Our Cambodian Home

     On November 19^th, we returned to Cambodia, where we have committed to spending another 5 months teaching English to the children living at Place of Rescue.  In addition to English, Stacey will also be teaching keyboard to a number of students.  

     Place of Rescue is our home while we are in Cambodia, and upon returning, we felt as though we were returning home, and were welcomed accordingly by those living here.  We are more than happy to start off where we left off with in our relationships with the children and youth, and are looking forward to getting to know a number of them on a deeper, personal level.

     Each child living at Rescue is a miracle, which is so much more evident to us this time around.  It is hard to look at a face, or listen to them laugh without realizing this fact.

      Each child in the orphanage section of Rescue has literally been taken out of a hopeless situation, without parents, and often coming from heartbreaking backgrounds. These children are given a family, schooling, and teaching about God.  One 16 year old boy said to us that he was so happy when he came to Rescue at 10 years old because there was food and he was able to go to school.

      The children who are a part of the AIDS centre section of Rescue live with their existing families, who, as a whole, regularly receive AIDS medication and medical care.  Each family living in one of these 16 homes are very much a part of the rest of the Rescue community.

     We have felt so blessed to be able to return and be involved in the lives of the children living here.  Because Cambodia is a very social culture, there are many activities that occur throughout the week, bringing everyone together regularly.  It is fun to be involved in this social community, and we are eager to use these times to form deeper meaningful relationships with the children here.

     Please partner with us in prayer for the continual safety and health of al the children adn parents living here.  

Also, please pray for us, both for our time here now, and for our future decisions. Pray for continual strength, patience and creativity for inside the classroom and out. 

      Thank you, Stacey and   Jeremy Bacque

                       “O Lord, I give my life to you.  I trust in you, my God!”

                                                                                                                                                       Psalm 25: 1-2a

      

The Heart of Christmas

     It is the season of Christmas, and what better way to get into the season than incorporate Christmas into the classroom?  My students have made cards and crafts, learned Christmas songs, and played Christmas games.  

      It was in my youngest class that I began to read a Christmas story - not THE Christmas story, but one about wanting presents and toys, about Santa and what he will bring.  These are ideas that do not seem foreign to the westerner, in fact they are far from foreign.  But as I was reading, and having my translator translate, I found myself embarrassed that I would even read such a book.  I apologized to my translator and said, “The End.”

     This occurrence has caused me to think deeper about what Christmas really means to me.  I know in my heart that the birth of Jesus is the reason for Christmas, and Christmas should be about love, community and sharing; but, how deeply engrained are these false stories of Santa and toys?  I mean, we all know the songs, and exactly how Santa travels and comes down chimneys, but to the foreigner, this idea is just that.

     Coming to Cambodia for Christmas has removed a large part of many Christmas traditions for us.  But one large tradition, of coarse, is shopping for presents.  I love buying, wrapping and giving presents.  I don’t care as much about receiving presents though, so I don’t buy so I can get.  When you remove this shopping factor, and suddenly you are left without shopping, you feel as though all the prep and lead-up to Christmas is gone.  This is a problem.  Once I realized this is how I felt, I realized that shopping and presents are what really does define Christmas in western culture; and although I like to think otherwise, it has defined much of what Christmas means to me.

     By being removed from westernization this holiday season, I have learned more about myself, and feel blessed to be able to focus on the things that matter: Jesus, love, relationships, and community - all which are very close to us now and easy to access!

Christmas in Cambodia

It is December 1^st on this side of the world, and the Christmas season should be in full swing on your side of the world by now.  For those who know us, know that Christmas is a favorite for us… by far.  We love decorating, and I allow Jeremy to put his nutcrackers throughout the house :)  This year, for obvious reasons, will be a very different Christmas… no santas, reindeers, bells in the mall, Christmas parties… (and although we will be missing our friends and family this Christmas wholeheartedly), I feel as though I’ve won the lottery being able to spend it with all the children here.

I realized this week, that I have been underestimating the children, and their perception of us, and the way they watch our ways.  They see when we leave for the city, and when we stay to spend time with them on the weekends.  This should seem obvious, but it was only with their small comments here and there that I have realized this.  

The other day, one of the older boys, Thai, brought up Christmas.  He wondered if we would be leaving to spend Christmas at the beach, or in another country.  When I told him we were here to spend it with them, he was both surprised and excited.  The older children, at least, understand what a big occasion Christmas is to westerners, and I am glad we can give our passion for Christmas over to the ones we love here.

Our experience in coming back has been very different from the 1^st time we were here.  This time around, we have entered into a world we are familiar with, and a people we already know and love.  It is like we are entering into a family we left behind.  Our once room feels like our home, along with the rest of Rescue’s grounds.  And, although needing some small breaks at times, all I want to do is spend time with my family here, where last time privacy was a luxury for me.

Thank you for all the prayers coming out our way.  Although I enjoyed the children before, and for that reason we are back, I now feel an overflowing love for each of them, and sense of belonging in this one huge family.  

So, when I here “I’ll be home for Christmas….. if only in my dreams…”  I am torn, because I dream of family, snow, and tradition, but I am given an outpouring of love, and isn’t that what Christmas should really be about?  God’s love for us, and our love for others.