| |
| Jun 2009 |
|
We have had a number of firsts, unusual events that have touched my heart. Bruce Ford, an Australian friend, ran the first ever marathon for Tabitha – Bruce entered an event called Racing the Planet - a 7 day marathon in the heart of Namibia – the race was very tough and Bruce struggled – but he never quit – at the end of the week he ended up in the hospital with a severe infection in his leg. Bruce raised nearly $50,000.00 Australian dollars for Tabitha – his race so reflected the people he raced for – people who struggle constantly and never quit – thank you Bruce! |
 |
| |
| Mar 2009 |
|
Yesterday was one of those days that make everything worthwhile. I went to see our programs in Kompong Thom. Apo, my manager there, took us to see a village called Preah Nongkor. My first impression was one of total dismay. The dirt track we traveled on kept getting smaller and smaller. We were surrounded by scenes of utter desolation. The fields were dry and dusty and the homes of people were small and decrepit. I thought, oh no, how can it get worse. We visited a few families and the stories were all the same. Husbands were gone to work on the Thai border; there was no work near home. The fields were empty and dusty. The old folks and a few moms were struggling to keep it all together. The children were malnourished and dusty. It was all a bit too much. |
|
| |
| Feb 2009 |
|
Happy 2009 to all of you – we are always fortunate for New Years is celebrated at least three different times: The internationally celebrated new Years, Chinese New Years and in April; Khmer New Years. As with all new years' celebrations – we think of the year that lies ahead and the new things we would like to start. |
|
| |
| Sep 2008 |
|
Yesterday was another magical day. I went out to Tanong Village in Takeo to see the impact of our seven field wells. These wells service 28 families – families whom we were told two years ago by the commune chief – don't bother - they are very lazy and very stupid people. Just the words needed to challenge our staff as those words were used on them for so many years. |
|
| |
| Aug 2008 |
|
This is the month that marks the end of another program year. With endings come evaluations – what have we done and how well is it done. Last week, we took a couple of our partners with us to see. We went to Chantrear District in Svay Reing. Our first stop was to see a village where we have just begun. Once again, it was painful to see how some people live. Houses that measure less than 2 meters square made of thatch that provides very little shelter and housing children that know nothing of a safe home or full bellies. |
|
| |
| May 2008 |
|
This month we celebrated Mother's Day — I still think of it as a bit of an anomaly because every day should be Mother's Day — Miriam is coming to an age where she likes to take this day quite seriously so I ended up with a very big diamond ring and pendant - very valuable at a cost of $6.50 cents but precious in its intent. As I enjoyed her outpouring of love, I thought of our many mothers in our projects — of other mothers in the world. |
|
| |
| April 2008 |
|
Happy Khmer New Years - next week is a big week for all of us in Cambodia - we celebrate Khmer New years - a time when all Cambodians return to their birth homes, to family and friends - its a time of renewal - a time of reflection - a time of remembering those who passed on with special ceremonies - a time of eating and playing - a time of new clothes and new dreams - its a time of rest with a week long holiday. Well almost, April 17 is Pol Pot day – a day now being remembered – so what is new is celebrated and what is past is remembered. |
|
| |
| February 2008 |
|
Happy Valentines Day – my office smells of flowers given by staff. Makes me feel guilty that I didn't buy them all flowers for they are people close to my heart – people who enhance and fill my life with so very much. |
|
| |
| December 2007 |
| All of us at Tabitha Cambodia want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It is the season of hope and faith for many – for us – our faith in a child born so long ago – brings the message of understanding and life – a child born into the meanness of poverty – despised by many – eventually killed by those who found Him too different – a man who lives again so that we can all live. Christmas – our foundation. |
|
| |
| November 2007 |
| Someone asked me last month – do you realize the impact that you have. I am rather humble about that – yes, I do know. I went to Singapore in the beginning of the month. I went to talk with several schools who give us phenomenal support and the week ended with a Tabitha Silk Fair – it was an amazing week in so many ways – we sold 94k in 3 days – children would walk up to me at the schools and want to shake my hand – a number of parents shared the change in their children who had come housebuilding. As the week progressed I began to understand that perhaps all of you do not understand the impact that you have. Today I would like to try and express that impact. |
