English was poor, as is my Thai, but as frustrating as the whole situation was, we muddled through and he (eventually) got me to my destination. What would the point be of creating a scene? Not that I would, but back in the day this may have been how I would've reacted, in desperation for resolution. Out here, nothing is as predictable as life back home and you have to expect the unexpected and factor in the probability of frustration and annoyance.
Obviously when you've a 'plane to catch, you don't want to be late; well, I'm glad I set out early as the airport bus got stuck in the notorious Bangkok traffic and the ladyboy working in the travel agents advised that the bus was running late - in fact, it ended up being one-and-a-half hours late. Actually, although it was a bit touch and go at first, perfect time was made and I breezed through security at the ultra-modern Suvarnabhumi Airport and into the departure lounge.
Note to self: when doing a bit of the old 'splash-it-all-over' with the testers in the airport duty-free area, make sure it's the men's fragrances that are taken advantage of – you never know what kind of wrong attention you may attract.
The flight to Cambodia was about an hour and no sooner had we left behind the blue, smoggy skies of Bangkok, we were coming in to land at hot, humid and overcast Siemreap. Again, the immigration process was seamless, I got my passport back with relevant visa and walked out of the airport towards a Khmer chap holding up a board that read: 'Mr. Danny Youg'. Of course, it was for me and I jumped aboard the tuk-tuk, bags and all, and sped off towards town. Upon arrival at the guest house, I discovered that my room wasn't ready so spent the night in the guest house over the road. Oh, and the internet didn't work either.
So despite these unexpected happenings, we can call upon Him to act on our behalf and for the circumstances to be glorifying to Him despite the frustrations we may feel.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Three Nights in Bangkok
Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith? Romans 12v3
12 hours is a long time to spend in transit awaiting a connecting flight; next time, I'll take more care to check the departure time! Still, it enabled time to follow the Cherries playing at Brentford, albeit via the internet terminals at Abu Dhabi airport. They are free though even if you do have to remain standing to use them.
The flight to Abu Dhabi was 7 hours, which mainly consisted of elbow-wrestling with the tobacco-smelling bloke in the adjacent seat, who had a tendency to find something to moan about and mainly wanted to know why he was singled out to be searched. “Do I look like a terrorist?” he asked. I looked at him, smiled politely and thought to myself: 'I'm not going to answer that'.
Another 7 hour flight later and I arrived in Bangkok, at the ultra-modern Suvarnabhumi airport. I took the downtown shuttle bus to Hua Lamphong (which is where the main Bangkok railway station is). My guesthouse isn't that far from the station but I caught a taxi as I was pretty tired by that point. Note to self: Bangkok taxi drivers may have newer and more roadworthy vehicles these days but that still doesn't mean that they now actually have a clue where they're going. He got us lost, tried the old “you want massage? You want boom-boom?” line and still wanted more than the agreed fare. Of course, I assertively declined and by now my calm demeanour was seriously being put to the test.
What is a 10 minute walk turned into a one hour sightseeing trip around Bangkok but I got here eventually (about 9.30pm) and then after checking into the guesthouse, got into an interesting conversation on post-modernism with a self-styled buddhist yogi from Germany.
You see, you can't plan this stuff – as Thailand is predominantly buddhist, it is of no surprise that people come here whilst searching and indeed in the case of this man, seemingly already found what he thought he was looking for. Who knows if I'll cross paths with him again? If so, I pray that he may see some more of our Lord Jesus Christ in me.
Today I had a long lie-in due to the lack of sleep over the last few days and then in the afternoon, I went for a walk downtown and visited the famous Khaosan Road and passed by numerous wats (temples), the largest of which is Wat Pho which is frequented by many of Bangkok's visitors and orange-clad monks - I stoppped close by and looked on as I sipped the juice of a fresh coconut. Trouble with temples is that if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all (apart from Angkor Wat in Cambodia of course) but they do give valuable insight into the religious rituals of this country. It all seemed very reverent until I spotted a monk, clad in his orange finery, sat crossed legged at the side of the road rolling himself a cigarette.
The heat, sights and sounds of this city are a complete assault on the senses, from the smell of green curry being cooked in lemon grass to the stench of diesel fumes and the annoying sound of “hello mister, you want tuk-tuk?” from the drivers of the small three-wheeled taxis for which Bangkok is famous. I was once involved in a traffic accident whilst travelling in one of these but that's another story for another day. However, here at the guest house, I have the temperature controlled at a comfortable 25 degrees.
You know, I heard an interesting message the other day during which the speaker came up with the following:
“You may be the Bible that another person has never read”.
This challenged me inasmuch as people who are searching are looking for something and that very something should be visible in us, in the way that we conduct ourselves, the things we say and the love we show for others.
One thing that is becoming more and more apparent is that stepping out in faith is exactly what it says on the tin i.e. I have little control over the direction God is taking me which means that those divine appointments are indeed divine, arranged by Him and not by me. I know my strengths and also have a good sense of self-awareness so I know that there are going to be times when I'm going to be out of my comfort zone. But then, that's what this trip is about – if I'd not wanted to step out in faith I'd have stayed at home wouldn't I?
So then, there's no need for concern about that which is in store for me and how I will be used. God is doing restorative work in Cambodia and I want to be a seasonal part of what He's doing in whatever capacity according to the gifts He's given me.
But what about the little faith I have?
Well, Jesus says that's all I need.
12 hours is a long time to spend in transit awaiting a connecting flight; next time, I'll take more care to check the departure time! Still, it enabled time to follow the Cherries playing at Brentford, albeit via the internet terminals at Abu Dhabi airport. They are free though even if you do have to remain standing to use them.
The flight to Abu Dhabi was 7 hours, which mainly consisted of elbow-wrestling with the tobacco-smelling bloke in the adjacent seat, who had a tendency to find something to moan about and mainly wanted to know why he was singled out to be searched. “Do I look like a terrorist?” he asked. I looked at him, smiled politely and thought to myself: 'I'm not going to answer that'.
Another 7 hour flight later and I arrived in Bangkok, at the ultra-modern Suvarnabhumi airport. I took the downtown shuttle bus to Hua Lamphong (which is where the main Bangkok railway station is). My guesthouse isn't that far from the station but I caught a taxi as I was pretty tired by that point. Note to self: Bangkok taxi drivers may have newer and more roadworthy vehicles these days but that still doesn't mean that they now actually have a clue where they're going. He got us lost, tried the old “you want massage? You want boom-boom?” line and still wanted more than the agreed fare. Of course, I assertively declined and by now my calm demeanour was seriously being put to the test.
What is a 10 minute walk turned into a one hour sightseeing trip around Bangkok but I got here eventually (about 9.30pm) and then after checking into the guesthouse, got into an interesting conversation on post-modernism with a self-styled buddhist yogi from Germany.
You see, you can't plan this stuff – as Thailand is predominantly buddhist, it is of no surprise that people come here whilst searching and indeed in the case of this man, seemingly already found what he thought he was looking for. Who knows if I'll cross paths with him again? If so, I pray that he may see some more of our Lord Jesus Christ in me.
Today I had a long lie-in due to the lack of sleep over the last few days and then in the afternoon, I went for a walk downtown and visited the famous Khaosan Road and passed by numerous wats (temples), the largest of which is Wat Pho which is frequented by many of Bangkok's visitors and orange-clad monks - I stoppped close by and looked on as I sipped the juice of a fresh coconut. Trouble with temples is that if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all (apart from Angkor Wat in Cambodia of course) but they do give valuable insight into the religious rituals of this country. It all seemed very reverent until I spotted a monk, clad in his orange finery, sat crossed legged at the side of the road rolling himself a cigarette.
The heat, sights and sounds of this city are a complete assault on the senses, from the smell of green curry being cooked in lemon grass to the stench of diesel fumes and the annoying sound of “hello mister, you want tuk-tuk?” from the drivers of the small three-wheeled taxis for which Bangkok is famous. I was once involved in a traffic accident whilst travelling in one of these but that's another story for another day. However, here at the guest house, I have the temperature controlled at a comfortable 25 degrees.
You know, I heard an interesting message the other day during which the speaker came up with the following:
“You may be the Bible that another person has never read”.
This challenged me inasmuch as people who are searching are looking for something and that very something should be visible in us, in the way that we conduct ourselves, the things we say and the love we show for others.
One thing that is becoming more and more apparent is that stepping out in faith is exactly what it says on the tin i.e. I have little control over the direction God is taking me which means that those divine appointments are indeed divine, arranged by Him and not by me. I know my strengths and also have a good sense of self-awareness so I know that there are going to be times when I'm going to be out of my comfort zone. But then, that's what this trip is about – if I'd not wanted to step out in faith I'd have stayed at home wouldn't I?
So then, there's no need for concern about that which is in store for me and how I will be used. God is doing restorative work in Cambodia and I want to be a seasonal part of what He's doing in whatever capacity according to the gifts He's given me.
But what about the little faith I have?
Well, Jesus says that's all I need.
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