Campbell's in Southeast Asia

Spirit,spirit,Idol,idol

2006-07-09T02:59:00.000-04:00

Today is our last day in Thailand. Chiang Mai reminds me of Colorado Springs with some Asian culture added to the mix. Yesterday we took 70 orphans to the zoo. Whoa!! Collision of parenting instincts and youthful abandonment. By the end of the two hours we had 15 exhausted adults, 60 exhausted kids, and eight more kids who thought there was still more to see!!

Then last night we took the "Fourteen and Over" group of orphans, who function as group leaders for the younger orphans, out for a grilling dinner. They loved it!! We all sat around tiny grills and tossed on the different meats (squid included), boiled the noodles on the edge, and chowed down. These kids are so special and do the work of young adults to take care of the rest of the orphans.

This morning we had the honor of attending the very first church service to be held at the Asia's Hope orphanage near the village of Doi Sacket ("Rocky Mountains"). Pastor Peong is the director of the orphanage and has a wonderful heart.

During the service, we shared praise songs, prayers, and the joy of one Spirit. It was so encouraging to me to know that I was half way around the world, and united in Spirit to those who sat next to me. This is a country that has "spirit" houses in all public places and private homes to offer tribute to ancestors, and the Christians here have made a choice to share in the Holy Spirit instead.

The local television system has an "entertainment" channel that provides a "Thai Idol" program. We watched Thai performers attempt to win the prize as the best entertainer. At the same time, the girls from the orphanage have a different "Idol" issue. The new local principal is insisting that they bow down and pray to the Buddha idol each morning. These young women orphans are so caught in the conflict as the local schools are all state run, and therefore Buddhist as is most of the country. Pray for them as they practice their living faith and know they serve a living God who says to worship no idols.

What living history, culture, and faith we have seen on this trip. The team begins to split up tomorrow with three returning to Cambodia, seven returning to the states, and John and I going on to Korea.

Best of All World's

2006-07-05T04:13:00.000-04:00

The orphans from the new orphanage started school on Monday at the Christian school run by Asia's Hope. They went out their front courtyard, took a left down the dirt alley, went a few blocks, and walked in to another new world. Two new worlds in two days for them! And at both parts of their new worlds, there are loving, dedicated workers who want the best for them, and want them to know that God loves them and that they are safe. This is indeed a brave new world for them.

And our college students, most of whom have been in Asia Hope dorms for three years, are starting to get ready to graduate. They are filling out applications, going for interviews, and trying to be creative about who will be hiring. Sounds pretty normal doesn't it!! But for each one of them, they are the first in their family who have had the privilege to come this far, and to be part of their countries future. Their parents suffered through the country's recent destruction, and these kids have Hope for their future.

It is great to be part of all of these new worlds.

Industrious

2006-07-02T19:23:00.000-04:00

It is 6 am and I am in a khmer hotel in Siem Reap. Yesterday seven of us came here to see the temple complexes which cover hundreds of square miles and were the center of battles for centuries as different cultures and countries conquered the area before England even had the Magna Carta. It has been quite a lesson in history, antropology, and practical politics. Both Kim and I have been reminded of some of the stone temples and bas relief in Rome. Most of the temples were begun as Hindu worship centers, and later converted to Buddhist temples. Some of them deliberately"shared space" as the new king would recognize it was unwise to offend half of the population who did not want to leave their god. In the midst of broken down columns, and piles of stones, we saw some statues still be prayed to. This trip is a challenge to realize the center of our faith is that there is a LIVING God who send a LIVING Spirit to dwell with us. I am also so impressed by how industrious and hardworking the khmer are. They continue to build new buildings, using roped wood sticks as scaffolding, because there is no steel in the country. There are three more days in Phnom Penh: the team will help at the new orphanage, visit the old orphanage, visit a state orphanage, volunteer at a rescue mission for those from the sex trade, work at a street ministry for ''garbage children", and teach some more English at the Christian school. Each day will be filled. Pray that we will "finish the race well".

Blessings and Tears

2006-06-30T05:19:00.000-04:00

Today was a day of blessings. Did you feel it as your prayed for our trip? I was at the new orphanage that is being started this weekend. First, Sherrod and I "had gone to "Walmart"which is one of the inside sheds of the hundreds of sheds that make up the Russian Market. We purchased brushes, rolling pans, and buckets for our paint job. Then we went to the new orphanage to help paint the kitchen and bathrooms. While I was getting some supplies from the front courtyard, there was a knock on the gate, and a boy stood there with his aunt, and a small bag of personal belongings. He was the first orphan arriving!!!! (24 hours early, and not on the list,but that is the way things happend here). I was so privileged to say hello to him, and try to comfort whatever he was feeling on the inside. And yes, there were tears, as I took him around to show him his new home. Are you crying also by now? This is what it is all about.

Check Out My Daughter's Blog, Too

2006-06-24T05:40:00.000-04:00

My daughter, Kim, is with me in SE Asia and keeping a blog. Check it out at: kimsasianadventures.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Medicine Again

2006-06-24T05:39:00.000-04:00

Greetings!

All is well in Cambodia! Healthy and busy. Thanks for your prayers. Today, I worked as a doctor -- imagine that! I spent the morning at a Korean mission clinic. There were three docs, a Cambodian, a Korean, and myself. Initially, it was set up that I would have two translators. The patient would speak in Khmer to an interpreter who would translate it into Korean. Then that person would translate into English for me; the process would reverse itself the other way! I would be interviewing a patient through two translations! Remember that old "telephone game"?

Unfortunately for her, one of the translators fell ill and could not make it, so a pastor was pressed into service. He knew Khmer and English so we worked together! Much better; I was really anxious about quality working through two translations!

It was a great experience! We saw about 40 patients and made decent dispositions with all. The staff was very helpful and understanding.

Tomorrow, Kim and I meet with the Korean pastor to plan Kim's helping them teach English at their school. She seems excited. She has taught English the past two days to orphans at a facility run by a friend.

The full team arrives on Tuesday next week; that will be fun to welcome them and begin some more projects: working at the Christian school, two medical clinic options, the orphanage, and the students at the Student Center.

Time is flying; much is getting done, but much needs yet to be done! Think about coming with us!??? The weather is great!

Thanks! More later ...

Toilet Seats and Aliens

2006-06-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

Hi, Y'all: (That's Southern Cambodian)

This past few days we went to Battambang to see our 'original" orphans of two years ago. They are great kids; we had a wonderful visit. Much love, smiles, and hugs were given and received! Though we are not their primary supporters any longer, they will always occupy a special place in our hearts.

This time we stayed in a different hotel than our usual one. It was recommended by a local friend as being newer and nice. So ... we checked in and got to our rooms. We noticed that in each room the bath had a commode sans toilet seat! At the first room, we figured it was an oddity, but upon seeing three the same, we were surprised.

Dave tried to communicate with the young men carrying our bags to the rooms that we needed toilet seats. That was an interesting experience; how do you tell/show someone who doesn't speak your language just what you mean? Finally, they understood what we meant and they said none of their rooms had seats. Between t he three of us we had a reasonable travel experience and none had ever seen such a situation, in Asia or otherwise. Anyway, these two guys when they understood, looked at us like we were aliens; who on earth would want or care about a toilet seat?

Having made the point that we'd be moving on to another hotel, they said "wait, wait" and one ran off to return carrying three toilet seats. We knew that they existed in Cambodia! We stood and watch as they affixed the alien devices to the commode with plastic ties. And at that, they were only secured on ONE side. Those boys were proud of their work, flashing big smiles while pointing to their work.

I advised Dave that with the single-sided attachment, we had better be careful so as to not misplace our hind surface in a lop-sided fashion or we would end up wedged between the tile wall and commode. (Bring on the crane, again!)

I must be gaining weight while here, for after all their work the first time I sat down, the newly affixed seat shattered under my weight! So much for quality; probably "Made in Hong Kong". I hope the installers didn't have to see my destruction the next day.

For many reasons, we decided to change hotels the nnxt day and learned from our friend that we had chosed the wrong hotel of two next to each other! He laughed at our ignorance. So much for change and progress!

