processing

It has been a little over a week since I left Cambodia. I am still processing, still trying to understand different things I saw and experienced. I did not post much while there. The task was overwhelming for me. There was so much to see, hear, learn, experience, and understand that at sometimes it seemed impossible to take it all in.

One of the most important things I took away from this experience was how easy it is for me to be a Christian, to have friends who are Christians, to choose Christianity over any other religion. I have never faced the threat of ridicule for being a Christian. I have never faced the decision of turning against everything I have ever known to follow Christianity. It has been an easy life for me.

I am in awe of the men and women of Cambodia. They choose a Christianity that is not easy. That is different from everything they have learned. That only 5% of the country follows. They are so strong in their faith, so faithful to God. They are an example of how faithful I want to be.

I hope as I am able to process more about the things I have experienced, I can share them here with you. While our trip is over, the journey is still just beginning.

Home -- but please keep reading!

Katy, Sarah and I arrived back in Atlanta yesterday afternoon. Karen Scheib and Caroline Culver are spending some time in Korea, where Karen preached at a Methodist church this morning. Given the very fast pace of our trip, we got a bit behind in writing about our experiences and in sharing photos. I hope you will check this blog again in another week or so, when we hope to have a few more stories and reflections posted. Many thanks to all of you for your support, interest and prayers during our sojourn to Cambodia. I look forward to talking with many of you soon about ways we can take action together.

The Power of One

This trip to Cambodia was motivated by my desire to understand more about sex trafiicking and about ways to help victims. A friend asked me a few days ago whether I have managed to stop sex trafficking, and I said in jest "Almost!"

Stopping sex trafficking is obviously an overwhelming challenge. Stopping the demand for services of brothels and the desire for sex with young girls and child virgins requires efforts far beyond my abilities. Fortunately, the government of Cambodia is beginning to take some small steps to address the problem.

On the other side, though, there is much I can do. One is to increase awareness, which I hope I am achieving in small part through this blog and by sharing the stories I have heard upon my return to Atlanta. The AFESIP Centers and the Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF) do an outstanding job of supporting victims, and I will continue my financial support of these organizations.

Over the past two weeks, I have come to believe that the biggest impact on sex trafficking that I can have is to support efforts to educate women and girls and provide vocational training so that they have options for making a living and caring for families. If a girl is able to generate income, she is less likely to be sold into sex slavery.

I have been overwhelmed druing this trip by the seeds that have been planted by the Methodist Church which, though not identifed for this particular purpose, will over time have a significant impact on stopping the sale of young girls from the countryside. Below is a summary of the efforts I think are key:

1. Teaching the value of women and children. The Church teaches that children are valued and that women are valued As I mentioned last week with respect to the Methodist School in Phnom Penh, the schools and churches interact with parents and others in a way that demonstrates the worth and importance of each individual. By teaching that Jesus loves chidren and women, and that God made each person as a wonderful and precious creation, the churches and schools start gradually impacting the mindset of Cambodians who traditionally do not respect and recognize the worth of children and women.

2. Women's Livelihood Projects. These projects, such as the ones I visited which support small business enterprises such as basketweaving and raising pigs, allow women to earn money. If a woman is earning money, she is more valued by her husband, who is then less likely to sell her. She also can allow her daughters to attend school rather than staying home to work in the fields.

3. Providing vocational training. As I mentioned last week, COS has a center to teach women weaving, cooking and hairdressing. AFESIP also provides training for the residents of its Centers. Through these and other training programs, young women are given the skills to support themselves and are less vulnerable to sex traffickers.

4. Education. Education is ultimately the key to improving the lives of women. Cambodia provides public schools that are free to attend. However, the child must have a uniform and must pay the teacher for copies of lessons and books. Providing scholarships for girls to attend school is critically important; however, it is not the full solution since some parents in the countryside still desperately need their children to work in the fields rather than to attend school. We asked the SMF about programs to pay parents an incentive to send their daughters to school, as discussed in Half the Sky by N. Kristoff. However, SMF was not aware of any studies which establish how effective this program actually is. Also, older children often do not live close enough to a high school to continue their education. In this regard, the work of the church to build dormitories where children may live away from home and attend high school is critically important. Similarly, dormitories are also needed for young women to attend universities. For about $300/year, we can provide a girl with a scholarship to attend school. For about $800/year, we can provide a scholarship for a young woman to attend university. For about $20,000, we can build a dormitory that will house 12-16 girls attending university or high school.

