After thousands upon thousands of miles of travel by tuk-tuk, motorbike, plane, car, and shoe leather Roger and I have returned to snowy and cold Ohio. Though we did enjoy the 80-90 degree weather it's good to be with family again.
Any third world developing country is not always kind to itself, the nationals, residents, or visitors. Cambodia is no exception. Emergence from war, conflict, and political unrest as late as the mid 1990's has left it with health, economic, infrastructure, and political issues to be worked through.
As we toured a hospital we saw a man that just lost his arm and leg to a land mine explosion. Prior to our leaving we heard of 7 other Cambodians that were killed as they tried to defuse a land mine.
We saw the results of infrastructure that has no rules of the road other then what is socially understood as we saw an accident of two motorbikes colliding on a two lane highway (riders without helmets). (There are only three hospitals in Cambodia that have a semblance of trauma care and one said they receive an average of 15-18 traffic accidents each day (most are motorbikes).
The list goes on as this country gives rebirth to itself after recent years of a dark and unpleasant history. As rebirth comes to Cambodia we see a people starting to find new hope in themselves and the country. This also opens the opportunity for new spiritual hope for them too. Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM) and Community Transformation Ministries (CTM) is part of that spiritual hope. GBIM has been part this development as it disciples and trains Foundation Layers (Cambodian church planters) in the word of God and love of Jesus. As they understand God’s grace, mercies, love, and forgiveness they are able to start house churches in the villages of their communities.
CTM is able to help them holistically with opportunities for viable sustaining micro enterprise businesses. During this trip we were able to interview all the foundation layers that had developed business plans for small micro enterprises that will help them become self supporting and are reproducible in their villages.
We were able to visit the Kas Kra Lor village and were very encouraged with the results of the project there. They are developing some agrarian projects wanting to raise potatoes, mangoes, and vegetables, the rice yield was excellent for the rice bank to help others in the community, and the desire of the leader of the house church to want to grow spiritually in the Lord.
Regarding the Reaksmey Samiki issue, the cow tractor is not helping and is creating problems in the community. So we had to end the project, give Narin and the rest of the committee a gift for their work, and sell the cow tractor. Not what we had hoped, but a learning experience. They will be no worse off without it, but for the time being are worse off because of it.
The economic project at Pursat will probably be ended and the cows used to finance another cow project at a different location. We are just not sure of direction of the relationship with this ministry center at this time.
In Reaksmey Samiki and Kas Kra Lor we want to continue to develop spiritual relationships with these ministry centers and we are open to possible future economic projects. But, the present economic projects are not in the best interest of the spiritual health of either of these centers.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Continue to pray for Cambodia, GBIM, and CTM as the direction of these ministries develop.
Any third world developing country is not always kind to itself, the nationals, residents, or visitors. Cambodia is no exception. Emergence from war, conflict, and political unrest as late as the mid 1990's has left it with health, economic, infrastructure, and political issues to be worked through.
As we toured a hospital we saw a man that just lost his arm and leg to a land mine explosion. Prior to our leaving we heard of 7 other Cambodians that were killed as they tried to defuse a land mine.
We saw the results of infrastructure that has no rules of the road other then what is socially understood as we saw an accident of two motorbikes colliding on a two lane highway (riders without helmets). (There are only three hospitals in Cambodia that have a semblance of trauma care and one said they receive an average of 15-18 traffic accidents each day (most are motorbikes).
The list goes on as this country gives rebirth to itself after recent years of a dark and unpleasant history. As rebirth comes to Cambodia we see a people starting to find new hope in themselves and the country. This also opens the opportunity for new spiritual hope for them too. Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM) and Community Transformation Ministries (CTM) is part of that spiritual hope. GBIM has been part this development as it disciples and trains Foundation Layers (Cambodian church planters) in the word of God and love of Jesus. As they understand God’s grace, mercies, love, and forgiveness they are able to start house churches in the villages of their communities.
CTM is able to help them holistically with opportunities for viable sustaining micro enterprise businesses. During this trip we were able to interview all the foundation layers that had developed business plans for small micro enterprises that will help them become self supporting and are reproducible in their villages.
We were able to visit the Kas Kra Lor village and were very encouraged with the results of the project there. They are developing some agrarian projects wanting to raise potatoes, mangoes, and vegetables, the rice yield was excellent for the rice bank to help others in the community, and the desire of the leader of the house church to want to grow spiritually in the Lord.
Regarding the Reaksmey Samiki issue, the cow tractor is not helping and is creating problems in the community. So we had to end the project, give Narin and the rest of the committee a gift for their work, and sell the cow tractor. Not what we had hoped, but a learning experience. They will be no worse off without it, but for the time being are worse off because of it.
The economic project at Pursat will probably be ended and the cows used to finance another cow project at a different location. We are just not sure of direction of the relationship with this ministry center at this time.
In Reaksmey Samiki and Kas Kra Lor we want to continue to develop spiritual relationships with these ministry centers and we are open to possible future economic projects. But, the present economic projects are not in the best interest of the spiritual health of either of these centers.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Continue to pray for Cambodia, GBIM, and CTM as the direction of these ministries develop.
posted by GraceCTM | 7:44 PM
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