Well, off to a well deserved shower and bed. Talk to you later.

Old Fashioned Medicine

2006-06-17T10:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday (actually, Wednesday), Kim, Sherrod (an RN on the team) and I went to a village with a “mobile clinic”. This was an experience! “Mobile Clinic means two 4-wheel SUV’s, a random assortment of people and trades, and a couple Rubbermaid containers of pharmaceuticals, and a rough, hot, very bumpy drive 60km out of the city.

We left at 6 AM, piling into the SUV, arriving there two hours later. This village of course had no electricity or plumbing, or any other “necessary” conveniences. We walked up to the home hosting the clinic to find about 40 people crowded into the front room of the home sitting Indian-style on the wooden floor. There was not a square inch to walk to the rear room; but we did it anyway, stepping on a few hands and uttering un-understood apologies.

Kim was put to work taking BP’s – she loved it, you should have seen her glee. Sherrod manned the pharmacy, and I worked with a teacher-missionary (originally from NC) doing triage. Some pts we would send back to the “real doctors” and some we could “treat and street” right from that position.

There was no air movement in the crowded home, actually with the number of people, there was little movement of any kind. Unlike an Asian, I was not made to sit cross-legged on a hard surface for an extended period of time. (I was afraid that it would take a crane to get me up at the end.) The temperature must have climbed to at least 110-115 degrees. I have never sweat so much in my life; drinking water like a fish,, figuring I was OK while I was sweating and that I needed to worry when I stopped sweating!

This was medicine of old; hands, eyes, ears, touch, notably absent were diagnostic tools or tests, insurance forms, politics, and lawyers (spologies to my lawyer friends), notably present were sincere “thank yous”. We saw over 40 people in a little over three hours. All in all, it was a demanding, but refreshing day. I enjoyed my shower and night’s sleep immensely!

BATTAMBANG

Today, we head to Battambang, the site of our original orphanage. While we are no longer “managers” of the facility, we will visit and play with the kids, bearing gifts like cookies and rice. Guess which one they prefer?

I hope you are enjoying this trip! Keep up the prayers and encouragements. More later …

Tuesday

2006-06-13T07:36:00.000-04:00

Greetings again. Before I forget, Kim has an excellent blog you may wish to check out. The address is: www.kimsasianadventures.blogspot.com.

Progress is coming. Dave A and I had an excellent meeting with the leadership team of Campus Crusade for Christ and are excited about teaming up with us in the running of our Student Leadership Center. This is very good news! Students are moving in as I write this; an answer to prayer.

Also underway is the search for a new orphanage in PP. We have some leads worth investigating.

THe weather is hot and humid; surprise, surprise. But we are tolerating it well. Have had no real "side tracks" yet, but it is early!!

Tomorrow, Kim and I are going with my doctor friend into the remote villages with a mobile clinic; that should be a REAL experience for both of us. I'll let you know.

Stay with us, much is yet to come! Thanks for your support!

We're Here

2006-06-13T07:34:00.000-04:00

We're Here
Kim and I arrived in Phnom Penh safely and slightly rested Friday at noon local time. We had a great time! I have accumulated enough miles to have gained access to the airline lounge during layovers. By sacrificing a few extra miles, I “bought Kim's entry as sell. WOW. what a trip to see how the other half lives! Free refreshment and snacks, comfortable chairs, service with a smile, quiet, internet access, etc. Then, while standing in the line to board the Taipei flight to Phnom Penh (4 hours), I casually remarked to Kim we ought to see if there are any "upgrades". As I handed my boarding pas to the attendant, I said, "any upgrade available?" at which time my pass got stuck in t he machine. He muttered something in Chinese and opened up the machine t extract my troublesome, now destroyed boarding pass. After going to the desk to get a new one, he passed Kim and I on; I remarked to Kim the bad timing o f the machine failure, obviously distracting him as I had asked my question. walking down the jet way, I looked at our newly-minted boarding passes and discovered that t hey were for Business Class! Yup, we road in the luxury of linen tray cloths, wide seats with foot room, and a doting, smiling flight attendant! Wow again. I could get spoiled!
Upon arrival we were met by two students, a d ear friend (brother of the woman immigrant from last trip), and Dave, our executive director. Kim w as immediately impressed by how friendly everyone was. In less than 24 hours, she has made fast friends with several of the women students! She has ridden on a moto several times, and been shopping at several locations around the city! Bobbi what were you saying about her being "out of her comfort zone"?
Today we hit the ground running! After a pretty good night's sleep, some breakfast,Dave and I met with representatives from Campus Crusade for Christ. with their leadership team, we hammered out the beginning of a working relationship to team with them in the oversight o four new Student Cotter! God was there. We were able to share our desires, work through ways to accomplish each team’s objectives,, and create a place f or students t feel safe, loved, encouraged, and able to learn about what it means to live a Christian life in the context of ether particular interests. CCC to join in this venture with us, as we are excited to have their passion and expertise discipling our students!
Tomorrow is the Sabbath -- church in the morning and who knows what after that! We are both feeling well and slowly jet lag is lagging. Monday we start the business of business!
Thank you for your continued support. I will endeavor to keep you up to speed! God Bless

Procrastination

2006-06-08T19:57:00.000-04:00

Procrastination is my middle name.

Getting ready for this summer trip to SE Asia, I failed to be diligent in updating my prayer/travel partners. I am sorry. So ?/FONT>

Wednesday, June 7th, I head to Cambodia and Thailand with Asia Hope. This will be another exciting trip; several differences are already apparent. Most significantly, on this trip, Kimberly will be accompanying me, and later, Bobbi!

Kim will be doing a seven-week Internship with Asia Hope. She plans to study social, cultural, and health-care delivery issues in developing nations. She will work with the Asia Hope team, as well as pursue other opportunities and research. She will be going over with me on the 7th. Kim is excited about the adventure, as are Bobbi and I.

Bobbi will join us with the second AH team on June 25th (arriving in Phnom Penh on the 27th). She is pleased to be going despite not being an enthusiastic air traveler.

You may recall that Asia Hope turned over the reins of our two Cambodian orphanages and Student Centers to an indigenous Cambodian mission at the conclusion of our last trip. We are now in the process of developing new orphanages and Student Centers! Lord willing, during this trip, we will be able to fill and dedicate a new Asia Hope Student Leadership Center!

We are also working with a man who has run an orphanage in Phnom Penh for several years. Graciously, he is counseling and helping us through the process of starting our own orphanage. Hopefully, considerable progress will be made on this front.

Again, I want to thank you all for your past support and encouragement and to ask you to join me again for this venture. Your prayer support has kept me (and others) healthy and safe. Please continue to pray. Consider, especially, asking for safety and freedom of hassle for family members left behind. Ask God to prepare the schedule, His schedule, for us; prepare the people with whom we will work. Ask Him to keep us free from harm, and healthy, and that we may be a part of His work in SE Asia, as He is glorified.

I will keep you informed again during the next several weeks. Bobbi and I will also be keeping a blog, which can be found at: http://www.campbellincambodia.blogspot.com/. Feel free to pass the address on to any friends or family who may be interested.

A final note ?family-related, instead of Asia Hope related, is the fact that at the conclusion of our team trip, on July 11th, instead of flying directly home, Bobbi and I will fly to Seoul, Korea to meet the parent of Pete fiancee, Jean! They are classmates at Johns Hopkins. Last month, they announced their engagement and upcoming marriage, planned for March 24th, 2007 ?in Korea!

So ?we have an exciting six weeks coming up. Pack your virtual bags and come along. Wel keep you posted.

PS Sorry for the screwy fonts; I pasted it from Word; won't do that again. J.

Back Home

2006-03-01T09:28:00.000-05:00

Well, we have returned to the US. Jet lag is about lagged-out, and I am asking less and less, "keep the rice, where's the beef?".

As you could no doubt tell, the trip was fantastic and undeniably God-directed! For five weeks, we worked hard, met new people, planned new partnerships and projects, strategized about Asia's Hope's future in SE Asia, and sat back marveling, watching God work!

