Monday, August 10, 2009

This Cambodia--You Need Help It

Greetings friends!

Life has been a whirlwind of activity since my last post. I left the states on July 22 and have been in Cambodia since July 24 doing pre-service training.

I am living, with 22 other trainees, in a small rural village called Traing. The other half of our group is in a city called Tramkok, and we envy them (sometimes) for having a gas station (with airconditioning) and an internet cafe. For those of us in Traing, when we want to use the internet we must travel by tuk tuk or remork (think farm equipment) for thirty to fourty five minutes to the nearest internet cafe.

I think the most poignent thing I've learned in the last few weeks came from a Catholic nun I met. Her name is Sister Luise and she has been living in Cambodia for going on twenty years; she is quite instrumental in the rebuilding of Cambodia's educational system (which needs a LOT of rebuilding). Sister Luise impressed upon me the need Cambodia has for educated men and women who are willing to invest themselves in a people who are struggling still to recover from Pol Pot's reign of terror and the atrocities commited by the Khmer Rouge.

Speaking to me of her experience so far she gave the example of the lotus flower--if you've seen one you know that it is absolutely beautiful. For them to bloom, however, takes a lot of work. You must peel back the tough outer layer that protects it--"this Cambodia," she said, "you need help it."

Seeing the way this country has suffered, is still suffering, and struggling to rebuild has really impressed that statement upon me. When you travel the country side you see places where temples were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge (and even by US bombs). You see land mine craters. You see brokenness. But when you meet the Cambodian people and you enter into their world you see so much more--you see love, you see compassion and care for one another. You see a wealth of generosity pour out from people that often have next to nothing. If you look hard enough, you can see your place in the rebirth of a nation.

I have yet to speak the language fluently, but the love part I have mastered. It is with a deep sincerity that I can say Cambodia has captured me. My heart weeps with the broken and dances with the whole. This, I believe, is the foundation for a beautiful future.

This Cambodia-you need help it.

And so I shall.