A faithful reader of this blog emailed me last Friday a quote attributed to Mother Theresa: "If you cannot feed one hundred, feed one." I cannot solve sex traficking, but I can hopefully save at least one girl from becoming a victim. I can provide a scholarship or help raise funds for a dormitory. Together, we can save many girls.

Women's Livelihood project --- basket weavers

On the way to Siem Reap, we stopped at another Women's Livelihood projects that Marilyn facilitates. This one is also a basketweaving project. We enjoyed visiting the women and seeing their beautiful baskets. And, of course, we bought some!

There are children everywhere. Some are coloring popsicle sticks, others are stringing beads onto necklaces, while others still are playing games with the visitors who have come. Each one is preciously made, full of life, and represents hope for the future.

We have spent the last two days working at an elementary school. I can’t really call it work, though. I had just as much fun as the children did during the crafts and game time. Each child was given four popsicle/craft sticks to decorate with markers and plastic jewels. The craft sticks were then glued together to form a picture frame. All the members of our team worked hard instructing, drawing, coloring, gluing, and lining up the sticks. Deborah and Sarah also worked hard taking each child’s picture and printing it off so that it could go in the frame. Once the frames were done we helped them to make necklaces from lanyard string and colorful beads.

While I got to help with each of these things (except the picture taking and printing… I left that to the professionals!), I mostly spent my time tying the ends of necklaces and enlisting my camp counselor experience to dance and play games with the children. We were able to do the Hokey Pokey, I’m A Little Hunk of Tin, Moses Says (think Simon Says), the Big and Small Game (a wonderful game introduced to me by our lovely translator, Tola), a slightly altered game of Duck Duck Goose, and Ring Around the Rosy just to name a few.

After working with these beautiful and wonderful children, I learned about their lives at home. The Methodist School asks for a $5 a month fee for those students who can afford it. Many cannot. The other school where we worked asks for no tuition, because the children that attend there are the poorest in the area. Each school is divided into three sessions: 1 group in the morning, 1 group in the afternoon, and 1 group in the evening. The evening group comes at that time because many work during the day with their parents.

I wish I could do a better job of explaining what the past two days have been like for me. It has been such a blessing to work with such wonderful children and teachers, but so heart breaking to see the level of poverty many of these children face on a daily basis. I am blown away at the level of support for these schools though. People are investing in the future of these children. I hope to do the same.

As you pray today, remember the children, parents, teachers and others with whom we have worked. Also, remember our team as we experience and learn from everyone we meet.

-Caroline, Candler School of Theology ‘13

Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP

I was thrilled last Tuesday that we were given the privilege of visiting the Somaly Mam Foundation in Phnom Penh and am very grateful to Chair of the Somaly Mam Foundation in NY for making the visit possible. As you may recall from my post about Three Books, Somaly Mam's memoir, The Road of Lost Innocence, was a primary inspiration for my planning this trip. I highly recommend this book in which Somaly Mam shares her story of being sold into sex slavery at age 16, surviving the associated brutalities, escaping, and eventually starting AFESIP ( Agir Pour Les Femmes en Situation Precair). AFESIP now has 3 centers in Cambodia and one in Laos to provide support and training for women who have been rescued from the brothels. The Somaly Mam Foundation (SMF) was founded a few years ago in NY and exists largely to raise awareness and to raise funds for addressing sex trafficking.

At the SMF, we met with two remarkable young women, Sreypou and Chhaiveun, who are part of a program called Voices for Change. This is a new program designed to empower victims to be part of the solution. A couple of years ago, 6 girls were chosen from the AFESIP Centers to join the program. Six more have been added, and soon six more will join to create a three-year program with 18 girls. Sreypou and Chhaiveun deeply inspired me. They were cheerful, and they spoke about their experiences courageously and without bitterness. During the three-year program, the participants receive training to improve literacy, computer skills, and English, and they learn about other life skills, including stress management. They also spend time at the AFESIP Centers to counsel with newly arrived victims, and they provide encouragement to the girls leaving the Centers as they seek reintegration into society. In the third year of the program, the participants work as interns at SMF to prepare them for finding jobs at the end of the program.

We asked Sreypou and Chhaiveun about their activities to increase awareness among potential victims. They presently host a one-hour radio talk show 5 days a week. During this time, they share their experiences of being a victim and they warn girls about the "tricks" of the traffickers. They explained to us that the traffickers often arrive very well dressed in remote villages. They lure the girls with promises of nice clothes. When we asked about parents selling their children, they acknowledged that this is a real problem and they added that husbands will sometimes sell their wives. They also indicated that, although many men who go to the brothels are foreign (both Asian and Western), most of the customers are Cambodian. SMF is exploring creating a TV show to reach an even larger number of girls and young women.