The leadership of Asia's Hope feel that we are at a time of great potential for growth, ministry, and service in SE Asia! This trip has taught us that God has plans for His people in Cambodia and Thailand, and that Asia's Hope is a part of that plan. That means, of course, that YOU are a part of that plan as well.

The next trip will be departing about June 11th this summer. There will likely be two back-to-back teams going. There is much to look forward to and pray for. Pray that new alliances will work well together and bear much fruit, pray that we can discern God's will for new projects, pray for the potential team members (you??) and their preparation for this trip.

On a personal note, Kim (our eldest daughter), will be going to SE Asia this summer. She is working on putting together an Independent Study project for college credit; she will likely be there for eight weeks! I am excited about this; I think that she will have a great time and be able to put on paper some observations about the care of orphans and the very, very poor in Third World nations. Pray for this project as well.

And then ... Bobbi is also planning on going for a part of that time! It is exciting for she and I to share a passion for the works there; to be together working side-by-side!

So ... a lot for the Campbell family to digest and ponder. I want to thank you again for all your prayers and the encouragements during the trip. It would not be possible without these foundational helps. God hears and acts on your petitions.

Tune in for the next installment early June!

Back to Thailand

2006-02-17T09:55:00.000-05:00

Greetings! Sorry for the delayed posting. We had a great time in Battambang, but internet service was prehistoric! Just couldn't get a posting off!

In Battambang, we saw and played with our dear, "charter member" kids. What a great time. We also continued our immunization program. It was a short trip this year. Returning to Phnom Penh on Wednesday afternoon and leaving for Thailand on Thursday morning.

This time the whole team was here. It has been very scheduled; orphanage visits, a little sightseeing, shopping, and maybe some rest?

Arriving late Thursday, nothing but a visit with the orphans and dinner was accomplished. But, today, we were taken to three schools to give a concert and share our work. It was about a 1 1/2 hour drive out of Chiang Mai into the mountains on a curvy road. We presented our story to about 2500 students!

Also during that visit we met a man with an orphanage in the town; he invited us to visit. Of course we said "yes". This orphanage, however, was unique in a very special way -- all the orphans have HIV. They were beautiful, smiling kids, just like "ours", but they will all die within the next several years. It was wonderful to see them having a "normal" life, but deeply saddening to reckon with their future. Tough.

Tomorrow we are going to be allowed into a prison through one of our contacts to present a concert (well, actually for Dave to present a concert). Then, the afternoon will be a well deserved rest! In the evening we plan a dinner at a traditional Thai restaurant for the team to experience.

We are entering the home stretch; on the way home in four days! It has been a wonderful, productive, and blessed trip. We are always happy to be heading home to our missed spouses and families, but sad to leave our old and new friends.

Come and see for yourself sometime!

Thanks, again for your support, prayers, and encouragements!

Another One for the Books . . .

2006-02-11T03:47:00.000-05:00

Saturday in Phnom Penh brings sunshine and warm temperatures! Surprise, surprise! What an awesome day it has been so far; and it is only 3 PM!

Two days ago the team took our orphans to a waterpark for fun. (I did not attend, as I was at the dedication ceremony for the Korean mission.) The park was empty except for our orphans and an Asian dad and his two kids. Two and a half million people in Phnom Penh and these are the only folks there. Anyway, this father struck up a conversation with team members and it turns out he is a dentist from Australia (Chinese-Malaysian heritage) who is travelling with a team of dentists on a mission!

We have no dentist this trip, but do have an able hygeinist. Our dental offerings were limited this trip. Well . . . he and his team has run out of work to do and asked if they could help us? Well, duh. Today he and a dental colleague, his two kids, and three others from their mission travelled to the orphanage with us.

The dentists looked at mouths and made a "to-do" list while we immunized the kids. Eleven orphans could use some further care and I have arranged for them to work with our local Cambodian dentist next week to care for the kids needs while we are in Battambang!

That is only half the story ... the pastor leading this trip is an Aussie who pastors a mission-minded church. He has travelled SE Asia and is seeking sites to partner with and to serve. In his parish he "many doctors, dentists, lawyers, teachers" interested in short-term mission trips. After seeing the orphanage and talking to our Exec Dir and two board members on the trip, he was really enthusiastic about what is being accomplished. So enthusiastic, in fact, that he is talking to Dave (Exec Dir) about how to start Asia's Hope Australia. Maybe ... only the Lord knows. WE KNOW that this waterpark meeting was a divine appointment!

Phew ...

It is off to Battambang Sunday to see our "original" orphans -- kids who have a special place in our hearts! Thanks for coming with us. God Bless You.

More later . . .

Thursday

2006-02-09T02:35:00.000-05:00

Hello, from Phnom Penh! It has been a (busy) while since I have posted; sorry. The team arrived Tuesday afternoon! Five Canadians and 6 from the US. They showered, had a cold drink, and we went to the orphanage to get crawled upon by up to 50 kids! As usual, it was a fine time. The team fell asleep in the van on the return to the guest house, and we all called it a short day!

Wednesday, we had strategy/planning meetings with two of our partners and plan to meet again to work out future work together. The team kept a low profile and continue jet-lag recovery operations.

One of our partnerships is with a Korean mission, led by a Korean orthopedist who practiced in Canton, OH for 15 years before returning to Seoul. He and his church have built a building I have referred to before. Today they had a dedication ceremony -- a two hour service - in Korean. I was the only Caucasian in the room. Also, the only one who didn't understand the service. My friend had prepared a speech and delivered it in Korean; then he looked at me and said, "now in English" and re-read his speech in English, for the ONLY PERSON IN THE ROOM who did not understand it the first time! I was moved.

We will likely be able to help them with teaching and staffing their clinic on future trips.

The remainder of the week we have two outreach programs, with different partners. Sunday, we head to Battambang, the site of our first orphanage. It will be great to see those kids, who have a special place in our hearts as our "first" kids.

Please continue to pray for our health and safety! All is well. Also please pray for those we have left behind at home! Thank you for your ongoing support!

No Such Thing As Intelligent Design?

2006-02-04T05:06:00.000-05:00

THAILAND, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4TH

Hello, All:

Since I last wrote, we have had a couple of busy days. I hope you all saw the pictures on the Blog.

Friday, we had a two hour meeting with a woman who has an incredible testimony, rising up from a poor Buddhist family to become a leading evangelical in her country. She is a regional representive of the Evangelical Foundation for Thailand – one of the few government approved foundations, who license other religious agencies. We will be registering Asia’s Hope with this group. But ... more to the point ..

She has a foundation that runs a Christian school and is looking for a partner to team with in it’s operation. Well, that is one thing that Asia’s Hope does. Much discussion needs to take place and questions need answered, but it is very optimistic that we may be well on the way to establishing a Christian School in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There is much more to the story than is humane to tell here, but it is a testimony to the work of God in our little sphere of work here.

For supper last night, we took the orphanage staff out to "The Pig Pen" restaurant to say Thank you. They loved it. One sits at a picnic table like setting with LP gas cookers every few feet. For 69 Bhat ($1.75 USD) you get an all-you-can-eat buffet. They bring pieces of oncooked delicacies on trays to your table and you cook and eat, cook and eat, cook and eat. More trays appear as you empty the ones you have. They ate crab, pork, eel, squid, pig liver, cabbage – those were the ones that I could identify, but there were more. Dave and I discreetly carried in pizza.

Today, Saturday, we went to the orphanage to find the nurse we had asked to help us administering immunizations to our kids. She had brought with her a relative – a young Thai woman who is a pediatric nurse in Bangkok. They were doing a great job -- I just stood there looking useless. I couldn’t believe our good fortune; people and services we need are there when they are needed.

How about this … Accompanying the Thai ped nurse was her significant other – a definitely gringo-looking man. Turns out this guy is from Dayton, Ohio! He lives in Bangkok and Chicago – though prefers the former. He is a free-lance professional filmmaker, writer, and producer. He has done work for CNN, BBC, and National Geographic; names I recognized among several that he mentioned. Well … he is impressed with the work we are doing and wants to shoot some footage here and in Cambodia and put together a "professional piece" that we can use for information and fund-raising. Who said there is no such thing as "Intelligent Design"?

