Timbits...with Vietnamese Coffee

The team just arrived back in Phnom Penh after 3 days delivering flood relief supplies to some villages in Kandal and Prey Veng provinces. What a hugely uplifting experience to give away bags of rice to those hardest hit by the flooding. In one village called Prek Pra we were told that only 8 days before the one road passing through was under 4 ft. of water. Yesterday the road was dry but we brought one bag of rice to a home on stilts that was still surrounded by water.

The first day did not start well because we ran out of gas. The van’s fuel gauge was not working so we thought the tank was full. But at just the right time when the van rolled to a stop we were right beside a gas station. We all scrambled out and had to push the van up the ramp to the pumps. We were so thankful that people at home are praying for us!

In total, 125 bags of rice weighing 30kgs each were delivered over 3 days in 3 different villages by our team of 5 Canadians, 1 Brit and 3 Cambodians who work with Asian Outreach Cambodia.  Each bag was labelled Living Hope Christian Fellowship / Hungry for Life / AOC. Transportation was by long Cambodian river boats. What a beautiful way to see the country along the Mekong River.

The many stories we heard and witnessed were the highlight of the trips. The first day we also were able to deliver some school uniforms and supplies to the poorest of the children in one village. One 12 year old girl, Sokchea, came up to us to practice her English language skills. She is a top student making first place in all her subjects at school. She was much braver to talk to us than the other children. We stopped at her home because her mother wanted to give us a whole branch of bananas, about 25lbs at least when I tried to lift it. Her father is deaf and weaves baskets for a living. Sokchea wants to study to be a doctor and she is smart and determined enough to achieve it. She is gifted with leadership and already exercising  that in directing their Christmas Sunday School pageant.   These Cambodian children are a bright hope for the future.

The next day we spent 1.5 h on the water to reach a village in Prey Veng province. These people are very isolated in a rural area and hard hit by the floods. Their little bamboo church, about 10 X 20 feet, had part of the dirt floor washed away and the posts are quickly rotting from the water. Repairs in the way of concrete footings and floor are probably needed for the long term. They were so pleased to see us and gathered for devotion with us. 92 bags of rice were needed by this one village. Linda was also able to distribute some baby clothes that she had brought along. That elicited many smiles and chuckles as the women choose something for their child.

On day 3 we delivered 28 bags of rice to Prek Pra village. The villagers themselves came to pick us up and land us 45 minutes later at their home. This village is mostly women and children because the men are working in Thailand where work is available, sort of like our folk travelling from Comox Valley to Fort McMurray to work. The pastor led some Cambodian hymn singing and one of our team did a quick, off-the-cuff devotional. Some of the bags we delivered right to the homes. Some people were blind, some crippled and some suffering the ravages of HIV. The hope and gratefulness that we witnessed on their faces was worth the whole trip. One small boy who had palsy and walked with help of a walker was so bright and cheerful. He could count from 1 to 10 in English which surprised us. His smile was enough to melt the hardest heart which prompted a team member to give an extra gift. There are many needs here and one wishes they could help them all. We are seeing how much God has been doing in Cambodia. Many small churches have been established and new cells are starting each year. The justice and compassion that the Christian community is showing to those in need even impresses the government here to welcome their help and acceptance by the country towards Christianity is improving.

We’re experiencing the fruit of your prayers every day …Love to you all.

P.S. Tim is becoming addicted to Vietnamese coffee!