Mission Cambodia

Sending Church/Organization:

University Avenue Baptist Church

Team members:

- David and Betty Petherbridge

- Elsie Perkins

- Hongly G. Khuy ( email: hongly@hawaii.edu )

So where is Cambodia ?:

Geography: It is a southeast Asian country with an area of about 181,000 km² that is approximately 69,866 square miles ( knowing that 1 square kilometer = 0.386 square miles ) with about 11 millions people. It has a hot and humid climate. Rice is the main agricultural production. Rubber plantation is next in importance. It is a lush green country. However, behind her beauty lies a trail of continuous struggle and bloodshed in the last several centuries.

Recent history: Cambodia had been an empire for many centuries as Angkor and other standing ruins indicate. However, the empire was completely wiped out by its enemies at around 13^th century. For several ensuing centuries Cambodia was no man's land covered by forests. The surviving population didn't even know that there was Angkor on their land. Not until the French colonized Asia that they discovered the great city of Angkor, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Once back to existence on the world map again, Cambodia had been through a lot of turmoil, civil wars, and incessant conflicts with its neighbors for various reasons. For almost a century, Cambodia was under the colony of France.

- In 1953, Cambodia gained its independence from the French. Then, it was reigned by King Norodom Sihanouk who tried to cut deals with many political forces within the region.

- In 1970, his General, Lon Nol, who was backed by the United States of America, overthrew King Sihanouk. In the meantime, the North Vietnamese forces were in full swing in Cambodia helping and recruiting the Cambodian communists.

- In 1975, the Cambodian communists ( the Khmer Rouge ) took over the country by force. They managed to chase the city population to the countryside, and made them work the land throughout the country. As a result, the Cambodians died by the millions - out of starvation, torturing and massacre by the communist Khmer Rouge.

- In 1979, the Khmer Rouge was run over by the Vietnamese two million strong invasion forces as a result of border conflict. The Vietnamese forces occupied Cambodia till 1989. Then they withdrew their forces with the agreement of the United Nations.

- In 1993, the United Nations organized a general election in Cambodia. With some internal conflicts here and there, the country is pretty much under the same government ever since. For now, Cambodia is totally free and open. The country is trying to embrace a total capitalism.

The country has now (May 2000) been out of wars and civil wars for three years.

Many problems remain to be solved, socially, politically, and economically.

There are many international Non-governmental organizations operating in Cambodia, helping this nation to be back on its feet again in different ways.

Back to our mission trip:

As envisioned, the team did what was supposed to be done; and that is "teaching English and sharing the Good News of hope when possible". Strategic locations were picked and given to us. The team did the best they could for the amount of time available. Of course, it was a drop in a big bucket.

Realizing the needs and works to be done are staggering, the team could only bring back memory and requests from those who are toiling on in the rugged plain of Cambodia.

Even though the team felt satisfied with the outcome, it ought to be mentioned that without the help of many others, this mission would not be successfully accomplished the way it was.

Cambodia host: Cooperative Services International, Inc. (CSI)

Staff:

- David Jarboe, CSI Coordinator for Cambodia (under regional Steve Ellis)

- Rick and Sharron Allen, Guest House Manager(Rick)

- Sue Singleton, English Teacher / Way of Truth Student Service Center

Director

- Jamie (computer) / John (rehab) / Nicole & Rachael (English): journeyman/women

- Kendrick Kahler, MD: surgeon at Preah KetoMealea Hospital

- Anna ( Public Health ), Danny Evans ( Kompong Cham ), Woody ( Optometrist )

- and many others

Sites visited: - Way of Truth University Student Service Center ( many times ),

- Media Center ( Audio & Video production center ) & Water Purification project,

- Cheoung Ek Mass Grave,

- Tuol Sleng, Khmer Rouge torturing place,

- Wat Uk-Na-lom, a buddhist temple where English classes were given to monks,

- Preah Keto-Mealea Hospital, the military hospital that is worse than a fish market,

- Royal University of Phnom Penh, Faculty of Psychology and Philosophy,

- Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World,

- Floating Village in the great lake of Tonle Sap in the province of Siem Reap,

- Saang Village, Hongly's birth place

Prayer requests:

- Search for workers committed to one year or two years of English teaching to 4 campuses of Cambodia Teacher Training Schools,

- Short term to long term English teachers for the Royal University Of Phnom Penh and the "Way Of Truth University Student Service Center",

- Permanent Church building ( chapel ) for the Phnom Penh Baptist Congregation, the lease for the current woshipping place will be expired at end of this year 2000,

- A dedicated media production manager to direct and design programs for the Cambodian TV on hygiene and sanitation using puppets and other means,

- Volunteers to help with water purification project in rural areas in Cambodia,

- Church leaders who have good qualifications throughout Cambodia. As of now, most leaders have been trained only in a very short time.

- Hospital staff ( nurses and doctors ) who earn very little ($20/month) to support their family, and work only three hours a day. They spend the rest of the day making their living elsewhere - leaving patients unattended,

- CSI worker (Tony) who commits to Cham ( muslim ) minorities in Cambodia,

- Church planting in Cambodia,

- David Jarboe who has established relationship with orphanages in Siem Reap province. The Cambodian traditional dance team made up of orphans wish to do fund raising abroad; they need sponsors.

- Many orphanages in various places throughout Cambodia,

- Students (at the Way of Truth University Student service Center) who need help financially and spiritually. They come from rural areas in pursuit of their education in the city, and make the "Student Center" their home during the day; they will be the core leaders in the near future.

