The Fire Story

or        Our First Fire in Cambodia

Here we are in a beautiful tropical land trying to learn how to garden. The hard way of course! Not yet being able to speak the language adequately doesn't help! The locals are probably wondering at some of the stunts John and I pull in the learning process!

Through the last few years, we have planted seeds like crazy and usually only a few, if any, come up. How discouraging! The problem seems to be that the ants steal the seeds away to their nests when we aren't looking and before they can sprout. Not only that but, the ants farm aphids, mealybugs, white flies, spider mites and all kinds of other nasty, plant destroying insects (this is mostly conjecture! ... but it is my garden! ... and that's my reasoning!)

The plants that we transplant from seed trays (if we get them outside on time) take really well but... Our windows are all tinted blue. Seedlings growing in the house end up being unusually long and leggy and sickly for lack of sunlight. So we need to sow directly into the garden ...

Looking around at what the locals do .... We've noticed that they burn leaves, twigs and other such things and spread the ashes around under fruit trees and garden plants for fertilizer and to keep insects away. That seems like a good idea. Unfortunately, no one has informed them (in a convincing way) that the plastic and other garbage they burn with their leaves is so very toxic! BTW: We are looking for posters on this subject if you know of any! (Khmer or English would do!)

Typical roadside sight. This will be raked up, burned and
left "as is" or spread under nearby vegetation. 10-5580 

Local people have offered to give me ashes. I always refuse! I know what's been burnt in their fires! My conclusion: we needed to make our own fire.

 ~*~*~*~*~*~

Opportunity knocked when a big tree in front of the Base got heavily pruned in order to run high voltage electric wire. One bright, sunny and (soon) hot morning, we chopped branches, broke up twigs and bagged leaves.

Two full TukTuk trips later we had a mess in our front yard.
It took us about three weeks to clean it all up. 12-1619-1

1st --- The leaves got spread out to dry in the sun... then I crumbled them up and put them on the Sweet Potatoe Patch as a mulch. It's dry season now and the leaves help reduce the need to water and also to keep the soil soft. 12-1871

2^nd ---I built a fire pit like no other! We burned for two days!
No plastic or other garbage went in that fire! 12-1875

3^rd I screened the ashes and kept on burning the big chunks until I had

a 5 gallon pail full. You can be sure that I put lots of ashes

around the string beans I planted for John!

Now I am gardening with renewed energy and hope. I pray the seeds will sprout and grow and give us vegetables to eat and give away... John has been making noises about moving to an apartment so we won't have to work so hard!

What are hobbies for, I ask you?

 ~*~*~*~*~*~

John: "You Want to Help?"

Two years plus on the ground in Cambodia.

What do we know? What have we learned?

In response to people who have asked us, the to the ones who haven't asked yet, but I know you're thinking about it:

How can we help? What do you need?

--- If Father God wants you to send some of His tax deductible money here, send it to us. Ask, we'll tell you how, and we'll put it to work intelligently. OR Ask and we'll give you the web sites of organizations we personally know are doing a good job with donated funds. I personally would not write a check to 90% of the charities out there, "Christian" or not. Sadly, we see what really happens to donated money in the Two-Thirds world. Cambodia does not need more donations of "stuff". This country has become a client state of every generous nation on earth. Donations of money or equipment usually seem to wind up in the pockets or businesses of the rich and powerful. The "golden rule"..... those having the gold, rule.
--- It's not hard to do something beneficial with a cash contribution that will be life changing and long term sustaining for a Khmer, but you have to be here to recognize the right program, and the right person. "Give me a fish, I'll eat today. Teach me to fish, I'll eat forever." This is a process; It takes time ... and mentoring ... and commitment. ...

... OK here's where the rubber meets the road. You want to help? Come here and help. If you speak English you have what 80% of Cambodians desperately need. Take your next holiday vacation in Siem Reap. We'll show you the need, and the opportunities to be of service.  If you just come for a look, you can go back home and tell the story. Then recruit teachers/people who are willing to go camping and rough it for a year, or two, or five. If God has provided you with a good amount of His money, hire a teacher to come here and work in one of the existing programs or N.G.O.'s. Sponsor church groups who come here on short term missions. There are people here begging for willing workers. So you're not a plumber, doctor, carpenter, electrician, teacher, or whatever! Come anyway! We can use you.

--- For example: It doesn't take a university degree to sit with a woman who has just lost her baby and listen. Fact: 1 in 7 Khmer children die before age 5, usually of preventable water-borne diseases.
--- We know how to make bio-sand filters, latrines, and teach basic hygiene. We need people. People who are willing to hear the call. Who are willing to put their life and career goals on hold.  "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." You want to know how to help, come and help. Two-Thirds of God is GO; If you're dyslexic, it's DO. If you are reading this you know how to contact us. Go, do, give, help; I guarantee it will change your life.

