Cultural Barriers

Cambodia is a place of ordered kaos.  of predictability.  but not the things one might predict in Canada.  In traffic, I can guarantee to be cut off, almost hit, see many close calls, watch as pedestrians cross the wide and very busy highway - home to many semis, tuk tuks and motos.  In Canada, if I stepped out in the middle of traffic to cross the street, I would be worried of getting hit.  In Cambodia, this is the way you cross the road, and thus feel at ease that the driver will swerve around us.  

The first time Jeremy and I had wanted to cross a busy street in Cambodia, we were’t sure how to go about it.  Today, in Seoul, a city with crosswalks…. when we wanted to cross the street, we weren’t sure how to go about it.  Where is the crosswalk?  Why are there guardrails everywhere?  Why do we have to wait 3 minutes to cross, when we can do it… we’re experienced!  We walked around a city where traffic sits at a red light…. until it turns green.  There is no fake 10 second advance while the light is still red, which is a norm at every intersection in Phnom Pehn.  Vehicles drive in the lines, traffic calmly flows.  As I reflect, I realize, the city was pretty quiet, and the streets were not crowded…. huh.  I am sure we weren’t seeing all the trueness of South Korea in the short time we wandered through it, but what we saw was Canada disguised with Koreans, and this gave us a good head start as to growing accustomed to the orderly way of life.

This kaos, or overstimulation, is something that I didn’t think I would miss.  Life seems so calm without it!

We only left last night, but, from the time we entered the sanitary version of Cambodia in the Phnom Pehn airport, until now (post Seoul city experience) currently in high-class Seoul airport, it seems as though we left ages ago.

Leaving is always a bitter-sweet experience.  We left behind new friends, whom we hold very dear, in exchange to see our family.  Doesn’t this seem bizarre?  An exchange for one for another?  Yet that is exactly what it is, as we can not have both worlds in one.  We have entered into 2 very different worlds, lived in these worlds, loved and formed relationships in these places…. and now… torn between where our allegiances lie between the 2 places.  There is no common ground, no similarities.   Our last memories of the Cambodia we know are of the 21 people who crammed in the van with us to say good-bye at the airport.  How can we ignore this love and affection.  These are the people who have stolen our hearts.

Eastern Production - part 2

To be honest, the problem with our developed world is that almost everything available for us to purchase is available by the means of importation.  I think it was would merely impossible not to buy from the person who is making less than what they need to to survive adequately.  
When I talk about the factory workers here in Cambodia, I am sharing my perspective as a person living in Cambodia.  I want people to see what I see, and know the reality of what happens.  How can we change this?  I don't think we can.  In reality, if the wages go up too much, the product owners will leave - there is always a cheaper country somewhere!  The only change can come through the product/factory owners and the government.  Most of all the wrongs and injustices here occur because os the government.  I see so much, but what can you do when you are facing a corrupt giant?

As much as we try to do the right thing, and I think that all of us who live in the developed world want to make the right decisions somehow, it is not up to us.  I have even learned, while being here, that Fair trade is not what you think it is either… and we have all been wanting to buy fair trade products because we think it will help… and maybe it does a little… but there is always a better way… but how can we know?



Here is some information about FAIR TRADE, if you are interested in educating yourself on the matter:
http://threecornercoffee.com/direct-trade-vs-fair-trade/

The things I've learnt...

     It has been interesting learning and living and cooking in a rural developing country (yet again).  Living without the conveniences of the city. Living without the conveniences of the developed world. 

     This time around, I have learnt different lessons; such as, the seeds of jackfruit can be boiled and eaten, and resemble very closely that of beans.  Yellow mangoes and long bananas have gone bad.  Mangoes that are ready to eat and yellow are probably yellow because they’ve been sprayed.  Bananas that are bruised on the outside, are somehow perfect on the inside.

In the land where hummus doesn’t exist, I have learnt to make it, and it is very easy.  Fresh peanuts resemble the natural taste of peas, and are also quite easy to roast yourself.

Jars and food containers are very similar to those of tupperware, and can easily be reused as such.  I feel embarrassed that I used to throw these precious things out here.

     North America is like the land of flowing milk and honey, although, instead of milk and honey, it is flowing water and electricity.  When you turn on the light, it is light.  WHen you plug in an appliance, the appliance turns on.  WHen you turn on the tap, there is water.  This is a fact of the developed life.

Here, there is a very different story.  I have learned to have patience through the lack of.  Since returning to Cambodia, I have taught keyboard.  In order to play a keyboard, you must have an electrical source.  The outlet we use for the keyboard comes from city power, where the rest of Rescue is powered through solar power.  You would imagine that city power would mean it is always available, but this is the opposite.  It is unpredictable unavailable.  One might also conclude that having power means the keyboard will turn on.  This is also not the case.  Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.  

