Back from Covid
It’s been a long time (a very long time) since our last post. While our first reaction is to feel like we’ve neglected the blog, in all honesty there hasn’t been much to write about. If you’ve been following along you know that in March 2020 we returned to the states amidst all the Covid unknowns. We spent one year in Oregon and then returned to Alaska in July 2021. Reestablishing life state-side takes time and a lot of intentional effort, and while we were about that work, we were also waiting for Cambodia to up to short-term visitors. Finally, in the fall of last year, Cambodia removed their two week quarantine for travelers, making it possible for us to return for a short trip. We jumped at it! We are so grateful for the faithful support of each of you who made this trip possible. It was a very productive time in that we were able to connect with friends and fellow servants in five specific ministries, to get a feel for their needs, and begin to consider what the next season of our work in Cambodia might look like.
The following pictures are from a new school in a very remote floating village. Our friends, Mark and Joan Bouman, have been working to build this school for several years now and it was such a privilege to be there on the opening day. While specific to the village of Kabal Taol, these images represent the great need in Cambodia and the “why,” which is at the core of so much of the ministry that goes on there. It in a nutshell, this work brings hope to the people, and therefore the nation. It is a light in the darkness.
A floating village house.
Laundry.
Women unloading a boat outside the floating market.
A man unloading a boat outside one of three fish processing plants that we visited. Fishing and the fish processing plants are the main industry for this village.
Inside one of the fish processing plants. The sound was incredible as men, women, and children (some very young) quickly chopped the heads and tails off of small fish.
While it is very common in Cambodia, we had never seen child labor to this extent before. Many of the children will not attend school because they are required to work alongside family members.
This girl smiled so big as I approached her for a picture. Cambodians never fail to inspire me. As we left I couldn’t help but ask myself if I’d ever be able to smile at anything if I were to have to spend my days in this place.
The school built by the Bouman’s. In addition to classrooms it has a floating playground which is, in and of itself a huge blessing to the kids and community. Life on a boat does not allow children the opportunity to run around. Here they can do that.
Cambodian letters and numbers decorate the inside of the classroom.
A woman selling snacks at school from her home/boat.
Kids traveling home from school.