John Street

Full Time Staff Opportunities

 ⍣ University of the Nations ⍣ YWAM Base ⍣

⍣ Siem Reap, Cambodia ⍣

"Now therefore, our God, we thank you,

and praise Your glorious name”

Ywam Siem Reap is growing! We need 5 full-time positions filled. If you have done a DTS and are interested in long term service to our King then please check out these postings and pray about joining our team.

① Business As Missions (BAM) Coordinator                  

          Key Responsibilities:

·        Manage and develop the existing "Personal Shoppers" Business Enterprise.

·        Research new opportunities for sustainable businesses.

·        Implement and manage new social/business enterprises.

·        Review business plans and

operational directives using Quality Control principles.

·        Train and manage staff.

   Skills and Experience

·        Experience in Sales or Management

·        Organizational skills

·        Communication skills

·        Ability to develop, motivate and manage teams                                    

        Personal Qualities

·        Desire to work in a YWAM team of dedicated personnel

·        Desire to serve Cambodian people

·        Self –starter, energetic

② Outreach Coordinator

          Key Responsibilities:

·        Research local Projects and Organizations to determine service requirements.

·        Create a Data Base of information

·        Match local volunteer opportunities with incoming Outreach Teams

·        Identify and liaise with YWAM Outreach Teams wanting to

serve in the Siem Reap area

     

          Skills and Experience

·        Ability to communication with local NGO’s and service organizations

·        Ability to co-ordinate and organize YWAM outreach teams.

·        Public Relations skills                     

·        Computer Skills

   Personal Qualities

·        Desire to work in a YWAM team of dedicated personnel

·        Desire to serve Cambodian people

③ Base Administrator

          Key Responsibilities:

·        Ensure the smooth running of all administrative aspects of the U of N Base.

·        Management of U of N office

·        Financial accounting

·        Legal documentation

·        Staff co-ordination

·        Liaison with the Base Leadership Team

·        Oversight of base housekeeping staff and volunteers

·        Website management

                       

          Skills and Experience:

·        Previous experience in office administration

·        High standard of organization and efficiency skills

·        Communication skills

·        Computer skills to address all office requirements

   Personal Qualities

·        Desire to work in a YWAM team of dedicated personnel

·        Ability to address a number of issues simultaneously

·        A calm demeanor

·        Desire to serve Cambodian people

④ Base Cook

We are flexible in drafting a schedule for work (there’s a need for 3 meals/day and 7 days/week, but how it is managed is flexible).

          Key Responsibilities:

·        Organize the provision of 3 meals per day for Base residents and Training School people

·        Plan meals to ensure nutritional balance

·        Adhere to and manage the meal budget

·        Organize delivery and shopping for food provisions

·        Supervise and/or participate in all meal preparation, service and cleaning               

                       

          Skills and Experience:

·        Ability to prepare meals in a 3^rd world setting

·        Ability to plan nourishing meals on a tight budget

·        Flexibility in learning and serving new foods

·        Maintenance of high standards of cleanliness and food safety procedures

                       

    Personal Qualities

·        Desire to work in a YWAM team of dedicated personnel

·        Ability to direct helpers in a loving, cheerful and understanding manner

⑤ Language School Principal

This village school, on the outskirts of Siem Reap, runs mid-morning and afternoon classes for children and adults who wish to learn language, computer skills and other subjects as teachers are available.

          Key Responsibilities:

·        Ensure the smooth running of all aspects of the school

·        Organise, recruit and train teaching staff as appropriate,

both short and long term

·        Oversee registration and placement of students

·        Develop and standardize a placement test for new students

·        Inspire and motivate staff and students

·        Delegate all staff duties and organize schedules

·        Ensure teacher performance is monitored

·        Regularly update curricula and teaching materials

·        Organize extra-curricular school activities

·        Ensure all administration is timely and accurate

·        Liaise with landlord on property issues

           

          Skills and Experience:

·        Preference to a Degree in Education, or school head experience

·        Teaching and/or management experience

    Personal Qualities

·        Desire to work in a YWAM team of dedicated personnel

·        Ability to address a number of issues simultaneously in a professional manner

·        A calm demeanor

·        Desire to serve Cambodian people

For more information contact: Jackie Blanchard

 johnsjackieb@live.com

Interview with Base Leadership Team will be arranged.

Visit our Web Site at:

http://ywamsiemreap.org/

Please bear with us, this site is old and is a work in progress!

New site coming soon!