It is truly remarkable how God is bringing people and resources to bear upon the efforts of a small group of people reaching out to the disadvantaged in SE Asia. And, you are a part of that effort!

Speaking of being a part of the effort, I wish to put in a shameless plug here. I know that you encourage and pray for me, and travel with me vicariously each trip. I am always aware and confident of your presence and prayers. Thank you. I want to hold out the opportunity to support the mission financially as well. (I really hate doing this, but I love what God is doing and am committed to its future.) If you are so moved, please consider being a partner with us in this way.

If you wish to make a donation to a specific goal or project, let me know, or just send it in with a request to so apply the funds. If you would become a monthly donor that would support our general fund (salaries, mail, paper clips, etc.). I assure you that more of your dollars go to real people and projects than any other charity that I know.

Someone said to me, and it is true, that your money is only "one handshake away from its destination". You give your money through the agent of someone you personally know, and he/she personally delivers it to the person or project it is intended for. Not too many organizations can boast of that. (The address is: Asia’s Hope, PMB 185, 343 W Milltown Rd, Wooster, OH 44691.)

Well, time to get back to work. Thanks for your encouragements and suppport. Till the next time …

More . . .

2006-02-02T09:32:00.000-05:00

A Picture is worth ....

2006-02-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Chiang Mai! I am going to try to upload some photos from the Chiang Mai Orphanage. I am going to let them speak for themselves. This, friends, is what it is all about! Enjoy!

Thai Dining

2006-01-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Thailand! Or ... perhaps I should say, Eatings from Thailand. Tonight our hostess took us to a traditional Thai restaurant. It was a beautiful setting; and crowded! We were led to an area which looked like a shoe store; guests removed their shoes and set them on the racks before proceeding to the dining area. We then walked to a table setting -- except that there was no table! But, the setting was there right in front of us -- on the ground. Behind the place setting were cushions. I thought ... Oh nevermind what I thought .... "When in Rome ..."

The five of us sat down cross-legged, Indian-style on the ground while the attentive hosts and hostesses brought us drinks and dinner. The dinner was a base of what they called "stickey rice" -- a white rice, cooked, but stickey and not hot -- some eat it with their fingers. Then there was a tray with about six "additions" to mix with the rice. I tried about four of the six things, I left the pork rinds behind. Actually the combination was quite good.

As we were finishing dinner, the show started. There were several "vignettes" from Thai culture. Dance, music, singing; very colorful and intricate costumes worn by beautiful and handsome young women and men. It was very lovely evening.

Tomorrow morning we are going on about a four hour drive to the country of Myanmar (Burma for us old folks). It will be an overnight trip. One of our dinner companions is a pastor from Burma who also has a burden for the very poor orphans of the tribal nations of Burma. It is a (likely?) new partnership venture for Asia's Hope. We shall see ...

Oh, by the way ... I figured out how some natives, at least handle the "no TP in the WC" dilemma. There are no towels in the washroom, water and sink, but no towels. One air-dries ones hands; or wipes them on your trousers. Well, just outside the washroom is a dispenser on the wall ready to eat your change. I always figured it was a towel dispenser, and being Scotch,, figured I didn't need to pay for a towel when pants I had already paid for worked perfectly well.

Today I saw a man put some change into the dispenser and guess what came out? You guessed it ... TP! Now I know!

That is all the news that is fit to print. I'll tell you about Burma in a few days! Thanks.

The Land of Siam -- Thailand

2006-01-29T07:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry this is late ....
I spent over an hour in the internet cafe updating family and creating this post. Just as I was wrapping up, the Iternet connection at the cafe went down. After a few moments of true frustration, I remembered that in my pack was a USB flash drive! Saved by technology. I was able to save the post and return at a later time to finish the posting! So ...

Greetings from Thailand!

A new country for me (spending two nights in the Bangkok airport previously doesn't count). Friday we flew to Bangkok then Chiang Mai, Thailand. At dusk we went to our new orphanage there to see the 62 kids! As is always the case, the language of love, care, security, laughter and smiles needs no translation! They are beautiful and full of energy.

The setting is a bit more rustic than our two Cambodian orphanages, but that will change. Yesterday we met with a contractor and reviewed plans for a dining hall/kitchen/multi-purpose building. He wants to start Monday! Go God. We will see the initial progress while we are yet in Thailand!

Thailand is a beautiful country -- all of what we have seen so far anyway. It is more modern than Cambodia. It has McDonalds and other franchises, more modoern dress (less modest), and more pavement and concrete; not altogether to be considered an advantage. I still like Cambodia, though the hamburger I had last night wasn't too bad!

This trip I have done more administrative/strategy work before the team arrrives on February the seventh. I must say that those meetings have been fun and productive. There is much work that can be done in both countries and God seems to have a part for Asia's Hope to play! This week, we are planning a trip to a village in Myanmar (Burma); another country!

One minor travail has been the mosquitos; this year their popultion seems to be greater. Some of them could carry the lighter among us off to parts unknown! It is a real experience to use a native "facility" -- W.C. as they are referred to here. These are sheds, not really "closets" in which is set on the ground a porcelain container for your use. No running water here; when done, you pan some water out of a resevoir to "flush". I got surprised the other day -- they also do not have TP in them. I still haven't figured out how the natives handle that one! Anyway, it is quite a skill to do what you need to do while shooing away enormous mosquitos all trying to attack you while you are vulnerable! I could say more, but ...

The remainder of the week in Thailand will be organizing the immunizations, meeting with potential partners, and setting up the schedule for the teams trip after their arrival.

I am glad you are along with me. Keep up the prayers and encouragements. I really need and appreciate them!

A Short Posting

2006-01-25T19:58:00.000-05:00

Long day, short note. Wednesday, our immigrant friend took me on a day excursion to her home province; a 3 ½ hour ride by road. Actually, thinking back, some of it was on “roads” that we would barely call roads. I wonder who supplies shock absorbers to Cambodia? I should buy some stock!

I had a delightful time meeting friends and family; understood little to none of the communication (fortunately, I did take an interpreter), but it was evident that she is a happy and loved young woman. I took much video footage which will help us in the US to get to know her better and may provide her with valuable “touch-points” for her to review after her arrival.

The day reminded me that love and smiles are a universal language and not dependent upon our heritage or ethnicity.

Stay with me -- we have four more weeks!

More later ...

The Engagement Comes After The Wedding?

2006-01-23T09:49:00.000-05:00

Frustration -- typing this in for the third time due to screwy keyboards and glitches. Forgive the typos and grammer, but really, enough is enough!

Boating on the Mekong River --- One of my Cambodian physician friends invited me to a cruise on the Mekong River to toast a fellow colleague and his fiancee -- both physicians -- to celebrate their upcoming marriage. I, too, knew this young man having worked with him at a mission clinic 3 years ago. About 25 people boarded a open boat and celebrated with fruit and soft drinks. It turned out that this was really put together by a visiting medical team, so aside from the groom, bride to be, and their parents, the "toasters" were all white people. I met a kidney doctor, a gi doc, an Army psychiatrist, a cardiologist, a CT surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and some nurses. The team that day had done an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair! They were from Seattle, Colorado, Ohio, Washington DC. It was fun to watch them and to realize that while cultural issues abound, love between a man and a woman, when God is involved, is truly wonderful. What a lovely evening!

(As I have experienced here before, I had a psychic time warp realizing I was on the "Mekong", for 30 years ago, during my "formative years", the word had such a different significance.)

Sunday afternoon, we met with a passionate young man who has a heart for street children; this he does on his time and his dime. We explored ways in which we may work together in the future.

Today, Monday, I met with Maly, a woman immigrating to the US (Wooster) -- we were able to share a little more of what she is looking forward to. She is a reserved woman, but does seem to be anticipating excitedly her journey. I asked two of the Khmer women a part of the discussion what their observations were, and they both agreed that she is excited to be coming.

