Heritage Family Services

November 01, Day 15

2008-11-01T19:02:00.001-07:00

For some of us the trip is coming to an end. We are in Bangkok now and thankfully off of the night train. Jay and Hank took us to the Rose Garden Riverside Hotel. It is beautiful. What a great way to get a little R&R after all of our hard work and travels. I think we have a learned a lot here and feel like we had some impact on a few people's lives. Cambodia and Thailand has for sure had an impact on all of us.

We saw the Thai Cultural show and and elephant show while at the Rose Garden. It was really cool. Joleen wants an elephant for her farm (and a monkey, and a water buffalo). We have lots of great pictures to share.

Tomorrow we are off to the International church and then to a new hotel downtown Bangkok. Fill ya in later...

October 31, Day 14

2008-11-01T18:56:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Today we made the four hour trek back to Udon Thani. Along the way we stopped at several markets. We ate supper with John and Joy and Jim and Cathy (all missionaries). Then we boarded the night train for Bangkok. Thankfully we splurged for first class because second class looked a little sketchy. This experience is really only something that can be explained in person, words don't capture it. Just a note... this was not North American first class so don't think we were spoiled. Ask lynn about the cockroaches :)

October 30, Day 13

2008-11-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today we split into two groups and some went back to the prison and the rest went to a middle/high school to teach English. The highschool has 2000 students so the group split into five small groups. We taught grade 8, 10 & 12. Brent was asked to take 9 students and teach them about Halloween. Donna had a group of grade 12 students who spoke very good English. This school is well known for promoting English and wins English competitions. All of the teachers spoke very good English, which Stacey said is quite rare. The class sizes are around 45 students so it was a bit intimidating but lots of fun.

The group that taught at the school went back to the church in the evening to teach a group of adults and small children. Word got around and this night we had 32 kids and over 20 adults. The church is out in the country so there are a lot of BUGS. Donna said at one time she looked at her feet when she was in the church and they were all black (she thought they were dirty from not wearing shoes) NOPE... they were covered in bugs. We all had bugs in our hair and clothes.

Lynn video tapped Brent teaching the children at the church the Hokey Pokey so that we can all watch in on the big screen at the Christmas Party. Honestly, he looks like Shrek it is hysterically funny.

When we get back you need to ask Donna to explain how she taught the students about Jack O Lanterns. We were so impressed at how Donna knew the history of a guy named Jack.... Hopefully they don't google it!!!

Day 10,11,12

2008-10-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Sorry no word. We traveled a long way into NE Thailand. We are on the boarder of Laos. We visited a prison on Monday (Swang Daen Din). We taught some English and heard some stories from the prisoners.

Tuesday (day 11) 9 of us left early on the bus to travel to Sakon Nakhon Prison about a 1hr drive. We were in pairs and we taught at five stations for 30 min in am and again in the afternoon. It was so much fun. The rest of our group went with Stacey and toured around the country, harvested some rice and visited some local people. Then they taught ESL at a church from 5-7. It is very hot here. The group of 9 who taught at the prison got to stop at an aquarium on the way home that has all different types of fish found in the Mekong River... creepy and prehistoric to say the least.

Wednesday (day 12) all of us traveled to the prison to teach again for the morning. A different group of five left with Stacey to make the trip back to Nakhon Phanom to tour an abandoned prison (what they used to be like) and to teach again at the church.

We have traveled a long ways in the past 12 days from Phenom Penh Cambodia to Siem Reap (by bus...) Cambodia. Flew over to Bangkok and then flew up to Udon Thani. Then in the bus to Sakon Nakhon and then to Nakhon Phanom (about 2.5 hours from Udon Thani). After we make it back to Udon Thani we will board the night train to Bangkok. It really feels as long as it sounds. But what a great time. We are seeing and doing things that the average tourist does not get to see. We have had great hosts along the way and very appreciative of their ability to speak the local languages.

Talk to you soon and take care.

