Dear Friends and Family,
“People need attention”, that’s the way Mother Teresa put it. I remember reading a book by Viktor Frankl, during my college days, and though I don’t remember a single quote, I remember what I believed to be his central thesis: “That the most painful human emotion is insignificance.” After ten years working with the orphans of Cambodia , I have a great and profound appreciation for his conclusion. People come from the “West” and look at all the wrong things. They ask about psychological counseling. I am not against that, but I have greater confidence in the power to the Spirit of Christ working in Community. How many psychologists did Jesus have on his staff? There is something powerful about getting 30 to 50 kids, who’ve all undergone personal tragedy, together, under the care of widows who understand their pain, overseen by a caring pastor, in order to allow the power of God to heal. We get criticized for not having all the modern western conveniences, some of our kids sleep on mats (as do 90 percent of Cambodians). They didn’t receive lavish Christmas gifts, maybe some rubber bands, a bit of special food, maybe a ruler for school. They didn’t get toys for Christmas, but they used what they had to build them. http://www.missionreports.com/kite_flying_dec08 Maybe, in terms of character, that’s a better gift? But they do get the main ingredient, love.
We have worked with over 10,000 separated and orphaned children over the past ten years. Many have been restored with aunts, uncles, parents or grandparents, many more have moved on into mainstream society, taking jobs in factories, receiving technical training, and professional education, becoming teachers, and pastors in their communities. We just got the current group of kids studying law and medicine together for pictures. http://www.missionreports.com/students_university
Obviously, the FCOP model works. One of the most gruesome crimes in recent Cambodian history took place as a father was repeatedly raping his oldest daughter. He was caught by his wife and a younger sister. The wife told a neighbor that if she died the killer would be her husband. On October 18th he cut off their heads and threw their bodies in the river. The ministry of Social affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation contacted our local Church/home to take three of the surviving children. They could have gone to dozens of rescue organizations yet chose FCOP. Why? They have seen the results time and time again. Kids helping kids, loved by a staff motivated by Christ, somehow restore health in a Cambodian context. (The following contains a rather graphic Cambodian news story as well as pictures of the kids) http://www.missionreports.com/troubled_children
Lack of significance; it is the most painful of the orphan’s experience. They think, “I am alone. No one cares. What did I do to deserve this?” That emotion cannot be countered by paying some family to take them into foster care, in fact, it is reinforced! But when 40 other kids and widows in a church say, “Come stay with us, we’ll take care of you, love you, help you face what we have all faced; rejection” it doesn’t take long before life returns to the distraught faces. That is why teams are so important. They bring attention. The kids think. “I am important! Someone came half way around the world just to see me!” http://www.missionreports.com/mti_kratie The kids don’t need preaching, they don’t need sticky, gooey emotional pity, they need to be noticed, loved, and cared for by people who understand. We have all kinds of critics, most of them well meaning Western experts, but the Cambodian government is not one of them.
Christmas in the FCOP homes is not commercial, maybe a small gift, but it is very significant. The children prepare decorations, songs, dances, and special skits for months. They study the Christmas story over and over and pass out special Christmas booklets to their friends. This year we printed a total of nearly 100,000 pieces of Christmas literature for distribution around the country. Two trucks worked for over a week to get the job done. We want 500,000 families to receive some kind of explanation about Christmas. The children in our homes anticipate the great celebration day with an intensity that probably exceeds that of any Western Child awaiting a multitude of gifts. They want to see their community come to know Jesus, and the main event is a feast where they offer the pigs, fish, turkeys or maybe even a cow, that they have personally raised, to be consumed by grateful neighbors as they come to watch the Christmas story enacted by the kids, and in many locations a special musical concert. http://www.missionreports.com/bible_club_christmas_dec08
“Snake! Snake!” Came the alarm. About six office staff just ran by me picking up various weapons, brooms, hedge clippers, a piece of pipe, on their exit. I decided to join the parade. Rounding the corner of our drive I saw Spud wrestling about a six foot snake. Everyone was thinking “Cobra”, so, without examination our office manager dispatched the snake with the hedge clippers. Lina, our pediatrician examined the snake and pronounced, “Not poisonous!” I said, “Sew him back together, he ate rats!” The staff laughed. “Good soup!” they chimed as they licked their lips in anticipation. The snake is on the menu for lunch. I think I’ll drive into town.
Mak Sou (my beautiful bride) hit 61 on December 21st. It was a Sunday, so the kids went out and sold handicrafts and each managed to purchase a rose. At the end of the service they all mounted the platform and the party started. She really does have their love. No one has served them better and all without a penny of salary in ten years. Happy Birthday Sou! I am her greatest fan! We decided to reciprocate and open one of the storage containers to distribute a box of “Muscle Milk” to each child. I have never seen any food item received with such enthusiasm! They love the stuff! It almost caused a food riot. Thanks to Gleanings for the Hungry, Warm Blankets Orphan Care and Glad Tidings Church for this gift. Most of it has been distributed for the Christmas celebrations to be held in 104 locations around the country. http://www.missionreports.com/mak_sou_birthday_dec08
Hey! The rice is harvested! Now that is significant. I spent a good portion of December in Balang, our main rice production area, working on the combine. Bob and Kristal Hollandsworth came along to help, and we did combine rice, but we had no end of problems with our hydrostatic 4X4 and had to back off the rice that was still under water. Fortunately for us, the factory layoffs gave us adequate labor and we cut the remainder by hand. When the US economy catches cold Asia seems to contract pneumonia. We’d still like to purchase another hundred tons to give us a bit of a cushion, but in general we had a good harvest with better yields than last year. We still need more ditching, dike construction, and grading to bring all the land into full production. But all progress is significant! And we thank all those who helped us! Notice the three monkeys in front of the combine. http://www.missionreports.com/rice_harvest_dec08
The church continues to grow. We reported 604 new home groups and churches for 2008. Sure, they will not all become full blown churches, but many will. They lead people to Christ, get them baptized, and furnish new leaders to the organization. http://www.missionreports.com/church_growth_dec08 It was a good year for the church. There was a lot of repentance as pastors, who left their first love to pursue money, found that money is fickle. Hundreds tearfully repented and dedicated themselves anew to the cause of Christ and participated in advanced training. 2008, we’re glad you’re gone, but grateful for your growth. http://www.missionreports.com/teaching_around_country_dec08 We only pray that 2009 can even be better!
With that Sou and I close out our tenth year in Cambodia . All of our foreign staff have left for the holidays! We are happy that Hannah returned to us on Christmas day. I will get to be with her for three days, as on Dec 28th I fly to Africa with Craig Muller to help two countries set up our church/home model. I am tired, but Jesus told Peter: “…when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” (Jn 21;18) As I was feeling sorry for myself, the Lord gave me this verse. He’s right about one thing. I am old! Happy New Year!
Be blessed and have a Happy, Prosperous and Healthy 2009!
Pa Thom (Me, Ted)
And those still do’in all the work,
The Cambodian FCOP Team,
Ma Sou,
Emily Plater
Josh and Michelle Ferguson
Kris Warner
Bob and Christal Hollandsworth
