Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Greetings and love to each of you- this month is almost over and we continue to grow in our gratitude for this mission as well as our appreciation for "home and family"!

We have so much that we want to share with you- the photographs never do justice, but hopefully we can convey with words the true picture behind the photographs. Several months ago while we were in Siem Reap, we had a few minutes between appointments. There wasn't enough time to get to another appointment, so we took the time to stroll the gardens around the king's summer residence. Near the small palace is a beautiful ornate pagoda that is very popular with the Khmer people as well as tourists who come to observe the rituals of Buddhist worship. We walked through the gate into the small tiled courtyard which surrounds the pagoda. Near the steps sat a beggar- an middle-aged man whose body was completely twisted by some malady. He could make sounds emerge from his throat, but nothing recognizable as words. Although begging is a familiar sight, it never becomes easy for us to see- especially those with physical limitations and disabilities from Cambodia's tragic war-torn past. Since we can not give money, I try to give them recognition- to give them the offering of seeing them as a person, not a beggar, but a child of God. I did the same to this man, and his response brought me to tears- his whole expression changed and he made frantic attempts to speak. I thanked him, walked up to the pagoda, and then we stepped down to leave. As we were leaving the steps, he slid over to me and tried to give me a dollar bill. I can not express in words the emotions that swept over me as I saw my life contrasted with his, and he was the one giving his all to me..... This past week, we had a similar "hole" in our time, and we went back to the park and I was able to get a picture to share with you of the individual who has touched my life and changed it for the better.

Included in our photographs this week are some "local color" shots- from the basket bicycles to one of the largest trees we have seen in Cambodia- notice the size of the car in relationship to the tree! We also saw on our way back from Siem Reap to KT, a loaded truck with a monkey pacing back and forth on the tailgate- it took me forever to get a picture- he kept turning his backside to me, which was not his best feature!

Last week we drove the missionaries out to a remote village to met the parents of a young single sister that is preparing for baptism. She is living in KT so she can attend high school which is not available in her home village. It was over an hour drive on Cambodia's normal road conditions- which means an unmaintained dirt road that varies from a cow path to a bicycle trail. The views were beautiful and the family so hospitable and kind. Their home is located along the banks of the river and between farming and the fish from the river, they are quite comfortable. They fixed us dinner and sent us home with fresh fish- I got handed the pick of the catch and have a photograph to prove it!

Elder Dickerson has started a small tie-making enterprise for some of the members in our KT branch. One of the photographs is of one sister who is making ties. After sewing with a treadle sewing machine, she irons the ties. Her iron consists of a small metal box welded above a flat ironing surface. She fills the bx with hot wood coals and replenishes them as they cool down- these are true "made in Cambodia" ties. The fabric the ties are made of is the same they use for their traditional native silk skirts, and they are beautiful.

The children out in the Providences have very few toys. They love to play marbles, but most of the time they play with whatever they have around them- sticks, rocks, and especially dirt piles! Any little puddle of water is considered a likely spot for fishing, and they use everything from home-made bamboo fishing poles to woven scoop baskets to fish with. At first, we could not imagine how anyone could expect to find fish in what looked like nothing more than a mud hole to us, but in reality, as the rainy season comes, the rivers rise to flood levels and the fish move out into the flooded fields. As long as there is any water in a hole, you will probable find fish in it.

Although life here is very different in many ways, the people are the same!!! We laugh with them, cry with them, and as brothers and sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ, rejoice in the message that transcends all cultures, circumstances and age. With all our love and prayers for each of you, hugs, hugs, and hugs from Elder and Sister Dickerson- Grandpa and Grandma!!