Maly and her uncle said that they wished, on behalf of her parents, to invite me to go to her home to meet her parents. They will take me there (a three hour drive) on Wednesday. It will be good to get some pictures and video of her family and home to give us a glimpse of who she is and where she came from!

Tonight, Dave and I met with two Colorado docs to get an update on the progress of their vision to build a hospital in a province north of here. They have purchased land and are proceeding!

I thank you for joining me on this journey! We are being productive, are healthy and rested, and enjoying the work and fellowship.

The Wedding Crashers

2006-01-21T09:39:00.000-05:00

It is Saturday evening in Phnom Penh. I am tired, but not exhausted, nor discouraged. We (Dave and I) have had a a great time. We are healthy, and so far productive. The weather is fine (sorry -- I just HAD to say that), the compay is good, and the food is fine. (What that they say about "suffering for Christ"? )

Today it was my turn to go to the church to pick up our truck for the days activities. I hired a moto -- a small motorcycle driven by a small, but fearless Cambodian; the taxi of Phnom Penh. Took it to the church (about 3 miles awaay) to drive the tru ck back.

A digression ... Cambodian weddings are kind of like a Block Party; they set up a tent across the street, completely blocking it for traffic. I'm sure it is a lot of fun for the guests, but plays havoc with traffic. No one seems to mind though. This will go on for about two days! Everyone adjusts.

On the way to the church, we turned up a street and saw the Wedding Tent. Vehicle traffic was backing out of the street back into heavy traffic; not too fun (to say nothing about safe) . The hardy moto driver, however, is not imtimidated by a mere tent across the street and on we go. (This, too, seems to be the norm.) Driving up to the tent at a pretty good clip we simply drive on through passing seated and eating guests; everyone smiling. We moto-d past the hor's d'oervres trays sooooo close. If they had not still been moving, or maybe I could identify what they were, I might simply have reached out and grabbed a bite! An amazing culture.

Tomorrow we will worship at a Korean mission church. I have scheduled a meeting with a doctor friend and a young man who runs a ministry to street children. Both should be terrific.

Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement; they are helpful, appreciated, heard by God, and fun to read!

Ready to come with us next time?

Arrival #7 in Cambodia

2006-01-20T03:49:00.000-05:00

Well ... the first entry in a new Cambodia blog. Hmmmmm. I arrived safely Friday the 20th in Phnom Penh. It has been great to see old friends again! What a lovely bunch of people. We arrived at 11 am slightly jet-lagged but excited! I will try to make some calls today.

For those on my email list, I will keep this blog, but cc: all entries directly to you; feel free to share this address with any interested friends!

Here's a story of the flight. We arrived in Los Angeles (LAX) in the evening for a 11:30 pm departure. I checked into the EVA Air desk as we are required to do. The clerk looked at my passport, then my ticket, back to the passport and back to the ticket. I was gettig a little worried here. I should say that my name is on the "watch list"and each time I fly, they have to take extra care that I am not whomever they are looking for.

THEN she picked up the phone and made a call; I was looking for the men in black to strart surrounding me! Getting off the phone she leaned forward and did that "come here" gesture with her index finger. I was cooked, what ever could be wrong? I leaned forward, heart pounding and she whispered, "do you mind if I upgrade you to business class, free"? I was speechless. Does anyone ever refuse that request; she actually said, yes!

So ... I flew Business Class for the 14 hour flight from LAX to Taipei! Awesome.

I'll try to get smaller more frequent offerings to all. Stay tuned, and stay praying! Thanks for all you do!

Musings . . .

2005-06-23T15:34:00.000-04:00

Greetings!

We went to Battambang to visit and immunize the orphans -- from Monday to Wednesday.

We had an awesome time visiting those 50 beautiful kids, just sharing with them. (No one seemed to hold a grudge against me for putting holes in their arms!)

After a difficult farewell Tuesday evening, Wednesday, six of us took a van overland to Siem Reap - the site of Angkor Wat and the ancient ruins. We traveled over a rutted, dirt road in the 95+ degree heat making awful clouds of dust. It took over 4 hours of non-stop bumping and jostling to get across just that stretch of road. There were no "rest stops" or McDonald's, nor even any real bathrooms!

As I was asking myself, "what in the world was I doing this for? How could I last four plus hours?", the Spirit of God came and took me on a walk with Him.

I remembered the orphans who gave us a tearful farewell the evening before. I remembered the 16 year old young man who weeping could not let go of me to say "good-bye". I remembered the beautiful 10 year old girl who I had the privilege of holding on my lap and hugging while she quietly sobbed on my shoulder for 40 minutes - after she had just shared why she had come to the orphanage. I remembered many of the other orphans and team members who had eyes brimming with tears as we had to go.

All we did for them was play with them, laugh with them, tickle them, teach them Uno, listen to them, and tell them that we loved them and cared for them.

Why had God allowed these young, blameless children to experience more pain, loss, heartache, hunger, and hardship than I had ever even a 1/1000th of in over five times the years of life? What did they do to deserve this?

I remembered the 68 students at the University student centers who worry not only about their studies, but also where will the next weeks tuition come from? Will they get a job after graduation without having to pay an impossible $5000 bribe to land it? Will they take their college degree back to the province to sell vegetables on the roadside, or sow rice in the family paddy? Will their families disown them because they have chosen to serve Jesus Christ and forsaken "all their Cambodian nature and culture" by rejecting Buddhism?

I remembered the school children we passed on the dusty road. They were in simple uniforms, riding their bicycles to school. Nearly all of them flashed us a big grin or smile as we passed; just before they ate the dust from our passing. I'm sure the next vehicle got the same greeting.

I remembered the men and women tending dry, hot, very dusty stands along the road selling a service or item, trying to eek out barely a subsistence living. They, too, had smiles and warm greetings for those who stopped.

I remembered the meticulously dressed (about 10-12 year old) girl who invited us to use the bathroom (well, sort of a bathroom) and spoke in very good English (where did she learn that?). After we exited the facility, she asked for 500 Riel (12 and 1/2 cents!). I wondered how much she "earned" in a day?

I remembered the man standing along the road facing out to the fields as we approached. He was standing in front of a sign which I could not make out. I assumed that he was relieving himself (a common sight), but as we got closer, his head was bowed and his hands were clasped in front of him (as though praying?) I wondered if he had lost a father, a brother, or a wife to a land mine, or the brutality of the Khmer Rouge?

What was the difference between them and I? Basically, that by God's hand, they had been born to a woman in Cambodia instead of a woman in North America.

The Spirit reminded me how irritated I get at "orange barrels" while driving along an Interstate Highway in my comfortable, air-conditioned car, listening to stereo music while worrying about which restaurant we should go to for dinner.

Don't get me wrong; this was NOT a guilt trip, nor is it meant to be for you. It was actually a pleasant experience. Sort of a True "reality check" -- not like the ones on TV. An invitation by God to look at the world through someone else's eyes -- instead of my own. Spiritually it was like a walk in the cool of the Garden with Him.

The nature of the ride changed . . .

Monday

2005-06-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday, Father's Day, the team went to church and immediately got in the van and drove 5 hours to Battambang. This is the site of our first orphanage and houses 50 beautiful kids. I spent Father's Day with those "children". It is an awesome experience to sit still and have four or five kids climbing on your lap and hanging onto you. Watching their smiles and faces is truly refreshing. I used the time with some of the older ones to help me with my Khmer language learning.

Today, we returned to the orphanage to continue our immunization program. Only one or two tears shed among the kids. Not having a nurse this trip, I enlisted two team members and had them help draw up the serum into syringes.

Since there are two "veterans" on the team and two teams rotating through, being one of the vets, I was elected to lead the team to Siem Reap, the site of Angkor Wat, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We will van to Siem Reap, visit the temple complex, overnight there and return to Phnom Penh on Thursday.

In "parallel" with our team is a team of 50 youth from Columbus (Ohio) on a short-term mission trip here in Battambang. As a physician who has travelled half way around the world to "serve", I have more opportunity to doctor the folks from Columbus than Cambodians. Who says God has no sense of humor?

