Tabitha USA
Field News
March 28, 2007
February 19, 2007
January 17, 2007
September 12, 2006
April 5, 2006
March 3, 2006
February 7, 2006
November 13, 2005
October 12, 2005
July 21, 2005
May 25, 2005
April 7, 2005
March 15, 2005
November 4, 2004
November 4, 2004
September 21, 2004
June 2. 2004
March 28. 2004
February 18. 2004
January 15. 2004
June 26. 2003
April 09. 2003
February 5. 2003
February 3, 2003
Dear friends and partners,
Its been quite a wonderful month for us 90 of our families got a new home for the children of these families, a good
night s sleep is now a reality because they can all sleep inside the house with mom and dad no more sleeping in the open,
in the dark, listening for noises and wondering what it is a snake, a cow, a robber. Its starting to rain again, for these 90
families it no longer matters they no longer will sit up all night with their children, huddled in a corner, miserable and wet
waiting for the morning sun. This morning two of the moms came into my office these women both live with AIDS their faces
shone with happiness, their bodies quivered with joy. Oh so very good.
This month we celebrated with several Rotary Clubs from Taiwan and Japan for the gift of water for 2,665 families who had
received 533 wells from them. It was good to see how some families had vegetable gardens, others pigs and yet others with chickens
it was good to see the clean faces and the shining hair. It was even better to see these same gentlemen come from afar to hit a few nails
and meet a few families.
It was so good to celebrate with 30 of our families who had just bought new clothes Khmer New Years is rapidly approaching and
for the first time, these families were preparing with new clothes the kids are bubbling with excitement, they told me of the food they
would celebrate with I am not so sure it would be to my taste but their anticipation is to my taste.
In two days time, my daughter Miriam and I are traveling to Canada for a month long celebration of work we have done with our friends
and partners from Canada. It was a celebration last weekend as Miriam was in her first school play presented in a real theatre. She did well
as a hedgehog. Her excitement was tempered a bit on Sunday as she rode her bike and did a 360 degree turn in front of boys leaving her
with a road rash of epic proportions on her thigh it could be a long trip to Canada if it does not heal quickly for she cannot sit properly.
We want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Khmer New Years the staff will celebrate with a week off work from April 13 through
to April 22, Nary will handle any emails.
I thank my God for all these celebrations, these moments of joy. I thank my God for each of you for your constant support and care for all of
us here. We are so very grateful.
Janne Ritskes
Tabitha Cambodia
www.tabitha.ca Dear friends and partners,
It seems like so very long ago, in 1994 that I answered a call from my God to start Tabitha Cambodia. That call
was not an easy one, it meant giving up all that I had in so very many ways. It meant going against worldly wisdom -
going against voices that urged me to be more rationale in my approach to life. Instead I believed that my God would
keep His promises which were that I would never be in need, that the family I gave up would be enhanced with one
of my own and that I would have a place to call home.
Over the years, I have never done without in 1999, I became a mom and now, in 2007 hopefully in two weeks, I will
move into a house that will be my home. The people that gave that gift of a home spoke of grace, of giving me a place where
I could grow old without fear. It was not an easy gift to accept for it is a gift of great value a gift from a Gracious God who
never fails in His promises. That my God works through so many others is the miracle of my life.
Its Chinese New Years this week people who should be finishing my new home are off visiting their families. It s very
frustrating as my rented home must be vacated by the end of the month and my toilets are not yet functioning, the house is
not yet painted and the woodwork has only begun. I am assured that all will be well.
Out of my frustration I went to visit some of the families that we work with. I met Seng, a 12 year old boy with his family.
Seng was laughing his eyes were wide with wonderment his family s home is made of grass, it s very small, it has no
electricity and no toilet yet he was laughing. You see, his family got their savings this week and for the first time in his
young life, his mother bought fish sauce. All his life, his meals consisted of rice and salt, when there was enough money.
He had begged his mother so many times to just buy a bit so that he could taste it this week, they had a whole bottle. I
asked him if it tasted as good as he thought. His eyes twinkled as he said, oh, I can t open it yet I want to wait and dream
what it tastes like I have wanted this for so long I just want to hold it in my hands and look at it for a few days. Ah Seng,
you make my frustration seem like nothing you make my life so good.
We had a team build 20 houses this past week in one of our newest projects. On their return, several of the team members
were frustrated by the nails they had bent. They told me they were ashamed of what they had accomplished. I shook my head
and laughed we, the perfect people, wanting to give the perfect house, to people who see miracles in the homes they have
received. The families who have received these houses have learned that we are not perfect; they have learned that we are
the same as they, for we too, make mistakes. We are human. And I see my house with its crooked walls and its imperfect tiling
and I think, this is my home, because it fits me with all it imperfections. How grateful I am for this gift.
