Droughts & floods, change & challenges in Cambodia

I continue to be overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change in Cambodia. I missed driving my normal route to the office for a week and next thing I knew they had paved the road in front of the Cambodia Methodist Bible College (CMBS) - how did I miss this? I almost got stuck in a pile of dirt on my way to Srei Som Pong church two months ago and during my following monthly visit there were another 5km of blacktop - cutting down my travel time by about 15 minutes! Of course, it is rainy season now and I still managed to get the truck stuck 3 times last month, oh well - good thing for 4-wheel drive and helpful church members.

And there are new challenges. For example, power outages are more frequent in Phnom Penh  as the load on the grid outpaces the ability to predict and ramp up delivery. Likewise, the less predictable global weather patterns were reflected in droughts last year; this year many farmers in the north (near Siem Reap and Kampong Thom) are facing difficulty from severe flooding. The pressures of migration and urbanization and the challenges this pose for the Cambodia Methodist Church were hot topics of discussion at Annual Conference last month. I feel swept up in the frantic pace and long for a moment to pause and reflect. Where is God in all of this?

Despite the stresses caused by the rapidly changing environment, there continue to be signs of hope that inspire me.  Thirty-four new rice-banks were established in the first half of this year to address food security concerns brought on by the drought last year. In a move towards greater localization of the development initiatives, the Social Concerns Committee of 16 Cambodian pastors took the lead in this effort with major funding from UMCOR and back-up support from the CHAD program staff.  Thank you to all the churches and individuals who also sent in support for rice-banks through Alternative Giving gifts last year to Advance #14916a.  A second round is already being planned for this coming January that will include expansion of some of the existing rice-banks and establishment of new banks with groups who didn't quite get organized in time this year and those who have been impacted by the recent flooding.

I was inspired during a monitoring visit this year to one of the previously established rice-bank groups after their first full cycle of loaning and gathering back the rice.  It was a big effort by the community to prepare the store-house and to keep records of the rice-loaned. I asked the group secretary how he felt and if he was willing to keep serving the group in this roll for the coming year. He replied honestly that during the days of distribution and collection he was really tired and he wanted to give up, but now with that behind him and as we were reflecting together on the whole experience he could see the benefit to his community. He was committed to continuing to volunteer his time for the next year so that his community could continue to improve their local food security. Stepping back from the day to day hustle to join with Annual Conference and reflecting with visitors who joined us from the USA and Europe this summer, I too am reminded that, in the connections and the working together, God is there. Thank you for your partnership and support in this ministry.