Day 9 - update

2008-10-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

After church today we came back to the hotel to have orientation with Stacey. She gave us a couple of books, one explained cultural facts and the other some Thai words to get us by on our short mission. Some of the things we had planned have fallen through. As Stacey says "You need to be very flexible in Thailand because nothing is for sure until you show up and they let you in the doors". Stacey also reviewed some teaching lessons that we will be using in the prisons, at the school and the church. We will be separated into pairs and half of us will go to a school and the other half will go to the prison. Each day we will trade locations so we all get a chance to visit the prison. On Monday, we will go as one large group and teach a 1 hour lesson of English with Stacey.

Approximately 70% of children in the Udon province are involved in prostitution. There are alarming rates of HIV and STD's. There is little education to deal with this issue here and many families sell their children thinking they are going to the city to work in factories.

Many of people are in the prison system here because of drug related offenses. Drug charges carry the longest sentences because they are considered crimes against people. If you committed a crime against one person you would get a much smaller sentence.

After orientation we went to John and Joy's for supper. John and Joy are missionaries and have been in Thailand for several years. We ate a traditional Isaan meal which John, Hank, Craig and Fred went to get from a market. They made a stop along the way for Hank to run in a buy a watermelon. Hank expressed that apparently there is no word in the Thai language for watermelon so it was challenging to actually find it.

Isaan is an area, a people group and a language in North East Thailand. Most people in the larger centres also speak Central Thai.

October 26, Day 9

2008-10-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Oct 25 we traveled from Siem Reap to Bangkok and then on to Udon Thani which is in the North East part of Thailand. We met Stacey who is our new Blaine. Stacey is originally from Florida and has spent two years in Thailand and is a missionary. We have a very busy week ahead of us teaching English in a school and a prison.

This morning we will be going to the international church and then Stacey will give us an orientation to teaching English.

Thailand is very clean compared to Cambodia. In Cambodia there is garbage everywhere!!! Thailand seems more advanced and the computers work here. Tonight we will post the events of today and give you an idea of what is ahead for the week. Take Care.

Oct 25, Day 8

2008-10-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I lost a day - not sure I have all of the dates right on the blog (oops). But today is HANK's B-Day!!!

We visited the Angkor Temples - Very Incredible!!! Some of us rode elephants into the temple. Going through the temple gates on an elephant was so amazing. This was the last night with the Deer Park group. We are sad to say farewell. They will email Joleen blog posts and hopefully we can continue to follow their journey.

Some closing comments from Blain Sylvester (he will take the DP group back to Phenom Penh):

After meeting the people we have met on our travels we should take away from this... the faith and availability to stand on the edge and take a risk if called upon to do so. It just so happens that the folks we have met are 70 year old grandmas... we should all take some lessons from that alone!!

Just a note

2008-10-24T00:06:00.001-07:00

Hi to All:

I just read all of the comments people have shared... to be honest, haven't had time to look because we are so busy. Thank you for following - I know our group likes that we are staying connected to all of you at home. For those of you who haven't heard - Craig did not get on the flight with us on the 16th. His passport was to expire 10 days short of 6 months. He stayed in Calgary and went to the passport office. The booth he got to was a lady who attends the Airdre Alliance Church and knows all about Place of Rescue in Cambodia. She fast tracked his passport and he got it by 2 pm that day. He boarded the plane Sat am and caught up with us on Monday. Wow - a little divine intervention there I must say. Take Care all.

Joleen

Day 6 October 23

2008-10-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Donna Rodatz!!!! Today we got on the bus for Siem Reap. David Ens (Marie's son) is with us to help show us around and translate (THANKFULLY). We had a five hour bus ride from Phenom Penh to Siem Reap through the country. We saw a lot of little villages and really cool things. Right now the country is under water - literally. We stopped at a market for a break and Brent O'Çonnor ate a fried Tarantula. They had lots of interesting things to eat (just to gross out the tourists). That night we went to Pub Street where there are many neat restaurants to eat in so we all chose what we liked and went our separate ways. Hank tried to find a burger, but I think he was out of luck. Joleen got to eat Mexican Food in Cambodia and it was great!!

After the Tuk Tuk ride home, we met to eat some desert and talk. Not a lot happened today, but great to see the countryside. Cambodia is a beautiful place.

Jennifer has had some interesting adventures getting in and out of a Tuk Tuk. She has started a collection of Tuk Tuk and Role stories to share when we return.