We asked Sreypou and Chhaiveun how we could help in addition, of course, to making financial contributions. They said that these girls and young women in the AFESIP centers want to be loved, affirmed and accepted. (Our team later wondered about sending cards as expressions of our support.) They added that increasing awareness and telling the stories is extremely important. In response to our question about support from the Cambodian government, we were told that the government is making some progress, and Dec. 12 has been declared National Human Trafficking Day in Cambodia. We also asked about providing scholarships for persons in the Voices for Change program to study in the U.S., but a practical challenge in that regard is that most victims have, at most, completed only the 7th or 8th grade.

After graciously spending about an hour with us, Sreypou and Chhaiveun, along with a SMF Volunteer, took us to the Tomdy Center, located about a half hour outside of Phnom Penh. We were understandably asked not to make photographs there but you can see some on the AFESIP website. The setting is in the countryside, and the grounds are encylosed for privacy and security. The landscaping is lovely and serene, creating a peaceful environment for healing. In addition to the 75 regular residents, there are 9 small childen who live at the Center with their mothers. One girl who was only 14 had just recently given birth and shyly showed us her beautiful baby. This Center offers training in sewing, weaving and hairdressing. I was particularly impressed by the achievements of the sewing class, who shyly showed us their projects. There is no set amount of time a resident remains at the Center; each decides when she is ready to take the next step of reintegrating into society.

I left the Center with the deepest respect for these brave young women and girls who have survived many horrors, including sometimes torture, and yet have the fortitude to move forward with hope. They know from Sreypou, Chhariveun, and other participants in Voices for Change that a new life is indeed possible. My heart goes out to these young women. This day alone made my entire trip worthwhile.

In the 3 photos above, the first shows our team at the entrance to the Tomdy AFESIP Center, along with some of the staff and our Voices for Change guides. The second shows Karen Scheib giving a quick knitting lesson to Sreypou (white shirt) and Chhaiveun (purple shirt) while we were waiting for our ride from SFF to the Tomdy Center. The third shows our team at SFM along with Sreypou, Chhaiveun, and another volunteer.

If you think you may like to volunteer at AFESIP, information is available on the webite.

A new church being built

On the way to Siem Reap, we stopped at the site of the Phum Sre Methodist Church in the Kompong Thom province where the congregation is building a new church. Many members, including children, were at the building site when we arrived. (Notice the scaffolding in the photo.) We were asked to offer prayers for the new church. There is sufficient land to build a dormitory also, which the Methodist Mission in Cambodia would like to build. It would house high school students who live in villages which do not have high schools, so the students could attend the high school near the church.

Stopping to eat on the way to Siem Reap

This is the restaurant where we stopped to eat Saturday on the way to Siem Reap. All our road trips have an unexpected adventure along the way!

Methodist School of Siem Reap

Today was, by far, my most enjoyable day in Cambodia. Our group went the Methodist School of Siem Reap to do crafts and to play with the young pre-school and 1st and 2nd graders. Every child there was so elated to be spending time with us; but I can promise that they were not as happy as we all were. Instead of being in the states enjoying fireworks and coleslaw, we were in Cambodia delighting in time with God's beautiful young ones. However, the Americans at the lunch table did sing the national anthem. The craft that we did with the children was a very comlicated concept for 4, 5, and 6 year olds to master, but they caught on really well. First, we divided the children up into groups of about 5, lined each group up and took their individual picture, then they each decorated 4 tongue depressor looking popsicle stick to eventually assemble them into a picture frame. I was in charge of printing the pictures, easy in theory but not when you have the most hands-on little girl wanting to touch the picture with still wet ink on it. But, I learned how to say "don't touch" in khmer and it came in handy the whole day. After everybody finished their frames and attached them to the photo, we made necklaces with beads and plastic string. Very messy, and very fun. Afterwards, we played parachute games until our team was about ready to collapse. I would say, overall, it was a very succesful and delightful day!

The Khmar Thmey Methodist Church near Siem Reap

Sunday morning church musicians at church near Siem Reap

Site of the future Blessing Center for older adults and others

The structure in these photos was built with a gift from Glenn Memorial UMC. Let's finish this building!!

Sunday afternoon tractor ride in the mud!

This was our tractor ride to the site of the future Blessing Center.

