When There is No Free Medical Care

Medical care around the world takes on a different image in itself, depending on where you are living. For the here and now though, I’m not here to debate on which system in which part of the world is the best. Yet, having been involved with and growing up in the American style of medical care makes this the most familiar one for me. Secondarily, probably the medical system of our neighbor to the north in the US is the other one that I can also identify with.

I’m learning more and more about the medical system here in Cambodia the longer I stay/live here. One thing is for sure though, there is no free medical care for the middle class individual in this country. This statement was affirmed in these last weeks as various people in the office staff have become quite ill. Their approach for resolution to their issues varied greatly. (Somehow that rings wide for the middle class in the US doesn’t it?)

The first one was a pastor who was doing Lutheran Hour Ministry broadcasting for a month, having come down from his preaching stations in Ratanakiri. He was here to discuss his future involvement and plans within the church as others were being raised up to take his place. About mid month he became very ill. He struggled with it for a few days, and then went to get some ‘coining’ to resolve his illness. I’ve seen coining done and it doesn’t look too appealing to me, but it worked for him. He got better. I think the pain shifted points in his case.

The second one to fall ill was a church planter who was traveling and driving for President Vannarith. He had not been well way back in February when he was with us in Siem Reap for a week. After two weeks of drinking water and sleeping and resting almost all of the day, he went to his father and said to him that he needed to go to the doctor but had no money. His father gave him the funds he needed. We now know the possible reason for his illness. He needs our prayers.

The last person is our office translator and logistics coordinator. He has been hospitalized four times in the last month with severe stomach pain. He has been diagnosed with gallstones. If you can imagine that even having an ingrown toenail in this country is problematic, then the diagnosis of gallstones here is not a good sign. He is afraid of surgery. We can understand that. Additionally, he is not able to work at the moment, so when you don’t work, you don’t eat, you can’t pay your rent, buy your medicine, or pay for your surgery. He is in that middle class where there is no free medical care. Gratefully the church is trying to help him, but even they cannot fix the whole thing. He is an orphan with no family I will also add here. We are his family here in the office as it is.

So if you have money, as the rich do here, you can afford medical care as you need it. Most likely though, these people will travel to Thailand or Malaysia for medical care at least. If you are upper middle class you may go to Vietnam, where medical care is better (we’re told).

If you are poor, you have to fill out the form in the local medical clinic where you live and get permission/authorization to get free medical care. You have to show that you have made an attempt to take care of yourself, which means that you may end up selling your cow, the rice to feed your family, or ask your friends to help first before they will give you free medical care. We are told that these clinics by and large are not as yet all medically competent as they could be.

If you are an expat and need medical care, they see the $$ in your eyes, and you will pay dearly to have their help, at whatever level they are able to do so. They will try their best.

So, for whatever your medical system is wherever you sit in this world, I am thinking that it is a lot better than the current standard here, but for a start, at least it is a beginning here, for a system that had nothing and has had to come from the ground up, with not a lot of long term help to do it from the outside.

Incidentally, the dental care is top notch here. The dental community has hit the mark. Western style dentistry is 21^st century, much cheaper, and filled with individuals who have been trained abroad and returned to take care of their countrymen. We have used them as need be and have been totally satisfied with their care to us.

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KK April 2016

KK April 2016

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KK March 2016

KK March 2016

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March Madness ~ In Cambodia (looking around)

. It is now the dry season in full force.
. Temps in the cemented city of PP are in the high 90’s, feeling like 105+.
. The rice fields are silent.
.The red dirt dusts the world around it.
. People move slower.
. The sun blazes day after day on the earth it shines on.
. We all tire more even if we’ve been in the cool some of the day.
. We cough more in the dust bowls.
. The mosquitoes are fierce dive bomber competitors to attack our exposed skin.
. Trash and smells are more noticeable.
. The temperature is slowly inching higher in numbers.
. Dragon, jack, mango, lychee, custard apple, melons, and milk fruit are all appearing with pineapple, bananas and coconut at the fruit stands with veggies winter melon, banana and lotus flowers, eggplant, cucumber (the size of a watermelon) with an array of greens that we westerners would usually pass by. (morning glory and lotus).
. Cows meander in their forage of food.
. Potholes on the dirt roads are permanent for the moment.
. People hose down their porches, cars, and motos almost daily.
. There is always a thin layer of dust inside.
. Clothes can dry in minutes in most cases.
. Chinese New Year has come and gone replacing Christmas decorations, but they still flow in the breeze.
. The locals are looking forward to the Khmer New Year in April

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KK February 2016

KK February 2016

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God Answers Prayer ~ As Only He Can Do

One of the most encouraging texts in the Bible is Philippians 4:6-7 which let us know to take our requests to God. This is why we start projects including our time in Cambodia with prayers. While there, other needs come across our table and we start those projects also with prayer. This was the case for a need from three church workers to provide transportation to reach out into some of the more remote villages. We know all three of these workers, but especially Pastor Samuels and Visech. So, we started praying.