Day 5 October 22

2008-10-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

We have had some Internet difficulties so sorry about the delay. Today we went to the Military Hospital which is otherwise known as the poor persons hospital. The hospital was dirty, but much better than it was a couple of years ago. Marie Ens (Place of Rescue) has a team of people who visit the hospital each week to pray and advocate for medical supplies for the patients. People in this hospital must have a family member to care for them because there is no nursing care provided. Their families bring them food, blankets, etc. We broke into small groups and visited different parts of the hospital. The rooms were moldy and hot. Many did not have pillows or blankets. Some of our group mentioned that patients in the emergency care ward did not have casts on their broken bones, they were just laying on the beds until the wounds healed. The conditions of this hospital were not what we have in Canada - so those of you who complain about a nurse or the level of attention provided to you in the ER, just be very thankful you are not a poor Cambodian.

At evening debriefing Jay talked about reaping what you sew. From Job 4:8 "If you sow trouble you will reap it". The reverse of that is when you sow good, you reap it. This is very true for all of the people doing good things in Cambodia.

The Administrator for the hospital is a highly decorated female in the Military. Very Cool!

Sue called from the House of Smiles to inform us she signed a lease for one year with the increased rent so the children will be able to remain in this facility with the help of donations from members of this group of 300.00 per month.

Blaine - our very awsome guide had some words of wisdom before we landed in Cambodia... While in Cambodia, practice patience and politeness. We have been doing a lot of that.

We also got to visit Place of Rescue's new transition house that they are just building to get ready for the children graduating so they have a safe place to live if they go on to College in the city. It is going to be great. It is very nice house.

Day 4, October 21

2008-10-21T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today we toured a number of NGO's and visited the Russian Market. We went to:
1) House of Smiles which is one of the programs operated by Hagar. This program cares for children with cognitive and physical disabilities.
2) We went to Peace Handicrafts & Silks which is a store that sells silk products made by landmine and polio victims.
3) We ate lunch at Jars of Clay which is an NGO that took in 8 at risk girls and taught them how to operate a restaurant.
4) We then visited Harvest Cambodia which is a factory where canned and dried fruit products are made by landmine survivors.

It is remarkable how many NGO's exist in Cambodia and it is truly a gift to have the opportunity to visit these organizations to learn how they made the journey to Cambodia to help rebuild the social infrastructure here.

Everyone in the group took away different thoughts and had a special connection with one or more of these groups. The following is a summary of some of the comments shared at evening debriefing:
-Kim felt especially connected to House of Smiles. It took her back to a mission trip she went on when she was 15. She believes she is fulfilling her true purpose in life by having the opportunity to work with children.
-House of Smiles has a beautiful facility in a really nice, clean area. The landlord has recently increase the rent by 300.00 per month. The Executive Director has had to make the unfortunate decision to leave this property due to the rent increase. The only location she can secure is a facility which is under water and is not appropriate for the care of children with disabilities. Bill suggested they offer to help House of Smiles stay in their current location by trying to raise the funds back home to cover the rental increase. These are really amazing and beautiful children who are otherwise not accepted or treated well in Cambodian society.
-A few others talked about the faith/guidance and vision some of these women had when they answered their calling from God to come to Cambodia to help. Most left everything familiar behind and came to Cambodia with nothing but a dream. To come and start with nothing sacrificing all of the comforts of home is inspiring to all of us.
-Jars of Clay was started by a women from the UK. She has now turned the business over to the eight girls she rescued off of the streets of Cambodia and is leaving it to them to continue without her. Jana commented that this is a true example of empowerment, faith and trust.
-We talked as a group about the good vs evil. For example in the prisons, how does the good combat the evil that exists... how do you make a difference in the lives of people in prison. Jana said, "You can not take away my will to forgive". Hank stated that you can't attempted to fight evil with good, you can only continue to do good for people to and just accept that evil exists.
-We processed a bit more about the Khmer Rouge Regime and the terrible genocide that occurred during this time. We discussed how people could have followed this regime and carried out the evil, torture and killing from Pol Pot. Hank stated that "All you need for evil to survive is for a few good people to nothing at all".

We are experiencing some pretty powerful things in Cambodia. We will come back with heavy hearts and a new perspective. Cambodians are easy to love, they have the most beautiful and welcoming smiles.

