Friday, October 31, 2008 (Poipet, Cambodia)

Sleep adjustments are finally made…and today is our last normal day here…oh well! We woke this morning refreshed from the hard work yesterday and spent breakfast sharing our written thoughts about the team after being together for a week. God is visible in the unity with diversity.

The morning work was hard again as we moved sludgy dirt, but the light at the end of the tunnel was now visible. Ray pulled together the last of the items for the Gig Harbor architects that are designing the new community center for the Safe Haven, and now we get to take bricks, bags of samples, and scraps of steel across the border and on to the plane. Beth, Lisa, Julie, and Tamara all acted as mules, carrying Darin's, some Cambodian's, and some of my shovels of the mud to the areas we were raising around the houses. When Darin was resting, I took a snowball amount and chucked it across the field to try and hit him. We began a throwing contest that abruptly ended when Darin's throw went bad and nailed an older Cambodian lady. We felt bad but she looks like she will be OK. The ball hit her bun in her hair.

Lunch was great as we knew we were about done being sweaty-smelly gross. The recipe for the Cashew Beef or Pork is Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce, Garlic, a Chicken broth powder that smells like teriyaki, and cashews…then white rice for the meat and sauce to go over. I will try it at home.

At 3pm, after we were cleaned up, we went to the border market in Poipet. It was a gigantic warehouse with lots of booths with new items for sale. This is where most people buy their clothes, their basic household goods, etc. What is interesting is that it is heavily portraying tight fitting jeans in all the manicans, with the jeans all too tight to even be buttoned together. Also, they infringe on every copyrighted symbol, with massive amounts of "Playboy bunny" symbols on all the kids clothing. We thought that culture here must think it is cool or something, because many kids seem to wear it. 2/3 of the market was closed as it is the Cambodian king's birthday. We also drove by the "Casino road," where all the massive and fancy casinos are located. There is a lot of money flowing into these complexes.

Tonight, we had a party at the CHO offices with Cambodian style pizza. It is not American or Italian style, but the locals love it. What is interesting is we ran into a couple fellow Christians from Monroe, WA…Pastor Nate H. and two others who are in town for the day from Thailand. How odd!

I am ready to go home and love on my family. Ray is a great roommate, but I'll trade Bethesda for him any day! And while the sleep is calm, I like having my kids crawl in bed with me at the early hours of the morning!

Saturday, we will leave for the border after breakfast and hopefully be picked up by 10am by World Concern Asia. We will then recheck into our Bangkok hotel that evening and for Sunday, go to a church in town that is English speaking. Sunday afternoon will be a chance to see some sights or relax, and then in the evening we will have a World Concern Asia person take us to where the trafficked people are being put as prostitutes. Monday morning at 3am we will go to the airport for the long flight back home, arriving in the states at 7am, and then Seattle at noon.

Thursday, October 30th, Poipet

This morning as the team met for breakfast at the hotel/casino, we all were somewhat fearful or dreading the hard day of slinging mud. The whole team minus me (Andy, who was teaching) spent a few hours Tuesday doing this and came back completely wiped out and dirty, from the heavy mud/dirt and from the humid heat. But, everyone on the team was ready and willing to serve, PRAISE GOD.

We then spent the morning with most of the CHO staff moving dirt from various places to build up around the Safe Haven houses so that they had walk areas when it was rainy. It was a needed job, but very difficult because the dirt was extremely sludgy and sticky. Shovels hardly did anything, and they used small plastic potato bags to haul the dirt around. Darin blessed CHO and our team with a lot of shovels, which helped, but they have no wheel barrels in the city!

By lunch, the team was dragging and wiped out. The team worked so hard and smiled the whole time. Our team continues to bond tighter and tighter, a real blessing for each of us. We had a really long lunch break at the CHO Restaurant as Chomno, Ray, and Jacinta talked through some future planning issues related to the architects. We all enjoyed the rest, but wished we had a couch to crash on.

The afternoon work started hard as the heat increased. Darin and Tamara continued to work at 120%, in the hardest spot. Beth would not stop to rest and was like the Energizer Bunny. Ray kept trying to proceed ahead with welding on the fence, but was delayed by his Cambodian helpers getting so distracted. All the rest of us did our best to work hard, and then everyone crashed at 3:30pm when Keirstin said everyone was done (the CHO staff was loading up on the motorcycles). AS we approached the truck, Chomno told the CHO staff to keep working another hour, so we all turned around with smiles on our faces but unsure if we could do much more.

Overall, it was a tough day but REALLY GREAT. Jacinta and the young ladies all stood around at the early evening, with the girls explaining how difficult their love lives were (poor selection of guys…), and I sat chuckling inside on a bench. I was able to talk for a while with Darin and connect. By the time dinner was over, people had hit the point of no return…extremely giggly and laughing over the strangest things. We are now all in our rooms and prepping for bed (it is 6:30pm).

Tomorrow we will sling mud some more and then see some of the border trafficking issues going on. In the evening we will gather for a celebration party and singing. I think we are all looking forward to heading home, but this trip will leave a strong impression on our lives.

Some other amusing points:

• All four girls are having a hard time finding a good man…anyone have any suggestions or possibilities?
• Ray has given us all some good pointers on the Asian Soup Spoon.
• When the ants are crawling up your arms from the mud ball you are carrying, don't drop it, just run faster to the destination.
• It is easier to get a brick through the Casino security by hiding it in your bag than carrying it…although the X-ray machine will pick it up.
• The Cashew Pork or Beef is one of the restaurants best dishes.

Wednesday, October 29th, Poipet

This morning we rose excited to see the projects that the Cambodia Hope Organization (CHO) is doing. The objective was to expose our team to the work to help us understand their focus, as well as the needs that we could help with.

We began with a short ride to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to visit some sick HIV/AIDS patients. The "hospital" was very small and the wing we were at had about 15 patients, many who were very sickly looking and some who were grimacing in pain. CHO provides 3 meals a day for the patients and also prays for them each day. This morning, we had some time to spend with the patients, and we all spread out and met them.

For me, I decided that I would start at one end and introduce myself. I talked for a minute (through a translator), and then prayed for the lady. As I slowly worked my way around the room, I was very intentional to touch and hold their hands, because I felt like that was one of the only ways that I could help. I hoped the warmth of my hands and the presence of being a foreigner who cared would at least encourage them.

But then I broke down. I was hearing an older lady share that she has no family, and so I decided to pray like I had done with the previous four patients. As I held her hand and prayed, I started to choke up and then cry as I prayed for comfort, the Spirit's presence, and peace. As you may know, I am a very non-emotional person and it did not help having people I know around. How can we as Christians proclaim to walk in Jesus name and not pay attention to the "lepers" of our day? What a joke!

I believe that God's Spirit flowed through us to them, and I know that He continually reaches out to these people through CHO. We then drove across town to the Motorcycle Repair Training School, which teaches young teenage boys for one year how to repair motorcycles (the primary mode of transportation in these parts). CHO's plan is to continually train up these at-risk boys so they will have a skill to work and eventually provide for their family.

Likewise, they do the same for the girls (and one boy), teaching them how to sew. We left the bike school to go to the sewing school, where girls were learning and sewing shorts that get sold in Bangkok. These shorts bring them $0.40 USD each. We also saw a second sewing school where they were learning to sew curtains, which I bought a pink set for my daughters…they will love them! With both the bike and the sewing schools, the plan is to teach them the skill and then provide them with micro-loans when they are older so they can make a career out of a business. They are truly teaching a person to fish, not just giving them a fish!

After these visits, we travelled to a School on a Mat, one of many that targets the more rural kids of Poipet who are not in the government schools. These schools all take place on a mat for a few hours a day, with a CHO teacher guiding them through lessons that will both prepare them for more schooling and teach them some of the basics like health, reading, and more.