- Dr. Kendrick Kahler, MD, paraplegic, who has committed to work for three years in the military hospital of Preah Keto-Mealea as a surgeon/doctor. He is purchasing X-ray machine and other equipment to furnish his ward and clinic.

Miscellaneous information:

Cost of living in general:

- Average workers in private sector earn approximately $40.00 a month.

- Average workers in government earn approximately $20.00 a month.

- American (standard) breakfast is approximately $2.50 per person (including coffee)

- American (standard) lunch is approximately $3.50 per person.

- American (standard) buffet is approximately $11.00 per person.

- A van with a driver is $20.00 a day ( gas is paid for by passengers )

- A lunch at the Way of Truth Student Center is $0.50 per person (optional),

Cost in guest house:

- Breakfast is $1.00

- Lunch is $2.00

- Dinner is $2.00

- Laundry is $2.00 per load

- A phone call from Cambodia to the United States is about $5.00 a minute. Some

places charge a little less.

- local calls ( within the city ) is $ 0.50 each call.

- Phone calls to the United States using computer (internet connection) is $2.00 per 15 minutes.

- A room with a single (queen size) bed is $12.00 a day.

- A room with two single beds is $17.00 a day.

Hongly's impression of the country:

Overall situation in Cambodia:

Having been through four political regimes in Cambodia and twenty years in America, I am qualified to give you an accurate assessment of how the country, Cambodia, is doing now. Particularly so after I spent nineteen days (April 28, 2000 to May 19, 2000) in the country traveling to several places near and far from the capital in this mission trip. I can conclude that the situation in general now is far, far better than when I left in late 1979. First of all, the population is totally free to express their opinions, free to travel to wherever they want to. I did not feel any threat or anything unusual at all in places I have been to. This peaceful situation was not imaginable a decade ago. However, I have seen an abject poverty in the mass population who are trying to recover from the devastation of war and communism. (I am not exaggerating by saying that homeless people in A'ala Park in Hawaii are doing much better than the mass population in Cambodia.)

Poverty:

1. Of course, poverty encompasses the many facets of life:

- lack of material things and foods, (èhunger, malnutrition and poor health)

- lack of sanitation and hygiene, (èpoor health and sickness)

- lack of education, (è ignorance and no ability to make sound judgement)

- lack of value system, (è no dignity, no moral value)

- lack of everything else that you can imagine,

The poors usually have more children. The children would help the family meet their needs by working young. Therefore, the quality of life goes spiraling down. And this forms a cycle that is hard to break. And that is what takes place in Cambodia right now.

2. On top of this urgent phenomenal poverty, Cambodia now has more landmines planted in the country than anywhere else in the world. This hampered the use of land for agricultural production. It slows down the recovery from war.

Imagine this: It's hard enough to make the living for those able-body, how about the amputees, the single parents with 6 or 8 children to feed. How about those children whose parents were killed by landmines? So beggars in street corners are expected. I could have been one of them.

How do you deal with them when they come to you asking for some money or some foods?

3. Communications and Country infrastructure:

Roads and bridges are in bad shape. Pot holes in roads, unsafe bridges are common sights. No stop lights in street intersections. You name it. City traffic can be compared to two schools of fish or two herds of cattle going at opposite directions in a small passage. Everybody is just trying to go from point A to point B at whichever way he or she can. It is a very interesting place to observe the process of learning - from the standpoint of a regular citizen and from that of the authority.

Recovery:

Cambodia has come a long way into recovery. Yet, Cambodia has a long way to go to normalcy.

Everybody of the current generation - on all sides - is just tired of fighting. Everybody wants to

give peaceful means a chance. It is an interesting place to observe human behavior if you care to

do so.

I think that it is time to help these people out. It is the best time to do anything to break the cycle of poverty and war. Foods in the stomach (first) will help them to sit down and listen to some truth. We need to devise ways, programs to give them job and hope.

Cambodia will not be peaceful for too long if the Cambodians themselves (especially the leaders)

do not address the problems conscientiously. But how? Answer: Foods in the stomach (first) will help them to sit down and listen to some truth. We need to devise ways, programs to give them job and hope.

On a personal basis, what does this mission trip mean to me?:

I have made a complete circle - after four political regimes and twenty years in the United States of America.

- In early 1970s I attended English and Bible classes taught by Christian missionaries. I invited friends to Bible classes and worship services in those years. Was there anything wrong with learning the words of truth? Was it wrong to learn some moral values from Christianity? I don't think so.

- This trip provided me with the opportunity to play the other role, English teacher. I did my best to teach those University students who are just like myself twenty some years ago. Many of them do not pronounce English words correctly. As well, I had a chance to encourage them to seek the truth in God's words. I firmly believe that those young Cambodian men and women need to have hope and some moral values. Is there anything wrong with Christian moral values? I don't think so. Of course, something is better than nothing.

- I had a chance to meet up with some of my old friends who survived and compared notes for the past 25 years.

- I had a chance to meet up with some of my relatives who survived. We compared notes. It was an emotional time of re-union.

To sum up, as we said earlier, there are many things that need to be done in Cambodia. Some say that the Cambodians need to help themselves. And that is true. We, outsiders, can do only so much to help.

We should remember that the present Cambodia is still in its infancy stage. Something needs to be done to help this country back on its feet. Something needs to be done to lead this country away from its miserable cycle of social struggle and wars. The message of "Love" might be the answer. You might have some answer to the requests presented here. Now it is your call..........If you want to see another report.......from my friends....
Photos Archives / of my mission trips - click here

Another perspective of Cambodia by Mr. David Petherbridge - click here

Medical and Mission perspective....by Dr. Josiane and Dr. Daniel Susott..click here

Go Back to Hongly's Page again