Postscripts from Phnom Penh (Mar 06)

From Jo…
Wow, we’ve now been in Cambodia for 6 months – in some ways it seems like ages and in other ways it seems like we’ve just arrived (however, more often the former feeling)! Early February was primarily spent organizing the final details for the conference. The Pastors’ Conference from 20th – 23rd was absolutely fantastic – the Holy Spirit was experienced in a mighty way by all who attended including the team from Oz! Neil and Erin preached amazing messages but moreso led by the Spirit to allow us to soak more and more in His presence. Both Mark and I felt our thirsts got quenched but did not truly realize how thirsty and dry we had got spiritually since being here. Whilst the Cambodian pastors, youth pastors and leaders were impacted, it was even more exciting for me to see how Tim, Gracie, Dean, Greg, and Nel allowed the Spirit to lead them in imparting into the lives of the Cambodians. Anyway, I can’t say enough about the conference…

Soon after the conference finished, Mark and I had our first cell group meeting at our place for expats attending New Life Fellowship (the local church we are attending) – surprise, surprise, we met another couple from Oz who happen to go to CCC Oxford Falls!!! We are looking forward to building the group and being able to minister to each other.

We have just arrived back from our mid-year break in Thailand, spending about 6 nights in Phuket and then 3 nights in Bangkok, which was just heavenly!!! With this amazingly hot weather here, it was so nice to be able to go to a beach (the closest beach to PP is about 4 hrs away and it can cost approx US$10 to visit a pool)! We hired a motorbike for a day and did a bit of sightseeing and went into a massive shopping centre – I was nearly in shock after not seeing one for some time. We found a supermarket that sold more than one variety of apple, and so we went silly buying some gala apples, peaches and plums – I know this may sound funny but it’s amazing what you miss!!! It was also nice to have ‘proper’ coffee, have a range of places to eat and shop and being able to hold Mark’s hand while walking down the street and not breathe in dust (all these things a bit of a rarity in Cambodia). However, coming from a very poor country, doing some shopping in Thailand nearly blew me away as the prices in Thailand seemed extravagant (even though compared to Australia they were reasonable). The only point that wasn’t such a highlight was that I got sick during part of our time, although it didn’t stop me from getting as much action as possible! Oh and we thought the traffic in Cambodia was bad, our taxi driver to the airport for our flight back here at 5am was sitting at about 140km for awhile on the freeway and our seatbelts weren’t working – this certainly kept us wide awake and praying hard!!!
And then the day we arrived back to PP to our place, the electricity cut out on us twice…ahh, welcome back to reality!

From Mark...

Well, here we are as six month old expatriates..sure seems longer than that (as Jo indicated!) - but in reality we have had a pretty good run in terms of settling in. We are definitely feeling alot more settled in the house now that we have it mostly furnished and we have the motorbike to get around town in. Also - in terms of our roles here - it has definitely been a progressive thing in terms of us realising just where we fit in the big scheme of things here in PP. With so many different NGO's and church organisations based here - all doing really good work - we often felt like we were wandering a tad in our direction here - but this has definitely firmed up since and we are now more confident that we can actually add value in many areas here and in ways that others aren't addressing currently. So, that is really re-assuring for us both!

Well, since we last wrote - we held another pastors conference here in PP for cambodian church pastors and leaders (and yes...ridiculously close to the previous one!!). This conference was focused on the role of youth ministries within the local church and we had a good mix of both senior and youth pastors attending. All up - there were around 50 attendees throughout the 4 days - so that was really satisfying and just to see how God was really addressing some significant things in most - was even more special. The main themes coming through were of character issues, understanding the differences between calling & gifting in ministry, the role of youth pastor and senior pastors, raising new generation leaders, submission and unity, and the dream of God for our lives. It was all a great time in building relationships and in allowing some deep inner work by the holy spirit through some real 'God moments' throughout the week. I think we all came away with something significant in God - which is very cool really!