|
| |
| October 2007 |
| The new program year has started very well. It's a peak season for house building teams – it is also our busy season for orders. The rains are in full spate – causing havoc for so many of our families. The staff, as usual, does so much in very difficult circumstances. |
|
| |
| September 2007 |
| This month is the beginning of our new fiscal and program year. It is also the month of our annual report for what we have done in the past year. It has been a very good year. We have worked with 33,958 families with 271,664 dependents. 2025 volunteers came from all over the world and built 611 houses – unbelievable! We were able to install 997 wells – bringing hope to so very many people. |
|
| |
| June 2007 |
| I am sitting here this morning feeling a bit self satisfied. Two years ago, at our annual staff meeting, Tina (who is a man) was one of our new staff. His attitude at the meeting left a bit to be desired. When I asked what problems people were having, his statement was rather blunt - the people are lazy. My older staff knew better than to use that word around me. I turned on him and asked him how he knew the people were lazy - did he ask them if they were lazy - was he there all the time to see if they were lazy - I mean what did he really know! The discussion moved rapidly to what is our biggest barrier to our work and just as rapidly came the answer from those who had learned before Tina - we are often the biggest barrier to development. Our attitudes and our prejudices affect how we work with people. I made it clear to one and all that using the word lazy to describe people - means that we are the ones that are lazy - we are lazy in our thinking; we are lazy in our answers. I expected each and every staff person to do what they said they could do without using the people as an excuse for not doing - anyone who couldn't do this - well, Tabitha was not the place for them to be. |
|
| |
| May 2007 |
| Miriam and I have returned from our month long journey through Canada. Both of us are recovering from jet lag and culture shock. Our first 3 weeks in Canada were a shock as each morning we woke to a carpet of snow on the ground. April is not supposed to be like that. We ate and ate – everyone brought out their best and we enjoyed each morsel. We traveled far, talked with many and made new friends. Best of all was reuniting with family – a family reunion on the only warm day we had – 110 relatives and close friends. As Miriam says, it was our amazing day. |
|
| |
| February 2007 |
| It seems like so very long ago, in 1994 that I answered a call from my God to start Tabitha Cambodia. That call was not an easy one, it meant giving up all that I had in so very many ways. It meant going against worldly wisdom - going against voices that urged me to be more rationale in my approach to life. Instead I believed that my God would keep His promises – which were that I would never be in need, that the family I gave up would be enhanced with one of my own and that I would have a place to call home. |
|
| |
| January 2007 |
| Happy New Years to each and every one of you. It's a very good beginning for us this year as we begin our work after being closed for holidays. We came back to being able to work freely as there are enough funds to meet everyone's needs. What a blessings you have brought to so many here. |
|
| |
| December
2006 |
| Holiday time is fast approaching and the season of hope and joy is near. Christmas is why Tabitha started – my faith in the birth of a child so long ago. It’s a story of faith and of hope. This season for us is marked with sadness and distrust. We had an attempted armed robbery by people we trusted a few weeks ago. Last week our advisor to the Prime Minster’s cabinet, a very good personal friend, died unexpectedly. Then news of some very good friends deciding to leave Cambodia left its mark. |
|
| |
| November
2006 |
| It's a difficult letter I write today – it's a letter dedicated to Som – one of our longest serving staff – a man who is suffering from heart failure. It is time to pay a tribute to Som, and to Marianne and to Dara and to so many who have helped us and been a part of us and have traveled on. |
|
| |
| October
2006 |
| Last
month, the newsletter dwelled on the
sadness poverty and the question that
was asked was who will hear them when
they cry? I said that you and I will
hear them. We have just finished our
annual report and I would like to share
some of the ways we heard these people
cry. |
|
