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	Updates from Cambodia 2005 Home » News & Events » Current News » News Archive Friday January 28. 2005 Dear friends and partners, It is time to wish each of you a happy and blessed 2005. The year started out with a reminder that life is short and not to be taken for granted. The tsunami in our neighbouring countries caused us to pause and think about these families who have suffered so much - just like so many here. The waters in our ponds and wells - rose and fell that day - there was panic in several provinces as people tried to come to grips with what had happened. At first, they believed that there were evil spirits and then as the news spread of the earthquake and the resulting tsunami - people settled down again. Our condolences to all of you who lost loved ones in this tragedy - our prayers of thanks for all of you who were there and survived. Our thanks to our God for reminding us, yet again, to make each day of our lives count - to appreciate the gift of life - to remember to say "I love you," to all around us. Our holidays seem so long ago - we are all back at work - refreshed and renewed and working with fervour. We were privileged to open up a new office in the province of Kampot. My site visit to approve the office was an eye opener to just how many ways people managed to make a living in this country. We visited the salt fields near the border - a thousand families making a meagre living from gleaning salt from flooded fields. The road, as usual, left a bit to be desired - the poverty, so very striking. What bothered me most was that at the end of the day - no one had any water to clean off their salt encrusted bodies. Sometimes, life is so hard. We visited a second community - more than 1000 families with no access to water - could they have wells? - yes, of course - they are not budgeted for, but I hope that the funds will be there to meet this need as well. Then we moved down the road to visit with our farmers who have been in our program for the past 8 months - it was fun, for they were so proud to show off their fields of vegetables - all because of the wells. We ate fresh vegetables - which always taste better when freshly picked. Before we travelled back, we stopped at a local restaurant and ate our fill of the best crab in theworld. A day of extremes - a normal day in our lives. We heard of some land near Phnom Penh that was for sale - so Tuit, Ming Wan, Nari and I went to take a look. It's not far from the city, electricity and city water will be installed, the land was legitimate with legal papers- the price - so very cheap compared to the inflated prices of land around the country- should they buy? For Cambodians, having a house to die in, is one of their most sacred needs. The land is not large and although cheap - 2 of them still needed to borrow money. Can we buy ? yes! Their joy and their deep seated contentment is a lesson for me - a reminder that our staff - all of them, need a place to call their own. I had a trip to Siem Reap - all of the staff were there, even Kameak, our manager from Banteay Meanchaey. Something was up. Kameak wants to marry - he is 34 years old - he's wanted a family for so many years - now his time has come. He's rather shy - I asked all the motherly questions, what is she like. She is younger than him, and he says, she is ugly - but she is a hard worker and she likes my dreams for our families - she will make a good wife. Ani develops the giggles - she has to be his surrogate mother - like I was for her marriage - she says," he has a picture of the girl but he won't show it to us - he just showed it to Zach", Ani's 6 year old son. Kameak needs to borrow money for the wedding itself - I say, I can't see her picture - I can't help you. Ani squeezes herself with delight - Kameak knows when he is beaten. He gives us a quick glimpse - "that's not enough", I say - he let's us hold her picture - she is not ugly at all but he doesn't want anything bad to happen before the wedding so he speaks disparagingly of her - Kameak, like everyone I know here - is afraid to want good things - his life has bee too hard - I smile and he gives me a real hug. The wedding will be in February - it will be deep in the country side but all this matters little - Kameak will have a family to call his own. The month started with a reminder of how short life can be - the month has ended with a reminder of how full and varied life really is. What a privilege it is to live this life - I thank my God for this gift and I thank my God for the lives He has granted to each of you. May 2005 be a year full of life for each of you. Janne Wednesday, March 16. 2005 Dear friends, Every so often we get to share good news of those with whom we work. This month is a bit special. When we started Tabitha in 1994 - none of us could imagine what changes there would be - how life would impact each of us. Today I want to share the story of Pisette - our very first sewer. Pisette's life has been difficult. She was raised in the country sideby her mom - her dad left after the sixth child was born. Pisette, being the oldest girl, was responsible for the younger children. Her schooling was a bit here and a bit there - she managed to finish Grade 5. When she was fifteen, her mother sent her away to be with her father in Phnom Penh. For the first few years, Pisette helped out vendors at different market stalls. Her father married her off at 18 to her first husband. With the money raised at the wedding combined with her husband's selling of his motorbike, they bought a small plot of land in Kilometre 6 - 3 meters by 10 meters. Their house was made of pieces of wood and cardboard, their floor was dirt, their possessions were 2 sets of clothes each and a sleeping mat.Pisette was a good sewer and she was able to purchase her sewing machine quickly - this meant they had to buy a chair. Their next big purchase was a sleeping mat and net for their new baby - and so it went. Slowly they were able to purchase bits and pieces - the biggest purchase was to buy wood to replace the cardboard and tin for a roof to keep out the rain. 7 years ago, Pisette's husband came home complaining of a headache - he laid down to sleep and never woke up again. He died of cerebral malaria - Pisette was a widow with a young child at the age of 23. 3 years ago, Pisette was promoted to staff - she is part of our sales team - her primary responsibility is quality control. At the same time she got married to her second husband - he is a good man - his work is to cook for weddings - so she eats well. Their first purchase was a refrigerator. Pisette saved all of her salary for the past three years. In February, she gave birth to her second son and with his birth it was time to visit her home. They celebrated the advent of this child by rebuilding their home. What a joy it was to come and see what she has done. Their home is now made of cement - not large - 3 meters by 10 meters - one and a half floors - but it is complete with kitchen, modern bathroom, bedroom and living room. The roof is ready to add an other floor when they have saved enough to build it. They are out of debt - their children are healthy, they both have work. Pisette remains a quiet, conscientious worker - but her smile as she showed me her home and her growing family spoke volumes. I never believed that I would have such a wonderful life - I never believed I would have a home to be proud of, I never believed that I would have a job as good as mine is. I have no education, I had no future - I thank God for Tabitha, I thank God for my life. These past 2 months have been very busy with teams building houses for people we work with. The staff spend many long, hard hours standing with others as they rebuild their lives. How good it is to see the staff themselves rebuild their lives from the ashes. Pisette is one of many, Mari and Kol and Pat and his family, join so many of our staff this year in rebuilding their homes, rebuilding their future. Without each of you, this is not possible - I praise God for each of our staff, I praise my God for each of you. Alongside Pisette, I thank my God for Tabitha; I thank my God for my life. In His service, Janne Thursday, April 07. 2005 Dear friends, It's that time of the year to wish each and every one of you a Happy Khmer New Years. It seems strange to celebrate three New Years each year - Jan 1, Chinese New Years and Khmer New Years. The celebrations have started although the actual New Years days are April 13-15th - each evening our neighbourhood rocks with the laughter of children and adults as they play games in the early evening. Hearing Miriam's laughter amongst them is very good. Khmer New Years also brings out the occasional electricity problems - not sure why, whether its because the country shuts down as everyone goes to their home villages, including those who do electricity or its because the weather is always at its hottest and the electricity use is at its peak. Whatever the reason, my home was without electricity for 2 days and nights - an experience that tests me to the core of my being and results in a schizophrenic personality that swings from utter despair to elation and unusual bonhomie to one and all when restored. This week I had a site visit that brought tears to my eyes. Srei, Tharry, Pon, Pow and Cheiring asked me to visit this village in Kirivon. The trip is long and hard and has several roads that defy description. We had received our first rainfall since November in Phnom Penh and felt refreshed - the farther we drove - the less the elation as the drought in the countryside left us feeling bereft for the people we saw. We arrived in Kirivon and were met by several hundred people. They were gathered around the only well in the area -all kinds of containers were lined in a row - people were bickering with each other about whose turn it was - many had been waiting for several hours to get their water. The water was only good for washing - it was unsafe to drink - it causes severe cramps when drunk - I asked, where then do you get your drinking water - from another well - 3 kilometres away - how many families does that well serve, I asked - 489, I was told. We must use this well for water for washing and cleaning and we must use the other well for drinking water. Most of us spend up to 5 hours per day, just getting water. That is why we asked you to come. They led me to the back of the village and there they showed me what they had in mind. In front of me was a reservoir that they had dug - 226 families in this village and every night after work 201 families sent a member of their family to help dig. The reservoir had been dug over 60 years ago by their great grandparents - then came the Khmer rouge years and everyone was forced away - many were executed - most of the families had returned over the years since then but the reservoir had filled with dirt and only a small pond remained. The drought each year had caused much grief for these families. They had heard about the other 2 reservoirs that we had helped with - they only knew that we expected; them to do their fair share of work before we would help - they had not seen the other reservoirs because these were 50 kilometres away. So they had begun to dig where the top step was visible - and as they dug, the steps, kept going down. They dug 3 meters and still the steps went down. Our staff, Pow and Cheiring had taken the leader to the other reservoir to see what we had done. The leader came back to the village and shared the news - we must provide the stone, he said, and then Tabitha will help with the cement and sand to make the walls. This was good, the villagers said, because that is what we do, break stones into gravel and we sell the gravel to others Now, they not only divided into teams to dig, but also divided teamsinto going into the surrounding hills to collect stones for the walls - even the children were part of the teams - doing an adult portion of digging and carrying. The children refused to stop doing their share while I stood with the elders and we talked. I asked the children why they worked so hard - they giggled and shyly hid their faces - a tiny ten year old finally spoke - we have no water and our parents work so hard - we can do this to help all of us and we can see how much we have done - next year, we will not be thirsty and our parents will not be so tired. he elders, staff and I talked about how big this would be - the elders said we want to gig another 2 meters, making it 8 meters deep - and we heard that you wanted us to make it square so it will be 18 meters long and 15 meters wide - that way, we will have water all year round Will the water be good, I asked. They replied that the water would come from the hills around during the rainy season and it was very good water for drinking. The cost would be $600.00 to make the wall all around - the wall would be one meter high. It would keep the reservoir clean. How long would it take to finish, said I. By June, we will have it done. I thought about the days of no electricity and water that I just had - the heat and the inability to do anything about it. Here was a village of people who were doing something about it - they are doing so with sacrifice and hard work, they are doing so together - from the youngest to the eldest - and they were doing so with joy. Can we start this week - before Khmer New years with the wall? Yes, you can. The staff and elders remained behind to purchase the cement and sand - the children returned to collecting stones and I returned home - thinking that this is what it is all about. You, our friends and our partners, say to us at Tabitha, yes, you can and we in turn say to the villagers, yes, you can. I am humbled by my God, who said, yes, you can - together, each of us, in our own way - change so much of what we thought we could not - but together we can. On behalf of all the staff, villagers and families, we wish each of you, Happy Khmer New Years. Janne Wednesday May 25. 2005 Dear friends and partners, A couple of weeks ago, staff asked me to come out and visit 60 families who had just completed their first cycle of savings. The families wanted to show me what they had done. I went rather reluctantly because I was not feeling well, I was on a special diet for my illness and my body hurt and ached. The visit pulled me out of my self pity. As we went from home to home, people ran to show me the things that they had bought, things they thought they could never have, things, they said, that only rich people can buy. At one house, Ly's family ran hurriedly to show me the pots and pans they had bought - oh, said Ly, now I can cook. Sopheak was not to stand by idly - she grabbed her clan and she showed me her dishes - her sons were so very proud - not plastic, said the oldest, real porcelain - just like the rich. The family next door said but we have even better, we have drinking glasses. I marvelled at how good it is to take joy is these things. The widowed families were not be outdone - a single father showed me the sleeping mat that he and his children were sleeping on - now the floor is not so hard, chirped a daughter. A widowed mom proudly showed me a sack of rice that she had bought - the baby will not be hungry this month, she said. An old woman showed me her ice chest that she had bought - it will help to keep my daughter's medicine longer, she said. My self - pity was rapidly disappearing - it was being replaced by wonderment - what joy, what pride each family had. Not to be undone, a family showed me their new mosquito net - we can all be safe now, said the mom, we all can sleep under it. Another mother proudly showed me the pigs and chickens they had bought. This year, she said, we will be rich - my pig will help us to buy many things. And yet another, proudly brought out the chair they had bought - now grandma can sit in comfort, laughed the grandson. A young man showed me the blanket he had bought - we will no longer be cold at night, he said. The visit was a long one, sixty families are a lot to see. Each had their dream to share with us, each was so very proud of what they had accomplished. Each shared about their next dream come true. I came home exhausted but I came home refreshed. The diet was no longer a burden - I had choice of whatever I wanted to eat. My water was cold because I have a fridge, my bed is always soft, and I have many blankets. I thanked my God that I was so blessed - not because I had everything but because I am privileged to see what it is to have so little, and to be reminded by these families, to take joy in all that I have - no matter how little or big it is. These families are my heroes - they give me life. I thank my God that it is so. And I thank each one of you, that you make it so. Janne July 21. 2005 Dear friends and partners, Like most parents, I worry that Miriam learns to appreciate and be grateful for what she has and that she learns to be compassionate with those who are not so fortunate. Sometimes I get a glimmer that my desire is taking fruit. Let me share one such glimmer. We get volunteer house builders all year round. Most times, I only do orientation with the teams but several times a year we have very special groups come in and I join the house building as well. Last month, one of those groups arrived. They are families who had adopted Cambodian children. This go-round, there were 16 children with their siblings and parents in tow. For the first time, Miriam, my 6 year olddaughter found a soul mate, 7 year old Chanta. Their histories are very similar - both girls were born testing positive for the HIV virus, both girls had lost their parents to AIDS, both girls were adopted by single moms. The other adopted children were all in their early teens. It was an honour and delight to see how well they were doing. Our first days together followed the normal pattern, getting acquainted and re-acquainted and then I did orientation. This time the difference was marked. The young people understood what was being said about what happened - an understandin of those years began to awaken. It was such a privilege to be a part of that. The next day we were off to Kompong Som and the beach - a 4 hour trip that left us all ready to splash in the waves. We ran into a minor problem as the rains had come early to Kompong Som, the ocean swells threatened to carry of the swimmers. The next morning we left for our village - the trip took an hour and a half but nobody minded as there were lots of people to talk to. We arrived at our destination ready to work - everyone began to hammer with the early morning burst of energy. With that burst of energy, the skies burst forth in rain and wind. At first, we all tried to keep dry but it soon became clear, that no house would be built if we did that too long. So, one by one the workers came out and renewed their efforts. For the first time, the young people were building their own house, with no assistance from the adults. As the wind and rain lashed their bodies, they hammered the walls and the floors. Our 2 young ladies rapidly became cold and were shivering.With the cold came the need to go potty. The latrine was a very simple affair off in the field. Both girls were very nervous, but managed to walk gingerly through the mud and the rice paddies to do their thing. Once they knew they could do it - it became an hourly trek- 2 little girls, walking hand in hand - one stood in watch that no cows would come near, while the other did their business. Both girls spent much time watching the children of the village and their families. At the end of the day, the young people had completed their first home. Everyone was soaked to the skin and filthy from the mud in the rice paddies. We came back to the beach to once again swim in the rain.At the end of the day, the young people had completed their first home. Everyone was soaked to the skin and filthy from the mud in the rice paddies. We came back to the beach to once again swim in the rain. The next morning, Miriam woke to very wet and muddy shoes. She began to cry, "I am not poor mom! Poor people have only 1 pair of shoes and they are always wet - they never have dry feet. They only have one set of clothes and those are all wet and dirty and now they can't get their clothes dry. I hate living like a poor person, she cried - I hate it that they are poor." I was speechless. Miriam with all her exposure to those less fortunate than her, had never expressed how bothered she is with this.I said nothing,just helped her on with her shoes - she needed to cry. And then a big hug and a tickle and she went forth to another day of building in the wet and cold. In the bus trip down to the village, Chanta began to cry. She was crying because the people were so poor, they had so little clothes and food to eat. It wasn't fair. It could have been her. Chanta's mom couldn't say much either, she held her close and let her cry. And then together, we talked of other things so that Chanta could regain her composure. Then Chanta went forth to another day of building in the wet and the cold. Miriam and Chanta did well that day - no complaining, hammering nails like big people. The latrine was still their fascination, the village children an education. The young people built their second house. They did it with humour and compassion for each other. They beat the adults. They were a proud group. I could say with great pride, well done, well done. When we returned to Phnom Penh, we took the girls to the orphanage where they came from. We came laden with toys made by a volunteer and clothes the girls had outgrown. Sister Maripol was delighted to see them. She took them by the hand and showed them off to the other Sisters - how good that was to see. And then she prayed with them. It was very good. All of you, our friends and partners, have enabled Chanta's mom and me to see our girls grow in wisdom and strength - to develop the values we hold so dear. My thanks to each of you for allowing that to happen, my thanks to my God for letting it be, my thanks to the parents of these young people, how good it is to see how well they are growing. It can't get any better than this - well, yes it can get better - when every child in Cambodia no longer has wet feet and wet clothes. Let's make that happen. Janne Monday September 5. 2005 Dear friends and partners, This morning, our development staffs are off to Banteay Meanchaey - all 31 of them. They have gone to have a look at one of our youngest programs, but they have gone with trepidation. You see, most of the staff is used to travelling for long hours on motorbikes - in the heat or the wet - it doesn't matter - they are used to long hours and very hard work. But Banteay Meanchaey is one of those areas where even motorbikes cannot go. Our young staff walk anywhere from 5 to 10 kilometres per day - just to meet with the families. The staff has a special task to do. It is to visit a community with 2000 families - very poor families who live on a large hill called Phum Malay. These families have so very little, but the worst is that they have no water. Wells have been dug to 200 meters and still there is no water. The chief of the commune has asked us to help them finish a pond that would provide water for the 16,000 people living there. It's a large pond - 40 meters by 20 meters - its depth is 5 meters. The discussion must be as follows: Would these 2000 families be willing to dig the pond another 5 meters deep to a depth of 10 meters - and would they be willing to find stones to make the wall? If so, Tabitha would supply cement and other materials to build a wall around the reservoir - of course this cannot be started until March of 2006, when the water from this current monsoon season is gone. This all came about when I met with the staff of Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchaey last week. It's never an easy trip to travel to our communities in either area - this one was much worse for Kameak was behind the wheel of the car. He is a wonderful man, but his driving abilities leave me breathless. I asked Vannak, a Siem Reap staff - what he liked most about the work. He said, he loved the way he became part of the communities and how people shared all their problems with him - he loved the way that people had changed - when he first came - the people would not even look at him, they walked with heads down and no smiles - he loved the way that changed as people saved and were able to buy things like dishes and sacks of rice, things they hadn't been able to buy for years. Dinat, another staff, was comforted by his words, as in his new area people are unable to smile and greet him - the problems seem so big - my dream is to see these families laugh again, he said. My last evening there I had to work out a marriage agreement. It's not the first time and I suspect not the last time either, that one of the staff have asked me to be their official parent. This time was very special. Ani, our manager in Siem Reap, was asked to be the wife of Theavy - a rather nice man. Ani lost her first husband Dara, 5 years ago - their marriage was based on love and mutual respect. At that time, I had been asked to intervene as neither family wished to see this union. Once again I was asked to counsel and set agreements because Ani was frightened. She was frightened that this marriage would not be the same as her first marriage, she was frightened that the love would not be the same as the one she had with Dara. We talked openly about these issues - we talked about the children involved, we talked about the different faiths. At the end, both Ani and Theavy were much relieved that so many things that were frightening for both were out in the open. Then Ani asked me what one thing I demanded from both of them - I said that they both must promise me never to go to bed angry with each other - they must always resolve their anger before they went to sleep. This they promised to do. When is the wedding? - possibly during the Christmas holidays. I came back to Phnom Penh well satisfied with the work - I came in time to be with Chanthou - our cottage industry manager. She had her second entopic pregnancy and lost her baby. What bothered me most was that the ovarian pregnancy had burst 2 days before and she had walked for 2 days with pain. The doctors were very good - they were able to stem the raging infection inside her body. Did you not know, I asked? No, she said, there were no signs - and you were not in town to talk things over. I asked for help from some other staff and they helped. I no longer want my own baby, she said, I am too old. Can you help me adopt a baby - one just like Miriam? This week is a normal week - one full of the joys and pains of life. Life is a precious gift - I am honoured to be a part of so many lives - I am humbled by the gift of life of so many others. I praise my God for this gift - I am thankful that each of you are a part of my life. Janne Tuesday October 12. 2005 Dear friends and partners, It's been a whirlwind few weeks but my, how good the weeks were. In the past 3 weeks, 69 houses were built for our families - we had one day when there were 3 teams in town and all in our shop - they shopped and we had our biggest sales day ever - over $9,000.00 in 2 hours. Not only that but all the teams combined helped us start our new fiscal year with gusto as they brought more than $12,000.00 for our development program. People sometimes ask me if the work doesn't get too much. The answer is that Tabitha is always celebrating even when there is sadness or harsh realities that make us stop and mourn. When we have so many partners here with us, rejoicing and encouraging - no, it may be busy but our cup is flowing over. We had several high government officials come to one of our housebuilding sites. They knew about the house building program but they thought that local contractors built the houses and the teams just came to see what had been built. Their excitement and disbelief at seeing foreigners with hammers in hand, sweat pouring from their bodies, finishing these houses had an impact that is rare. "Foreigners don't do physical labor," I was told - "you know they are all tourists, we have never seen anything like this" I will be honest, I had an attack of pride - which rapidly developed into a sense of humbleness and thankfulness for so many of you who come and stand with our people here. It was not only the officials who were impressed. The local village chief had mocked the villagers for believing in us and for believing in themselves. His harsh words and mockery were something that Pon and Srei and Tharry bore with good grace for several years. When we arrived with the officials, he hid in fear and shame. Our visit was short and then we left. The volunteers remained and built the houses. The chief came out of hiding - he didn't know what to say - but Srei did, she made him laugh and asked him to join. The chief is not a rich man - he, like so many others here - have learned that people can be very hurtful - the Khmer Rouge taught him to lose faith in all people - the staff's faithfulness over the past years, the work of the volunteers - Srei's open arms taught him that maybe Pol Pot was wrong. He joined our program this week. What a gift that is. The past few weeks we have been doing our year end report - what a year it's been. We had planned to have volunteers build 200 houses - 327 were built. We had planned to do 520 wells - we did 572 wells and we helped construct 3 ponds/reservoirs - 3,333 families with 26,664 people had access to water this past year. We had planned that 20,000 families would be helped, more than 22,000 families were helped - more than 160,000 people were touched. They saved a total of $683,673.49 - we paid 10% interest to our families - and they purchased items worth $3,156,500.00 worth - an indicator of how powerful the savings program is. And what did these families buy? Just a few examples, 5068 families bought mosquito nets, 2222 families bought batteries so they can have 4 hours of light each night, 6899 families paid for school fees, 5022 families bought 3 months supply of rice, no more hunger, 2253 families bought pigs so that they are able to increase their incomes by 50%. Our new year started the first of October - our dreams are very ambitious for this year - 450 houses to be built, 762 wells to be dug, and 25,000 families with 200,000 people to be impacted through savings and development programs. I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for making so much possible for so many people. Thank you for standing with us as we enable people to change from disbelief in people to ones of celebration with people. I am thankful to my God, that He has brought each of you to stand with us. How good that is. Janne November 14.2005 Dear friends and partners, Today is the first day of the annual Water Festival in Phnom Penh. It's a week when more than a million people from the rural areas travel to the big city to enjoy the boat races celebrating the beginning of the harvest season. This season is marked by the waters flowing down the Mekong River reversing itself and flooding up country to fill the Tonle Sap Lake in the middle of the country This means that for most people, a week of holidays is enjoyed. For Tabitha staff - it's a week of work - not because they are not allowed to have holidays but because they want to make sure that as many of our families as possible receive a new home. How does that happen - through volunteer house building teams - two of whom are here during this week. I ask the staff - are you sure you want to do this - their reply is consistent - look how many families will get houses - the families are so very happy - it's what we want. But oh my, it's not without cost - just traveling in and out of the city becomes a challenge all of its own. I personally grumble and mumble through the whole week - what an inconvenience this is - all these people. All this traffic. And in the midst of the grumbling, one of our sewers walks into my office - she is very nervous - and she stands and twists her hands - I ask her what she wants - and she shyly turns and pulls forth her family - 4 boys, 3 girls - all twisting their hands and giving me scared glimpses through downcast eyes - each face tries desperately to hide little smiles. Each child is wearing new clothes - how beautiful - their eyes are shining - there is a giggle from the smallest and it becomes infectious - the sewer says softly, my children will celebrate this week for the first time ever - I wanted to come and show you. Do you not wish to join them, I ask? She shakes her head - no she says, tonight I will join them, today, I want to earn enough money so that next week I can pay for each one of them to go to school. I am so blessed, she says - I never thought this would happen. I stand on the street with Miriam and watch as so many people come to celebrate - so many in ragged clothes, clutching their few riels in their hands, so many who walk for hours just to be a part of the celebration - I watch and see the children stare at all the many new things they see - I watch as they try to decide what little tidbit of food their money can buy. Miriam's hand is in mine - she too, is staring - she is watching a young girl with a little one on her hips - snatching scraps of food off the food stalls - she asks me, can I spend my money on whatever I want. I say yes. She goes to the owner of the food stall and orders rice and fish, soup and chicken and a fruit shake - I ask her if she is hungry - her face is ashen - she says nothing but goes to the girl and takes her by the hand - she makes her sit on a stool - the little one gets her own stool as well- she can't sit still - her butt beats a tattoo on the stool - the girls eat and eat - Miriam does not move - tears slip down her cheeks - she says, I am so happy mom, that God gave me you as my mom. For more news about Miriam, click Miriam I have a team in town - they went to Kirivon for the week-end - it was a hard build - little in the way of the comforts they are used to. One of the moms gives me something her son wrote this year as an assignment required in his class. I am deeply touched. Rory is 13 and in grade 8 - he wrote: My Dream in Cambodia To build at least 20 houses in Cambodia through Tabitha Have already built 4 in sixth grade Going on another building trip over spring break If each house holds a family of at least 5, 100 people have a better standard of living Older Cambodians who lived through the Khmer rouge would rather die than go through it again and a lot keep poison in their house I want to show them that the Khmer rouge won't come to power again and to get them to throw out their poison. As we in Tabitha all celebrate Water Festival in our own ways - I want to say thank you to each of you for celebrating with us through your support. I, like Miriam am so happy to God for giving each of you to all of us. Janne December 2, 2005 Dear Friends and Partners, It is December, a month when we celebrate Christmas, a time when many of us celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus. It is a time when a message of love and hope becomes a message for all of us. Jesus spoke of many virtues - one of which is "whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of the least of these.... Yesterday I went to Kampot - Srei, Ti, and Mara, staff there had asked me to come and see how our ten families living with AIDS were doing. The drive out was beautiful although some of the roads were not so beautiful. We walked through rice fields to meet these families. There they were in a clearing, a member of each family standing and waiting. As we began to talk, I shared Miriam's story with them, how her mom had died of AIDS, how Miriam had tested positive for the HIV virus. I showed her picture - and one of the men said, my daughter was put up for adoption when my wife and I knew we had AIDS. We were saddened by his announcement but it opened the doors to be able to share. Their story is one of poverty and loneliness - each of these people own just a small plot of land, not large enough to grow rice, not large enough to feed their families. Each husband had left to work on the Thai border - and in the long absences from home, had slept with taxi girls and contracted AIDS. In the several months when they could be home each year, they had passed on the virus to their wives. All of them fell very ill with ailments related to AIDS. Their neighbors held them in scorn, they feared them, and would no longer allow them to be part of their communities. Their children were taunted at school, to a point where they no longer attended school. They were unable to work in the markets, and so they began to starve. Ti was a volunteer in our program in Kampot when we opened there 2 years ago - he asked Srei to come and meet with these families. Srei did, and they joined our savings program. They couldn't save much but Tabitha talked to them - and this was enough to get them started. All of them started on retroviral drugs given by an AIDS NGO - but the drugs were not enough. The continued isolation from their community, their inability to feed themselves kept them in despair. After a year, Srei and Ti decided to install 3 wells near the homes of these families. The families were too poor to pay even the small amount of money usually required by us. After things changed dramatically. Each family began to grow vegetables near their homes - it is amazing to see - one meter for limes, a meter for morning glory, several banana plants, mango trees, guava trees, chili peppers, sugar cane, etc. Each fruit or vegetable had its allotted space of a meter or two - soon they were earning and eating on a daily basis - they began to be able to purchase simple things such as pots and pans, dishes and glasses, blankets and mosquito nets. But the thing that changed the most - was the gift of water to their neighbors. Clean water was available 3 kilometers from their homes - now the wells brought clean water to within 50 meters of neighbors. They came and asked if they could use the water also. The families gave their blessings and with the gift of water came reconciliation and forgiveness. All of them are now an integral part of the community, their children are now in school, no longer being taunted. I asked them if they were angry with their neighbors - no, they said - Tabitha gave us love -we were so long without love - now we give our love to our neighbors. The water is plentiful and clean and cool - there is so much love to share. We can provide for our families every day, we can share with our neighbors everyday; we can tell others how to get help everyday. There are 600 of us in this district - we all need your love and to share this love with others. I then asked, are you afraid of dying? They answered with joy, - no we used to be afraid of dying - it took all our energy just to get through each day - but now, with the well - each day we think of what else we can grow, what else we can teach, what else can we share with others around us. On behalf of all our families - each of whom suffers so deeply in so many ways, our staff and my family, we wish each of you the love of Christmas - the love you have given to the least of these here. Merry Christmas to each of you and the best of the holiday season. Janne ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Annual Report September 2004 to September 2005 Dear friends and partners, I am delighted to present to all of you a copy of our 11th Annual report. It has been a year of celebration, a year of growth, a year when so very much was accomplished. Our goals were many and many were achieved. The staff worked long, hard hours yet none complained - instead the refrain was always, we must do more - we must expand to more areas. And so we did - Bant Mean is our 8th province. It is an honour to have stood with them. Our goal was to reach out to 20,130 families with 152,550 people. Our result was to reach out to 20685 families with 165,480 dependents in Community Development - in Cottage Industry we reached out to an additional 657 families with 5,256 dependents for a total of 21,342 families with 170,736 dependents. What an honour that is. Our goal was that these families would save $654,530.00; they saved $683,673.49 - their purchases are valued at $3,156,500.00 worth. It is an indicator of how powerful the savings works within family units, enabling families to work together to achieve their own goals. Our goal was to build 200 houses with our volunteer house builders; 321 houses were built - an amazing number completed with amazing people. Our goal was to install 504 wells, 572 wells were dug and 3 reservoirs ponds were done, giving fresh water to 3,333 families with 26,664 dependents - what joy that brings. Our year was a year of celebration and thankfulness. The following reports are a synopsis of what was achieved - but it does not report on how good it was. We are grateful to each of you for standing with us, for enabling so much to be done. Without each of you, so little could have been done. We thank our God for His sustaining Grace and His abounding love. Without our God, nothing could have been done. Come, celebrate with us. In His Name, Janne Ritskes, Director, Tabitha Cambodia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Community Development through Savings Our goal for family savings was $ 654,530.00 The actual savings was $ 683,673.49 The reasons for the accomplishments and exceeding our goals this year is due to the expansion in Kampot and Kompong Speu. We are very grateful for the dreams achieved by our families. Staff collecting savings each week from the families. Every 10 weeks - families receive their savings plus 10% interest from Tabitha as a sign of encouragement and congratulations on a task well done. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cottage Industry Report It has been an exciting year for cottage industry - our sales have increased to over $500,000.00 - a first time for us. Our ability to produce quantities and varieties of goods has doubled. Our major area of concern is our shop in Siem Reap. Despite all our efforts over the past 5 years, we are unable to attract customers to our showroom. It has become a cost that we are unable to sustain any longer. This will be a painful step to resolve in the next fiscal year. Our Objectives: 1. From October 2004 until September 2005, Tabitha Cottage Industry will increase the income of 620 families with 4880 dependents from a monthly income of 0-$10 a month to an income of $50-60$ a month through income earned from piece rate. Our actual number of families working in Cottage Industry was 653 families. 583 families earned an average of $150.00 per month. 2. Our goal for sales was to sell $522,000.00 worth of goods. Our actual sales were $522,257.12. For several reasons the results could still have been better. 1. Our sales in Siem Reap have dropped considerably - tourists come to see Ankor Wat and do not shop. 2. We had a large number of orders in September bringing our consignment up to $93,245.00 - all of which will be paid by end of December 2005. 3. Our inventory, especially in our silk room, was doubled this year to a total of $291,943.15. This has enabled us to serve our customers better and to increase our customer base. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Housebuilding Report Our specific objective this program year was to build 200 houses in our 8 project areas. We surpassed our goal and built 321 houses with 48 teams and 764 volunteers. Siem Reap: 55 houses Kandal: 84 houses Takeo: 81 houses Kompong Som: 47 houses Prey Veng: 42 houses Kampot 12 houses 764 Volunteers Built 321 Houses Houses of tin and wood in Kandal, Siem Reap, Takeo, Prey Veng Houses of all wood in Kampong Som and Kampot. The total cost of these houses was $277,950.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wells and Ponds Specific Objective: 1. To provide potable water for 2,520 families with 20,160 dependents with the installation of 504 wells in 7 project areas. Each well will serve 5 families. Actual Result: 1. 572 wells were dug for 2,860 families with 22,880 dependents. There is water enough for everyone. There is water enough to grow vegetables, raise pigs, earn incomes. In Addition: 3 ponds or reservoirs were dug and built for 473 families with 3,784 dependents. These were completed in Kirivon District of Takeo where deep water wells are not suitable for drinking water. The families provided the labor and quarried the stone for the walls; Tabitha provided the funds for cement and other materials to build the walls and the stairs. The total cost of the wells and ponds was $64,278.00 BACK TO TOP Home » News & Events » Current News » News Archive

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Updates from Cambodia 2005

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Friday January 28. 2005

Dear friends and partners,

It is time to wish each of you a happy and blessed 2005. The year started out with a reminder that life is short and not to be taken for granted. The tsunami in our neighbouring countries caused us to pause and think about these families who have suffered so much - just like so many here. The waters in our ponds and wells - rose and fell that day - there was panic in several provinces as people tried to come to grips with what had happened. At first, they believed that there were evil spirits and then as the news spread of the earthquake and the resulting tsunami - people settled down again. Our condolences to all of you who lost loved ones in this tragedy - our prayers of thanks for all of you who were there and survived. Our thanks to our God for reminding us, yet again, to make each day of our lives count - to appreciate the gift of life - to remember to say "I love you," to all around us.

Our holidays seem so long ago - we are all back at work - refreshed and renewed and working with fervour. We were privileged to open up a new office in the province of Kampot. My site visit to approve the office was an eye opener to just how many ways people managed to make a living in this country. We visited the salt fields near the border - a thousand families making a meagre living from gleaning salt from flooded fields. The road, as usual, left a bit to be desired - the poverty, so very striking. What bothered me most was that at the end of the day - no one had any water to clean off their salt encrusted bodies. Sometimes, life is so hard.

We visited a second community - more than 1000 families with no access to water - could they have wells? - yes, of course - they are not budgeted for, but I hope that the funds will be there to meet this need as well.

Then we moved down the road to visit with our farmers who have been in our program for the past 8 months - it was fun, for they were so proud to show off their fields of vegetables - all because of the wells. We ate fresh vegetables - which always taste better when freshly picked. Before we travelled back, we stopped at a local restaurant and ate our fill of the best crab in theworld. A day of extremes - a normal day in our lives.

We heard of some land near Phnom Penh that was for sale - so Tuit, Ming Wan, Nari and I went to take a look. It's not far from the city, electricity and city water will be installed, the land was legitimate with legal papers- the price - so very cheap compared to the inflated prices of land around the country- should they buy? For Cambodians, having a house to die in, is one of their most sacred needs. The land is not large and although cheap - 2 of them still needed to borrow money. Can we buy ? yes! Their joy and their deep seated contentment is a lesson for me - a reminder that our staff - all of them, need a place to call their own.

I had a trip to Siem Reap - all of the staff were there, even Kameak, our manager from Banteay Meanchaey. Something was up. Kameak wants to marry - he is 34 years old - he's wanted a family for so many years - now his time has come. He's rather shy - I asked all the motherly questions, what is she like. She is younger than him, and he says, she is ugly - but she is a hard worker and she likes my dreams for our families - she will make a good wife. Ani develops the giggles - she has to be his surrogate mother - like I was for her marriage - she says," he has a picture of the girl but he won't show it to us - he just showed it to Zach", Ani's 6 year old son. Kameak needs to borrow money for the wedding itself - I say, I can't see her picture - I can't help you. Ani squeezes herself with delight - Kameak knows when he is beaten. He gives us a quick glimpse - "that's not enough", I say - he let's us hold her picture - she is not ugly at all but he doesn't want anything bad to happen before the wedding so he speaks disparagingly of her - Kameak, like everyone I know here - is afraid to want good things - his life has bee too hard - I smile and he gives me a real hug. The wedding will be in February - it will be deep in the country side but all this matters little - Kameak will have a family to call his own.

The month started with a reminder of how short life can be - the month has ended with a reminder of how full and varied life really is. What a privilege it is to live this life - I thank my God for this gift and I thank my God for the lives He has granted to each of you. May 2005 be a year full of life for each of you.

Janne

Wednesday, March 16. 2005

Dear friends,

Every so often we get to share good news of those with whom we work. This month is a bit special. When we started Tabitha in 1994 - none of us could imagine what changes there would be - how life would impact each of us. Today I want to share the story of Pisette - our very first sewer.

Pisette's life has been difficult. She was raised in the country sideby her mom - her dad left after the sixth child was born. Pisette, being the oldest girl, was responsible for the younger children. Her schooling was a bit here and a bit there - she managed to finish Grade 5. When she was fifteen, her mother sent her away to be with her father in Phnom Penh. For the first few years, Pisette helped out vendors at different market stalls. Her father married her off at 18 to her first husband.

With the money raised at the wedding combined with her husband's selling of his motorbike, they bought a small plot of land in Kilometre 6 - 3 meters by 10 meters. Their house was made of pieces of wood and cardboard, their floor was dirt, their possessions were 2 sets of clothes each and a sleeping mat.Pisette was a good sewer and she was able to purchase her sewing machine quickly - this meant they had to buy a chair. Their next big purchase was a sleeping mat and net for their new baby - and so it went. Slowly they were able to purchase bits and pieces - the biggest purchase was to buy wood to replace the cardboard and tin for a roof to keep out the rain.

7 years ago, Pisette's husband came home complaining of a headache - he laid down to sleep and never woke up again. He died of cerebral malaria - Pisette was a widow with a young child at the age of 23.

3 years ago, Pisette was promoted to staff - she is part of our sales team - her primary responsibility is quality control. At the same time she got married to her second husband - he is a good man - his work is to cook for weddings - so she eats well. Their first purchase was a refrigerator.

Pisette saved all of her salary for the past three years. In February, she gave birth to her second son and with his birth it was time to visit her home. They celebrated the advent of this child by rebuilding their home. What a joy it was to come and see what she has done.

Their home is now made of cement - not large - 3 meters by 10 meters - one and a half floors - but it is complete with kitchen, modern bathroom, bedroom and living room. The roof is ready to add an other floor when they have saved enough to build it. They are out of debt - their children are healthy, they both have work.

Pisette remains a quiet, conscientious worker - but her smile as she showed me her home and her growing family spoke volumes. I never believed that I would have such a wonderful life - I never believed I would have a home to be proud of, I never believed that I would have a job as good as mine is. I have no education, I had no future - I thank God for Tabitha, I thank God for my life.

These past 2 months have been very busy with teams building houses for people we work with. The staff spend many long, hard hours standing with others as they rebuild their lives. How good it is to see the staff themselves rebuild their lives from the ashes. Pisette is one of many, Mari and Kol and Pat and his family, join so many of our staff this year in rebuilding their homes, rebuilding their future.

Without each of you, this is not possible - I praise God for each of our staff, I praise my God for each of you. Alongside Pisette, I thank my God for Tabitha; I thank my God for my life.

In His service,

Janne

Thursday, April 07. 2005

Dear friends,

It's that time of the year to wish each and every one of you a Happy Khmer New Years. It seems strange to celebrate three New Years each year - Jan 1, Chinese New Years and Khmer New Years. The celebrations have started although the actual New Years days are April 13-15th - each evening our neighbourhood rocks with the laughter of children and adults as they play games in the early evening. Hearing Miriam's laughter amongst them is very good. Khmer New Years also brings out the occasional electricity problems - not sure why, whether its because the country shuts down as everyone goes to their home villages, including those who do electricity or its because the weather is always at its hottest and the electricity use is at its peak. Whatever the reason, my home was without electricity for 2 days and nights - an experience that tests me to the core of my being and results in a schizophrenic personality that swings from utter despair to elation and unusual bonhomie to one and all when restored.

This week I had a site visit that brought tears to my eyes. Srei, Tharry, Pon, Pow and Cheiring asked me to visit this village in Kirivon. The trip is long and hard and has several roads that defy description. We had received our first rainfall since November in Phnom Penh and felt refreshed - the farther we drove - the less the elation as the drought in the countryside left us feeling bereft for the people we saw.
We arrived in Kirivon and were met by several hundred people. They were gathered around the only well in the area -all kinds of containers were lined in a row - people were bickering with each other about whose turn it was - many had been waiting for several hours to get their water.

The water was only good for washing - it was unsafe to drink - it causes severe cramps when drunk - I asked, where then do you get your drinking water - from another well - 3 kilometres away - how many families does that well serve, I asked - 489, I was told. We must use this well for water for washing and cleaning and we must use the other well for drinking water. Most of us spend up to 5 hours per day, just getting water. That is why we asked you to come.

They led me to the back of the village and there they showed me what they had in mind. In front of me was a reservoir that they had dug - 226 families in this village and every night after work 201 families sent a member of their family to help dig. The reservoir had been dug over 60 years ago by their great grandparents - then came the Khmer rouge years and everyone was forced away - many were executed - most of the families had returned over the years since then but the reservoir had filled with dirt and only a small pond remained. The drought each year had caused much grief for these families. They had heard about the other 2 reservoirs that we had helped with - they only knew that we expected; them to do their fair share of work before we would help - they had not seen the other reservoirs because these were 50 kilometres away. So they had begun to dig where the top step was visible - and as they dug, the steps, kept going down. They dug 3 meters and still the steps went down.

Our staff, Pow and Cheiring had taken the leader to the other reservoir to see what we had done. The leader came back to the village and shared the news - we must provide the stone, he said, and then Tabitha will help with the cement and sand to make the walls. This was good, the villagers said, because that is what we do, break stones into gravel and we sell the gravel to others

Now, they not only divided into teams to dig, but also divided teamsinto going into the surrounding hills to collect stones for the walls - even the children were part of the teams - doing an adult portion of digging and carrying. The children refused to stop doing their share while I stood with the elders and we talked. I asked the children why they worked so hard - they giggled and shyly hid their faces - a tiny ten year old finally spoke - we have no water and our parents work so hard - we can do this to help all of us and we can see how much we have done - next year, we will not be thirsty and our parents will not be so tired.

he elders, staff and I talked about how big this would be - the elders said we want to gig another 2 meters, making it 8 meters deep - and we heard that you wanted us to make it square so it will be 18 meters long and 15 meters wide - that way, we will have water all year round

Will the water be good, I asked. They replied that the water would come from the hills around during the rainy season and it was very good water for drinking. The cost would be $600.00 to make the wall all around - the wall would be one meter high. It would keep the reservoir clean. How long would it take to finish, said I. By June, we will have it done.

I thought about the days of no electricity and water that I just had - the heat and the inability to do anything about it. Here was a village of people who were doing something about it - they are doing so with sacrifice and hard work, they are doing so together - from the youngest to the eldest - and they were doing so with joy. Can we start this week - before Khmer New years with the wall? Yes, you can. The staff and elders remained behind to purchase the cement and sand - the children returned to collecting stones and I returned home - thinking that this is what it is all about.

You, our friends and our partners, say to us at Tabitha, yes, you can and we in turn say to the villagers, yes, you can. I am humbled by my God, who said, yes, you can - together, each of us, in our own way - change so much of what we thought we could not - but together we can.

On behalf of all the staff, villagers and families, we wish each of you, Happy Khmer New Years.

Janne

Wednesday May 25. 2005

Dear friends and partners,

A couple of weeks ago, staff asked me to come out and visit 60 families who had just completed their first cycle of savings. The families wanted to show me what they had done. I went rather reluctantly because I was not feeling well, I was on a special diet for my illness and my body hurt and ached. The visit pulled me out of my self pity. As we went from home to home, people ran to show me the things that they had bought, things they thought they could never have, things, they said, that only rich people can buy.

At one house, Ly's family ran hurriedly to show me the pots and pans they had bought - oh, said Ly, now I can cook. Sopheak was not to stand by idly - she grabbed her clan and she showed me her dishes - her sons were so very proud - not plastic, said the oldest, real porcelain - just like the rich. The family next door said but we have even better, we have drinking glasses. I marvelled at how good it is to take joy is these things.

The widowed families were not be outdone - a single father showed me the sleeping mat that he and his children were sleeping on - now the floor is not so hard, chirped a daughter. A widowed mom proudly showed me a sack of rice that she had bought - the baby will not be hungry this month, she said. An old woman showed me her ice chest that she had bought - it will help to keep
my daughter's medicine longer, she said.

My self - pity was rapidly disappearing - it was being replaced by wonderment - what joy, what pride each family had. Not to be undone, a family showed me their new mosquito net - we can all be safe now, said the mom, we all can sleep under it. Another mother proudly showed me the pigs and chickens they had bought. This year, she said, we will be rich - my pig will help us to buy many things. And yet another, proudly brought out the chair they had bought - now grandma can sit in comfort, laughed the grandson. A young man showed me the blanket he had bought - we will no longer be cold at night, he said.

The visit was a long one, sixty families are a lot to see. Each had their dream to share with us, each was so very proud of what they had accomplished. Each shared about their next dream come true. I came home exhausted but I came home refreshed. The diet was no longer a burden - I had choice of whatever I wanted to eat. My water was cold because I have a fridge, my bed is always soft, and I have many blankets.

I thanked my God that I was so blessed - not because I had everything but because I am privileged to see what it is to have so little, and to be reminded by these families, to take joy in all that I have - no matter how little or big it is. These families are my heroes - they give me life.

I thank my God that it is so. And I thank each one of you, that you make it so.

Janne

July 21. 2005

Dear friends and partners,

Like most parents, I worry that Miriam learns to appreciate and be grateful for what she has and that she learns to be compassionate with those who are not so fortunate. Sometimes I get a glimmer that my desire is taking fruit. Let me share one such glimmer.

We get volunteer house builders all year round. Most times, I only do orientation with the teams but several times a year we have very special groups come in and I join the house building as well. Last month, one of those groups arrived. They are families who had adopted Cambodian children.

This go-round, there were 16 children with their siblings and parents in tow. For the first time, Miriam, my 6 year olddaughter found a soul mate, 7 year old Chanta. Their histories are very similar - both girls were born testing positive for the HIV virus, both girls had lost their parents to AIDS, both girls were adopted by single moms. The other adopted children were all in their early teens. It was an honour and delight to see how well they were doing.

Our first days together followed the normal pattern, getting acquainted and re-acquainted and then I did orientation. This time the difference was marked. The young people understood what was being said about what happened - an understandin of those years began to awaken. It was such a privilege to be a part of that.

The next day we were off to Kompong Som and the beach - a 4 hour trip that left us all ready to splash in the waves. We ran into a minor problem as the rains had come early to Kompong Som, the ocean swells threatened to carry of the swimmers.

The next morning we left for our village - the trip took an hour and a half but nobody minded as there were lots of people to talk to. We arrived at our destination ready to work - everyone began to hammer with the early morning burst of energy. With that burst of energy, the skies burst forth in rain and wind. At first, we all tried to keep dry but it soon became clear, that no house would be built if we did that too long. So, one by one the workers came out and renewed their efforts.

For the first time, the young people were building their own house, with no assistance from the adults. As the wind and rain lashed their bodies, they hammered the walls and the floors. Our 2 young ladies rapidly became cold and were shivering.With the cold came the need to go potty. The latrine was a very simple affair off in the field. Both girls were very nervous, but managed to walk gingerly through the mud and the rice paddies to do their thing. Once they knew they could do it - it became an hourly trek- 2 little girls, walking hand in hand - one stood in watch that no cows would come near, while the other did their business. Both girls spent much time watching the children of the village and their families.

At the end of the day, the young people had completed their first home. Everyone was soaked to the skin and filthy from the mud in the rice paddies. We came back to the beach to once again swim in the rain.At the end of the day, the young people had completed their first home. Everyone was soaked to the skin and filthy from the mud in the rice paddies. We came back to the beach to once again swim in the rain.

The next morning, Miriam woke to very wet and muddy shoes. She began to cry, "I am not poor mom! Poor people have only 1 pair of shoes and they are always wet - they never have dry feet. They only have one set of clothes and those are all wet and dirty and now they can't get their clothes dry. I hate living like a poor person, she cried - I hate it that they are poor." I was speechless. Miriam with all her exposure to those less fortunate than her, had never expressed how bothered she is with this.I said nothing,just helped her on with her shoes - she needed to cry. And then a big hug and a tickle and she went forth to another day of building in the wet and cold.

In the bus trip down to the village, Chanta began to cry. She was crying because the people were so poor, they had so little clothes and food to eat. It wasn't fair. It could have been her. Chanta's mom couldn't say much either, she held her close and let her cry. And then together, we talked of other things so that Chanta could regain her composure. Then Chanta went forth to another day of building in the wet and the cold.

Miriam and Chanta did well that day - no complaining, hammering nails like big people. The latrine was still their fascination, the village children an education. The young people built their second house. They did it with humour and compassion for each other. They beat the adults. They were a proud group. I could say with great pride, well done, well done.

When we returned to Phnom Penh, we took the girls to the orphanage where they came from. We came laden with toys made by a volunteer and clothes the girls had outgrown. Sister Maripol was delighted to see them. She took them by the hand and showed them off to the other Sisters - how good that was to see. And then she prayed with them. It was very good.

All of you, our friends and partners, have enabled Chanta's mom and me to see our girls grow in wisdom and strength - to develop the values we hold so dear. My thanks to each of you for allowing that to happen, my thanks to my God for letting it be, my thanks to the parents of these young people, how good it is to see how well they are growing. It can't get any better than this - well, yes it can get better - when every child in Cambodia no longer has wet feet and wet clothes.

Let's make that happen.

Janne

Monday September 5. 2005

Dear friends and partners,

This morning, our development staffs are off to Banteay Meanchaey - all 31 of them. They have gone to have a look at one of our youngest programs, but they have gone with trepidation. You see, most of the staff is used to travelling for long hours on motorbikes - in the heat or the wet - it doesn't matter - they are used to long hours and very hard work. But Banteay Meanchaey is one of those areas where even motorbikes cannot go. Our young staff walk anywhere from 5 to 10 kilometres per day - just to meet with the families.

The staff has a special task to do. It is to visit a community with 2000 families - very poor families who live on a large hill called Phum Malay. These families have so very little, but the worst is that they have no water. Wells have been dug to 200 meters and still there is no water. The chief of the commune has asked us to help them finish a pond that would provide water for the 16,000 people living there. It's a large pond - 40 meters by 20 meters - its depth is 5 meters. The discussion must be as follows: Would these 2000 families be willing to dig the pond another 5 meters deep to a depth of 10 meters - and would they be willing to find stones to make the wall? If so, Tabitha would supply cement and other materials to build a wall around the reservoir - of course this cannot be started until March of 2006, when the water from this current monsoon season is gone.

This all came about when I met with the staff of Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchaey last week. It's never an easy trip to travel to our communities in either area - this one was much worse for Kameak was behind the wheel of the car. He is a wonderful man, but his driving abilities leave me breathless.

I asked Vannak, a Siem Reap staff - what he liked most about the work. He said, he loved the way he became part of the communities and how people shared all their problems with him - he loved the way that people had changed - when he first came - the people would not even look at him, they walked with heads down and no smiles - he loved the way that changed as people saved and were able to buy things like dishes and sacks of rice, things they hadn't been able to buy for years. Dinat, another staff, was comforted by his words, as in his new area people are unable to smile and greet him - the problems seem so big - my dream is to see these families laugh again, he said.

My last evening there I had to work out a marriage agreement. It's not the first time and I suspect not the last time either, that one of the staff have asked me to be their official parent. This time was very special. Ani, our manager in Siem Reap, was asked to be the wife of Theavy - a rather nice man. Ani lost her first husband Dara, 5 years ago - their marriage was based on love and mutual respect. At that time, I had been asked to intervene as neither family wished to see this union. Once again I was asked to counsel and set agreements because Ani was frightened. She was frightened that this marriage would not be the same as her first marriage, she was frightened that the love would not be the same as the one she had with Dara. We talked openly about these issues - we talked about the children involved, we talked about the different faiths. At the end, both Ani and Theavy were much relieved that so many things that were frightening for both were out in the open. Then Ani asked me what one thing I demanded from both of them - I said that they both must promise me never to go to bed angry with each other - they must always resolve their anger before they went to sleep. This they promised to do. When is the wedding? - possibly during the Christmas holidays.

I came back to Phnom Penh well satisfied with the work - I came in time to be with Chanthou - our cottage industry manager. She had her second entopic pregnancy and lost her baby. What bothered me most was that the ovarian pregnancy had burst 2 days before and she had walked for 2 days with pain. The doctors were very good - they were able to stem the raging infection inside her body. Did you not know, I asked? No, she said, there were no signs - and you were not in town to talk things over. I asked for help from some other staff and they helped. I no longer want my own baby, she said, I am too old. Can you help me adopt a baby - one just like Miriam?

This week is a normal week - one full of the joys and pains of life. Life is a precious gift - I am honoured to be a part of so many lives - I am humbled by the gift of life of so many others. I praise my God for this gift - I am thankful that each of you are a part of my life.

Janne

Tuesday October 12. 2005

Dear friends and partners,

It's been a whirlwind few weeks but my, how good the weeks were. In the past 3 weeks, 69 houses were built for our families - we had one day when there were 3 teams in town and all in our shop - they shopped and we had our biggest sales day ever - over $9,000.00 in 2 hours. Not only that but all the teams combined helped us start our new fiscal year with gusto as they brought more than $12,000.00 for our development program. People sometimes ask me if the work doesn't get too much. The answer is that Tabitha is always celebrating even when there is sadness or harsh realities that make us stop and mourn. When we have so many partners here with us, rejoicing and encouraging - no, it may be busy but our cup is flowing over.

We had several high government officials come to one of our housebuilding sites. They knew about the house building program but they thought that local contractors built the houses and the teams just came to see what had been built. Their excitement and disbelief at seeing foreigners with hammers in hand, sweat pouring from their bodies, finishing these houses had an impact that is rare. "Foreigners don't do physical labor," I was told - "you know they are all tourists, we have never seen anything like this" I will be honest, I had an attack of pride - which rapidly developed into a sense of humbleness and thankfulness for so many of you who come and stand with our people here.

It was not only the officials who were impressed. The local village chief had mocked the villagers for believing in us and for believing in themselves. His harsh words and mockery were something that Pon and Srei and Tharry bore with good grace for several years. When we arrived with the officials, he hid in fear and shame. Our visit was short and then we left. The volunteers remained and built the houses. The chief came out of hiding - he didn't know what to say - but Srei did, she made him laugh and asked him to join. The chief is not a rich man - he, like so many others here - have learned that people can be very hurtful - the Khmer Rouge taught him to lose faith in all people - the staff's faithfulness over the past years, the work of the volunteers - Srei's open arms taught him that maybe Pol Pot was wrong. He joined our program this week. What a gift that is.

The past few weeks we have been doing our year end report - what a year it's been. We had planned to have volunteers build 200 houses - 327 were built. We had planned to do 520 wells - we did 572 wells and we helped construct 3 ponds/reservoirs - 3,333 families with 26,664 people had access to water this past year. We had planned that 20,000 families would be helped, more than 22,000 families were helped - more than 160,000 people were touched. They saved a total of $683,673.49 - we paid 10% interest to our families - and they purchased items worth $3,156,500.00 worth - an indicator of how powerful the savings program is. And what did these families buy? Just a few examples, 5068 families bought mosquito nets, 2222 families bought batteries so they can have 4 hours of light each night, 6899 families paid for school fees, 5022 families bought 3 months supply of rice, no more hunger, 2253 families bought pigs so that they are able to increase their incomes by 50%.

Our new year started the first of October - our dreams are very ambitious for this year - 450 houses to be built, 762 wells to be dug, and 25,000 families with 200,000 people to be impacted through savings and development programs.

I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for making so much possible for so many people. Thank you for standing with us as we enable people to change from disbelief in people to ones of celebration with people. I am thankful to my God, that He has brought each of you to stand with us. How good that is.

Janne

November 14.2005

Dear friends and partners,

Today is the first day of the annual Water Festival in Phnom Penh. It's a week when more than a million people from the rural areas travel to the big city to enjoy the boat races celebrating the beginning of the harvest season. This season is marked by the waters flowing down the Mekong River reversing itself and flooding up country to fill the Tonle Sap Lake in the middle of the country

This means that for most people, a week of holidays is enjoyed. For Tabitha staff - it's a week of work - not because they are not allowed to have holidays but because they want to make sure that as many of our families as possible receive a new home. How does that happen - through volunteer house building teams - two of whom are here during this week. I ask the staff - are you sure you want to do this - their reply is consistent - look how many families will get houses - the families are so very happy - it's what we want.

But oh my, it's not without cost - just traveling in and out of the city becomes a challenge all of its own. I personally grumble and mumble through the whole week - what an inconvenience this is - all these people. All this traffic. And in the midst of the grumbling, one of our sewers walks into my office - she is very nervous - and she stands and twists her hands - I ask her what she wants - and she shyly turns and pulls forth her family - 4 boys, 3 girls - all twisting their hands and giving me scared glimpses through downcast eyes - each face tries desperately to hide little smiles. Each child is wearing new clothes - how beautiful - their eyes are shining - there is a giggle from the smallest and it becomes infectious - the sewer says softly, my children will celebrate this week for the first time ever - I wanted to come and show you. Do you not wish to join them, I ask? She shakes her head - no she says, tonight I will join them, today, I want to earn enough money so that next week I can pay for each one of them to go to school. I am so blessed, she says - I never thought this would happen.

I stand on the street with Miriam and watch as so many people come to celebrate - so many in ragged clothes, clutching their few riels in their hands, so many who walk for hours just to be a part of the celebration - I watch and see the children stare at all the many new things they see - I watch as they try to decide what little tidbit of food their money can buy. Miriam's hand is in mine - she too, is staring - she is watching a young girl with a little one on her hips - snatching scraps of food off the food stalls - she asks me, can I spend my money on whatever I want. I say yes. She goes to the owner of the food stall and orders rice and fish, soup and chicken and a fruit shake - I ask her if she is hungry - her face is ashen - she says nothing but goes to the girl and takes her by the hand - she makes her sit on a stool - the little one gets her own stool as well- she can't sit still - her butt beats a tattoo on the stool - the girls eat and eat - Miriam does not move - tears slip down her cheeks - she says, I am so happy mom, that God gave me you as my mom. For more news about Miriam, click Miriam

I have a team in town - they went to Kirivon for the week-end - it was a hard build - little in the way of the comforts they are used to. One of the moms gives me something her son wrote this year as an assignment required in his class. I am deeply touched. Rory is 13 and in grade 8 - he wrote: My Dream in Cambodia To build at least 20 houses in Cambodia through Tabitha Have already built 4 in sixth grade Going on another building trip over spring break If each house holds a family of at least 5, 100 people have a better standard of living Older Cambodians who lived through the Khmer rouge would rather die than go through it again and a lot keep poison in their house I want to show them that the Khmer rouge won't come to power again and to get them to throw out their poison.

As we in Tabitha all celebrate Water Festival in our own ways - I want to say thank you to each of you for celebrating with us through your support. I, like Miriam am so happy to God for giving each of you to all of us.

Janne

December 2, 2005

Dear Friends and Partners,

It is December, a month when we celebrate Christmas, a time when many of us celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus. It is a time when a message of love and hope becomes a message for all of us. Jesus spoke of many virtues - one of which is "whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of the least of these....

Yesterday I went to Kampot - Srei, Ti, and Mara, staff there had asked me to come and see how our ten families living with AIDS were doing. The drive out was beautiful although some of the roads were not so beautiful. We walked through rice fields to meet these families. There they were in a clearing, a member of each family standing and waiting. As we began to talk, I shared Miriam's story with them, how her mom had died of AIDS, how Miriam had tested positive for the HIV virus. I showed her picture - and one of the men said, my daughter was put up for adoption when my wife and I knew we had AIDS. We were saddened by his announcement but it opened the doors to be able to share.

Their story is one of poverty and loneliness - each of these people own just a small plot of land, not large enough to grow rice, not large enough to feed their families. Each husband had left to work on the Thai border - and in the long absences from home, had slept with taxi girls and contracted AIDS. In the several months when they could be home each year, they had passed on the virus to their wives. All of them fell very ill with ailments related to AIDS. Their neighbors held them in scorn, they feared them, and would no longer allow them to be part of their communities. Their children were taunted at school, to a point where they no longer attended school. They were unable to work in the markets, and so they began to starve.

Ti was a volunteer in our program in Kampot when we opened there 2 years ago - he asked Srei to come and meet with these families. Srei did, and they joined our savings program. They couldn't save much but Tabitha talked to them - and this was enough to get them started. All of them started on retroviral drugs given by an AIDS NGO - but the drugs were not enough. The continued isolation from their community, their inability to feed themselves kept them in despair.

After a year, Srei and Ti decided to install 3 wells near the homes of these families. The families were too poor to pay even the small amount of money usually required by us. After things changed dramatically. Each family began to grow vegetables near their homes - it is amazing to see - one meter for limes, a meter for morning glory, several banana plants, mango trees, guava trees, chili peppers, sugar cane, etc. Each fruit or vegetable had its allotted space of a meter or two - soon they were earning and eating on a daily basis - they began to be able to purchase simple things such as pots and pans, dishes and glasses, blankets and mosquito nets.

But the thing that changed the most - was the gift of water to their neighbors. Clean water was available 3 kilometers from their homes - now the wells brought clean water to within 50 meters of neighbors. They came and asked if they could use the water also. The families gave their blessings and with the gift of water came reconciliation and forgiveness. All of them are now an integral part of the community, their children are now in school, no longer being taunted.

I asked them if they were angry with their neighbors - no, they said - Tabitha gave us love -we were so long without love - now we give our love to our neighbors. The water is plentiful and clean and cool - there is so much love to share.

We can provide for our families every day, we can share with our neighbors everyday; we can tell others how to get help everyday. There are 600 of us in this district - we all need your love and to share this love with others.

I then asked, are you afraid of dying? They answered with joy, - no we used to be afraid of dying - it took all our energy just to get through each day - but now, with the well - each day we think of what else we can grow, what else we can teach, what else can we share with others around us.

On behalf of all our families - each of whom suffers so deeply in so many ways, our staff and my family, we wish each of you the love of Christmas - the love you have given to the least of these here.

Merry Christmas to each of you and the best of the holiday season.

Janne

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Annual Report September 2004 to September 2005

Dear friends and partners,

I am delighted to present to all of you a copy of our 11th Annual report. It has been a year of celebration, a year of growth, a year when so very much was accomplished.

Our goals were many and many were achieved. The staff worked long, hard hours yet none complained - instead the refrain was always, we must do more - we must expand to more areas. And so we did - Bant Mean is our 8th province. It is an honour to have stood with them.

Our goal was to reach out to 20,130 families with 152,550 people. Our result was to reach out to 20685 families with 165,480 dependents in Community Development - in Cottage Industry we reached out to an additional 657 families with 5,256 dependents for a total of 21,342 families with 170,736 dependents. What an honour that is.

Our goal was that these families would save $654,530.00; they saved $683,673.49 - their purchases are valued at $3,156,500.00 worth. It is an indicator of how powerful the savings works within family units, enabling families to work together to achieve their own goals.

Our goal was to build 200 houses with our volunteer house builders; 321 houses were built - an amazing number completed with amazing people.

Our goal was to install 504 wells, 572 wells were dug and 3 reservoirs ponds were done, giving fresh water to 3,333 families with 26,664 dependents - what joy that brings.

Our year was a year of celebration and thankfulness. The following reports are a synopsis of what was achieved - but it does not report on how good it was.

We are grateful to each of you for standing with us, for enabling so much to be done. Without each of you, so little could have been done.

We thank our God for His sustaining Grace and His abounding love. Without our God, nothing could have been done.

Come, celebrate with us.

In His Name,

Janne Ritskes, Director, Tabitha Cambodia

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Community Development through Savings

Our goal for family savings was $ 654,530.00
The actual savings was $ 683,673.49

The reasons for the accomplishments and exceeding our goals this year is due to the expansion in Kampot and Kompong Speu. We are very grateful for the dreams achieved by our families.

Staff collecting savings each week from the families.

Every 10 weeks - families receive their savings plus 10% interest from Tabitha as a sign of encouragement and congratulations
on a task well done.

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Cottage Industry Report

It has been an exciting year for cottage industry - our sales have increased to over $500,000.00 - a first time for us. Our ability to produce quantities and varieties of goods has doubled.

Our major area of concern is our shop in Siem Reap. Despite all our efforts over the past 5 years, we are unable to attract customers to our showroom. It has become a cost that we are unable to sustain any longer. This will be a painful step to resolve in the next fiscal year.

Our Objectives:
1. From October 2004 until September 2005, Tabitha Cottage Industry will increase the income of 620 families with 4880 dependents from a monthly income of 0-$10 a month to an income of $50-60$ a month through income earned from piece rate.
Our actual number of families working in Cottage Industry was 653 families. 583 families earned an average of $150.00 per month.

2. Our goal for sales was to sell $522,000.00 worth of goods.
Our actual sales were $522,257.12.

For several reasons the results could still have been better.
1. Our sales in Siem Reap have dropped considerably - tourists come to see Ankor Wat and do not shop.
2. We had a large number of orders in September bringing our consignment up to $93,245.00 - all of which will be paid by end of December 2005.
3. Our inventory, especially in our silk room, was doubled this year to a total of $291,943.15. This has enabled us to serve our customers better and to increase our customer base.

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Housebuilding Report

Our specific objective this program year was to build 200 houses in our 8 project areas.
We surpassed our goal and built 321 houses with 48 teams and 764 volunteers.
Siem Reap:                  55 houses
Kandal:                        84 houses
Takeo:                         81 houses
Kompong Som:           47 houses
Prey Veng:                  42 houses
Kampot                      12 houses

764 Volunteers Built 321 Houses

Houses of tin and wood in Kandal, Siem Reap, Takeo, Prey Veng
Houses of all wood in Kampong Som and Kampot.

The total cost of these houses was $277,950.00

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Wells and Ponds

Specific Objective:
1. To provide potable water for 2,520 families with 20,160 dependents with the installation of 504 wells in 7 project areas. Each well will serve 5 families.

Actual Result:
1. 572 wells were dug for 2,860 families with 22,880 dependents.
There is water enough for everyone. There is water enough to grow vegetables, raise pigs, earn incomes.

In Addition: 3 ponds or reservoirs were dug and built for 473 families with 3,784 dependents. These were completed in Kirivon District of Takeo where deep water wells are not suitable for drinking water. The families provided the labor and quarried the stone for the walls; Tabitha provided the funds for cement and other materials to build the walls and the stairs.

The total cost of the wells and ponds was $64,278.00

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