I am getting lots of new ideas for service and teams for the future! I'd like to persuade some of you to join us!

Thanks for your continuing support. I depend on your partnership.

Saturday News

2005-06-18T08:19:00.000-04:00

Good Morning!

For those of you who get my email letter, this will look familiar. (If you do not get my email letter and wish to, email me your address.)
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We arrived safely in Cambodia Tuesday afternoon -- today is Saturday morning. It was a wonderful experience to be back and to see people we have become very good friends with. (Sorry, to the English teachers for ending a sentence in a preposition.) All are healthy but for minor complaints and the trip was uneventful.

This trip I am following up on connections made last February. I met with a MD in the Ministry of Health, whose daughter was studying last year in Baltimore and fellowshipped with Pete! He is head over ALL three schools: Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy. We are considering how we may contribute, or offer some "color/alternate perspective" to the Med school curriculum.

I have spent considerable time inventorying and categorizing the medical and dental stuff into a cabinet we purchased; in fact, I am still organizing and stowing. I have taught twice the evening study with the university students; always a fun and challenging endeavor.

Some of the students wanted to go over to the Royal Palace -- the home of the King. So 9 of us piled into our ForeRunner and went. (Boring ...) The kids had a great time.

I have not had a great deal of time at the Phnom Penh orphanage, but that will soon change. I have done nothing "medical" yet, but that, too is about to change. There are a few highlights of the trip so far:

The first night with the students they introduced themselves and their schools/study. I was very surprised to learn that there are six students in medical related disciplines (Med, nursing, vet medicine). This is a big change from the past. I asked one of the student leaders to make a list of their names and I plan on getting together with them for just a fun, shoot-the-breeze session.

You have heard me tell of a Korean mission which has built a clinic and is awaiting staff to begin it. Yesterday Dave (AH Exec Dir) and I went to meet the missionary pastor overseeing the operation. It was a God-ordained meeting. We spoke of partnership and are on the road with a new Cambodian partner! They need medical staffing to rotate in and through, English teachers, musicians, etc. ALL of which we can supply at intervals. The pastor was so excited to hear that we usually bring music teams with us that he called his music man and he came over.

The music leader is a young Korean man in Cambodia 5 months who has a vision for a music school and worship/outreach band. He and Dave had a lot in common. Our team plans to worship at their church next week. Their facility is beautiful; clinic, teaching classrooms, office space, a small guest apartment, and an awesome worship sanctuary.

Yesterday I visited my friend the Cambodian physician with whom I have worked (there, English teachers, is that better?). He is swamped in their clinic and begging for more help. tragically, while I am here, with my AH responsibilities, I have only a small amount of time to give him. If I were to be serious about helping, I would have to separate that time totally from AH and dedicate it to their clinic.

Asia's Hope now in Cambodia has two orphanages (90 children), three student centers (68 students), one Christian School (80+ students). As of last week, we now have an orphanage in Thailand! This will be built within the next two weeks, thanks to the passion of our Canadian partners!

Sunday we are off to Battambang for four days to play with the orphans there and immunize them. We also have some fun time "partying" as we wash and shampoo for lice. Care to join us?

I am having a busy, but great time, and look forward to completing the tasks that God has set aside for us. The people continue to be open, honest, anxious to learn and get to know us, hungry and receptive to the Gospel. I have not witnessed such simple faith anywhere. I have a new understanding of Jesus' words you must have the simple faith of a child to understand the gospel. These people are not children, but their faith and action is simple, straight forward, honest, expectant, and vital. I learn much each time. I wish all of you could share in this experience.

Asia's Hope has been richly blessed. Much is being accomplished here as we invest in the future of not only God's Kingdom, but the future of an entire nation! You are a part of that work, and can be justifiably proud! Thank you.

I am grateful to you for your prayers and support. Keep it coming! I apologize that Bobbi is not here to proof this letter -- so it will be too long. Oh well.

God Bless and "more later".

Campbell's in Cambodia

2005-06-16T09:07:00.000-04:00

Campbell's in Cambodia

It looks as though my "technologically challenged" wife has figured out the blog idea before me! Way to go, Bobbi. I am having a great time; it is HOT, but I do not complain. There will be more later. Thanks for your interest and prayers. John.

Campbell's in Cambodia

2005-06-16T07:45:00.000-04:00

Campbell's in Cambodia

Networking in Cambodia

So far the team has spent two days reweaving threads of friendship that have begun on previous trips. I've seen students who are about to graduate, babies who have been born to couples in the church. I've met with Dr. Oum who is in the Public Health service. His daughter Phyllka was in Pete's medical fellowship group at Johns Hopkins this year! Tomorrow I will meet with Dr. Kim who is the missionary serving at the new clinic that is being built. I am sleeping well and am healthy. Thanks for all of your prayers.

Campbell's in Cambodia

2005-06-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

Campbell's in Cambodia

Hi: John and I are trying to "re-open" our Cambodia blog to be on line for his June/July 2005 trip to Cambodia. He has arrived safely and rested in PP. Again, he is overwhelmed with what it means to the Cambodians that we take the time to come. Each visit builds them up a little in believing that they are "worth" it. More later. Bobbi

Graduation Party

2004-06-29T22:49:00.000-04:00

We hosted a party at the Guest House last night. Van load after van load of the students were car pooled over from the three student centers to honor the six students who are graduating this month. The youth on our team had decorated the stairwell and the roof with balloons. As the Cambodian youth arrived they were so excited to be treated to a "party". The six youth will now be making decisions of trying to find their first jobs in a job market that in the past has been marked by corruption and bribery. And we think our American youth had trouble with finding summer jobs!!! However, as an encouragement, John and I had dinner with Narrin and Queenie, a husband and wife team who serve with CCC and evangelize among young professionals giving hope in a changing world. Narrin feels that there is an increase in job opportunity because there is some growth in the country, so those who "give" jobs out no longer are the only source for employment. Pastor David has encouraged the students to be like Daniel, and not compromise their beliefs as they move on. Margy and I finished up at the Christian school yesterday being as encouraged by Miss Boronay, the principal/ administrator, as she was by our coming. One of her dreams is to come to the states to visit the supporting Christian schools and see how we run our schools in America. Pray with us that American friends who share her vision could help supply a plane ticket and place to stay for a brief visit. One of her other dreams is that the new orphanage children could be brought to the Christian school for their schooling. This is a lady of many dreams!! During the Killing Field years she was separated from her family most of the time and lived with a "youth group" that did forced labor each day. She said her group had kind leaders, and they stayed near a kind village. After she grew to adulthood, and became a Christian, she returned to this village to thank them for their kindness and to share Christ there. She helped plant a church, and she partially funds it from her small salary. Do you understand the blessings that surround our team here? Each person shares with us a story that comes from the Book of Acts going on in the twenty first century. Pray for these people as they are so aware of the precarious position the entire country is in, but that meanwhile they are able to continue to be grateful and share the love of God each day. Tomorrow evening we board a plane to start our 30 hour adventure across the time zones, mountains,and oceans. See you soon. Bobbi

Margy in the jungle

2004-06-27T01:17:00.000-04:00

While Bobbi was at the Women's conference, I went to the jungle. We rode motos for one hour on a cow path. It was so inspiring. I felt like I had watched my babies first steps. We went to three huts; the first one just had families studying the Bible with Saran who was taking us. The seond house was a grandmother and grandfather, a daughter in law, and many children, and they were the only family in that area to start to learn about Christianity. They still had their spirit house, though it looked like bird food was in it, but they were starting to get some hope in their lives. And they asked us to go to their daughter's house to help the sick baby. We walked about a thousand yards to an unbelievably primitive area. Saran had been a nurse, and when I gave him my pepto bismal, he said that was exactly what the baby needed. Maybe I helped! But it certainly opened my eyes. The reason I came to Cambodia was to see Angkor Wat, which we did the next day. It did not compare to the jungle. Angkor Wat was just old stones, not people, not even interesting. The experience here is amazing, tiring, stressful and Bobbi and I cry every day. Tears of joy. Tears of sadness. And just tears. But I would do it again. Love to all. Margy

Aloha

2004-06-27T01:09:00.000-04:00

Hi- This is Bobbi, and I am going to begin telling you about the Women's Conference by starting at its end. The Cambodian music that we hear comes from different ïnfluences. Some of their music seems to be polynesian/hawaiian in it tone. At the end of the conference, we were led in a song which was of this kind of music. As people sang, they waved their hand gently above their head turning in circles saying good by to those who had joined with them for two days. Just when I think that I am done crying, something like this beautiful service sets met off again. As many of you have heard through John''s posting, it was a very tiring and weary two days because of the length (11 hours) and non-air conditioning. But women's lives were changed- and that brief phrase carries new meaning to me now. I am speaking of tribal women who were in the city for the first time, who shared during ""open mike"" time how they learned new ideas about trusting God. I am speaking of women who went through the Killing Fields, and everyday wonder why God spared their life; and now that they know Jesus, they feel it is to bring him glory and share His hope with others. Each women there had a story. Thanks for all of the prayers. Your prayers impacted the life of believers and new believers here in Cambodia.