Currently I am supposed to teach keyboard.  We have power.  The keyboard won’t turn on.  I will try again in an hour.

     In addition, I think that it is impossible to enter into a developing country without looking through the lenses of our developed vision.  We bring change and convenience.  Is this always beneficial and needed?  

     We think, ‘these poor people don’t have a stove’, so we buy a stove.  This is what I would have thought to do before.  But, now I think, how will they pay for the propane when it is gone?

     It is easy to think of western bandaids to seemingly “problems”, but are they really problems?  In reality, the people who live without convenience have always lived without convenience, and do not know the difference.  They have never experienced another way, and is it so bad that they still don’t?

     Is it a bad thing that children have to wake up early to chop firewood for cooking, and help hand wash their clothes?  I don’t think so.  This develops a sense of responsibility, just like chores in developed countries do.  In my opinion, the average 19 year old in Cambodia is far more developed and mature than their Canadian equal.

     However, I do believe every one should have access to clean water, health care, love, 3 meals a day & proper nutrition.  Human rights and basic provisions should go without saying, and I don’t believe anyone should have to suffer.

Producing western product in an eastern world

     There are many people in Cambodia who live in poverty.  I think this is a fact that many of us know; here we can visibly see this.  We hear the stories of factory workers working for low wages, to produce products for Levi, Gap, H&M, Joe…. We think, ‘how awful these people are working so hard and not being paid.’  But look at our country!  Our country is full of stores, malls, shopping, consumerism…. this is what makes up Canada and America…. shopping is what we do when we don’t have anything to do.  So what happens if these workers get paid more?  The products you buy everyday go up in price as well.

      Daily, factory workers pool onto large flatbed trucks where they cram in and stand like a can of sardines to get to work.   This is fact.  I see it.  They arrive at work around 6am, and leave between 4 - 6:00pm.  I know because this is when i see the trucks in the streets.  

     Currently, factory workers are paid $61 a month.  Due to protesting, the minimum wage for factory workers will increase to $75 a month.  What does this mean for purchases back home?  Increasing probably.  

     But as much as that sucks, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance, “...the new figure is still just one-quarter of the monthly living wage of US$274 a worker and her family in Cambodia need to cover basic needs.”

     Many people have to live together to get by, or they just live without basic needs.  In the markets, you can buy a bottle of oil, soy sauce, fish sauce (the common sauces used for food here), or you can buy about 1 cup of it measured into a plastic bag.  This is the common way to buy sauces, because, although a bottle in the market is 50 cents - $2US (depending on size and kind), this is unaffordable for many.

     To be honest, every time we walk into ‘Lucky’ (a grocery store with imported goods) so we can buy yogurt, cereal, and cheese, I feel as though I have just walked into the rich man’s world…. and I have.

In addition, I wanted to point out, that to come up against any decisions tat the government decides in Cambodia is very risky.  Although Cambodia has a "democratic government" it is far from a democratic country.  Striking against anything is really saying, 'I would risk my life over this matter.'

     If you are interested in knowing more,click on the links below for news reports on conditions, ect.  I have never stepped foot into a factory, so I do not wish to say either way.  I want to reveal the facts as I have witnessed.

BBC news - Factory workers

Guardian news - Trial with GAP and H&M over factory fainting

Global post - factory fainting

http://www.just-style.com/news/minimum-wage-to-rise-for-garment-factory-workers_id117379.aspx

The Cambodia Herald - complaining over low wages

News on mass factory fainting

My Thoughts On Marriage

     There is a natural, and God-given instinct for every individual to desire and crave love and acceptance.  For this reason, it is natural for us to seek out friendships and relationships.  All around the world, people are marrying every moment of everyday.  It is natural to want to marry; to want to have someone to talk to and to wake up to every day.  I believe this is why so many people marry; and why, when someone feels they should have a spouse and doesn’t, is frustrated and uneasy with life.

     I also believe that God has given each one of us dreams and passions.  Some say, “our calling.”  Everyone of us feels it.  This need and drive to do what we are passionate about.  There are so many people who, in their lifetime, do not follow their dreams and pursue their passions, and thus feel as though they missed out on life.  It is something WE HAVE to do.

     So what happens when 2 people come together, with a need to be loved and accepted, but also have 2 very very different dreams?  They get married, are happy for awhile….. until they notice their passions once again.  For some marriages, it is impossible for a couple to pursue both persons passions.  For some, each spouse does not see eye to eye with the dreams and passions, and thus, either the dream or the marriage is squashed….. sometimes both.