Marilyn's and Joseph's Dream

After lunch, Joseph and Marilyn took us to a piece of land about a half hour outside of Siem Reap. The journey itself was quite an adventure. Since it is the rainy season, the rough, bumpy unpaved roads are quite a challenge with huge mud holes all over. We were jostled around quite a bit! At one point, the van could go no further, so we moved from the van to a pick-up truck with some of the staff riding in the open bed of the truck. Joseph said to me, "next we will need a tractor." Certain that he was kidding me, I replied that I would prefer using one of the ox carts we pass along the road. But, Joseph was not joking. He stopped at a point where a tractor pulling a cart awaited us! We transferred to the tractor cart and continued our journey through the mud and through water standing quite deep. I was amazed!! (yes, I will post photos later). We arrived at an open field with the beginnings of one small building, started with a $750 donation from Glenn Memorial UMC. Here, the plan is to build a senior center, which will be called a Blessing Center. The Cambodian government provides very little for senior citizens. The Center will be a gathering place for meals, activities and other services for senior citizens. The plan calls for some existing ponds to be enlarged and stocked with fish for fishing, and for fruit trees and vegeetables to be planted. In fact, Joseph brought some mango trees to be planted on this trip. Most of the land for this Center was family land belonging to Marilyn and Joseph, and they have given the land for this purpose. Marilyn and Joseph have also built a chicken house on the property to start generating some income for their retirement because Joseph is not covered by any type of retirement program. From the site of the Center, a prison is clearly visible. Joseph and Marilyn plan for a portion of the Center to be used by families from remote areas who are visiting family members in prison and need a place to rest or stay. In addition, Joseph and Marilyn hope that one day a student residence can be built so that poor students from the countryside will have a place to stay if they come to study at a new university being started close by. This Center will truly be a blessing to many. The dream is great, the vision is clear, the need is vast, and the land is ready. Joseph and Marilyn pray that the funds will come. We joined hands with them and prayed together that the dream will become a reality.

Sunday morning in Siem Reap

As we drove up to the Khmar Thmey Methodist Church just outside the city of Siem Reap, we were greeted by smiling children playing outside the church. This joyous spirit was present throughout the worship as well. I was particularly inspired by the music, which featured primarily Khmer melodies. The church is blessed by some members who are wonderful musicians, and several played native instruments. One young girl played her recorder especially beautifully. I cannot adequately describe the spirit of joy and hope which seemed to be present in the midst of extremely modest surroundings. Indeed by Western standards, the area is quite poor. After the service, Joseph Chan told us the history of the church. Around 1991, Cambodian citizens who were still in Thai refugee camps were returned to Cambodia. The UN bought pieces of land for resettlement. The church we visited was started on land the Methodist church purchased in 1994 in the middle of this resettlement area, which was the new home for 240 families.

Despair and Hope

Monday we saw the consequences of human cruelty at the Killing Fields. On Tuesday we witnessed the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of love as we met girls and young women who are survivors of the sex trade. We had the privilege of a brief visit to one of the training centers run by AEFSIP for girls rescued from sexual slavery. AEFSIP is (a Cambodian group) started by Somaly Mam to rescue girls like herself, who had been sold into slavery. Girls who come to AEFSIP are not forcibly taken from the brothels. When they are discovered through police raids or found through the efforts of the Social Ministry, they are given a choice to enter a center and begin a new life. Not all leave. When girls arrive at the AEFSIP center they are often traumatized, having had no education, and few of the skills needed to manage their own lives. The center provides basic education (grades 1-4), life skills training, vocational training (sewing, cooking, hairdressing), medical care, and psychological counseling. It is truly an impressive and inspiring program. Looking into the warm brown eyes of the girls we met there, many in their early teens, some with young babies, it was hard to imagine the violence, and suffering they had endured. The cruelties visited upon them include captivity, constant physical and sexual abuse, exposure to disease, and other terrors I can barely imagine. For the most part, the scars were not physically visible, yet one could sense the residue of suffering hovering in the shadows. Yet, in the midst of this were incredibly resilient and strong young women with a will to live and a desire for a better life. Here were staff and volunteers giving of themselves, sharing their love, and helping these girls toward wholeness. Here were young women nurturing the seeds of hope, greeting us with shy smiles, and taking one step at at time toward healing.

Reflection of Phnom Penh

Being here, in Phnom Penh, has been a huge cultural experience. The way of life, the language, the food, the people, and everything in between are so differing from what I have grown up and grown accustomed to in the U.S.; especially in the more rural areas. I find that with every new place that we travel, not only do I learn more about how other people live, but I learn more about how greatful I should be for how I live. John Lennon has a famous quote that says, "The more I see, the less I know for sure". This is so true in my Cambodian experience. I thought, before I came here, that I knew what challenging life situations were; now I'm not so sure. The way people live here, even in the poorest of places, seem to be happy and content. I thought I knew tough, it turns out that I indeed do not. There is a bible verse in Romans, the exact verse escapes me, but it questions how God's people could ever be sad, or have despair with the spirit of God within them. The women and children in the orphanages and womens' shelters that we have been to have truly grasped the spirit of God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and hold it firmly within them. It is so inspiring to see God's love and eternal happiness alive in the people of Cambodia.

