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.