     From my perspective and experience in both my marriage, and the relationships which existed before my marriage, true happiness (aside from belief in God), comes from 2 spouses sharing dreams and passions.

     I believe that God intended for a marriage to come together, and for each spouse to BECOME ONE in everything - included passions.  I think God intended for spouses to walk through life fulfilling each other’s dreams, building each other up, encouraging each other to do whatever it is they need to do, (as long as it does not hinder their marriage or relationship with God).

     Jeremy and I have many friends who have entered into marriages already, and I pray that they can follow through in their marriages in this way.  But, we also have friends who have not married yet, but long to.  For them I pray that they would first strengthen their relationship with God, and find what the calling is for their lives.  I think it is only then that we are healthy enough to be able to enter into a marriage relationship.  I believe that if this step is skipped, the end result will be broken marriages, hearts, and/or dreams.

Human Trafficking

Within the heart of every girl is the desire to be loved.  Loved by her father, her husband.  Unfortunately, not every girl is fortunate enough to be able to experience this love, yet the desire for love does not go away.

For many girls in Cambodia, this natural feeling is destroyed once they are entered into the sex trade, often not by their own free will.  This reality is displayed all over the streets of Phnom Pehn and Siem Reap, the 2 major cities in Cambodia.  These girls are used by their owners to make money from not only the locals, but the many tourists who come through each year.

The following information defines the reality of this crime:

 “They told me they could help me to find a job, and my family was poor and needed food. The job turned out to be in a brothel. I was forced to take 20 to 30 clients a day, and was denied food or tortured if I refused or asked for a break. The money went straight back to the brothel owner, to pay off my ‘debt’ 
for room and board. They threatened to find me and kill me if I left.”

This is slavery.

Human trafficking is considered the world’s second largest, fastest growing organized crime. The International Labor Organization estimates up to 20.9 million people toiling as modern slaves around the globe, and UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children are sold every year. The ILO estimates that 55 percent of forced labor victims are women and girls, as are 98 percent of sex trafficking victims.

The human trafficking business is a multi-billion dollar industry. Sex trafficking alone is estimated to generate $7 billion per year, but INTERPOL believes the number to be closer to $19 billion.  

The Asia Pacific region (which includes South Asia) has the largest number of victims in forced labor – 11.7 million.  Additionally, 55 percent of forced labor victims are estimated to be women and girls, as are 98 percent of sex trafficking victims. Children as young as three or four can be sold for as little as $100 and forced to serve up to 30 clients per day.     

For more information on sex trafficking, and what can be done to help, visit: 

the Somaly Mam Foundation

and,  Daughters of Cambodia

LIfe at a Cambodian Rubbish Dump

      I came across a Photojournalists experience and views of the lives of Cambodians who live in a garbage dump.
Click on the link to view these pictures that don't need words for explanation:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-11/life-at-a-cambodian-rubbish-dump/3659920

the Focus on the Future

Jeremy and I in Cambodia…. Jeremy and I living with 250 children…  Jeremy and I with no “real responsibility”, just floating along in life. 

     I am sure that is what some people think when they think of Jeremy and I.  Without being here with us, it is impossible to even imagine what our days look like.  WIthout experiencing it, it is impossible to feel what we feel, to experience what we experience.

     To be honest, it was easy to leave Canada on our year long adventure last year, seeking out where God would call us to be used.  We definitely had a lot of fun traveling, and not all of it was serving for sure, but I think that God used that time to build our marriage, and strengthen us for a potentially challenging (or not Canadian molded) future.

     Now, Jeremy and I stand here, in Cambodia, and look to God for direction once again.  It is amazing how hard decisions can be when all you want to do is be in the will of God, and not make selfish decisions.  

     We feel like God is telling not to focus on our Canadian careers, and the possibility of losing them.  We feel like He is telling us not to focus on our house, our possessions.  I know for a fact, that to leave these things, some people will think we are crazy.  

     We ask that all our friends and family would partner with us in prayer as we make decisions that have an impact on our future, but not only ours - our families and friends futures as well.

Choices

Life is a series of choices.  Some choices menial, which merely consist of deciding to buy that white chocolate blueberry scone from Starbucks…again.  But, many choices that we make daily affect our lives in a greater way than adding calories to ones diet….   Worse yet, many choices that we make affect the lives of others as well.

In Cambodia, many parental choices have led the children to Rescue.  Choices, such as gambling, which result in selling off ones own child in order to help pay off gambling debt.  Although sad and shocking to the westerner, this occurrence is more common than one might think.  I don't pretend to know even a quarter of the children's stories here, but this has happened to 3 of the children that I can think of off the top of my head.

