Newsletters
With our regular newsletters, we aim to keep you posted on all the interesting and important news and updates of our programs and various activities. Enjoy reading!
February 6, 2009
Dear friends and partners, Happy 2009 to all of you – we are always fortunate for New Years is celebrated at least three different times: The internationally celebrated new Years, Chinese New Years and in April; Khmer New Years. As with all new years’ celebrations – we think of the year that lies ahead and the new things we would like to start.
In Tabitha we started a new project area in the province of Kompong Channang. I had the privilege of seeing the new area last week. Once again I am reminded of how full my life is of grace. We saw many families for whom life is a daily struggle. The poverty and meanness of their lives is hurtful to see. In one small community we met 3 families living in one small house. There were 25 children and seven adults living in a space of 4 meters by 6 meters. I thought to myself, how long it would be before I lost my composure if I lived in such a circumstance. They didn’t have access to clean water – this community walked through the fields to a small swamp where they fetched their water. I thought to myself – how many hours would it be before I developed diarrhea or had sores on my feet that would become infected from standing in swamp water. We met a group of ten widows – their husbands had all died from malaria or from AIDS – contracted when the men had to leave home to find some kind of work that would supply some funds to feed their families. The women lived close together for security – children of all ages surrounding them. They were sharing how they earned an income. They gathered tamarind beans from nearby trees and gathered insects from other trees – these were sold at nearby markets. It was hard to find out how much money they earned so I asked – how many nights do you go to bed hungry. One woman replied – we go to bed hungry 18 nights out of one month. I thought to myself, how many days of hunger would it take before I despaired – saddened beyond words that I could not supply the daily needs for my child. A few days later and I visited a project area in Treang Trayeang – an area where we started 2 years ago. It was an area that suffered as those in our new area. This day we celebrated. I met families who lived in desert and barren surroundings the first time – families who now had many varieties of fruits and vegetables. I saw banana and papaya trees. I saw lemon grass and morning glory – a staple in Cambodian diets – I saw green onions and peppers. What struck me most is that I saw men at home – working their small plots – men who were honored to have me visit and proud to show what they had done. I tripped over pigs and chickens pecked boldly around my feet. I saw families together – smiling in pleasure at my visit. I thought to myself, would I have the strength and courage of these families – to work long physical hours – tilling soil that is unrelenting in trying to keep its treasures from mortals such as I. We have so many dreams this year of 2009 – 30,000 families with 240,000 dependents over eleven provinces. I think to myself, how I will be able to help so many. I think of my God who has never failed me in all these years. I think of all of you who have never failed these people in all these years. I think of the financial crisis and how many are so hurt by this yet despite all the hurt, you all still respond. 30,000 families sound impossible and yet as I reflect – it has always been possible. I thank my God for His grace and I thank each of you for being a part of that grace. Happy 2009 to each of you. Janne
