January 23, 2010

• Progress, Poverty, Phnom Penh!

  As the plane descended below the cotton bed of clouds, I eagerly waited to admire the Khmer landscape.

  The plane dipped, and then, my eyes widened. Oh my! Cambodia how you've changed! 

  I remember seeing long wide stretches of grassy plains adorned with coconut and palm trees.  Now, there were more houses and buildings than before.  I was impressed with the newly paved roads that were once covered with dust and dirt.  (However, we did notice a few oxen here and there, crossing the street.)

  After getting situated, we met with our supervisor who will oversee our work here with the NGO.  She told us about their exciting plans that they're embarking upon, and how our efforts can help bring those plans into fruition.  But she also talked about how we must be patient because change takes time, especially when we're talking about the poor state of healthcare in Cambodia.  One person cannot expect to transform an entire healthcare system or government right away, without having a broad understanding of history, language, culture, and circumstances.  Thus, I highly anticipate our next few weeks here, but also am reminded to be realistic, open minded, and patient.

  ~ ~ ~

  "What is he doing?"  

  We stopped at a traffic light and the kids seemed to appear out of dusk.  Their clothes were old, worn, and faded, as were their faces.  They wore no expression, with no emotion.  One young boy, maybe around 10 years old, approached our car with a long feather duster, and began dusting off the front windshield.  Then he moved to the side, brushed off the back windshield, then turned and brushed the driver side window.  My cousin rolled down the window, and I hadn't noticed it before...the boy was singing.

  "These beggar children..they've learned now that people look down on them if they just beg. So they work for their money," my cousin explained.

  "And he's singing!"

  "Oh they do it all. Sing, dance, act.  They do what they can to earn a living."  She handed the boy some change.  As we drove off, I looked back at him and another girl, sitting on the thin divider separating the two opposing lanes in crazy, chaotic traffic.

  How does God call us to respond in these times? I don't know.  

  God, show us your mercy; show us how to love.

   

   

  • 10:37 am
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