On the lighter side of things - Kim and Lynn want to raise awareness of the Cankle disease that occurs in Cambodia. This is a disturbing situation where the calf becomes one with the ankle. It is a common disease for foreigners.

Also, Jana wanted to mention that this trip has officially become the bathroom and buffet tour. Many of the smaller eating establishments have a hard time accommodating a large group.

On that note, we wish friends, family and co-workers well. See you tomorrow.

Day Three, October 20

2008-10-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Cambodia. Well, it is still very hot. Today we went to the Kendal Prison. It was emotional and we got to hand out care packages to some of the inmates. The most gripping was the women and children. Children can stay in prison with their mother until they are 6 years old. A three year old child sang a song of worship in Khmer to our group when we visited the women in the weaving room. It tugged at the heart a little. The Kendal Prison is actually nicer than one might think for a Cambodian prison, however, we are glad we weren't there for an extended stay!!. And surprisingly, Noble made it out without incident.

After the prison visit we went to the Prison Fellowship Cambodia Headquarters to spend some time with grandma Linda (Executive Director for Cambodia). The work they are doing in the prisons is truly amazing. Just when you think you do good work, you meet people like Linda and Marie who inspire you to be more.

After lunch we went to the Genocide Museum Touel Sleng and then to the Killing Fields. Our tour guide was a survivor and lost all of his family during the Pol Pot Regime. He was only 17 years old and watched most of his family die. His passion and lived experience enhanced our understanding of the terrible events that occurred from 1975-79. The following are a few thoughts shared at our evening debriefing session:
-I can't imagine this happening in my life
-It is sad, yet enlightening - the strength of the Cambodian people is evident in spite of the trauma they experienced
-We can't compare the work we do at home with this... it is too different
-"Primal Screaming of Quietness" a quote from Jennifer as she described how she felt walking through the torture centre... If that doesn't say it all.

As Dr. Dave said, how do you even put it into words. There is nothing you can say after seeing this place.

If it weren't for the many NGO's working tirelessly to help restore the Cambodian society... Thank you to them for allowing us into their lives if only for a brief moment.

Sorry there are no photos, it was a long day. Take Care everyone!

Day Two

2008-10-19T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well it is Oct 19 in Cambodia and very hot. Today we had a bit of a relaxed day to try and recover from the long travels and to prepare for the week ahead. We went to Church at the World Vision Headquarters (International Christian Assembly). Then we went for lunch with Marie Ens and her son. The food is great so far. Then later in the day we went on a river boat down the Mekong River and then for a stroll along the river. We had the amazing experience of crossing a road and for some of us (who did not go to Vietnam) saw our lives flash before us. It's true they all just drive around you. Then we road a Tuk Tuk back to our hotel. A lady on the street offered to sell her young infant to Jana, so needless to say, we had some discussions about that after supper. Cambodians are very friendly and giggle when you try to speak their language. Tomorrow we have a very early morning. Off at 7:30 to the Kendal Prison and then to the Killing Fields. That's it for tonight - see you tomorrow, same place, same time. Happy Blogging.

Pictures from Day One

2008-10-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

These are children at Place of Rescue wearing Heritage T-Shirts.

Sean with one of the children.

The girls are doing traditional dance (Jesus is born)

First Day in Cambodia

2008-10-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

After travelling for about 30 hours we made it to Cambodia at 10:30 am on Saturday the 18th. We got to the hotel had a few minutes to freshen up and then we loaded back in the vans to head out to Place of Rescue. When we got there all of the staff and children were waiting for us in the pavilion. They had prepared a great program for us which included singing, prayer and traditional dancing. They also welcomed us to the stage to sing a song for them. We sang one verse of Jesus Loves the Children. Not bad for no notice. They prepared a traditional Cambodian dinner and then we toured the grounds. Place of Rescue is truly amazing and the work Marie Ens does is inspiring. There are so many adorable children and grannies who were happy and welcomed us with open arms. This was a great way to start the trip. We will put some photos on in a few days - when we are a little less exhausted.

Cambodia/Thailand 2008

2008-09-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Through this blog, we invite you to:

follow our journey,
post your comments,
learn more about Cambodia and the work being done there.