The city is very tense here in Phenom Penh. The elections are in two days and the two major parties have people by the thousands streaming into the city. They come on scooters and cars and trucks full. adorned with flags and the colors of the party they are in the streets thick as ants. I am looking outside the hotel and the streets are full of people chanting the party slogans and the rivals honk at each other and wave their flags. The citizens here are very concerned for the country. They desperately desire a better life and wish for democracy but are worried that the losing party may start a civil war.
Today we went to Phenom Penh 2 a brand new orphanage for New Hope for Orphans. The previous group deserted the building and the orphans and was to set them out into the street. NHO took over the orphanage and saved the children from that fate. They are mostly older children. Between the ages of 14 and 20. These young folks were very receptive to the group. As they were older, Julius had an awesome talk with them about decisions and choices and I talked about my story. They were very receptive and i think encouraged. We did tie dye t shirts with them and I used the t shirt I had here for when I sleep and did one with them too! Dee had brought some bibles from Fairview at River Club and the young adults were very interested to have them. They study English at school and as Christians it gives them more practice in their faith and studies. Once again I felt so inspired by the team. Each of these people brings a unique dynamic to Cambodia to help these children.
At lunch time (don't confuse it with lunch) we went to the Russian Market. It is a set of stalls with crafts, clothes, silks watches etc. I was able to barter for some nice gifts for my family. Hope they like them! I say don't confuse it with lunch cause we didn't get any. It has been this way the whole trip. Our priority has been the children. To meet as man as possible and meals have been second. We have gone long hours without but the wonderful thing is we have never ever complained. The whole crew has been so wonderful and caring and none of this has been a problem.
After that we went to the Slums. This is the very poorest part of the city. The shantys are built on posts that are set over a canal full of human waste, chemicals, trash etc. The narrow dirt streets are trash filled, have a coating of snail shells from the fresh water that they eat, Rats, and animals. The people have to survive by renting a cart (you can see one in the pictures below), then they go around the city and collect trash that has some worth and bring it back to the rental spot. They subtract the rental and whatever pennies are left, the people get. Most of the children that were small were naked as they have nothing. We walked into the area and almost every face I saw was either happy to see us or just curious. It was not the reaction I expected. I was a bit concerned about it as in a USA slum, you would be concerned about mugging or something worse. But here we walked among the shantys and gave the children candy. They came running from all directions and it was wonderful. Big children, tiny children, naked children and everything in between. When we got deep into the slums, Dee gathered about a half dozen women and their children around him. Some of the girls I think were forced to prostitute for money to survive. He gave tehm a wonderful message from the bible and one of the women saw me coming and ran and got me a plastic chair to sit in. I was so very humbled that this woman who lived in such poverty would get me a chair. I felt I should get here one.. but no.. with a smile she gave it to me and then with her two children sat in the dirt to listen to Dee.
On the way back to the edge of the slums, all the children followed us. we had a trail of them and Andy got an inspiration. He went back to the van and grabbed a large duffle of new flip flops he had bought. There in the dirt, amongst all that trash and very bad smells from the canal, he actually had the right number and sizes of flip flops to give every child a pair. One child, completely naked except for his new shoes! It was beautiful.
We then went to a church that one of the translators that travels with us and is an orphan ministers at in the slum. We met some people from the phillipines who where there and the people streamed in for a service. Their pastor spoke, we all sang in multiple languages, and then Julius spoke on how we are all one family in God. It was a a wonderful message. Dee provided a short service and then we went out of the church. Outside the children from the slums awaited us. I gave some of them yoyos, the Andy and Jennifer did a David and Goliath skit, Rachael and Julius did some magic tricks focused around a relationship with Christ and Dee gave them a very short but wonderful message. The time had come to go. The last picture below is Dee ministering to those children in the streets of the slum. (this is on the outside edge and a nice part of it, inside the conditions were much much worse.
We wrapped up our day with a meal and I actually got a hamburger. Oh MY! It was amazing. No rice or noodles. YUMMMM!!!
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