Joining up

Sing-up

Today, Thursday, has been a day of contrasts. Each day we start at 7.30 with devotions at the CHO Office, this morning led by Doug on Psalm 37. We recognised both the worship songs today! (“Lord Jesus we enthrone you” and “God sent His son; they call Him Jesus” although of course sung in Khmer). It is a really special experience to worship with with the CHO staff team. Before we started the team's planned program I was then asked to make a flying visit (which turned into an hour!) to the Hope Transform Center (see Monday's post) with Reatrey, the CHO General Manager, to discuss the details of the fit out of the conference room and chapel audio visual equipment ready for installation next week. This should mean that the builders can carry on with confidence over the next few days or so placing equipment stands and wiring in the correct places, and no doubt there will be more to report about this next week.

Building-up

As a team we then travelled in the 4x4 for an hour south east of Poipet, past Safe Haven School and out across terrain best described as largely “off road” crossing two rivers (one in flood) and further on still crossing two remnants of World War 2 bridges into an area that was one of the last regions held by the Khmer Rouge. We finally arrived at a church building – a simple brick built structure with an iron roof furnished with a tiled floor and open windows, where we were met by 5 Cambodian families and their children, all assembled to meet us with two musicians playing to mark our arrival. On Sunday afternoons this is a place of worship for 50 local people. The church building was by far the most advanced structure on the site. After introductions we were able to listen while they shared details of their daily lives and also some of their concerns with us. We heard about their baptisms, the visit by a doctor just once in the last year and their daily walk of 1 kilometre (5/8 mile if you prefer!) to collect water (and that is only contaminated flood water). For some of us this was the first time actually meeting people who have to do this task when we normally take the supply of clean water completely for granted and it was a very humbling experience. We were asked if we would pray with them and we did.

Stitched-up

In the afternoon we travelled for an hour, north from Poipet and very close to the Thai border to one of sewing classes in a CHO facility. For us, this was an off road journey by 4x4 again, but for CHO staff a journey made each day by motorbike. A class was in progress for 12-15 year old girls. This is part of a one year course which includes both anti-trafficking education and bible study before each sewing class begins. The sequel to this story came later in the afternoon when we visited another sewing unit in the suburbs of Poipet, where we met a group of four ladies who had made good use of CHO's micro-loan scheme (start-up finance) to acquire a building, four electric sewing machines and other necessary sewing equipment. This particular group had been one of CHO's first sewing classes in 2004 and were now producing clothing and small fabric goods for sale in Bangkok and in doing so were able to make their own financial way in the world.

It is possible we may not be blogging tomorrow as we visit Siem Reap and Angkok Wat to learn about Khmer culture, we will have to see what the internet connection is.

Graham (20^th October)