Following lunch at the CHO restaurant, we returned to the rural parts for an outreach to the children of the School on the Mats. All the kids were brought to one location (some by mode of motorcycle with 5 on a bike!) and we ran a program for them with the help of the CHO staff. This included singing songs, telling a Bible story, some coloring projects, and then snacks. There were over 200 kids present and an ant hill. We all left there with red ant bites all over our feet. It took me 20 minutes before I realized that it was not pokey grass getting me, but many ants crawling on my feet. So much for the comforts of the Casino we sleep at!

Some other highlights about our team include me "taking care of business" after breakfast, and then Tamara banged on the door saying to hurry up. I laughed through the wall and said just a minute…but then she said to just get out. As I opened the door, Lisa ran past me about to puke. I turned, flipped the toilet seat up, and ran out as she exploded! We all felt sad for her, but also laughed about it through the day. Beth, her good friend helped her out and as the day went on, she looked a lot better. Darin (and some others) struggled at every meal with excessive amounts of onions on his meals. Ray continued to provide an occasional laugh as he explained these necklaces with big rocks that are really cool…but his "Flintstone-Style" description was funny. Keirstin and I battled about how me drinking Starbucks is bad, explaining that it is bad because it is a fad…she said I need to try her mom's coffee at the church. The other small highlight was the yummy smoothies and blended coffee drinks the CHO restaurant made us tonight before dinner. It was very refreshing after a long and hot day. We also have loved meeting the CHO staff (there are 50 of them spread out around their projects).

Tuesday, Cambodia

Andy with the youth workers

At World Concern Asia with Ray and Darrin

Lisa and Beth eating

Tuesday dinner

By lunch time (half way through the training), all my teaching material was finished, so I quickly spent lunch pulling out old lessons and trainings from my last 10 years of ministry, quickly tailoring it for the little I knew of the culture, and then teaching it through the afternoon. I cannot remember being so far out of my comfort zone…but I think it turned out really good. You better believe that I will be ready next time this surprises me!

While I was teaching, the rest of the team was throwing mud (it really was work) and then helping with some children's ministries with the Cambodia Hope Organization. Everyone should sleep really well tonight. Oh, Ray spent the day tracking construction answers down for a Gig Harbor, WA team that is preparing for some massive construction plans in the future. He is still out (7:45pm) with Chomno (CHO Director), but this is a God-ordained job for Ray, who is a very hands-on and hard-working man.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, we will head out to see the CHO projects that are going on. Everyone is heading to bed…I am done with this typing…

Monday PM, Cambodia

Poipet roads

Our Poipet Casino (Hotel)

The Thai-Cambodia border is similar in ways to Tijuana, except both sides have the feel of Tijuana without the wealth of the U.S. Oddly placed are these massive casinos in between the two border crossings, designed to get around the legal issues of NO-gambling in each country. Someone is cashing in big…and it is not the customers or the locals. This area is full of At-Risk kids and ladies.

From the moments we hit Poipet, we quickly saw the economic situation deteriorate to 2nd or 3rd world standards. The roads were giant mud puddles and goop…with hundreds of motorcycles swerving in between old and dirty cars and trucks…with everyone beeping when they planned to turn or pass.

Because it was evening when we arrived Monday, we dealt with the visas and passport issues, and then checked into our hotel…it actually is one of the casinos. The team is getting along very well, even though we started as mostly strangers.

