Winding Down Our Time in Southeast Asia

Sending our greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia

After the opportunity to work with the Free Burma Rangers (http://www.freeburmarangers.org) mentioned in our last blog, we were invited to share an evening event sponsored by Campus Outreach for the medical students at Chiang Mai University. Many of these future doctors are interested in improving their English, so plans are in the making to hopefully offer some classes in the fall after a successful pilot program was conducted this spring.

Dave Eubank, Founder of Free Burma Rangers

Campus Outreach social time with medical students

We also were taken to experience an outdoor Thai picnic to a beautiful water falls, by the teachers from our Thai language school, called Bua Tong or Sticky Falls . We were able to walk up the falls like a gecko climbing a wall because of the adhesive quality of the "sticky" limestone rocks to the skin of our feet. It was also a very refreshing, well received climb with the air temperature above 100 and the cool water splashing over our bodies.

Air pollution avoidance traveling up the mountain in the back of a songthaew to the water falls

Middle third of "sticky" water falls

Respite from the tropical heat

Being taught how to make "som tum" or papaya salad 

Result was delicious

 After 60 days in Thailand we were required to make a "run for the border" to renew our visas. All it took was a 5 hour car ride one way to walk across the border into Burma and turn around and then walk back into Thailand to pay for the renewal. So at least Moriah is now able to say that her parents are not the only ones in our family who have traveled to the country of Burma (Myanmar).

Visa run to border of Myanmar

Attempted deterrent because of opium production in the "Golden Triangle"

Next on the agenda was our planned ministry trip to Cambodia with Cadence International which has been ministering to a couple military camps in the central section of the country's jungle. We first arrived in Phnom Penh by air where we joined up with a short term mission group from a church in Ohio and the Cambodian director of Cadence, Sareth Duong, who miraculously survived the genocide of Pol Pot's terrible regime. We then spent the day touring some sites around the city before driving 4 hours north to the city of Pursat the following day.

Someone had fun designing this colorful plane we flew to Phnom Phen.

The flow of the Tonie Sap River, which joins the Mekong River in Phnom Phen,
 changes direction twice a year.

What's all the quacking about? Headed for the market.

Not to be outdone, there go the squawking chickens to market as well

Certainly has to be an acquired delicacy, black furry eggs

 Tuk-Tuk Cambodian style, front and rear facing seats for passengers.

Tuol Sleng one of some 150 security prisons where unimaginable tortures were performed.

One of many small cell blocks with blood-stained tiles

Ten rules to be obeyed at security prison (note #6)

 Some of the instruments used for torturing and killing the prisoners

Chum Mey, one of the few survivors of Tuol Sleng Prison

Bog surrounding one of the 20,000 or so mass grave sites termed "The Killing Fields"

Memorial stupa at Choeung Ek extermination camp

Inside of stupa housing over 8,000 skulls of those brutally killed

Demonstration of how far the depravity of man can go.

Our team stayed at a hotel in Pursat each evening and then drove about 45 minutes each morning to the military camp to conduct our ministry program.

Temple under renovation with our hotel displaying its French architecture in the background.

View from our hotel balcony in Pursat

Family style bed arrangement at hotel in Pursat ($12/night for the three of us)

Sugar Palm Tree

Ladder for climber to reach collection bottle of palm sap

Washing empty sap bottles

Boiling down sap not unlike making maple syrup in the US

Rope-paddle used to mix cooling syrup

 Palm sugar is congealed after stirring and packed in plastic pails

Village house near military base camp

Rice paddy on the way to military camp

Beautiful common teak wood furniture at roadside open-air restaurant

Authentic Cambodian cuisine 

 Our ministry agenda included conducting a children's Vacation Bible School program, planting some fruit trees and helping to construct a playground set next to a schoolhouse building that also had been provided by Cadence in the recent past. Moriah spent her time with the children at the school, while Lyndell and I performed the dental clinic in another building for the troops who required care. 

Entrance to military base training camp 

Two room schoolhouse recently constructed

Playground equipment installed

Planting fruit trees near schoolhouse

Eager to have picture taken with Moriah

Moriah quickly made friends with the children

Teaching proper care of teeth to honor God for what He has given to them 

Moriah with Ohio church group and military base children

Cashew trees were plentiful around the camp

 This military base camp was rather unique in this "communist" country that Time magazine said last month is a political mess and teetering on the brink of a full-scale political meltdown. Cambodia is a very poor country trying to recover its soul after the holocaust of the evil regimen of Pol Pot who is said to have killed from 2-3 million of his own people (about 25% of the population) resulting in the infamous "Killing Fields" from 1975-79. The people are looking for hope that we believe can only be found in Jesus Christ. We were very surprised and happy to witness the boldness of a Cambodian Colonel who also serves as a pastor on the base. Many have come to receive Jesus as their Savior through his ministry. 

River that floods during raining season making access to camp difficult at that time of year

Bridge crossing over river to reach camp

Officers at camp being introduced to our team

Colonel (on the left) who is faithfully leading many to the Lord.

The extremely high temperatures combined with the humidity made all the efforts exhausting, but everything was very much appreciated as we attempted to demonstrate in a tangible way the love of Christ.

 Young soldier and new friend made after extraction of his infected wisdom tooth 

Do you wonder who will most need chiropractor after this session?

Officer came back two consecutive days and then sent his wife to us for an extraction.

 Translators for our dental clinic

Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to meet the two star general in charge of the base and who had given permission for our group to serve his people. He was forced to attend an emergency meeting in the capital due to some recent political protests, but he has given Cadence an open invitation to share the gospel as they aim to be of service to the members families of this and other military training bases.

After our work at the military base we traveled north to spend a day touring Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world constructed in the 12th century, but lost to civilization from the mid 1600's to its rediscovery by a French explorer in the mid 1800's. It was originally a Hindu temple site, but about a hundred years later became used by Buddhists. There is a huge moat over 600 feet across that surround the site, which occupies 500 acres with a perimeter of 3.4 miles.  The ancient architecture is remarkable and leaves one wondering how such intricate and massive structures could have been engineered and constructed during such an age in the past. Seeing them was a remarkable experience enjoyed by all of us. Pictures will be included later with the final blog for this trip.

Statues are generally located in the city centers

Another of the many large statues seen upon entering the various cities

We said good-bye to our teammates as they returned back to the USA and we then headed off to visit some of our missionary friends in Bangkok to encourage them in their work for the Kingdom of God.

Cambodian ministry team touring Angkor Wat

Beauty is seen throughout this area of the world. The hand of the Lord displays His handiwork in things like a magnificent sunset on the beach of a rural setting in the south. Yes, God's glory is clearly seen in the natural surroundings of this land and our hope is that the light of the knowledge of His glory as seen in the face of His Son Jesus Christ, will someday be experienced throughout this land as well. Thanks to all of you who have helped us perhaps work a little towards that end.