Liz, do we need to buy a Christmas tree?

This was a question posed to me by one of our amazing Khmer staff this week.  He wanted to know if we should buy a Christmas tree for our childrens' day centre.  Of course the British in me wanted to say 'yes of course' but then I thought again.  My Khmer staff member and I had a chat about Christmas and when I remarked that Christmas trees are not mentioned in the Bible he looked a little confused!

So we went online and looked at the history of Christmas trees and how the tradition developed.  We also talked about the birth of Jesus as written in the Bible.  And we had a good discussion about what Christmas is really all about and traditions that people have and don't have. 

Its not that traditions are bad in themselves as they can actually be quite helpful for people. But I realised that in order for our children to get excited about Christmas they needed to understand that it shouldn't be seen as a 'white people's celebration' with the emphasis on Father Christmas, santa hats, decorations and Christmas trees.  

What Christmas really is about is the gift of Jesus with the hope, love and joy that He brings in the midst of suffering. 

Remembering that Jesus was born into a poor family, in a room where animals made their home and then as a young child Jesus and His earthly parents became refugees in order to escape the genocide you realise that the children we work with can really identify with Jesus.  

And that is what we need to be sharing with our children in Cambodia this Christmas.  (But yes we do have a Christmas tree in my house:)

Tears of sadness and a heart of joy

Whilst the majority of our work is with the children and their families who attend the day centre we help run, sometimes we meet others whom it just seems that God has put in our path to be able to help and love them well.  "Esther' (not her real name) was one just like that.

Our team had gone on outreach to visit some of the families as they usually do some afternoons.  And they saw Esther. Heavily pregnant, disabled and abandoned on the streets by her partner, Esther was very vulnerable.  

In fact others who live on the streets actually approached our team to say how concerned they were about her.  Yes they also live on the streets but they could see she was extra vulnerable.  Our team gave her food and water and were able to help get her to hospital before her baby was born.

Within hours of her baby being born Esther had been offered 200U$ for her baby.  That is £128. For a new born baby.  A baby who had yet to be named.  Still in the hospital.  The future for a baby sold really does not bear thinking about.  Maybe the baby would have gone to live with a couple who wanted children but couldn't conceive. But far more likely the baby would have been sold to people who would use and abuse a baby. 

Thankfully through Esther's decision and the kindness of another charity we were able to place Esther and her baby in a safe place. And even more thankfully, through working with another charity and a miracle from heaven we were able to help reunite Esther and her baby with her family recently. Esther and her now named baby are safe and well. 

As I write this, I have tears in my eyes and joy in my heart. Tears of sadness that a baby's life can be worth so little and yet a heart of joy that we were in the right place at the right time...a co-incidence...no...a God-incidence....yes. Sadness that people are preying on the vulnerable even in hospital.  

Joyful that those around her were so concerned although they have so little, which in turn helped our staff stop for her.  Joyful that as a mother Esther did her best to protect her baby and that organisations worked together for Esther and the baby's safety and good.  Joyful that we get to play a very small part in seeing Jesus' Kingdom come here on earth.  

‘Women are like cloth, men are like gold"

There is a traditional Cambodian saying that women are like cloth so they can be easily ‘soiled’ and discarded while men are like gold, untarnished (no matter what they do) and worth a lot more.

I have been reflecting on this as I have now been living in Cambodia for 5 months.  For many women here it is seen to be their duty to help provide for their parents and so many girls who work in Phnom Penh regularly send money home to their families in the province.  Some younger guys are also expected to do this.

Sadly for many of these girls they see the only way to get enough money to send home is to sell themselves, on every level.  There are streets here in Phnom Penh where it is so very blatant that women are selling themselves for sex, often to older Western men.  Some of these men actually believe that they are helping these girls to then help their families by paying for sex.  And there is a T-shirt which some guys wear saying ‘Sleep with me, free breakfast’. 

And for many of these girls it is very difficult to break out of the cycle once they have begun work in the bars and ‘massage parlours’ especially as they are no longer seen as being ‘pure’ and like cloth, can easily be discarded. 

The good news is that there are some really good organisations which are bringing out the actual gold in these girls.  Organisations like Daughters of Cambodia (daughtersofcambodia.org) help bring women out of sex working and give them holistic care to help them move forward.  The care given involves training and employment, counselling and day care for their children.  Daughters also runs two fabulous cafes which are some of my favourite to visit!

And my team are doing our part, often in partnership with organisations like Daughters.  My teammate Amy has got to know some of the girls in the bars through regular visiting.  Amy met ‘Sarah’ one night after praying about where to go to meet girls who needed to hear that Father God has a much better plan for their lives.   Sarah was working behind the bar as she has good English but she was under pressure to start selling herself.  Sarah was looking for a way out of her situation before it got worse.