About the team: Jacinta is a great encouragement for all of us, sort of like having a loving mom or older mentor on the team. She is not from Northshore, but is from World Concern in Seattle…but she fits in great. The "4 girls," Beth, Lisa, Julie, and Kiersten, are the energy for the team…and they bring an added joy to those of us who are older (this is the first time I have felt like part of the older crowd on a non-youth trip). Each of them is different, but they really compliment the others and are thrilled to be here. Keirstin, as the only experienced team member in Cambodia, is a great help, but also funny as she tries to help us. For example, her language is really good (for being here 10 months), but in the process of ordering Lemonade, she ordered orange juice the first time and lime juice the second time. It took someone else to get the order right. Ray is also so full of joy, and he is happy with any situation. For example, at the gas station he got so excited for the lady and her strange broom, sweeping the pavement…he had to get a picture. He reminds me of my dad, talkative and excited about most things, sometimes unintentionally saying things that sound a little out of place – but coming from him they are either funny or nice. He also instantly has compassion for everyone. Daren and Tamara are also really nice, committed in their marriage to making the most of their days, not squandering it away on selfish matters. They have a real heart for being God's vessels of good, and are a joy to the team. Everyone is being so selfless, even when the work got very hard and the cleanliness of the first few days evaporated.

I spent last night (LATE!!) preparing for an all day teaching to locals on how to reach and grow youth. I expected to have a few days to learn the culture and get a grip of what the needs and focus should be, but upon arrival, I learned that first thing in the morning, 11 men and women from the surrounding areas would be here for my training. I slept really bad thinking about what to say and how to make the most of the 6 hours of training. I was feeling very inadequate!

Monday AM, Bangkok

At the Bankok Airport

Bankok

Our Bankok Hotel

Breakfast in Bankok

Complimentary breakfast chef

Our van drivers took us from our hotel to the World Concern Asia office to meet up with their staff and to get an orientation. World Concern Asia is basically a central network hub for numerous ministries and NGO's (Non-Govt. Organizations) in the Southeast Asia area. They help connect and resource groups, as well as bring accountability and long-term vision to the partners they work with. They also seem to have great vision and strategy.

After our orientation and some time to ask questions of various projects, we went to a local "hole-in-the-wall café for lunch, Thai style. It was rustic, but the food was very good. Outside of the hotel breakfast this morning being so-so (gross in my book, but I can be picky), we have not experienced typical "mission-trip" style food and experiences (this makes my vacations look bad!). This was about to change…Bangkok (or Tokyo) is not a good representation of the normal life of Southeast Asia.

Following lunch, we took off in our vans for Cambodia. It was a very long and tense drive through flat, but green areas, full of rice fields (patties?) and random food-booths. Vehicles make the most of a two lane road, passing and swerving in ways that would give most Americans a heart attack. Many of the vehicles (like our Toyota passenger vans) run on Compressed Natural Gas, so the fueling stations were a little different…but pretty impressive and green. As we left the Bangkok, the wealth quickly disappeared, with the exception of an occasional massive factory like Toyota, Stanley Tools, etc.

Via Email 7:30AM Monday their time...

Sunday night, Bangkok (a HUMID evening)
After some prayer at the hotel we walked and then took the train a little ways to a gigantious mall, which was as commercial and wealth-oriented as anything in the states (picture a bigger Westlake). Someone is spending a lot of money here, probably a mix of Thai and many tourists. There are a lot of internationals here. We ate dinner here at Sizzler, which felt like a Denny's quality meal...is it like this in the states? Every place has idols and there are frequent prayer and worship corners along the sidewalks.

We then left there and went a short walk/train to the areas where tourism and Red Light activities co-mingle. It bascially felt like Tijuanna, Mexico with the millions of booths selling "amazing deals" and "quality merchandise" at great prices. Anyone want their Rolex or latest DVDs...they even have movies still in the theaters in the USA. By this point, we were prayer walking. Rather than send the ladies from our group into the "bars" to talk with the prostitutes, we stayed together. Basically, where bars existed, massage places and some prostitutes were outside trying to make eye contact with the men (a lot of guys were drinking at the bars). We did not hit the main hub of the Red Light areas this time, but we may return later in the week. We got a good idea what is going on. The image in my head is a fifty year old man asking a smiling 20 year old girl her name.

We then walked a long ways back to our hotel and after talking a bit, went to our rooms for sleep.

Monday Morning, 7am
This morning, we are stopping by a local Starbucks before being picked up and taking off to World Concern Asia, and then off to Cambodia. It looks overcast, but you can feel the humidity and heat building.