The choice of having sex with that hooker…. cheating on one's wife… causing division and death in families as the result of HIV and AIDS.  Children from "well-off" families, turned to collecting garbage in the streets to make some money for the now single mom of 4 children.  Then, having th children watch their mother die from the infection their father had given their mother.

Choosing to have yet another drink…. then to go home and beat your wife, again, and again, and again.  Maybe the abuse has turned to murder.  Allowing your children to see what actions you have chosen to take.  Moulding the images and memories of innocent minds.

These are stories I know to be true of some of the children here…. but I am more than aware that these things happen in North America as well.  Maybe the choices made are not as drastically negative as some of these…. but the choices that are made negatively affect a loved one?  a stranger?  a friend?  This is a question we need to consider and ask ourselves.

In a moment

     It only takes a moment in time for everything in one’s life to change.  

     It only took a moment for me to say, “I will” to my best friend’s proposal, and “I do” in committing to walk by the man of my dreams in all my years to come.  It was a single moment that we decided together to change our lives by traveling and volunteering “for a year”; and, that single decision led to our return to Cambodia.  

     It was through our returning here that we have truly begun to feel our hearts bleed and burn for the children here.  We have begun to long and yearn for deeper relationships in order to have a deeper impact.  And we have started to fall in love with the Khmer culture.

     While living in Haiti, I felt like I was being prepared for Asia, and living long term in an orphanage.  Although we had plans to come to Rescue already, my own ideas of what long term plans in Asia looked like were very different from what our hearts are now telling us.  I had visions of starting our own little orphanage, with a Japanese style garden.  LOL!  Really?

     Since we first came to Rescue, Marie has really shaken our mindset on missions.  From the moment we first set out in August of 2011 until this point in time, our view of missions has changed so much.  In this moment I feel, if it’s not broken, why not use it?  In this case, Rescue is far from broken.  It is a gem, an original design made by God to impact the lives of so many children for the better.  We have been won over by the foundation of Rescue, by Marie, and most importantly, by all the children here.  It is amazing to compare their past life stories to who they are today.  Many people, myself included, couldn’t even fathom what most of these children have lived through at such a young age; yet, it is through this adversity that they have grown, or are growing, into incredibly mature and strong men and woman of God. Living with the youth, especially, has been a great witness and challenge to my own life and walk with God.

     At this time, I can not say with certainty that we know where our immediate future will lead, but I can say we are certainly ready for anything!  We await the next moment of change.

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.

The Market

I went to the (food) market for the first time this morning since returning to Cambodia, and although I am used to the sights, I did think to myself, if only everyone I knew could see the things that I am seeing.

Imagine walking through narrow lanes, filled with people buying, selling, eating, driving motos.  I wait for my friend, who is buying pork, which is hanging on hooks.  She is touching each one to see which one is more tender.  Once she makes he decision, the "butcher" uses a hammer to remove the pig hoof, then an exe to cut up the pig leg.

Down a ways are the ladies selling the fish.  I like to buy fish from the market because they are still alive (until you pay)… for the most part.  Beside the alive fish lie large fish head.

Other sights include ladies sitting beside large bowls of eggs, fruit, vegetables, nuts.  Pig heads, and chicken heads wait to by bought.  Behind some vegetables is a salon, where a lady is getting a pedicure, while at the back of the shop there is a double bed holding a father and child.

I hope your imagination works for you to see what I could see.  I wish my mind could take pictures that could be seen by all.

The time has come

After over a year of traveling, we finally made it back to Canada where we have been blessed with incredible family and friends.  It had been just over 2 months that we were home, which at times had felt like a whirlwind of faces and activity, but was much needed due to our time away.  Thank you to all of you who had welcomed us home and poured out into our lives.  

We left for Cambodia early November 19^th, to arrive in Phnom Pehn late the 20^th.  It was a long and exhausting, but fairly comfortable day of travel,  and we were warmly welcomed by our Cambodian friends.

Although many events have happened in the last 5 months since we left Cambodia, once we left the Phnom Pehn airport, it felt as though we had never left.  In many ways, our room at Place of Rescue has been our last home, and we were excited to finally settle in somewhere again.

The children have already been excited to see us, some of them counting down the days until we came back.  A moment ago a group of small boys were at our window, and informed us there is a baby named “Baby Jeramiah” (which is how the kids say Jeremy).  We’ll find out if that’s true.

We are looking forward to these 5 precious months we have with the children.  It has been almost a blessing to be removed from Place of Rescue, and take a fresh look at what we can do differently, and how we can form even deeper relationships with the children.

Please pray for inspiration, strength, and patience.  We are grateful for all the prayer and financial support we have received so far, but can never have enough prayer.  Thank you to all of you who have poured into our lives.  

                                                                                    Love you all, Stacey and Jeremy