S.E. Asia and Africa

Friday we had the opportunity to go to Poi Pet, a very poor village about an hour and a half from Battambang right near the Thai border. A man named Sambo has a ministry there called Children’s Ministry Cambodia. I had the privilege of meeting him a few years ago and have been very impressed with his heart for the Lord and for his service to his community. Sambo takes care of 18 street children in addition to his own family. He also recently started a Christian school and has 310 students from the community. The school meets in a small building. They hold classes 3 times a day to get all the students into class. SO students either will attend class in the morning, the afternoon or the evening. He also has a soccer ministry to give the kids on the street something constructive to do rather than sit around and sniff glue.

He has many needs as he has been funding much of his work by himself by taking jobs as a tour guide or driver for foreigners. His English is perfect. He also advertises cars for his friend who sells cars in another village several hours away. If he finds someone who wants to buy a car, he drives them to Siem Reap to meet his friend and his business there. He receives a percentage for doing this.

His school is funded 70% from tuition. He hopes to have 500 students next year which will fully fund the school.

He is currently saving money for 2 needs. His first need is for a tuk tuk. He has no way of transporting his family and the 18 kids who live with him. One tuk tuk will carry 20 people. See picture. You won’t believe it. But it is true. We have ridden with kids from Grace Place on tuk tuks that full. A well used tuk tuk, which is what their taxis are here, goes for about $1600. A new one will cost over $2000. Depending on the condition of the tuk tuk, it would cost somewhere in between.

His second need at the moment is for funds to complete the dorm he is building for the boys who live with him. He purchased land just down from the house he rents. He started the building then ran out of money. Here they build what they can until the money runs out. Then they save until they have enough to start building again. Little by little the homes get built. This dorm has a metal structure and cement floor completed.

The land is 8mx40m. To complete the dorm to house 10 boys he needs $250 for electric, $180 for clean water to be piped to the home, $2200 to complete the shelter, $350 for one toilet, $340 for sewer lines which totals $3320. Yes, that is correct. $3320 to build the dorm. This price will go up when the road in front of the property is paved sometime next year. He also hopes to build a house for his family and the girls on the same property before the road is paved. He lives in a rented house which keeps get more expensive as the owner knows the road will be paved in a year and wants more and more money. It would be better to have his own place so he is not at the mercy of then homeowner.

After lunch, an intense soccer game with the Cambodian kids versing the International team (Zac, Nathan, Sambo and three kids from Australia whose family is hear for 2 months teaching English at the school) and a tour of the school, we got ready to head back. Before we left, we noticed a little store beside the school where Sambo’s kids were hanging out. I asked Sambo about it. His wife opened the store to help make money for the school. So we took a few minutes to buy a few gifts for people and some snacks. I even found a certain item I was wanting to take to the kids in Thailand next trip, so I bought those too. I just love it when I can help several people at the same time with a purchase.

Sambo drove us back to BB, and as we said goodbye, we had the opportunity to bless him and his ministry with a little extra money some people sent along with us in order to bless someone we met along the way. Sambo was just the person we wanted to bless this way.

Dinner tonight was with John, Cathy and Jesse Dewit from Canada whom Zac and I had met about a year and a half ago. They recently moved here to head up Bright Start. They introduced us to a newer restaurant in town and we enjoyed great fellowship with them as they shared their daily blessings and struggles with us. John is researching and planning job training for those Asia’s Hope kids who do not want to go to college. There is a technical school here, but the struggle is getting kids to understand what it is. They think it is just more school, and they do not want to go to school anymore. John is trying to show them how they can get training for a skill that they might like to do in order to support themselves and one day a family. I think after the first one goes and can report back to the others, more will want to go.

Well that was enough to pile into one day, so we headed back to the hotel for a team meeting and much needed sleep.

Note: Tim caught the flu going around and spent last night and today at the hotel. Better somewhat tonight though.