Still so much more to take in!

Nixon’s Unplanned Legacy

In the seventies, as a global community we watched our TV’s daily in horror and in fascination as the Watergate scandal unfolded. Afterwards, the President and his inner circle of men lost their place in the good side of the history books. Where is Richard Nixon today? Who knows? However one of his inner circle has greatly impacted many nations and “the least of the least”- prisoners who are locked up in dark cells. While in prison for his crimes, Charles Colson surrendered his life to Jesus. He then went on to write many books, spoke around the world and founded an organization called Prison Fellowship. So in a way Prison Fellowship Cambodia is part of “Nixon’s unplanned legacy”.

In Cambodia many of these prisoners’ live in deplorable conditions with no opportunity for rehabilitation, or to be integrated back into society. On Monday (Labour Day in Canada) we had the wonderful opportunity to meet with some of the leadership of Prison Fellowship Cambodia (PFC). Its organizational tag line is “beyond crime and punishment”. PRC is about individual and national transformation. Its vision is to see all those within and affected by the justice system of Cambodia receiving and knowing the love of Jesus Christ; enabled to change their communities”.

Started just eight years ago with a very small band of four volunteers and a part time staff person, PFC has grown to 42 paid employees, 15 contract teachers, and 75 volunteers. PFC operates in 22 prisons across Cambodia; eleven of which receive comprehensive services. Cambodian prisons differ from those in North America. Prisons are harsh places where up to 130 prisoners can be jammed into one large cell with just one hole to serve as the toilet. Both blankets and food are in scare supply. If a mother ends up in jail, her children go with her. More than three hundred women are serving time today. Eighteen children belonging to the Moms are also living in these cells.

If you are a prisoner and have money, your lot in life will be better as you will get better food and better treatment. If you are poor and can not pay, you will not receive any extras, just enough food to survive.

Despite this hostile environment PFC is demonstrating the love of Christ in practical and tangible ways. As a result many prisoners are receiving better treatment and hundreds are now Christians. Since the conception of PFC, Ratanak has been an active partner through education services such as schooling and literacy; by basic needs such as additional food, clothing and medical treatment; and by individual packages to prisoners. As well Ratanak is helping to support the management capacity of this organization that works with “the least of the least”.

As we left the meeting one of the leaders shared these words which resonate with me this evening, “we make God known by what we do and not by just words”.

Stephen Lauer


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Bruce Cockburn wrote a song that says “If I had a rocket launcher some xxxx would die”. This song has always been one of my favorites. I am not proud of having feelings like that from time to time - but I do. Like when I see a big fat white guy picking up two young girls. Like when I sit and hear of old homeless wizened grannies being beaten and raped by the police in the round-up of street people before Buddhist holidays. Like when I hear Reaksa give an account of how his family was murdered by the Khmer Rouge as we walk through the village where it happened. Like when I hold the sweet little hand of a ten year old girl as she escorts me through her village and my heart rages at those people who see her simply as a money making machine. “If I had a rocket launcher!”. But, I don’t and I wouldn’t trust myself if I had one.
On the other hand I do trust my God and in His hands I am safe to take action. Matthew 23: 23 & 24 “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
I am convicted by my own inaction – and the inaction of God’s people to rise up and say “NO MORE”. I am convicted that soul genocide is happening to the weakest and most vulnerable sectors of our global society. We are not doing enough.
The rocket launcher I’m going to use today is prayer. Lock and load.
Beth

