Immeasurably more

Here we are in Siem Reap as our visit to Cambodia and CHO draws to a close.  We were busy throughout last weekend so we are now having a couple of "days off" in Siem Reap.  As part of our ongoing project with CHO it is also really important for us to learn about Cambodian culture, the religious context and how it integrates with life here.  We are also fortunate that it is a Cambodian national holiday - The Water Festival while we are here so this gives us extra insight into Cambodian life.

Today we have been visiting the Angkor Wat temple and other surrounding temples.  I'll not try and describe the temples here as there are many good sources on the Internet (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat ) or you could catch up on two excellent programmes screened on the BBC recently http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04jmx7j   However what you do need to understand is that these temples which are about 1000 years old were originally built as Hindu and only later became Buddhist temples.  Probably the most significant fact which you appreciate even more when you are here is that this is the largest complete religious complex in the world and was once the centre of a great empire.  At another level both the Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones Temple of Doom were filmed here!  So while the site resonates with us it also reminds us of the clash of these different cultural images.

We had more insights in to the Khmer culture during our evening meal which was enjoyed buffet style in a restaurant with over 700 people eating together.  Whilst this took place we were entertained with traditional Khmer Apsara dancing.

Typically this comprises five dances which re-tell famous Khmer tales. One we enjoyed was the Golden Fish dance, which tells the story of the Monkey King who tricks the Golden Fish into falling in love with him; beautiful dancing and a story line that again crosses cultures.

Whilst we are here in Siem Reap we have been guided by Rathana, one of the staff members from CHO, Rathana is one of CHO's long serving members of staff and is often involved in managing Tearfund UK projects at CHO.

So what of the team?  As I look back on the past couple of weeks it has been an amazing journey - not just physically.  We have a great team who have done what they planned and much more.  We made some great new friends working alongside CHO staff at school, in village outreach, with staff in the office and specialists in the field, linking up with other Tearfund volunteers, before, during and we hope after the visit.  We've done things in situations we could not possibly have planned for, and it might be a cliché, but done something to change lives which is CHO's aspiration - changing lives one step at a time.  As we left, a group of students arrived from South Korea to start work constructing the next classroom for Safe Haven school.  The vision is not just another classroom but for university level facilities in years to come.

Thank you to everyone that made this all possible.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Graham.