After the hecticness of the previous month in organising for this conference - we really did need a break for ourselves (..yes..we too get tired !!) and took our scheduled half year retreat straight afterward - with time in phuket and bangkok city. This was just what we needed!! We had some nice lazy days in the beaches in phuket and only had the hassle of avoiding all the other foreigners around town, including the many older white males with pretty young local girls hanging off their arms...all pretty disgusting really. We had a few edge of the seat experiences (and I do mean literally!) with some pretty crazy taxi drivers..both times in trying to get us to the airport in time to catch our flights...I think there is a trend emerging here somehow! Anyways...both times I went for the seat-belts - which I haven't done at all in travels in cambodia or laos...but these taxi drivers were seriously putting the pedal to the metal - and to the extreme!!

It was nice to have time in bangkok ...actually I can't believe I'm saying this about bangkok city..of all the places!!..but yes..we both had a healthy dose of retail therapy at the many shopping centres around the city. We stocked up on some things for the house, but also in buying for ourselves - which was really nice to have that luxury and not to have to bargain in hot, sweaty market atmospheres (..we'd both forgotten how nice it is to shop in air-conditioned comfort!).

In terms of our next few months, we are preparing to start a pilot program involving mentoring of a small group of church pastors and their key business-people (will start later this month)..so, we'll keep you in the loop on how all this progresses. We are expecting a really great opportunity in this to help build the vision of self-sustainability for churches here in cambodia.

Anyways..that's about it from us at the moment.

Take care until next time. Lots of love from us both!

Some pics of our journey so far...

Erin, Mark and Tim trying to navigate peak hour in phnom penh traffic to check out some of the local food stalls...I think it was worth the risk factor for them (at least to see the deep fried spiders!)

The cccw team (minus Neil and Greg) on a moto tour of the inner city areas...

A walk around Boeng Kak lake railway line area to get a feel for how the other half live (this is one of many of the inner city slum areas). The cambodians have such a great ability to make something out of so little - truly amazing.

A class in action at the newly opened New Life Fellowships International School (where Narelle works). Team in the background with Narelle.

Visiting the rubbish tip where many desperate cambodians try to make a living off the discard of inner city life dumped by the local rubbish trucks. A truly horrific sight to see in person...so much need here in this location alone. Really stirs you to look at opportunities to meet the practical needs of these people.

The cccw girls spending some time with the girls in New Life Fellowship's girls dorm (Next Step Houses)

Neil in action during one of the conference sessions (w/ Ps. Jesse McCaul interpreting with equal passion!)

Worship during one of the morning sessions of the conference

Erin sharing from her heart in one of the sessions (w/ Ps. Bora, NLF's youth pastor interpreting for her)

During one of the conference session breaks - the girls getting into the good ol' chain massage!

Erin, Grace and Jo in a tuk-tuk. This night: Nel, Grace and Erin all dressed up in the typical local cambodian girls day outfit (kinda like day-pyjama's really!) as we head out for a meal along the riverside (very funny ..and yes...they did get many comments from the local women!)

Tim and Heng posing for the camera in front of some pretty obscure hindu idol statues out front of the Goldiana Hotel

The cccw team (except for Neil) out for drinks and a meal (Note: the girls wearing the local day outfits!)

Heng's story...and our visit to his home in the province

Heng's story of living in the men's dorms (Next Step Houses):

First of all we just want to express ourselves to say thank for that we have a chance to tell you about our living place in present time and what had happened at there. Yes I hope all these things below will help you to know more about dorms and life passed experiences about a couple of guys.

