Insomnia is recognised as a very real problem among Cambodians. A very high percentage of people do not sleep well because they are constantly anxious. Any news that promises peace of heart is good news in this nation.
Souen came to us nearly two weeks ago with chest and stomach pains. Sue had the word 'anxiety' impressed on her the first day that she saw him. She asked him what it was that first caused him to become so anxious. This lovely, gentle-hearted man began to cry. No-one had ever asked him that question before.
Two years ago his daughter married. As a dad, he fronted the wedding costs. People give money when they attend a wedding in Cambodia. As is often the case in the villages here, many of the invited guests had no money, so they did not come. Souen was left with a shortfall of US$250. He was in a deep hole. A later snakebite set him back another $200 in medical costs. He was now in a very, very deep hole.
Souen fretted so much that he began to have panic attacks, leaving him unable to function at work. The pains began ... leading him to our door. Souen does not need medicine - he needs hope and peace.
Beautiful hand-woven silk from Souen's wife
Souen's wife and his daughter weave silk in their home village. The traditional woman's silk dress is very beautiful and worn to special occasions, especially weddings. A length of silk for one dress (1 metre x 1.8 metre) takes 15 to 20 days to weave and costs around US$40.
In the spirit of seeking to give 'hand ups; not hand outs' we are able to buy four lots of silk from Souen. Two lots should be on the loom as I speak (or write, as the case is ...). Maybe in the future we can do more so that this most lovely man is released from the burden of debt in an edifying way. Souen has headed back to his village now with a medical all-clear - and greater understanding about how to take steps out of the worry that cripples life.
And ladies, if you have a wedding coming up soon, may we suggest ....
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