In all things ... give thanks ... Mid-August,
2013
Hello to everyone on the other side. We are still here in
Cambodia and will be unless Father directs otherwise. We continue to seek His
perfect will and appreciate His most excellent provision.
The national election last month still hasn't been
settled. The opposition party claims they won, and say vote fraud and ruling
party dishonesty is keeping them from being recognized as the victors. Many
outside observers think that is true. The ruling party people have analyzed the
election results and claim they won fair and square. They are mobilizing
troops, armor, and weaponry to scare the population into submission. We read
that the prime minister has his own personal army of more than 10,000 very well
armed troops, and also more in an adjacent country. We pray that this will not
turn into another Egypt or Syria. Cambodia is so damaged by war and genocide.
It breaks our hearts to see the lack of truth, righteousness and transparency.
Father, please continue to bring honest people to this government.
This site is one of our favorite for news: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/siem-reap-insider
The poor and underprivileged Cambodians just keep getting
abused and stepped on. A few days ago near here seven men were killed by two
stacked anti-tank mines. They drove their homemade tractor over them and the
mines literally blew the tractor, and the men, to pieces. Last month a man,
three of his children and one ox were blown up when their oxcart hit a mine. I
can't imagine their families walking around through the blood, gathering up
body parts, and wondering if there are any more mines in the area still waiting
for them. Yesterday a 19 year old man was gathering bamboo shoots and lost both
legs to a land mine. Estimates range from seven to ten million land mines, and
pieces of other unexploded ordnance, are still waiting to be cleared in
Cambodia. The government has limited funds to do the work and the people who
planted them went home and don't care. Father, please help.
Jackie has
been visiting with the mothers of children who are participants in an after-school
program the UofN runs in a village about 25 km. out of town. When the 4 who are
able to read asked for copies of the "Creator's Book" we were happy
to supply them. Rice planting season is now in full swing and the ladies are
very busy. Jackie is looking forward to further visits for more interaction and
fun with these beautiful women.
A good
friend of ours has developed, over the last two years, a program which has
greatly improved the lives of a village of 30 - 40 people, mostly women and
children. Volunteers, including Jackie, have and continue to teach and mentor
the women. The sewing of handbags and production of various souvenir items to
be sold have greatly increased their self-worth and native ingenuity. The items
are priced, packaged and sold; at first overseas to Australia and through local
businesses but now they have opened a stall at a tourist market in town where
they each take their turn as sales staff. The business and marketing skills
these women are learning are invaluable. With the proceeds from the sale of
their products, these people now have hired a teacher for the new pre-school,
rented a neighbor's house for the pre-school and as a workshop and are able to
feed, clothe and care for the health needs of their children. Jackie is
involved with compost and garden making at the pre-school. Glory to God!
www.wowcambodia.org
Cambodians
are wonderful people, but they were robbed, during the recent wars, of
knowledge and education about almost everything. We're trying to help them
replace what has been lost.
There are still needs at that campus as well as at all the teaching locations the University of the Nations has in this province. One location teaches English, sewing, guitar, business skills, and computer literacy to about 350 children every afternoon. They have 8 computers, 4 sewing machines, and two guitars. Most of the sewing machines are foot treadle type, electrically powered machines cost too much. The important thing about this training is it gives the children a way out of the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Any marketable skill keeps young girls out of the sex trade, the karaoke bars and from being used mercilessly.
John is continuing to work with a man from a Swiss N.G.O.
who is running an egg production facility. He is employing and training several
Khmer people in this business. We set up the generator, electrical system,
well, water pumps, and solar electric lighting a few months ago. All was well
for a while until he reported progressive system failures. Upon investigation
we found rats had eaten the wiring in an underground conduit between the generator
house and the chicken coop. So we wired it again, above ground, in pipe this
time. We'll see! Lord, help us.
The water well project at the U. of N. school in another
village is going well. Father raised up a donor from the U.S. mainland who has
contributed enough money to do the whole system. Thank you, Father, and donor.
You know who you are. Never forget that what you did has eternal consequences.
When we were sent here Jackie and I resolved to live only
on the income we have, and not to ask friends for anything for ourselves. We are
attempting to grow a backyard garden for vegetables, and have learned to shop
in the local markets when possible instead of the western style food stores.
There are so many crushing needs here which we are not able to help with.
The U.of N. has engaged with another school in the area
to provide a life-changing program for young Khmer students. This school is
French/European run. This 9 month program prepares students for good jobs in
the restaurant, hotel, and tourism industry. They have very high standards for
admission and almost guarantee graduates employment in the top hotels and
restaurants in town. A diploma from this program would be the local equivalent
of a Harvard M.B.A. Total cost for tuition, course materials and everything
needed to change a life is $1000.00 U.S. If Father encourages you to help
sponsor one or more students please contact us for more information. (Tax deductible
in the U.S. and Canada, of course.) - update: All the eligible students have been sponsored! They start school the first week of October!)
We ask you to please continue to pray for us and for
Cambodia; so beautiful, and so damaged and needy. If you would like to ask
about specific ways to help, please do so by email. Our cellphones work for
local use only. We can call out using Skype or Gmail (voip), if you want a call
back. We have an extra room in our house for anyone who wants to visit. Jackie
will even make French toast. J,
Blessings, peace, and joy to you all,
John
& Jackie too!
