Our ministry is a little different than the other teams on the squad in that we have a little more freedom and are not on as strict of a schedule. Other teams are teaching English at various schools and the guys are helping out at a church and doing some good ole fashion manual labor.
Each morning my team and I will go to a hospital that specializes in the care of people with long term injuries. They are often dealing with loss of a limb or something like that due to landmines, traffic accidents, accidents at home, etc. It is the biggest and most well known hospital in Cambodia for this specific treatment of patients. We will get to spend time with the patients, but we will also spend a lot of time with the family members there who are the caregivers. In Cambodia, hospitals only give medical attention. Families or caregivers are the ones who actually look after the patients and feed and bathe them. We will get to play music and sing songs for them or play games. We will also be helping to make cards. The woman who is head of this activities department at the hospital is named Anne and is from New Zealand. She has a paper making machine and lot of the caregivers help her to cut up paper or fabric to feed into the machine. This is really awesome for them because it gives them something to do since often times they are extremely bored. She makes these cards to sell back in New Zealand in order to help fundraise for the hospital. We are going to help her decorate these handmade cards and are already starting on the Christmas designs! In the afternoons we will either be back at the hospital or working at the Ezra library and cafe. We are working to plan a children’s read aloud and an English conversation class that will happen at the end of our 3 weeks doing ministry here in Battambang. So we have a lot of freedom to be creative and to help bring in more business to the cafe.
Today was our first full day of ministry so I don’t yet really have any stories about what we’ve done yet, but I will be sure to update you as soon as we do! I am loving Cambodia and the beautiful people.
Learning about some of the history with the Khmer Rouge has been interesting and helps you to understand this culture a lot better but it has also been extremely challenging and heartbreaking. It is hard to see the ways that the population here is still so impacted by the violence and killings that took place about 40 years ago. Anne told us that many of the Cambodian people struggle with PTSD. The population also lacks education since educated people were the ones killed in the Khmer Rouge. Critical thinking skills are not even part of the mindsets of the Cambodian people because they haven’t been taught.
A sweet little neighborhood boy.
His sister, Nori.
A picture of me in front of our home, taken by the little neighborhood boy.
-Elena
Wow, Elena! So much in such a short time! Sounds like you’re doing some very impactful work there. Keep it up…!
It sounds like God is giving your team an amazing opportunity to use the gifts and talents he has given each one of you. I can’t wait to hear how that turns out. What cute little neighbors. Enjoy!
Prayers for you and team Grafted. God will be working through you to impact so many. Wake up each morning thanking Him for His many blessings and for the awesome opportunity to tell others of His love. Thank you for your willingness to give up your comforts to be in His service.
Thanks for the update – can’t wait to hear how God uses you in the lives of the people you meet at the hospital. Your neighbor boy takes nice pictures. See you soon!
So beautiful in many ways and yes, heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing, Elena. The photo of the group of you is so precious. Love all around. Wow.
What am awesome ministry opportunity. See you soon!!!