Friday morning at GBGM

Today we were invited to lead the devotion held each morning by the staff of the GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries) of the United Methodist Church in Cambodia. Our hosts, Marilyn and Joseph Chan, are missionaries sent by GBGM to Cambodia. The devotion started with singing, including "He Leadeth Me," which we were able to sing in English while the staff sang in Khmer. Then, our team led all in singing "This is the Day that the Lord has Made." The text we chose was the parable of the sower. In our time of reflection, we shared our deep admiration for the way the staff exemplifies the Gospel in action. Although we recognize that they must often wonder what will happen with the seed they sow each day, we have witnessed the fruits of their labor and can testify in confidence that much of the seed they have sown has grown in fertile ground. The work being done to help Cambodians in the name of Christ is inspiring. As I think about all we have witnessed this past week in Phnom Penh, I am overwhelmed by the huge impact they are having on the lives of others. Highlights for me have been the women's projects which support the basket weavers and the pig farmer, and the work in the COSI Children's Village. The work here brings hope.

video of children playing at the orphanage

the children are playing with the "parachute" that we brought. we were cheered by the sound of their laughter, and their eagerness to play with all of us.

Immanuel Children's Village

We had a fabulous time Thursday at Immanuel Children's Village, about an hour outside of Phnom Penh. The 120 children there seemed radiantly happy, and we were excited to see the great work being done. The highlight of our visit was presenting the children with a parachute game we brought. They all gathered around to watch as the lucky first 20 children took the handles of the parachute and waved it in the air to keep the balls from rolling off the edges. Their laughter was jubilant, and I hope you will watch the video posted below.

The Immanuel Children's Village is part of COS (Community Outreach Service), which, like the Methodist School of Cambodia, was founded by the Singapore Methodist Church. Children may come to COSI (COS-Immanuel) between ages 6 and 12, though exceptions may be made to keep siblings together and the youngest resident now is 4. Most of the children are orphans, but some have one or two parents who have left their children and gone to the city to find work. The children attend the local public school, which goes to grade 9. The chidren may then move into a Youth Hostel, which is near a high school. COSI 's objective is for each child to become a good citizen of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Cambodia. Furthermore, COSI endeavors to ensure that each child can find sustainable employment after leaving the program. COSI's integration program prepares children for life after high school in accordance with each child's abilities and interests.

The children have some type of farming chore each day. COSI raises pigs to produce income, and grows rice and vegetables to help feed the children. There is a major emphasis, though, on providing the children with education and spiritual formation guidance. After school tutoring is provided, in part, because the school is not of a high quality. Teachers are paid little money and sometimes don't even show up for classes.

The story of COSI's founding is very inspirational. One missionary from Singapore came to Cambodia in 1998. She worked with children but felt she had little lasting impact on their lives. She had a dream of founding a home for 12 children (one child for each of Jesus' disciples). Now, her dream has come to fruition tenfold, as COSI now has 120 children. The setting is rural, and she started COSI in a remote area with no roads and no power. Now, there are roads, but a generator is still required for power. As for the roads, I don't think I have every been on such a long, extremely bumpy dirt road in my life! But, the reward of being at COSI more than compensated for the rough travel there.

We visited the Youth Hostel after leaving COSI, and bought crafts that the residents had made. The dorm rooms looked cheerful, and the residents were proud to show us where they live. COS also sponsors a women's center, where poor young women learn skills such as sewing, hairdressing, and cooking that will help them find employment.

COS welcomes work teams. Many come from Singapore, which is only 2 hours away by plane. Medical and dental teams come and serve the outlying village as well as COSI, and other teams or individuals come to teach English or to provide maintenance assistance. We saw some lovely artwork painted on the library wall by a talented volunteer.

As you can tell from reading this, our time there was a blessing.

Playing with Parachute Game at Immanuel Children's Village

We brought a parachute game as a gift. Watch the children's joyful playing!

Immanuel Children's Village and Youth Hostel

Methodist School of Cambodia

Small business enterprise

Through the Women's Division of the UMC, micro-loans are made to Cambodian women to run small business operations. A woman near Svay Rieng raises these pigs based in part on a loan she received.