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.
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