A day in the life of an epchai

1 Peter 4:10-11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This morning I was up at 5am to be at the Vietnamese school where I'd arranged to go out with some of the kids to do what they have to do to support their families - garbage picking or 'epchai'. Than Nguyen and I walked to the 'depot', a collection of houses in a nearby street, where we were soon joined by three of our students, (one more joined us en route) ready to head out onto the busy dusty streets during the Cambodian sunrise to see what we could find.

Grubby but always grinning, the kids skipped off ahead of me with their bags ready to fill with whatever had been left behind. There were five of us, me and the four kids aged between seven & fourteen years old. First we went up to Psa Leu Market and had a rummage around as the traders were unpacking their wares ready to sell; then we made our way back towards the river, crossing open sewers and stopping at intervals to go through rubbish bins by the side of the road. I winced as they fearlessly darted in and out of the traffic as they homed in on more dumped rubbish on the opposite side of the road.

Then, upon returning to the school grounds, we had a game of catch, then football, which we all enjoyed immensely. Of course, that's what we all know that they should've been doing all along, rather than traipsing the streets looking for rubbish for which they receive about $1.50 per day, if they manage to do three shifts.

But who am I to comment? There's not much that can be done to stop the kids having to go out and do this type of work. Their parents are very poor and often illiterate with a poor grasp of the Cambodian language, merely doing what they can to get by. It can't be easy having to exploit your own children just to pay the rent and feed the family. Tragically, there are far worse lengths that parents go to use their children to raise money for which prevention is the key before rescue becomes the only option.

Sadly, at school-leaving age, many are unable to find jobs and so are forced to continue the life of a rubbish picker, a vocation which is looked down upon. As a Christian organisation, we aim educate the kids to give them a chance that they may well go on to achieve something and also assist the families wherever possible.

On Sundays, there are two church services held at the school for the Vietnamese and both youth and adult services are growing in number. The Gospel is shared, hope is extended and lives changed.

One of the leaders is to return to their home nation so I have been asked to stay out here for a further year to continue teaching at the school, learn Vietnamese and to provide administrative support so I will be returning to the UK in May for a brief period before heading back out here. It's going to be quite a responsibility but one that I am ready for.

Thanks for taking time to keep up with all that has been happening out here. Most of all I appreciate your prayers thus far and also for these coming months.

Back from the Land of Smiles

Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God has allotted to me a measure of faith?

Romans 12v3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

The last couple of weeks have provided the opportunity to meet with other friends in ministry in Asia and so I took the overland trek by tuk-tuk, bus and train over the border and into Thailand, destination Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second city famed for its fortified walls protecting them from historical Burmese invaders and the hill-tribes inhabiting the surrounding mountains.

On the bus from the Thai border to Bangkok, I got talking to a Scotsman who, it transpired, went to Bournemouth Art College in the eighties and upon completion of the course, drove a classic mini from Bournemouth to Tehran! Small world. We had a meal in Bangkok and our life journeys had some parallels so it was great to share with him what God has done in my life.

There’s something about Thailand that draws me and it has come a long way since my first foray into this part of the world nearly 13 years ago. The first time I went there was before I’d become a Christian and visits since then have given me insight into the lives of the hill-tribes and the plight of Japanese prisoners of war building the notorious death railway in Kanchanaburi.

I took the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai, where I stayed with a couple who are friends of mine from church in England who have a great ministry to previously unreached people groups in Laos, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It was very encouraging for me to see some familiar faces and to visit their radio ministry. Last Sunday, after attending a Thai church, we did a live Skype link with our church back in England and were even able to see the congregation via computer as we were beamed live onto the projector screen in church back in the UK.

Early in the week we took a four-wheel drive truck on a 3-hour mountainous drive to visit some friends from two different tribes who run a sustainable farming project near the Burmese border. It was very interesting to see how farming communities can be helped to make the most of their land and to learn about environmentally-friendly building techniques at no cost to them. This in turn helps the preservation of their cultural heritage as the people can learn to farm their own land rather than head to the cities to find employment.

For my friends in Thailand: - it was such a blessing to be able to stay with you and to sample life in a typical Thai neighbourhood. Thank you.

I left Chiang Mai on the sleeper train arriving bleary-eyed in Bangkok very early on Saturday morning. After a couple of hours killing time in the so-called City of Angels I boarded the 3rd class train to Aranyaprathet, Thailand’s land border with Cambodia, which has been notorious difficult to cross for years. Over-priced visas, corrupt transport providers, con-men in fake official uniforms and various other quite convincing scam artists stand between you and the point of entry.

When returning into Cambodia it is best to have your visa pre-arranged or you face a battle to avoid being ripped off by these ‘officials’. Thankfully, I’ve a long-term multiple entry Cambodian visa so it was fairly trouble-free. I actually hooked up with a guy doing ministry on the Cambodian side of the border and the two of us went across without much hassle although when we walked across into the Cambodian border town of Poipet (known as the armpit of Cambodia), he disappeared when we got through immigration! This left me using my very best, basic Khmer to do battle with the local mafioso to try to secure a seat in a taxi back to Siemreap.

A German couple heard me trying to negotiate with a transport provider and eagerly wanted to share the journey so we got 3 seats in a Toyota Camry and set off for Siemreap.

So there I was in the back of a taxi with the Germans – they spoke little English and so I was called upon to muster up my schoolboy German which had been wedged somewhere in the back of my brain for the last goodness-knows how many years. Eventful, it started out with just the three of us after having negotiated a price for the 2-hour journey back to Siemreap; however, on the outskirts of Poopet sorry Poipet, we were joined in the front seat by a rather intoxicated Cambodian who spent the next hour-or-so trying to be as annoying as he possibly could until he eventually got out. As he got out another local climbed in. Taxi? It was more like a local bus service.

Anyway, after bidding farewell to the German couple, tired and sweaty I made it back in time for the service at the international church where we had a dedicated prayer-time for the sad happenings in Japan.

So here I am back in Cambodia, the Land of Wonder. Upon arrival back here at the guesthouse it was like coming home. The staff here have become my friends and love being able to love them. They made me so welcome and they were virtually queuing up to personally welcome me back. In this respect, the Cambodians are truly unforgettable.

I’m now back at the Vietnamese school and this week will continue working on the training manual for the children’s home staff. I’m also heading back out into rural Cambodia with Dani from church again and will be playing football with the guys from the childrens home later in the week.

Oh and I have eaten bugs! (see pic of me with helmet on) I joined the staff here at the guesthouse who were tucking into their large deep-fried beetle-looking creatures and they were very keen to see me try some. I picked the legs off it (as you do) and it actually tasted quite meaty…well, sort of.

Until next time.. thank you for journeying with me and praying for me.