greed

I don't even know where to start today........I was awoken by my phone going off with a text message saying pray for Dey Krahom the people have encircled the slum and are ready to come in.This is a slum that 120 families have title to the land they are on .The government and a development company named 7NG are in collaboration and the people with title were offered one of two choices take another piece of land and they would move you out there or 20,000 dollars.The land they are on is worth 44 million dollars.One hundred and twenty families times 20000 is only 2.4 million just a little over 5 % of the worth of the land.The poeple can not get anything in the city for 20K and if they were to take the property offered outside the city they would have no way of making a living ,their children wouldnt have schooling and electricity is by generator.Most families depend on a small micro-business to survive such as a small vegetable stand or food cart.

I was involved during the week with the negotiators for the community who were only asking for 50k from the developers and city they were given the runaround until today.
Watching people who had shared their struggles and conflicts with the government with me and whom I was helping in regards to making justice signs etc. was just heart wrenching.To see all there negotiations and hopes and dreams shattered by a bulldozer and a huge police presence was brutal to say the least.To watch little girls walking around who were now homeless and crying trying to sift through the rubble of their homes to salvage something of value before the dozers took another run was trying.








I was able to slip through the police presence ,God was leading the way and able to get a lot of pictures and video which I hope to share.I dont know how videographers do it ,I had to put down the camera and really pray about what was appropriate .I realize that people need to know but there was something about not jsut beoing a witness with the camera but being a witness with my heart that was more important.

I was disappointed in man watching people's lives being destroyed for the almighty dollar.

I was with my small group and got into a somewhat heaed argument about real estate speculation and investment in Cambodia....you just need to see this once to understand the devestation to families and individuals by greed.I hope that as westerners invest in developing countries they really know the full effect of their investment.You might actually think you are helping a country but the money doesnt reach the poor it just makes them poorer.

The rich get richer............well maybe on earth

The police werent too happy about my camera or me being there period .I was there for a few hours but as I was leaving I noticed the police were coming towards me with intention .So I turned and started going in the other direction.Obviously I knew they would be wanting my camera so I deftly removed the memory card so when they grabbed me and took my camera the evidence wasnt there.They were none to friendly especially after finding no memory card in the camera after awhile they released me and let me go on my way.....It has been tough processing today but it is so true that" where you stand determines what you see" I am glad I was there to be a witness and I pray that I will step up quicker and always when I see injustice around the world or at home

Isaiah 61:8 "I the Lord love justice"

I want to love what He loves what about you?????????

God bless
Pray for the families that lost their homes today and pray for the people that have to live with what they have done .I am glad I am not the one who judges I dont know if I have that much Grace in me.

Home

So I have been a week and a half at my host house and love every minute of it.Well maybe not every minute the mosquitos are not my favourite pet to have around.Even though they love me very much.I thought I would show a couple of pictures of my place and I also forgot to show a picture of my 8 year language teacher.

We all have such a great time trying to understand each other .I bought a Khmer to English dictionary that they use and an english to khmer that I use so we both have been teaching each other.I read an article called language as ministry and I have to agree.There is a bonding that happens when people realize that you value their language and culture and want to learn and not just teach them ours.

God really took me out of my comfort zone today as I have just finished preaching this morning.

It was my first attempt at preaching with a translator and the Lord blessed me with not just a great translator but a humble and gracious congregation.Those that know me might say that I have a slight leaning towards speaking(LOL).Having to pause to be translated made it very difficult for me as I normally speak extemporaneously.I also just let go and let the Holy Spirit guide me sometimes I dont even know where that scripture came from.This time although Holy Spirit inspired was a bit discomforting at first with the pace.It will just propel me further in my language lessons so I can relate to the beautiful people of Cambodia with their own language.

