Today I had a curious conversation with the neighbour with the bung hand. While Steve treated her (I don’t think she’s been doing her exercises), she told me that Steve and I look like brother and sister.
I laughed. Steve is tall and dark. I am small and blonde(ish). Maybe to her, all foreigners look alike. I’ve certainly had that problem with the Khmer.
She explained that we are both s-daoung (slim), sa-art (beautiful… it’s our pointy noses that hold particular beauty) and sopheap (gentle).
I shook my head in wonder at this last word. Surely, she has heard us yell at the kids in the morning school rush (from time to time). We shared a wall for a year and a half after all! Maybe she has something wrong with her ears as well.
Or maybe (just maybe) she sees Jesus. We have certainly been praying for that … me and my brother.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Animal adventures
In an effort to escape the traffic and crowds of the recent water festival, we travelled to Kampot (a sleepy fishing village) for four nights. Our guesthouse sat along the river so that we too could enjoy the “season” with various boating trips.
But if I was to choose a theme for the holiday it would be “animal adventure”. In addition to a trip to the local zoo, we had a large number of unplanned events.
From early morning spiderlings hatching on my pillow to nightly rat antics under our bed, we had the whole day covered. We dug for pippies in a sandbank and watched water buffaloes swim across the river. We visited “Rabbit Island” where a cow followed us as we attempted to walk around the island. Dogs joined us for mealtimes while we ate more seafood that we have eaten in the past year … and fed the local mosquitoes.
However, the highlight would have to be when Princess decided to play with the zoo’s leopard. Thinking he looked like an overgrown version of our own kitty, she waved her hat at its huge outreached paws and threw it at him in fright when he responded – enjoying the new toy. Steve bravely fished the chewed hat back while we all howled with laughter. At first embarrassed, now Princess tells us with her infatiguable optimism that her hat has been kissed by a leopard.
It is she who is teaching me to look at such holidays as adventures. Thank you, Princess.
But if I was to choose a theme for the holiday it would be “animal adventure”. In addition to a trip to the local zoo, we had a large number of unplanned events.
From early morning spiderlings hatching on my pillow to nightly rat antics under our bed, we had the whole day covered. We dug for pippies in a sandbank and watched water buffaloes swim across the river. We visited “Rabbit Island” where a cow followed us as we attempted to walk around the island. Dogs joined us for mealtimes while we ate more seafood that we have eaten in the past year … and fed the local mosquitoes.
However, the highlight would have to be when Princess decided to play with the zoo’s leopard. Thinking he looked like an overgrown version of our own kitty, she waved her hat at its huge outreached paws and threw it at him in fright when he responded – enjoying the new toy. Steve bravely fished the chewed hat back while we all howled with laughter. At first embarrassed, now Princess tells us with her infatiguable optimism that her hat has been kissed by a leopard.
It is she who is teaching me to look at such holidays as adventures. Thank you, Princess.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Banana leaves and incense sticks
Sometimes I forget the impact that Steve’s physio work has on people’s lives. All I see after a day of training physios of varying skill levels, working with people in pain using a second language is the impact on him – the tiredness, the stress and yes, even the occasional irritability.
But the other day I got to see first hand the work.
One of our older neighbours came by to look at the kids while we were leaving our front gate. After a little small talk, Steve asked her about the box made of banana leaves with burnt out incense sticks we had previously seen outside her gate on the rubbish pile. She was puzzled by the question but after some encouragement she explained that a kru khmai (a Khmer healer / witchdoctor) had instructed her to burn the incense to ward off trouble. She seemed genuinely surprised that we didn’t do these kinds of things and murmured to herself when we explained that we trust Jesus instead.
While I sought to keep the kids off the road, Steve pressed a little further. But was there some specific trouble? Yes. She had broken her forearm two months ago during a fall. The kru khmai put some herbs on it and wrapped it up with a bandage, instructing her that she needs to appease the spirits that are causing her such trouble… hence the banana leaf boat.
Steve gently asked if he could have a look. Her forearm was still slightly swollen and her hand was now stiff with little movement. Steve gave her exercises to help reduce the stiffness and regain mobility, patiently showing her again and again so that she would remember them when she returned home. He warned her that at 63, she wasn’t going to heal quickly but if she was diligent she should see some improvement.
Before parting ways, Steve said he’d like to see how she was going in one week. She and I chuckled together that he will want to know that she was actually doing the exercises so she’d better do them. Then she returned home and we went off on our family outing – the kids glad to finally get moving.
As we walked, Steve ranted and raved about the incompetence of, and the useless scaremongering by, the kru khmai that has most likely left this woman crippled. While I silently listened and prayed for the woman’s healing, I was glad for the opportunity to once again see Steve in action and be reminded of the impact he is making in the lives of people everyday.
I love you, babe.
But the other day I got to see first hand the work.
One of our older neighbours came by to look at the kids while we were leaving our front gate. After a little small talk, Steve asked her about the box made of banana leaves with burnt out incense sticks we had previously seen outside her gate on the rubbish pile. She was puzzled by the question but after some encouragement she explained that a kru khmai (a Khmer healer / witchdoctor) had instructed her to burn the incense to ward off trouble. She seemed genuinely surprised that we didn’t do these kinds of things and murmured to herself when we explained that we trust Jesus instead.