Our intention was to raise funding for three motorbikes as a project. But as we prayed, we also let the need be known to others that there was a need. But, we forgot about Matthew 18:20 and how God is present at all times. But He was, and acted just like it says in Isaiah 65:24. We weren’t even done praying when a co-worker contacted us saying that a single supporter wanted to purchase all three motorbikes for the field workers. Bright, shiny new motorbikes to carry the Word of God into remote villages where anything with more than two wheels cannot go.

The accompanying picture shows the three recipients as they receive their keys in a short ceremony to recognize their service.

Were we surprised? Yes and no! We were surprised that God answered the prayer with the speed and in the manner He chose, providing the finished answer instead of help with a fund raising project like we were actually praying. This gave us an answer in days and weeks instead of the months we expected. But we were not surprised that God answered the prayer. This has happened before when we needed a generator because the power during the dry season failed almost daily. A single supporter stepped forward at that time and merely asked where to send his check for the entire amount. Nothing is to difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:27)

Guess we ought to study our bible more before we pray :-).

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Suffer The Little Children

Sunday was a special day for two little babies at Christ Lutheran Church in Phnom Penh. Pastor Naro conducted the baptism of Maria and Kensen, the two newest members of Christ Lutheran Church. Now, to many of our supporters this may not be a big thing, but here in Cambodia this is huge because it means that the parents are making a decision for their children to accept Christ.

We have worked in International Student Missions, in Indonesia, and also here in Cambodia. Normally the individuals we have witnessed baptized are adults or at least young people who can speak for themselves and are making a personal choice of Jesus as their savior. This is even greater because it means that the parents, have also made a choice to accept Christ. They value this opportunity as important enough to make a commitment to the life of their children, a commitment to bring them as Luther encouraged in the nurture of the Lord.

As Pastor Ravy translated for us, he quietly leaned over and said, “Next week, Pastor Songiim will have to do this for you. Next week, my son will also be baptized.” Pastor Songiim and his wife are the parents of Kensen, so this week is very special, and next week will be too.

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Seeing The Results of Christian Volunteers Beyond Its Shores

Today we were sitting in a local restaurant sipping on a coffee shake and doing some much needed catch up after a grueling week on the road outside the city. About midday a kindly gentleman approached us and asked where we were from. (not an uncommon question when we are out most days.) He introduced himself to us, speaking perfect English as if we were neighbors from all the years gone by in the US, but his obvious appearance told us that he was not from Cambodia nor the US. He hailed from Malaysia, just a plane flight of 1 ½ hours away.
His smile was so genuine and his heart clearly showed in conversation. He is currently teaching at the university across the street from where we sat at that point, teaching International Business Relations. He is 77 years young he told us. He looked very healthy and not at all showed the years in numbers listed here. His spirit spoke of a younger self inside, full of enthusiasm and frankness that was refreshing.
Dean received his PhD from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He studied in 1968-70, way back when we were still in college ourselves. We didn’t go to Woodstock in 1969, but he did. We didn’t walk thru Arlington National Cemetery and see the burial of so many men who died for a cause that the US was engaged in. But He did. So much seemed to impact his time in the US during those years when he was studying for his PhD.
“The real America isn’t in Washington DC you know,” he said. “The real heart of America is in its people outside the DC area. I have learned that the American people are the most generous people in the world and the only ones on this earth who will die for others in the world outside their own country. I’ve experienced the love of people in America, the Thanksgiving of turkey, the love of football, the stamina of golf.”

With a beaming smile he engaged us in conversation that so many others need to hear in the global international community who have ministered to international students coming to our shores of the United States to study and experience the American dream. Yes y’all, you and we do make a difference, perhaps many years after we would think it would be possible.
“America has it all,” he said. “You have democracy that is unparalleled in this world. Now you have elections that are a tight neck and neck race to your White House. In Malaysia the same people have been in power for 60 years. It may be called democracy there, but we all know what we see and what we hear about America is the best and it’s in the people who live there. They are the kindest people anywhere, and until I die with my boots on, I will always know this in my heart.”
Our hearts were touched deeply by the conversation with this kind man, who took the time and came to us to talk. We could have easily missed his passing as we sipped that cold drink and did some catchup on our computers. But a mighty God brought another one of His to us to hear some positive note about our important job as Americans. I am sure that Dean knew we were Christians, as do most internationals view Americans these days. That’s good.
We are hoping to spend more time with this man, to listen to his life story tucked into chapters as he has gone thru life just like we have. He is associate dean and adjunct professor specializing in technical government and international relations at The University of Cambodia, teaching to PhD students and being not their teacher, but their ‘coach’ as he calls himself. These students are so blessed to have him in their midst, and I truly hope that they realize that.
(No I didn’t have my shorthand notebook and pen out, so while I listened intently and tried to tuck this conversation into my brain in its entirety, I can honestly say that this is a synopsis of that conversation, but it shows us that all of us have been called to share life with the international community in one way.

