Sellers Cambodia Mission Weeks 6,7,8
Since the Stones, the humanitarian senior couple, had to go home early, we have been given their translator as our driver which has been a lifesaver! Dan's new passport arrived a few days ago (week 8) but we haven't gotten our driver's licenses yet. Dan is able to do some work on our projects while we are driven to our various health centers/hospitals. We have made several trips to the Pea Reang hospital and have identified improvements to the hospital such as restructuring the ICU, surgery room, closing off outside vents (open holes at the top of walls allowing outside air, bugs, dust, etc. in), adding air conditioning, more new equipment, new bathrooms (the existing ones are beyond scary). We now have several bidders working on Dan's plans and then we will decide who to use to do the work and when to start.
We did the same thing to the hospital in Kho Thom which is a bigger project because they have a few different challenges such as an uneven topography which unfortunately cause the grounds to flood several times a year. We have some bids out to level the grounds, provide parking areas, new sidewalks, driveways and landscaping. At the same time we will provide much needed work on the inside of the hospital similar to the Pea Reang Hospital. After our visit the hospital administrator showed us a great place to have lunch. Surprising, as there isn't really a good place there for much of anything. However, we ended up in a cornfield with several thatched huts on stilts running down the middle. These huts were operated by a family who served us a delicious lunch. If you didn't mind the rat hulking in the corner and the bugs and sitting on the wooden slatted floor, it was quite lovely!
The Lewis's invited us to meet them in Srey Santhor to check out the hospital they are currently working on and asked for Dan's input on a few things from a surgeon's point of view. It's moving along at a good pace and will be completed in a few weeks. We have so enjoyed Steve and Vicki Lewis and have leaned on their many talents and expertise; they have guided us as we have muddled through our first few weeks of trying to learn our responsibilities. They have been waiting for visas to Mongolia where they want to finish work that they started before they were assigned here. Selfishly, we hope they never get their visas!!
There still is no in-building church here. Instead, we senior missionaries trade off hosting church in our apartments. There are currently only two other missionary couples in our building, and only one other one in the mission, the Lewis's who live three hours away. We invite the four sister missionaries living in this complex to have church with us. The Cross's who are the office couple/nurse are leaving this week which will just leave the Jensen's and us. Hopefully Ted and Audrey Yan, our friends from our Hong Kong mission will receive their call in the next few days and can join us here.
Every other week we have a meeting with Elder Meurs, our Area Authority in Hong Kong to give him updates on our projects and receive counsel from him. Once a month we have an area-wide devotional that we view via Zoom from Hong Kong, and there have been various other meetings either at the service center from our local leaders or Zoom or otherwise.
Monday of week eight saw us going with our driver and our translator to one of our vendors, B-Med, to pack up our pickup truck and a truck that the service center rented with supplies to deliver to Baty Hospital and the 14 health centers associated with this hospital. The supplies were all ordered by our predecessors, Mike and Linda Warner but hadn't all arrived by the time they left. By the time both trucks were loaded with hospital beds, delivery beds, autoclaves, suction machines, and many other items, some smaller things having been previously packed into Rubbermaid type boxes, we were filled to the gills and even overflowing. We worried that the truck might lose some of the equipment out the back since we would be going over so pretty horrific roads for 1 1/2 hours. When we arrived all 14 health centers were waiting for us and ready to receive the goods appropriated for their center. Each one staked a claim in a semi-circle and our boys did a heroic job of unloading the two trucks and distributing the goods to each one's pile. Next, our translator gave a demonstration to all on how to use the autoclave machine, then put a delivery bed together while everyone watched. Although slightly chaotic, it worked very well and saved us a lot of time, but we will plan to go to each center in the near future to check on them, see if they have other needs and ensure that they are using the autoclave and the delivery beds.
Vichit is a man considered to be a pioneer of the church in Cambodia and has strong ties to some top government officials. Dan met him in 2018 during his exploratory mission into Cambodia. Vichit arranged a meeting with himself, two other leaders in the service center and Dan to meet with His Excellency Sun Chantol who is head of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. Dan was instructed to wear a suit, so away to the tailor we went to have a suit made as we were told by the missionary department to not bring a suit (too hot and not necessary for our assignment). We were ushered into a room with a HUGE conference table--20 micophones on each side, although not as many chairs per side due to Covid, and several large fresh flower arrangements going down the middle of the table. Vichit and the Minister greeted each other warmly as they had gone to Harvard Business School together many years ago. His Excellency started the conversation by stating that he was aware of poor healthcare situations in the Provinces since he had grown up in Kho Thom, and he was extremely grateful for any and all help we could give them, and they would even put 'skin in the game''. We were all pleasantly surprised and happy to hear that and then his response as Dan outlined what we had observed and the plans for helping. He is totally on board and promised to contact the Director of Operations in Kho Thom and essentially let us do what we feel best and even pledged money to help! Then as if God truly had a hand in things, he showed Dan his fingers that he had injured several weeks prior and allowed Dan to dress them and show him some finger exercises to get his motion back. He sent Dan his xrays and they had some back and forth emails regarding his treatment. Now they are friends!
We are sad to have to say good-bye to our mission president, Steven and LaCinda Lewis from Gilbert, Arizona. We have been amazed by their energy and their love for the missionaries here in Cambodia. Because of Covid they have had to be creative in their meetings with the missionaries. They have a strict schedule each day which includes Zoom meetings of every kind including personal meetings between the elders and the president. Sister Lewis is a bundle of energy and together they make a dynamite team. While we were in quarantine they contacted us several times to make sure that all was well with us, invited us to participate in their morning and evening prayers, meetings, etc. They will truly be missed but I'm sure the next president will be equally wonderful. He is a native of Cambodia--the first one! President Veana Neang has a young family and they will be starting their duties mid week.
Today Dan and our driver took two sister missionaries and the sister of one to Kampong Thom at the behest of the president to witness the baptism of the sister missionary's mother. The missionary work here in Cambodia is moving along well. Covid has actually made it better in some situations as everyone is working extra hard to further the lord's work. Tuesdays are called 'Miracle Tuesdays' in which they try to break their previous record in contacts made that day. They are up to about 500 each Tuesday at this point which translates to several true contacts each week. They look forward to their temple which was announced in 2018.
I am honored to be able to read these loving and spiritual things, which will help us become couple’s missionary in China in the future.Love you and miss you and Dan❤❤
ReplyDeleteNow this is a true example of making the world a better place! Love to you both.
ReplyDeleteYou are walking miracles and such examples of the Lord’s work!! God bless you and keep you safe continually 💕💕. He’s in the details of your lives for sure ! Love and miss you
ReplyDeleteGreat work! Rewarding isn't it? Thanks for serving there. Gary Nielson
ReplyDeleteWow.... Tons of improvement were on the way. You two must be very proud of yourselves. God takes care of his children all over the world.
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