While I sought to keep the kids off the road, Steve pressed a little further. But was there some specific trouble? Yes. She had broken her forearm two months ago during a fall. The kru khmai put some herbs on it and wrapped it up with a bandage, instructing her that she needs to appease the spirits that are causing her such trouble… hence the banana leaf boat.
Steve gently asked if he could have a look. Her forearm was still slightly swollen and her hand was now stiff with little movement. Steve gave her exercises to help reduce the stiffness and regain mobility, patiently showing her again and again so that she would remember them when she returned home. He warned her that at 63, she wasn’t going to heal quickly but if she was diligent she should see some improvement.
Before parting ways, Steve said he’d like to see how she was going in one week. She and I chuckled together that he will want to know that she was actually doing the exercises so she’d better do them. Then she returned home and we went off on our family outing – the kids glad to finally get moving.
As we walked, Steve ranted and raved about the incompetence of, and the useless scaremongering by, the kru khmai that has most likely left this woman crippled. While I silently listened and prayed for the woman’s healing, I was glad for the opportunity to once again see Steve in action and be reminded of the impact he is making in the lives of people everyday.
I love you, babe.
Generosity in tough times
I’ve noticed a recurring theme in the recent newsletters from “friends on the field”. Many are asking for prayer that their support money will still continue to come in despite the current world financial crisis. This is particularly difficult for overseas workers as the Australia dollar nosedives and buys a lot less.
We too are reliant on the generosity of others to live and work here. However, according to our support reports of the last six months I can only see one supporter who has stopped giving (and I suspect it is because he’s been a bit distracted of late). Instead, I have witnessed some incredible generosity from individuals, groups and churches.
The financial crisis can actually remind us of the words of Jesus recorded in Matt 5:19. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal”. In that, it makes us all the more determined to give more knowing that the money given away will go to something truly lasting.
Thank you to the faithful. Without you, we wouldn’t be here.
We too are reliant on the generosity of others to live and work here. However, according to our support reports of the last six months I can only see one supporter who has stopped giving (and I suspect it is because he’s been a bit distracted of late). Instead, I have witnessed some incredible generosity from individuals, groups and churches.
The financial crisis can actually remind us of the words of Jesus recorded in Matt 5:19. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal”. In that, it makes us all the more determined to give more knowing that the money given away will go to something truly lasting.
Thank you to the faithful. Without you, we wouldn’t be here.
Friday, November 14, 2008
It’s 2.27am and I can’t sleep.
I am disturbed and after nearly four and a half years here I thought I would be difficult to disturb by now.
A friend from my home church in Australia is currently here investigating opportunities to develop a vocational training centre for victims of trafficking. Today she and her husband were telling us of one lady they met.
A Vietnamese woman who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War has come to Cambodia to join her sister who fled here with many others. She is now working to establish schools, churches and opportunities for these illegal immigrants despised by the local Khmer people.
Without papers that would enable them to either return to Vietnam or work here in Cambodia, 100% of the young girls in one community are being trafficked into prostitution. 100%.
Prevention is the key. But how? At 12, these girls are young – too young to be working. Options and ideas are rolling around in my head, making sleep difficult. Maybe the key is to work with the parents…
In writing this blog, I was reminded of the verse that says our God does not sleep nor slumber. I was intending to end on some witty comment like “Now I know why”. However, I went searching and found it in Psalm 121. I think the entire song is worth sharing.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you –
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm –
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more.”
As always, the key is Jesus. The key is for people to come to a saving faith in this God who never sleeps to watch over us. The key is to walk with Him, discovering His faithfulness through the trials of life and to discover His purpose for our lives.
This life purpose is never to be the receptacle of another person’s lust so that the family can afford to eat, but it might include leaving behind our insatiable desires for family closeness, familiar food and financial security to share with others about the love of our insomniac God.
Anyone??
A friend from my home church in Australia is currently here investigating opportunities to develop a vocational training centre for victims of trafficking. Today she and her husband were telling us of one lady they met.
A Vietnamese woman who fled to Canada during the Vietnam War has come to Cambodia to join her sister who fled here with many others. She is now working to establish schools, churches and opportunities for these illegal immigrants despised by the local Khmer people.
Without papers that would enable them to either return to Vietnam or work here in Cambodia, 100% of the young girls in one community are being trafficked into prostitution. 100%.
Prevention is the key. But how? At 12, these girls are young – too young to be working. Options and ideas are rolling around in my head, making sleep difficult. Maybe the key is to work with the parents…
In writing this blog, I was reminded of the verse that says our God does not sleep nor slumber. I was intending to end on some witty comment like “Now I know why”. However, I went searching and found it in Psalm 121. I think the entire song is worth sharing.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you –
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm –
He will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more.”
As always, the key is Jesus. The key is for people to come to a saving faith in this God who never sleeps to watch over us. The key is to walk with Him, discovering His faithfulness through the trials of life and to discover His purpose for our lives.
This life purpose is never to be the receptacle of another person’s lust so that the family can afford to eat, but it might include leaving behind our insatiable desires for family closeness, familiar food and financial security to share with others about the love of our insomniac God.
Anyone??
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