First Quarter

Today marks three months since Sue and I arrived in Cambodia. During this first stage of what we trust will be a long and fruitful time in this nation, we have set ourselves three low-key objectives - to learn, to connect and to serve. We are very aware of the need to put in foundations, so we have chosen not to be in a hurry to have visible 'things' to point to and say 'this is what we are doing'.

A pic to break all the stuff that follows!!

Three months in - and here are just some thoughts and observations I have regarding this land of such beauty and tragedy:

1. The curse of corruption - it is easy to simplistically see corruption as costing you a few dollars here and there to get things done. Far more insidious is the way corruption prevents initiative, competency and improvement. Corruption is endemic here. For example, very many 'doctors' have bought their degree. They are not medical practioners, but money gatherers. Care, competency and compassion in these cases rate very, very low. The object is return on investment.

We heard of a situation recently where a man was selling a property and land for US$200,000. He wanted to sell so as to buy into a high tier of government - I believe it was in the 'justice' department. Again, no carefulness to do right, nor a competency in the profession. The object is money.

We were talking to a young Pommie volunteer in the hospital recently. He is an physio-therapist. It was remarkable to see the change in his energy and expectations after just three weeks. He started with a heart to love and serve. Now, he speaks of how he feels maligned by the national physio's, as every patient he gives care to is one less person they can get money off for 'services rendered' (in the 'free' hospital ward). He spoke of the wall of silence; never a thank-you - and of how tragically incompetent the national 'health professionals' were in their work and care. Again, there was no desire to learn, to improve, to raise the level. In fact, the opposite was true - a dedication to protect their current placement. Hospital was what they had bought into in order to get money.

Teachers sell good grades. Police pay to get a uniform. There is no professional development and no commitment at all to justice. Tales abound of the 'who you know' network. If the crim knows the cop, the crim has got no worries.

2. A government on international social welfare - there is something of a development boom happening in the nation. Power generation, roading, government buildings ... Cambodia is way behind most neighbouring nations but stuff is happening. However, it is nearly all happening with foreign donour dollars from governments and agencies. That is why the US$ is the 'real' currency here. The mind-sets these hand-outs cultivates in a nation makes righteous forward momentum that much more difficult.

I think it is 'Tear Fund' who make a slogan regarding 'a hand up, not a hand out'. Many Christian (and, for that matter, non-Christian) NGO's are doing wonderful work here in a myriad of areas, working towards helping people into self-sustainability; into 'a hand up'. However, Cambodia's national leaders are commited to hand outs. No new project is initiated unless there is a foreign government 'sponsor' in place first.

Mind-sets are very powerful. Even through the national church, too often the expectation is to be carried by foreign donours. There can be teaching, discipling, new working models established - but through the power of mind-sets very often the default setting of 'hand outs' remains. Much real harm has been done by the association Cambodians now have with Christianity - church - donour money - opportunity. The message of repentance and the cross easily gets lost or mis-comprehended.

Tied to the hand-out mindset is the commitment to the victim mentality - that the Killing Fields wrecked the nation; that rich nations owe them. If we look at other nations that have been wrecked by war and strife - South Korea or Japan for example - 30 years later there has been a rebuilding of society. The victim-gimme cycle will never bring these needy people - this wonderful nation - into its God-designed destiny. Mis-guided kindness perpetuates weakness in an individual and weakness in a nation.

3. Redemptive destiny - one of my continuing queries of the Lord is - what is it that He has uniquely designed this people, this nation for? I have not begun to get clarity - but I am asking! My sense here is that there is another way of going forward. Discipling, teaching, character development and so forth are hugely needed - however I sense that prophetic vision will give a greater motivation unto change/transformation than majoring on corrective behaviour change.

4. The 'common people' The gospel of Mark records that 'the common people heard him gladly'. Hanging with the moto boys, the girls at their market stalls, the hard-case shoe-shine street kids, the shop girls - this is what keeps your heart soft. Everyone wants a better future - they just have all the wrong ideas of how to get there.

The local dairy farm ...

We are so glad to be here. We recognise more now the things that we have often heard about - how Cambodia wears down the saints of the Most High! Again, that is why we are glad to have this time for what we trust will be laying good foundations. We love the church we are in and the quality of the pastoral staff there.

In closing this epic blog session (for me, anyway) - a story and a few scriptures. I remember Bill Johnson talking about how when his kids were young and he was telling them about 'love the sinner, hate the sin'. One of his boys was trying to get this clear - 'so like we love the devil and hate his sin'?? Bill was hilarious as he told how his son embraced the truth 'no, we hate the devil'! To be effective in Cambodia means there can be no fuzzy thinking in this area!

Amos 5:15a - 'Hate evil, love good ...'

Is 58:12 - 'Those from among you shall build up the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations ..'

Isaiah 60:10a - 'The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls ..'