by Leng Thy
“The American medical team is very kind to me. They sent me to be hospitalized for months to cure my leg, costing so much money, the amount that I really could not make although I work hard for my whole life.” Chan Ran said while visiting him at Calmette hospital.
Living in a remote village, Pheakdei Village, Takream Commune, Battambang Province, which is about 50 km from Battambang town, Chan Ran, 39 years old, and his 35 years old- wife, Kieng Pha do not even owned a small plot of land or a draft animal to farm to make a living. In order to feed his wife and his four children, Chan Ran work as a laborer to cut trees in the forest that gives a meager income of Riels 5000 ($1.25) per day.
Lying in Calmette hospital bed, he said that his leg was bitten by a poisonous snake on September 2007 while he was walking in the forest to cut trees. Since then, he could not walk any more as his wound turns from bad to worse. Although desperate for help, Chan Ran is not so hopeful to get any help from his relatives or his neighbors who like him are making a living just to survive. He said “with no one to turn to he has given up hope for his healing while his fears about his family survival and future grow each passing of days.”
Hearing a medical team is coming to help the poor people in his village by providing free medical clinics his hopelessness somehow disappeared. He was ready and waiting for the coming day. After coming back from seeing a doctor during the medical mission on October 22, 2007, he was extremely surprised to see June Essing, (team leader of the Rocky Mountain Medical Team) with some church leaders and CHAD staff visit him at his home with an offer to pay for his hospitalization in Phnom Penh. Since he arrived in the hospital his hope that he can walk again someday grows not only because of the treatment he is receiving from the hospital but also because of the love and care, the pastor, church workers, and CHAD staff show to him and his family.
He said “I have stayed in hospital for 84 days so far, and right now I feel that about 70% of my wound is healed. During these days I am spent a lot money for my medicines, accommodation, transportation, and even the food for me and my wife who looks after me. I am very thankful and grateful to the Rocky Mountain team for their great help to me and my family. Please kindly continue to help the poor Cambodians who cannot meet their basic needs” He continues “Now, I understand how God’s love gives me new hope in life.”
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Introduction of Katherine Parker
Katherine T. Parker, missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church, serves as part of the Community Health and Agricultural Development (CHAD) Initiative of the Methodist Mission in Cambodia.
Katherine is involved in organizational development of the Social Concerns Committee (SCC) of the emerging Methodist Church in Cambodia. Working with a national team of pastors, the SCC works to help local congregations articulate and practice a theology of reaching out in Christian love to neighbors to realize God's promise of abundant life for all. Katherine helps develop food security and "livelihood" cooperative projects - cow, pig, chicken and duck raising, rice co-ops ('banks'), vegetable farming, and various small business projects through savings and credit groups.
Katherine also works with local congregations to help ensure their communities have continued access to biologically safe drinking water. Access to safe water in Cambodia is complicated by seasonal flooding, a high water table, and groundwater that is contaminated in many locations with naturally occurring arsenic. Katherine helps provide tools for local communities to assess and monitor their risks.
Native to California, Katherine comes from a family with deep roots in United Methodism on the West Coast. Two grandfathers, a great-grandfather, an aunt and several cousins have served as United Methodist clergy.
Katherine attended Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While in Cambodia She completed her thesis for a Masters degree, also in Biology, from California State University, Sacramento.
Active in the church since childhood, Katherine from a young age wanted to be involved in mission work. In August 2000, after completing college, Katherine began service as a Mission Intern with the General Board of Global Ministry's Young Adult Program.
Her overseas assignment, as part of that program, was with the Asian Rural Institute in Nishinasuno, Japan. After 16 months Katherine returned to the U.S. to serve with the Practical Farmers of Iowa in Ames. She completed her Mission Intern service in May 2003.
Katherine’s home church is Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill Valley, CA. She has been involved in the life of the church in many ways: serving with the California-Nevada Annual Conference's delegation to General Conference, the conference's Board of Church and Society, the Golden Gate District Council on Ministries, and as a local church volunteer organizing mission trips.
Read Katherine's blog at http://bokashi.blogspot.com
Katherine Parker is available for Covenant Relationship support in California-Nevada Annual Conference , Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference , Pacific Northwest Annual Conference .
Make an online donation to: Katherine Parker #15187Z.
Katherine is involved in organizational development of the Social Concerns Committee (SCC) of the emerging Methodist Church in Cambodia. Working with a national team of pastors, the SCC works to help local congregations articulate and practice a theology of reaching out in Christian love to neighbors to realize God's promise of abundant life for all. Katherine helps develop food security and "livelihood" cooperative projects - cow, pig, chicken and duck raising, rice co-ops ('banks'), vegetable farming, and various small business projects through savings and credit groups.
Katherine also works with local congregations to help ensure their communities have continued access to biologically safe drinking water. Access to safe water in Cambodia is complicated by seasonal flooding, a high water table, and groundwater that is contaminated in many locations with naturally occurring arsenic. Katherine helps provide tools for local communities to assess and monitor their risks.
Native to California, Katherine comes from a family with deep roots in United Methodism on the West Coast. Two grandfathers, a great-grandfather, an aunt and several cousins have served as United Methodist clergy.
Katherine attended Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While in Cambodia She completed her thesis for a Masters degree, also in Biology, from California State University, Sacramento.
Active in the church since childhood, Katherine from a young age wanted to be involved in mission work. In August 2000, after completing college, Katherine began service as a Mission Intern with the General Board of Global Ministry's Young Adult Program.
Her overseas assignment, as part of that program, was with the Asian Rural Institute in Nishinasuno, Japan. After 16 months Katherine returned to the U.S. to serve with the Practical Farmers of Iowa in Ames. She completed her Mission Intern service in May 2003.
Katherine’s home church is Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Mill Valley, CA. She has been involved in the life of the church in many ways: serving with the California-Nevada Annual Conference's delegation to General Conference, the conference's Board of Church and Society, the Golden Gate District Council on Ministries, and as a local church volunteer organizing mission trips.
Read Katherine's blog at http://bokashi.blogspot.com
Katherine Parker is available for Covenant Relationship support in California-Nevada Annual Conference , Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference , Pacific Northwest Annual Conference .
Make an online donation to: Katherine Parker #15187Z.
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