God bless

kevin

You can pray for me to continue to seek the Kingdom ............when we turn our eyes on to searching for the Kingdom it is amazing how many times you see it.

children are the future

As in any country the future is our children.Nowhere have I seen that more evident than in Cambodia.A huge percentage of the population is below thirty with a large percentage below 20(sorry for no exact stats) but it is easily recognizable.The school system is broken into morning or afternoon not both like the west.This is because of the lack of teachers and schools to accomodate the number of students.The other reason is that some students must help with the family business to provide for there needs and the price of school.Generally the family understands the need for education but the needs of the day sometimes takes priority.

The lack of full schooling for some leads to alot of free time and like most teenagers without proper guidance can lead to numerous bad choices (i.e.drugs alcohol sex).Yesterday I spent time with a teenage drug rehabiltation project run by TASK an organization that runs numerous health and welfare programs for the Phnohm Penh area.This organization provided recreation schooling in anger management etc engkish lessons but more importantly a community that cares for them.It was a blessing to send the day with them and I pray that I will be able to help them in some way in the near future.(Something to pray about for me).

Another organization that is doing amazing things is BBBS(Big brothers big sisters)a program that is similar to the west but brings Christian big brothers and sisters together with little brothers and sisters in a mentoring program that includes bible studies that they do together.There is accountability in that they do the lessons together and also spend funtime with each other .Recently I attended a fun day with some BBBS with my church group(photo above)it was a joy to see the love between not just the pairings but with all the people involved.My lack of vocabulary wasn't a problem this day as the joy of the Lord was on everyones face and everyones heart.I had to shed tears when it was time to pray and all the little heads bowed in prayer......at that moment although I knew of some of their circumstances and living conditions I also knew the Lord's hand and heart was upon them I knew they were blessed.

"Blessed are those........"

They lack nothing that is of worth the Holy Spirit lives within them.

God bless

Eviction

The last couple of days I have been supporting a community in Phnohm Penh that is in the process of being evicted.The government has offered them $20,000 and a place to relocate which is 22 km outside the city.Most families rely on living in the city to survive most have small micro-businesses such as selling food etc.By being in the city there children have access to school and healthcare.Outside the city there options are bleak to say the least no running water possibly hydro by generator and no schooling or very little available to the children.
Most people that have been evicted in other communities end- up back in the city in another slum but without any ownership rights.

The money being offered is less than 5% of the worth of the land.The people have put in a counter offer of $50,000 that is falling on deaf ears.There was a ray of hope two days ago as they extended the eviction for 3 days but that deadline is today and with the government offices closed on the weekend the people believe they will be evicted this evening.

I am joining other westerners to be a presence in the community as a voice of the world is watching.I will be staying in the community tonight and will be a witness to what is happening and to pray for a non-violent resolution to this conflict.

Please join me in prayer for those in need

My teacher

There is something humbling about the fact that an 8 year old girl is my language teacher.When your teacher is rolling on the floor laughing at your awful attempts at speaking Khmer you can't help but join in.I feel so blessed I didn't learn the language before I came.In my case it is allowing me to be relational with my host family and allow them to see how helpless I am without there guidance and help.They laugh at my pronunciation and then help me endlessly until I get it right.The 8 year olds name is Joreah and she listens to me then reads it in Khmer then the contagious laughter but then helps me pronounce it right with a big thumbs up and a smile when I get it.She then asks me how to say it in English,unlike myself she gets it right almost instantly.We are both learning but more importantly we are both helping each other ,developing a relationship that cannot be forgotten ,me every time I speak Khmer will think of my teacher and her when she thinks of me will forever remember her joyous laughter .

Finally

Its my last night with the short-term missions group with my church and tomorrow the life that Christ has laid out before me begins.

It has been a long time coming and now it is here.To be able to live amongst the people God has broken my heart for lets me appreciate our living loving God all the more.

God has told me from day 1 that this is what He made me for.To have such a simplistic attitude towards my lifes calling is freedom.God says go I go!!!!Isn't life easy when someone else who loves you, you are able to let take charge of your life.

I don't know why He picked me or what He picked me for but I will just follow His guidance and understand that as in :

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you a hope and a future.

The people that walked these corridors and lived in this prison couldn't see a hope or a future but by bringing God's Word to there children and there children's children these corridors will be cleansed of evil.