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Hi everybody there has been much happening of late re visiting our projects etc but I would rather take the time to hearken back several days to our experiences in Svay Pak. Sometimes you just can’t write about stuff immediately. It takes a few days to digest and let thoughts sort themselves out. As you know our visit to Svay Pak (SP) was challenging. Visiting with little kids who are still routinely sexually abused was… well, I have no way to describe it. But since then there appears to be a clear and unmistakable sound of thunder in the distance. Not from the weather but from the stirring of the mighty God of the universe who, once again appears to be turning his gaze of Svay Pak... the excitement is palpable among this team.
God is opening up an opportunity that is HUGE. Four doors up from Rahab’s House is the largest building in SP. It’s a four story red building with large and long windows two stories high on the upper floors. It was built as a sex hotel (the biggest in SP) where expats could come live and rape and assault children to their hearts content. The building was stopped at about 80% completed when as a result of raids and surveillance etc. it was felt it was too high a risk for the owners. We have now been given the opportunity to buy the place to complete it and make it into a school, medical center, and church (the upper floors with the huge windows are crying out to be a sanctuary) I have taken to calling this building "the sanctuary" - fitting!!
If the plan goes ahead the program would include all the above so we would have our own Christian school for the munchkins.
It really doesn't get much better than this... largest brothel becoming a sanctuary in every way. This is, in my opinion, the best extreme home makeover I have ever heard of (A TV show - I'd like that.) We are already dreaming about who would be involved from Can, Auz and the UK. Christians from all over coming to continue to change this community at the most foundational level.
So if this was to happen we would end up with a Christian Gym, Rehab’s House (both currently in operation) and the sanctuary" all on Svay Pak's main street! Impact… Oh I think so!
So what of Rehab’s House would that be surplus? Absolutely not. The plan would be to convert that into a day care for all the really little ones who run around vulnerable to whatever abuse befalls them. So while parents go to work they would be safe, cared for and blessed from the very start of their education.
Re the building/remodeling project we would like to see local guys from the Gym (pimps etc.) become involved in the project and put their muscles to work as well as providing gainful employment rather than selling humans for kickbacks.
Basically we have not found a down side yet!

So, ironically, Ratanak's first ownership of property may just be in SP - who would have thought!!! We would end up owning a chunk of Hell and claiming it for heaven - serious goose bumps!
Now, to answer the obvious question… No I don't have funds for this but it is way too good an opportunity to let go. So we are praying and, to be honest, expecting that God will clearly open a way. Pray with us.
On a personal note I am so in love with the kids there. “SM”, tough, feisty and in your face as she is, has stolen my heart. I have been waiting ages (only a few days in reality) to get back out there. Now, given the circumstances, I having been assured it is OK I am absolutely eager to accept my hug from her. It will be Gold!
Thanks for joining us on the roller coaster of grief and bliss that is Christian ministry to abused children in Cambodia.
My hope is that you will be as excited as we are as we sense the moving of God for these little ones. Pray for clarity, for favor and for funds if we are to move forward on this.
Brian.
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Tuesday 8th September 2009
Today we headed to hear from Ruth Elliott who is the founder of Daughters here in Phnom Penh. It was great to meet up with a fellow Brit! Ruth started Daughters only 2 ½ years ago to help girls find an alternative to working in the brothels. Rather than offer a shelter where it was discovered that the girls felt uncomfortable, Daughters offers alternative employment. The majority of girls find themselves in this position because they have an obligation to pay for family debts and if there is no alternative then this is how they make their money. Failure to comply often means that younger siblings are forced into the roll.
Daughters offers girls training in jewellery making, sewing various objects and at present cake decorations. More than this - it offers the girls a job and with it an opportunity to escape from the dark world they have been forced into. In addition medical care and a nursery school are provided to care for girls immediate needs. A range of products are produced to order which offsets the costs. The dream is to open a shop in a busy district of the city selling goods directly.
At present 58 girls attend for around 35 hours a week. Of these around 45 have accepted Christ and others are genuinely interested. The difference? For the first time in their lives they are treated as a person who has value and is treasured rather than an object of abuse. They encounter the risen Christ in a tangible form through the love and care of Christian staff. Every one of the girls who are in the programme has stopped her former work. I guess it doesn’t get better than that. Ruth and her staff are a delight and their care a compassion for these girls is clearly visible.
This evening we met with Dave Strong and learned a great deal about the work of CAMA. Dave works as a field representative in Battambang province in the north of Cambodia. The work of CAMA is wide and varied. On one hand is the provision of hospitals and ambulances and on the other the development of a rice co-operative and vitamin supplement programme. The common denominator in this is that everything is carried out through the local church which raises their profile in the communities. Again the holistic approach to the person in caring, not only about their spiritual wellbeing but also their physical and mental, plays a significant part in their acceptance of Christ.
So there you have it, the end of another day here in Cambodia. Another day learning about the diversities of this great place - another day learning and bearing witness to the fact that the Gospel we follow is a Gospel which changes lives. We serve a God who is about making people whole – no matter what their status in society or social standing may be. A God who is interested in the complete person. Here the Gospel is being lived and applied in a very practical manner and the fruit of that work is evident for all to see.
Steve Norman


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