Day Two of Women's Conference

2004-06-26T00:35:00.000-04:00

I get to be Bobbi's secretary again today as she is at the women's conference. She had a tough day yesterday with the 11 hours in a hot room sitting on a hard folding chair. She said the catered Cambodian lunch was great! Her talk went well, she felt it was a bit too formal and not her usual spontaneous style.

Today, she was working with a young woman interpreter who I have worked with before; she is really very good. So, Bobbi decided to bag her "prepared" speech and go with her heart. (The interpreter had no idea where she was going so was interpreting on the fly; she did an excellent job!) The talk went well and she looked more comfortable with it. There is a lot of good feedback; I'm sure she will be blessed, after she unwinds.

I have had a little more opportunity to visit the student centers, one of the big reasons that I come to Cambodia. Those students are bright, energetic, and passionate in all they do. I KNOW that I will read the news someday about a leader in Cambodia and will be able to say, "I know that man/woman". It is simply indescribable what it is like to sit and listen to their stories and answer their multitude of questions.

I had them laughing uproariously yesterday as they were giving me a Khmer (language) lesson. They howled as I tried to say certain sounds, totally unable to perform. Laughter is good medicine for them. They have a difficult life; little sleep, broad performance expectations, worry over money for food or continued schooling, chronic fatigue, and much more. But, they are doing it, and doing it well. It is a moving thing to watch.

Did Bobbi tell you about the traffic? Really it is more like a real-life dodge 'em ride! Remarkably, there are few accidents and cooperation prevails. There is NO road rage here. Sure a lot different from Metropolitan US driving! Traffic lights are for colorful decoration of intersections, STOP signs are for hitting as you turn the corner tightly to move forward, the white and yellow lines in the road are to keep city employees on the payroll, and much else. In the last year they have actually erected centerline barricades in the major thoroughfares in order to keep cars on "their" side of the road@!

Well, it is off to the market for some last minute shopping. We look forward to the Sabbath and maybe a little rest??? Hmmm.... we'll see.

Thanks for your support! Sure would love to persuade some of you to join us one time. More later...

TGIF

2004-06-25T03:10:00.000-04:00

Greetings!
Bobbi is spending the day at the women's conference and will probably not blog today. I went to the conference in the AM to listen to her. She did a great job! The audience is difficult to read, but I heard many positive comments! It will be fun to hear her debrief tonight. It will be a long day -- 6 A to 6 P in non-A/C building with 600 women! Keep praying!

I did errands -- bought immunization, emailed, visited the mission clinic to say goodbye to the head doc, and missed lunch. Bobbi continues tomorrow and will likely be pretty "high" but washed out. I have some last minute shopping to do.

Weather and health are holding out, no doubt due in great part to your prayers! Thanks.

Chum Rip Lea.

Back In PP

2004-06-23T03:29:00.000-04:00

Greetings, All! We have returned to PP from Battambang (Wed afternoon). We drove 5 hours on Monday to BB; I miss the old 45 minute flight which they discontinued. Nothing like a flight on a Russian airliner with Russian pilots over the Cambodian countryside. Anyway we got to the orphanage in BB -- the reason Bobbi and I initially became involved with Asia's Hope. Bobbi has said that the only reason she even considered making the trip was the orphans, and now says the only reason she will ever consider making it again is the orphans! It was a great visit; wonderful smiling kids cared for by loving (also smiling) staff. I updated their shots and put out a few fires; basically they are very healthy!

BB is a country "town"and thus quite different than PP. More green, very fertile, but just as busy with traffic, markets, motos, and pedestrians, including the dog and cow. Traffic yields to the cows; hamburger on your grill is discouraged in Cambodia!

I had to come back to PP a day early due to the things which must be accomplished in PP. The rest of the team is off to Siem Reap tomorrow (and Angor Wat) and will return to PP on Friday. Bobbi will be involved in the Women's Conference Friday and Saturday as a speaker! Pray for her.

We are having a sensory-fulfilling time and are being richly blessed. Our health has been sustained and we are fellowshipping with lovely, humble, faithful, servant-minded people. There is simply no way to put some of it into words! (I have told Bobbi in the past that you "just have to be there" -- she didn't like that response, but I think she is beginning to understand!)

Thanks for your prayers and encouragements - keep them coming! More later ...

Hope

2004-06-21T20:23:00.000-04:00

Hope. Hope. Hope. Hope!!!! This is what it is all about. Giving Hope in God so that there may be hope in their little lives. I met the original orphans last night. And no, there where no tears, but a visit/playtime of joy as we taught Hokey Pokey, London Bridge, times of lap holding, and trying to get one or two relunctant newcomers to smile. This is the vision of Asia's Hope. To give hope. The caretakers took such pride in their children. They stood there beaming at how well their "children" said hello, played, laughed, and ran around. This orphanage is now 18 months old and already there is such fruit. Again, thanks to all of you who support this ministry. The children are being served in the name of our Lord. For those of you less familiar, the Asia's Hope ministry is at www.asiashope.org. John and I are finally doing "teamwork" together this morning. I am going to hold the children while he gives them their next innoculation. Guess which one they will like initially!! Have a wonderful day realizing that you are each also a part of being here through your prayers and help.

Travel through National Geographis

2004-06-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today we traveled 200 kilometres from Phnom Penh to Battambang. This will be a short blog because I get to meet the original orphans at the BB orphanage in just 30 minutes!!!! But first I wanted to tell you what a surreal experience it was to travel with rice paddies, yaks, huts on stilts, pigs on the back of bikes, etc, etc, etc. Just get out a National Geographic of rural third world countries and you will know what we saw today. Sorry that this is so short, but wanted to let your imagination travel with us to BB. Talk with you tomorrow. Bobbi

Too much, but not enough

2004-06-20T05:46:00.000-04:00

Today we went and worshiped at the New Life Church. Three of the student center youth introduced us to their parents who were visiting which was lovely to see across the generations. This afternoon we went to the state orphanage where the student center students go as a ministry twice a month. Again, there was much I was not prepared for. I wasn't prepared for the youth who live there- I expected only children, and my heart broke at the difficult future for these young men of 16 and 17 who have no family, no connections, and no training. How will they survive in this Cambodian economy? I sat there weeping as I watched them. But I was not alone. I caught different of our college students up front quietly wiping away the tears as they sang songs of hope to the orphan students. At the end of the hour, we were taken to see the "babies". That is the children under two years of age. That is when it became REALLY difficult. The girl with the open sores on her legs and feet; the toddler with HIV; the two year old who would not look up at you because there was no hope left in her (but I did finally catch a swift upward glance trying to see if I could give her anything different than what she was used to). The college students noted my tears and I told them each how proud I was that they came week after week to serve instead of letting these orphans be forgotten. So....that was our Sabbath in Cambodia. Tonight the team returns to the Student Center for Bible study, and tomorrow we are off to Battambang, and most to Siem Reap. Thanks again for all your prayers. You are so important that your faithful prayers allow us to continue to be lifted by the Spirit while we are here. Bobbi

We Laughed Today

2004-06-19T05:48:00.000-04:00

The shoes made it to the orphans today. Margy and I had brought 24 pairs of shoes donated by the Fredericktown school children. And do you know what God orchestrated? The 20 children each found a pair that fit....Not one was left out!! I thought that I was going to loose it standing there watching them look their shoes over, study the soles, try the zippers,etc. They were asked by our hostess: Is this your first pair of shoes? All 20 hands went up!!!