Amy started to build up a friendship with Sarah and over a period of time Sarah talked about wanting to leave her job. And so with support from some sponsors from Amy’s connections, Sarah is now studying at university and her future is looking completely different.  God used Amy’s willingness to sacrifice her time and her obedience to following His voice that night to bring about a new hopeful future for Sarah.  

We recognise that God's hand was very much on Sarah's life as she was able to leave when she did. We pray that Sarah is one of many girls that God would use us to help get freedom and be restored in Jesus name.  And as a friend/family of mine thank you for helping me be here to be a part of this.

Annie and Angels

I wrote this for our team blog and hope it will help paint a picture of something tangible about our work here.  So many of the families we work with think that anybody white can be trusted...when sadly a good number of white people (and other ethnicities) that visit Cambodia come for reasons other than legitimate tourism.......

Let me tell you about Annie.  You’ll understand that Annie is not her real name and we can’t post a photo or go into details but she’s real and her situation and many others like hers is real too.

Annie lives with her family in a vulnerable situation.  On a visit to her family, her parents said that a white guy had been coming to see them and giving them things.  He had also offered to take Annie to school.  It was clear from speaking to the family that this guy’s intentions were not good…at all. 

To help Annie the best it was important to make sure that her parents, those best placed to keep her safe could do so.  Some work was done with Annie’s parents and of course time spent with Annie.  Practical provision for the family has been given as well as alerting those that need to know.  And of course prayer covering the family. On a visit to the family I felt God say ‘Look up’ and I saw two big angels standing guard around the family.   

We continue to see Annie regularly and she loves to play with us and always has big smiles for us.   And now her parents want nothing to do with the white guy.  And Annie’s angels are still there.

From the city to an island...and back again

I can’t believe that I’ve been here in Cambodia for nearly two months now!  It has felt a little strange at times knowing that I’m here for at least two years which seems like such a long time after all the adventures of the last 3-4 years…it is still an adventure but more of a stationary one this time!

I feel like I am getting adjusted to life in Cambodia….the heat, the noise and the traffic of Phnom Penh to name but a few!  I am very grateful to live in a home with running water and electricity most of the time.

I am continuing to have regular language lessons but its certainly a challenge.  It could take me about 6 months to pass the ‘Survival in Khmer course’!  I’m currently learning about fruits and vegetables…and learning some new English words at the same time as there are fruits here which I have never seen before.

Last weekend we had a team retreat as our Director is visiting for a few weeks.  We got to meet up with the other Iris team based on the coast and we went to an island for a few days, complete with no wifi…bliss!  It was a great opportunity to relax and process my first few weeks here as well as deepen friendships.  

We ended our time on the coast with a wedding…no not mine…really it was a renewal of vows for one of our married couples….beautiful wedding on the beach (see facebook for photos).  I of course enjoyed the dancing to some classic 80s tracks at the end of the night!  

Fortnight of firsts!

Well my first fortnight in the country was a fortnight of firsts...first time driving a motorcycle briefly (note to self: manuals are easier than automatics!), first Khmer lesson (language learning is going to be a challenge!) and first time of getting totally lost and then having to find my way home (note to self: learn the Khmer word for market before leaving the house solo!)

Its been great to start to get involved with the work of the team also. The team seems to have a good balance of work, rest, prayer and meals together! In Phnom Penh the team consists of 7 internationals (from the USA, Canada and the UK) and 2 Cambodians who are amazing!  

Work wise we run a children's club for those who live on the streets twice a week as well as support the families where needed.  Just this last week the team has been able to help a Mum (we'll call her Angela) who has been the victim of domestic abuse who lives on the streets with her children.  We have helped Angela get necessary medical treatment, ensured her and the children have a safe place to live for the short term and linked her up with another agency who has a refuge and specialist ongoing support.  Thank you God:)

We are also involved in a children's day centre which runs during the week.  The children who attend come from the slums and one of my key roles it seems will be to help train the Cambodian social workers who are currently teaching also....so it seems that my background of social work and being a school governor will be helpful!  Any ideas gratefully received!

Thank you for reading and for your support!  God bless you lots x

New beginnings!

Just over 3 weeks ago I arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital to begin the next chapter of my adventures.   I am working for the same charity as before, Iris Global and working specifically with children, women and families from the most at risk backgrounds.  My arrival was timed well as it was Khmer New Year within a few days of me arriving so most of the team went to the coast for a few days break. Good team bonding times were had and we got to celebrate Ruth's (a Yorkshire lass) 50th birthday.

Since coming back I have been settling into the house, work and city!  At present I am living in the team house and share a bedroom with the lovely Amy.  We even have our own ensuite wet room/bathroom and I'm delighted to say that the house has running water, electricity and a washing machine - I feel like I am living in luxury!

Here's a picture or two from our house roof.......complete with the hammocks for us to rest in at the end of a long day: