Cambodia

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A recent picture of me with my two children

Introduction

Greetings from Kompong Cham! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Danny Colombara. I’m 32 years old, married, with a 3-year-old son and a 3-month-old daughter. I met Jesus in a fraternity house in 1993 and haven’t lived a ‘normal’ day since. Upon graduating from MIT, some friends and I moved to Lowell, MA to minister in the sizable (more than 20,000 people) Khmer refugee community. In addition to the Khmer church for proven-risk youth, I’ve been involved in church planting and pastoral work in Massachusetts while studying at Gordon-Conwell seminary with my wife. In 2004 we joined CRM / InnerCHANGE and moved to Cambodia with our son, Silas, who was then 5 months old.

With the departure of Diane Moss (a.k.a. Bong Sopheap) to serve in Romania, the staff of IC KCC wanted some assurance that they were not being abandoned. While InnerCHANGE staff from Phnom Penh visited IC KCC once a month, there remained a felt need for someone to be present with the local staff on a more regular basis. This person was not to lead IC KCC … that role is being filled by Daranee Hang. Rather, the need was and is for an encourager who would also assist the staff with their ministries as needed. In addition, the InnerCHANGE missionary would review program statistics and finances on a monthly basis and would write English reports and newsletters for those outside of Cambodia. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I am this person. Please feel free to contact me regarding the work of IC KCC at anytime.

It’s been just over a month since my family moved to Kompong Cham and I began working with the staff of IC KCC. It’s been a tremendous privilege. Almost every day I’m left in awe of the great work that God is accomplishing through our staff and volunteers. It’s not uncommon at morning devotions to hear staff grieve over the suffering of the poor and the beginnings of materialism that has infected the Khmer Church. From the way we worship together in the morning to the way they fulfill their job descriptions, it’s clear that, for the majority, working with IC KCC is more than a job … it’s a calling.

Through our staff and volunteers, the sick are healed, widows and orphans are cared for, the dying are given dignity, prisoners are visited, the lonely are set in families, and the poor have good news preached to them. In other words, I’m seeing the church be what Jesus created it to be — an extraordinary community of love which proclaims the Kingdom of God through words and deeds. In my fourteen years of walking with Jesus, I’ve never witnessed, much less been a part of, such a holistic proclamation. Many thanks to all of you who, through your prayer and financial support, make this ministry possible.

Updates

Tee & Channa
In the November 2006 newsletter, we mentioned that two former House of Hope girls, both living with Christian foster families, would be enrolling in high school. Both of the girls began high school only to find that their lack of previous education, excluding their time at HOH, ensured they would not be able to keep up. Their problems were compounded because they often skipped school together. When the Water Festival arrived in November, they both asked for permission to visit their extended families. It was then that one girl, Channa, ran away. Thankfully, Tee remained with her uncle and aunt and is now working with her family selling goods in a market. She is flourishing in this role and credits her basic literacy and numeracy training she received at HOH as making it possible.

Jia & Souphia

Jia hard at work making products forHands of Hope while watching Souphia

Do you remember Jia? She was the former House of Hope student who became pregnant out of wedlock and was pressured to have an abortion by her family and the baby’s father. In distress, she twice attempted suicide by poisoning herself but both she and Souphia, the baby, were miraculously saved from long-term harm.

It’s my pleasure to inform you that both Jia and Souphia are doing well. With Souphia’s first birthday just weeks away, it’s amazing to see the changes in their lives. Because Jia can support her baby and herself through working with Hands of Hope, Jia has a renewed hope. Her relationship with her family has improved dramatically too. A little under a year ago they had said, “We disown you and want nothing more to do with you.” Now, though Jia still cannot live with her family, they visit her often and readily express their love for Souphia too.

Peanut
Many of you have asked about the status of ‘Peanut’, the baby given to be cared for by Sunrise when she was only 5 hours old. She was born to an HIV-positive mother who had no family and was unable to look after her herself. Peanut was eventually given over to the mother’s cousin, another HIV-positive woman, who is also a former hospice client of ours.

We are glad to report that Peanut is doing very well. She is HIV-negative, is generally healthy, and has just begun to walk. She continues to live with her surrogate mother, who is working productively in a local market while receiving follow-up care from Doctors Without Borders.

Staff

On February 16, we were honored to receive an award from Hun Neng, our Provincial Governor. Daranee attended the ceremony where she received the award recognizing Sunrise’s quality ministry in Kampong Cham during the 2006 calendar year.

IC KCC has faced its share of difficulties along with its successes. One such difficulty was the recent dilemma surrounding Theara, one of our hospice care givers. In addition to working with IC KCC, Theara worships with the local evangelical Catholic Church along with 3 other staff, some of whom are close relatives. A few months ago, it was discovered that Theara was in a relationship with a married man. As a Christian organization, which relies heavily on its good name, it was clear that this was not acceptable behavior. When initially confronted about her illicit relationship, Theara was unwilling to admit that she was in error. In fact, she was hoping to have this relationship sanctioned by getting married (as the man’s 2nd wife) in her church. Thankfully, the Catholic Church demanded a meeting with the first wife to confirm the supposed divorce. Some staff who attend church with Theara pushed for her to be fired but Daranee was resolute in seeking reconciliation. Finally, after IC KCC and the Catholic Church jointly proposed a plan for repentance and restoration, Theara had a change of heart. During this time of immoral living, Theara’s work performance had plummeted. Thankfully, when her heart changed, her work ethic was restored as well.

Dara teaching Peace Building at the local prison

One additional challenge for IC KCC, and Daranee specifically, has been the lack of a skilled administrator. In the past year, we’ve had four different administrators. Ratha (see photo on the right) was hired in late February and is currently being trained. She has a great attitude and a contagious smile. Please pray for her continued growth and development.

Dara, our Teaching Coordinator, continues to exercise his gifts throughout our service area. He recently finished a course at one public school and has begun teaching peace building at a new school. Meanwhile, his work with the prison has expanded to include peace building in addition to basic literacy. Through Dara’s work at the prison, some inmates are becoming Christian. For this reason, Dara is currently entertaining the idea of starting a Sunday worship service in the prison.

Stories & Testimonials

Guests sharing a meal at the Big Event

This year’s Big Event was a smashing success. On March 30, approximately 450 people attended a half-day celebration filled with thanksgiving, live music, drama, preaching, games, gifts and food. The prophetic aspect of the Big Event was especially powerful. In spite of public health ads and educational campaigns, Cambodian society as a whole remains ignorant and fearful of HIV/AIDS. For example, I personally know families who won’t let HIV-positive relatives eat at the same table. In this context, consciously and purposefully sharing meals with those afflicted with HIV/AIDS does two things. It proclaims the basic human worth and dignity of those afflicted by HIV/AIDS while protesting against dehumanizing fear. Perhaps most amazingly, these powerful prophetic statements were made in an atmosphere of joyful celebration.

 

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Thary Chea is a vegetable vendor at Boeung Kok Market. She is also HIV-positive. Her husband, also HIV-positive, is a soldier who earns a living as a moto taxi driver. Thankfully their 8-year-old son is not HIV-positive and is currently enrolled in public school. When Thary became too sick and weak to work, she was taken to our hospice to receive care. After a few months she improved so much that she was able to go home. Now, even though she is busy working at the market, she never forgets to take her medicine. Thary fondly remembers the warm encouragement and love that she received from our staff. These staff also shared with her about God and brought her to the Church of God our Savior. She has asked that we now pray for her family as well!

 

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For many years Thol Chann lived in a dilapidated home along a busy road. Her life, along with that of her daughters, has been filled with many difficulties and much suffering. Her elder daughter, who is 18, works in a factory in Phnom Penh while the younger one, who is 5, lives with Thol. Fortunately, both daughters are HIV-negative. Thankfully, even though she was sick and poor, living in a small decrepit home, exposed to the wind and rain, Thol knew how to properly take care of herself and her children.When Sunrise called Thol to work as a cleaner at the hospital for 4 months, she realized this was her chance to start a small business. Thol used the $100 she earned to successfully raise pigs. She is now a member of the local Assemblies of God church where she worships every Sunday. She wants to give thanks to Sunrise staff who introduced her to Jesus. Now, because of Jesus, she has hope and a better home in which to live.

 

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“I’m very happy to share about my life! Before I became a Christian, I was ignorant, lacking in love, and argumentative. It’s now been 2 ½ years since I’ve come to believe in Jesus and I’ve almost become an entirely new person. I have love in my heart and no longer think so highly of myself.I’ve volunteered with Sunrise for about 2 years and have a strong desire to continue this work as long as possible. When I first began tutoring at the orphanage, I didn’t have a close relationship with my student. But, time and time again, God taught me and gave me more and more love [for her]. I know that it is good for me to serve God through this ministry in my community. I love this work so much!” – Thida, 19 years old