The rest of the day we had been at the Christian schools. The three teachers are so eager to learn new ideas that they have asked us to spend hours with them going over the boxes of donated material and separate into age levels and demonstrate how to use English work sheets even as a Khmai activity.

But the laughter has come from riding a moto on the streets of Phnom Penh. So far it defies my vocabulary, and I am a very verbal person!! There are no laws except cooperation and reasonable speed. There are no stop signs. When two streets cross the traffic flows in 8 directions (two cross directions for each street, and left turns from each direction. There are no lanes, so the number of vehicles ebb and flow depending on variety: you might be 8 moto's abreast, or four moto's and a truck, or one crossing vehicle that wins over all the others. We will try to have it captured on video but you may just have to take our word for it.

Thanks again for your prayers. They are priceless in this country. Bobbi

TGIF

2004-06-17T20:07:00.000-04:00

Not really. I hate to see time fly here! Thursday I spent the morning at the CSI Clinic (a mission clinic) acting as a teacher for the Cambodian docs. It was a great experience and fun to better get to know them. A good friend, Dr. Modich, one of the docs, has spent hours helping me to arrange to get immunizations from the government. That is set up; turns out we qualify for little and will end up purchasing what we can. The actual giving of them will be a tight schedule operation!

We are still a bit jet-lagged, but that is improving. Today, I plan a morning of figuring shots and purchasing. Bobbi has enjoyed her time at the school and orphanage. The food is good, we have not gotten TOO adventuresome however.

Thanks to all who have written and posted comments -- it is a great encouragement! I wish I had a laptop to write these notes; the access is slow and the keyboards cumbersome. Another spoiled American complaining!

We will do our best to keep you up to date. Thanks, again.

I Cried Today

2004-06-17T03:44:00.000-04:00

I cried over Cambodia today. Even after sending three family members here, I was not prepared for the level of poverty. Everyone is industrious....every twenty feet there is a new store front or curb front attempting to sell rusty engines, or old parts, but there is little money in the economy for anyone to be buying. There are a few paved roads, and the side streets are dirt...And this is in the capital of the country. On the way to the Killng Fields we passed shacks that were layered down the slopes, with rickety foot bridges roped towards the front doors. Again, this is within five miles of the Presidential Palace. So...I cried at the economic reality of most of the citizens of this country. That being said, we are having such a blessed time meeting those who know that Jesus and who are serving a risen savior. When we stopped by the Christian school on Wednesday and first met the 3-4 year olds, my friend Margy started laughing and said "I have just died and gone to heaven." Some of us returned there today and taught some basic English. This is the only primary school in Phnom Penh learning English. We also went and visited at the new orphanage. The children had just moved in three days ago and are learning that there is comfort in love and food available daily, though the move has been strange for them. John has been working hard providing clinics and innoculations. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. Bobbi

Wednesday

2004-06-16T05:14:00.000-04:00

Well, we all feel a bunch better after a good night's sleep! I spent the day working a clinic for Asia's Hope people working with a Cambodian doctor. He then drove me all around town to meet governmental people to arrange for immunizations which the government will provide. It looks as though we can get limited ones from them, and will have to work out how much more we should/can afford to give. More paperwork! For those in the know, Rozlynn Rogers has been a great help as well. After we get this all scheduled,we will need to really put the pedal to the metal to get it done!!

Bobbi was out doing either a little sightseeing or visiting the Christian school. Then they were to go to visit the new Phnom Penh orphanage. She'll be ecstatic after that visit! I'm sure she will have more to say.

We remain healthy -- please continue your prayers for that. We have much to do in so little time. We appreciate all your encouragements and prayers!

More later ...

SINGAPORE!!

2004-06-14T18:41:00.000-04:00

Greetings Friends, Prayers and Countrymen: We have arrived in Singapore exactly 25 hours after leaving Cleveland.(Tues. am Singapore; Monday evening Ohio) (No...don't ask about the flight...except praise God there were NO hassles or delays). We saw geometric farm fields in southern Krzy.(sp) and passed through northern Afghanistan and just west of the Himalayans! Humbling to see world geography, history, and present current news places pass before. The Spirit is ministering to the team, and we are SO excited to be leaving for Phnom Pehn in a couple of hours and planning to greet students who will meet us at the airport. There are also 14 new children living at the PP orphanage that we will meet in Wed. We'll be writing more later. Bobbi

Miracle of Travel

2004-06-11T13:41:00.000-04:00

Hi All: This is my (Bobbi's) test blog. We will be using the blog for some journaling of daily anecdotes while we are in Cambodia. Actual prayer requests and praises will still come through the prayer letter chains we each have set up. I am awed by the change in travel in the last three thousand years. On Sunday we will voluntarily step into a metal cylinder/cone and through laws of aerodynamics, we will lift and thrust half way around the world. Gives me new appreciation of women pioneers who traveled in ox carts to get to ports to sail in lower levels of ships for weeks to land on an unknown shore. This time, God willing, we will land and be greeted by friends of those who have gone before. I look forward to letting you all share through the blog some of what we "see" and "feel". Fondy, Bobbi

The Charter Class!

2004-06-10T12:57:00.000-04:00

This is what it is all about!

Here it is -- the brand new orphanage in Phnom Penh! As of this week, we now have 14 new residents -- 7 boys and 7 girls. We are excited to meet them and oversee their health! (AND ... to play with them!)

Packing

2004-06-09T22:14:00.000-04:00

It is Wednesday night, and Bobbi and I have had our first chance to start packing! What an ordeal. I wonder why my back hurts every time I go to Cambodia?

This is the first time that both parents have gone on an extended trip and left the rest of the family to their own pursuits. It takes some extra thinking and readying -- especially for a Mom.

We will try to keep a commentary going for those who wish to read it. More later ...

Let's See How This Works ...

2004-06-07T23:03:00.000-04:00

Greetings! We are starting to get ready to consider, thinking, about maybe, starting a list of things to pack, and then consider packing. Packing ... one of our favorite pasttimes! Ah, well, in a week we'll be on Phnom Penh and packing will be long behind. Stay tuned for periodic updates of our adventures.

Here we go

2004-06-07T10:18:00.000-04:00

Hello.

I'm John. But not Dr. John. I'm a friend of his, and I'm helping him set up his blog. Please follow along as he and various other Campbells wend their way through the world on their upcoming trip to Cambodia.

Peace.

Campbell's in Southeast Asia

Spirit,spirit,Idol,idol

Best of All World's

Industrious

Blessings and Tears

Check Out My Daughter's Blog, Too

Medicine Again

Toilet Seats and Aliens

Old Fashioned Medicine

Tuesday

We're Here

Procrastination

Back Home

Back to Thailand

Other Blog Links

Another One for the Books . . .

Thursday

No Such Thing As Intelligent Design?

More . . .

A Picture is worth ....

Thai Dining

The Land of Siam -- Thailand

A Short Posting

The Engagement Comes After The Wedding?

The Wedding Crashers

Arrival #7 in Cambodia

Musings . . .

Monday

Saturday News

Campbell's in Cambodia

Campbell's in Cambodia

Campbell's in Cambodia

Graduation Party

Margy in the jungle

Aloha

Day Two of Women's Conference

TGIF

Back In PP

Hope

Travel through National Geographis

Too much, but not enough

We Laughed Today

TGIF

I Cried Today

Wednesday

SINGAPORE!!

Miracle of Travel

The Charter Class!

Packing

Let's See How This Works ...

Here we go