A life worth living

When told of Mickey Sampson’s death last Friday, I had one immediate thought, “What a GREAT life he lived”.

American born Mickey moved with his family to Cambodia in 1998 to use his PhD in chemistry to improve water quality and sanitation for the Cambodian people. After working with other non-Government organisations, Mickey established Resource Development International-Cambodia to address Cambodia’s health and development problems in holistic ways focusing on water, agriculture, health and education.

The work there is inspiring. A visit to the project site in Kien Svay last year almost tempted me to seek a new vocation in sustainable agriculture.

His most well-known project was the development of ceramic water filters “with a silver lining” that proved very effective in reducing diarrheal disease (even in my own family!). In 2008, they produced and distributed 250,000 life-giving water filters. In a country where one in twelve children die before the age of 5 (mostly from diarrheal disease), this is a significant contribution.

After experiencing heart problems on March 18, Mickey went to Bangkok for specialist treatment but died in transit on March 19. He is survived by his wife and five children, and will be mourned and missed by many more.

However, I’m sure all will say that he lived a life worth living, serving a God worth loving.