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Upon This Rock ~

This past week we had coworkers here from the US (from Global Lutheran Outreach) to see God’s ministry at work here in Cambodia. After completing our time with them in Phnom Penh we headed out to Siem Reap and Snor Village to reconnect with this community that has grown exponentially since we were here in 2013, but they still remembered us in spite of that long absence, and a new group of children embraced our time while we were there. Pastor Samuel is shown with his wife Sophena and Obed (now age 4). As you can see Obed didn’t waste much time climbing into my lap at lunch and ‘sharing’ it with me. LOL, he is such a wonderful little guy. (I’m thinking he was told ‘Oma’ was coming to visit him. That name sure is easy to travel around.

On Thursday our hosts shared God’s word with the village adults and children and then a meal of curry was shared with us (still voting for this as the national country dish).
Do you see the rock that stands singly in the middle of a field? The field is located behind the local well in front of the school and has been chosen for the site to build a church and dig a fish pond (to raise fish and support the church and local community). Thanks to Trinity Lutheran Church in Memphis TN and their consistent faithful support Pastor Samuel has been able to set aside and make a payment of 66% of the total cost of this land to date. Until this time the community has been meeting in the school during the rainy season and out in the community area under a tree in the dry season.

Additionally, another young man by the name of Samarat has come forward and would like to also work with Samuel and church planter Daniel into the villages in the area to share the gospel. Samuel, as the recipient of a ministry motorbike last month, is now able to reach his four preaching stations on a regular basis to do services and spend time with his flock. These men have a great opportunity to share in areas still unreached with the gospel to this day. We are praising God for their passionate committed hearts to serve.

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

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The Man on the Right ~

The man on the right you met in an earlier post. Samuel hopped into our van today as we traveled out to Kranluh District near Siem Reap. Actually we were close to the Thai border at our target site when we arrived. We were out to evaluate the area for a church plant for Daniel. For us it was a plus as we pray for and encourage him there, realizing our rolls in this as well for the future. (And for a student teacher for them.)

Again I’m walking down a red dirt road in a village while the men talk in the house after our Christmas meal. As I turn around there is Samuel slowly walking behind me. I chuckle as I recall this is how we first met. I was walking down a red dirt road in a village, somewhere. He followed me then too.

“You know you will always be my teacher.” He says. I nod.

I ask him what he thinks about this new plan I know only a little about as yet. “I think it is a great plan” he says with a smile. I expect no other response from him. These people roll with whatever is dealt.

While I would adore taking credit for what I will say next, I totally understand that I had nothing to do with it. It was Him working out the details again. You see, Samuel did not have a personal relationship with Vannarith. Sure he had gone thru LISA training a while back and realized how much he embraced and agreed upon the theology he was taught beyond his bible school training, which was not Lutheran. But somehow he was out there doing God’s work alone.

If we had not returned to Cambodia I’m thinking in my small mind that Samuel would still be out there ministering in Snor as he has been. Over two years have passed since we last met up. A lot has happened in this country and the church. Maybe someone else may have come along to encourage and pray for Samuel, but that I’ll never know.

One thing is for sure though. God has been working on this since the beginning. Pastor Samuel will be ordained in March. Now we are hearing that Samuel and Daniel will partner church plants together in Siem Reap area, Samuel remaining in Snor, Daniel nearby in Kranluh District. Samuel will now have a brotherhood of church leaders with him to grow the local church into eternity too.

As I walked down this red dusty dirt road, behind me come pockets of bicycling children on their way home from school. I saw two high schools on the main road as we drove thru the district as well. There are so many children everywhere. Samuel said that before the Khmer Rouge families usually had 8-11 children each, but now with the economy 5-8 is more the norm. Wow! That’s a lot of children.

With so much of this going on in this country, it’s no wonder why the church shouldn’t be targeting children’s’ ministry across the board to share the gospel back to their families and communities right now. Remember our December newsletter with the multitude of people trucks on the way to work in the garment factory. These were the kids born and raised one or two generations after the Khmer Rouge. There’s a lot of sharing Jesus to be done here for sure.

2016 is close by. There’s a lot on the agenda for the new year too.

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