We have 25 men who stayed at the next step house in Toul Svay Prey I. around 23 something stayed at Women’s dorm most of them coming from provinces.
Some of them continues their study at Universities, some study English at Church, and some study in high school in the Phnom Penh City.
All most of them came from poor farmers families. The reason they come to Phnom Penh because they want to continue their studies and want to find job to do but you know it not easy like what they supposed to do. Some time they felt hopeless. They cry out for help in a quiet room, some don’t know what should they do because don’t have any high education such guys who stay with me he just only study in 3 glades and their family forced him stop to studying since he was young. I fell very sorry for him so much. I, Heng experienced about my life living in the City without any support. I worked as a worker just change for food for all most 5 years. I think it really tough standard of living with people who always promise with us and at the end he turns his words. I have loads of experienced living with people and work for them as a slave. You know at that time I sell and mineral water I get up at 4:30 am and drive car to ice factory and delivered to home customer from door to door till 12:00pm and some time 1:00pm. I have only one hour break for lunch and then drive car deliver pure water to buyer at homes I get back home around 4:00pm something even though it is a hard job but I happy to do it. I thought it my own work and never think about energy, time at all because I know for sure when I stop working for my boss his will give me as what he had promises.

I have a great privilege to get know New Life Center through my friend he encouraged me to study at that organization. The first few week I refused to what he want me to do but he comes almost every week and his encouragement words changed my mind so decided go to study there. The first day I went there it was strange to me because I saw lots of students come and the class is so big, no wall. When I study with Jesse he informed to students I have Bible Class at room 210. Some of my new friend asked me Heng do you want to study Bible
I thought for a second and reply -what was the Bible study about? They said you will know later. The first day of my study Jesse gave New Testament Bible to read at home. You know when I start read the Bible I often have problem with people around me especially son of my boss. They don’t like me when knew that I have time to study English. You know before I have time to do that I try to work hard to satisfy my boss and asked him for times from month to month I always have problems. One evening when I read The Bible and went to bed I dreamed somebody called me in my dream that Heng follow me. When He reached his hands to me I stand still and asked to my mind “who is he” he say follow me I will give you place to stay the morning coming when I woke up I was very happy because I felt his love, and embrace. A few months later my boss talks to me Heng now you have wings so you can fly where you want to… I cried out silently and asked myself why? Where should I go?

On Saturday in the evening around 7:30pm I walked to New Life Fellowship because there I knew some Christian friends. I have told them about these problems. They felt sorry for me and then handed me to see Bora and other old Christian after they knew about the things.
They let me stay with them at resource room. I am very happy when I heard the word “ok”
I started to study harder and helped to do stuff in the Church such as setting chairs, sweeping, clean chairs one in every month in the church with other Christians, and also serving as an usher.
What I can’t forget is that when I reached to the roof top of church I cried out very loud out that THANKS YOU for calling me to this place God.
Brother/sister I just would love to tell you that even if you are rejected by the world but God, he never do that instead loves us and ready helping us for all what we asked for. God is good all the time. Don’t worry you are not alone. in Christ Jesus we have everything. We have father who always care about us.

Thanks you again

Blessings,
Heng Hak

From Mark...on our visit to Heng's family at their house in the province:
Here are some pics of a recent trip we (Jo, Mark + Nel and Tim from the cccw team) made to visit Heng's family in their village last month - as a way to encourage him and his family. It was a real eye-opener just to see how the majority of cambodians live - in a one room style wooden house, in very simple conditions (ie. no running water or electricity). It should make all of us "westerners" very thankful for all the basics in life that we have available to us - and to which we mostly take for granted. Food for thought...

Some pics of our trip are below:



Heng's family (incl. nieces/nephews, cousins, etc) and the cccw team (Jo, Mark, Nel and Tim) outfront of Heng's house in the province.

We were treated on arriving with fresh coconut juice and a local sweet rice cake. They were all delicious and as can be seen we were all enjoying the food on the table below the house! This arrangement is typical of most cambodian houses in the provinces.

Jo enjoying the coconut juice with Heng alongside.

Heng with his grandma. She was facinated with our cameras and in seeing her photos shown back to her....apparently she hadn't seen a picture of herself for many years (having not owned a mirror since she was a younger lady). Simply amazing - what we can so easily take for granted, can be priceless for others who are less fortunate than ourselves.

A view down the road near Heng's house - a mix of local kids and some of Heng's extended family quickly gathered as soon as the camera came out!