So.... I was cool the otherday. I wrapped a hairband around my wrist and Angela told me I looked cool... If you didn't know that is my goal in life, to be cool. (I am just kidding, but it helps sometimes).
Anyways, I spent the last 10 days up in a province called Rattanikiri. This is where all the injustice that is talked about... you know deforstation, unfair working conditions, and illegal trade are all happening. It was pretty shocking to see firsthand. The people there are indegenous tribal people and their land is being stolen from right under them by money motivated 'outsders'. The land is all in ash or covered with rubber tree/cashew nut plantations. It is reminsicent of the same situation that happened in America a many hundred years ago. The people sell their land or have it taken and use the money they recieve to drink, gamble, smoke and the such. This breaks families and pretty soon the are poor again with no land. This is because they aren't familier with living in a $ based system.
We stayed in a village with the the language group called Jarai for a couple nights. We did some research for our leader Rob and a flood-relief project a local church has started. Last October the Dams in Vietnam flooded and broke cuasing many villages along the Saison river to flood. This = loss of rice crop = starving people. The "Project" supplied money and advice on planting dry season corn and other veggies. (This is a big deal for indegenous people). They followed through. We interviewed the elders of 3 different villages along the river and observed their gardens and then wrote up a formal report on the answers and information we recieved.
It was a rare opportunity and I felt like I should be working for the National Geographic not YWAM. We lived above the kitchen and got 'fine' smells often of the drying water buffalo meat... no lie, it was a rancid smell. We stayed with the only Christian family in the village (a young couple with a baby and their brother and the mom). The village people are in a desperate situation but a little corn is giving a lot of HOPE.
It was a hill at the end of a marathon for sure but we gave it our best. I had a great time enjoying the peace and quiet that being in the hills and far away from the noise of city provided. God gave rest to my soul and led me by quiet waters...we had the opportunity to swim in an extinct volcanic lake and in a couple waterfalls. Monja rode an elephant. Things like that were very enjoyable. I will confess that working for God is sometimes strenuous work, but well worth it!
Now I am in Sihnoukville... the opposite side of the country about 14 hours away. A complete contrast and tourist town on the ocean (Gulf of Thailand?). We are debriefing and adjusting to a more westernized place as soon we will be back to New Zealand. It is beautiful here but hard to be a 'tourist' after working. This is a time we are saying goodbye to our dear friend/leader Seang and reflect on all that has happend.
This verse I just recieved and seems very fitting for the time we have had here:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" Hebrews 6:10