In two to three weeks, I hope to move. We are cleaning out our collected belongings clothes that Miriam has outgrown and
toys that are no longer age appropriate we give some to the Sisters for the orphans they are raising the little girls prance
around in their new dresses the boys build their own imaginary homes from the plastic bricks. Sister Samantha smiles with
pleasure and gives Miriam a hug Miriam s life had its beginning in this home - Miriam begs me to take home a little brother, a
boy who looks so much like her. For him, his home has been destroyed by an illness that took his mom his father visits each
week but he too, is very ill. We cannot take him, for although his home is no longer there the love of his father sustains him. And
I think of my frustration and I am ashamed.
My God has asked me to live in faith to live in trust He has promised that He would provide. My God has given me each of you
and I am content. Thank you for being a part of my life, for being a part of all of our staff, of being a part of all our families. You are our
miracle.
Janne Ritskes
Tabitha Cambodia
www.tabitha.ca Dear friends and partners,
Happy New Years to each and every one of you. It s a very good beginning for us this year as we begin our work after being
closed for holidays. We came back to being able to work freely as there are enough funds to meet everyone s needs. What a
blessings you have brought to so many here.
Last year, I wrote several newsletters, in March I wrote about our new sewing group that are living with AIDS. In December I
wrote about our theft through our security people and my despair that this should happen. After this threat we revised our
security at the office. Now everyone must have a Tabitha security card it includes a picture, name, and our official stamp. I had
resisted this for so many years as I like to live in trust.
I often hear the Biblical phrase that out of bad there is always something good. Our ladies living with AIDS found it very
difficult to rent a place to live people were afraid of them. Landlord after landlord turned them away because they have AIDS.
The women couldn t keep their children, they couldn t have a family. Each night they found sleep in a shelter not a place to
call home, not a place to be free but a place to sleep.
When we issued the security cards miracles began to happen all of our women found a place to rent. The landlords would
look at the cards and see that these were women had work, had value. These were women who were worthy of being rented to.
I shake my head in disbelief and then shudder with joy. What had been so terrible is turning into a blessing that I would not have
thought of. These women who though they lost all now rejoice as their children can come to a place called home.
In 2005, I wrote about two young ladies who have no citizenship in any country. The first time we paid them for their work, they
stood in disbelief and wanted to give us some money back they said it was too much money. Their parents were desperately poor
badly in debt because of medical problems. The young ladies were determined that the debt would be repaid. It took a year and
that was done. In this last year, both young ladies have been able to send enough money for their families to rent land and to build a
small home - this year, both girls are traveling home in April for the New Years celebration they need to cross borders without a
passport a very risky task - their new ID card gives them identity they can travel without fear "we want to celebrate life with our
families they tell me.
Over this week and next, 65 of our families will get a home from ten teams that are here. I met several of these families who last
year had no hope they were despaired because they had no papers they had no land. Our staff worked hard to change that and
land was bought and or given with real papers. As the houses are being built the family s hopes become reality we are somebody,
a woman told me, we are important.
I have a faith I have a faith that all people irregardless of color, race or creed, irregardless of wealth or poverty, irregardless of
education or lack of it are of equal value before my God. Each of you makes that faith real each of you believes in people that you have
not seen or never met. You stand with us from your heart you touch others in faith. Rejoice with us for so many people here have felt
that sense of value of equality because you cared.
May the year 2007 be a year full of the blessings that you have given in faith may these blessings be multiplied and returned as
blessings to each of you. Happy New Years to each of you.
Janne Ritskes
Tabitha Cambodia
www.tabitha.ca Dear friends and partners,
Last Friday, when our managers were in from the provinces, they came to me with some pictures that were very sad. Heng was most
disturbed as he showed me a picture of a 2 week old baby born with severe abnormalities. Why, he asked, why would the parents keep
such a child? The others all talked at once why does this happen, how very sad, why is life so hard? These are questions all of
ask at one time or another during our life times.
We began to talk about the sadness of life and the main issue out of all the pain became who will hear them when they cry?
So many of our parents work very hard to feed, clothe and shelter their families. When evening comes and they all return home from
their fields, their children ask for food. For so very many who are so poor, there is not enough food. Evenings become a time of
sadness, when fathers become angry with their inability to feed their children they slap them and send them to sleep with empty
bellies night after night. Who will here them when they cry?
When the rains begin, very many go out in the fields and plant their rice its not easy work bending over day after day to place
the seedlings in straight rows but they are elated for the rains have come and the shoots take hold. The countryside is diffuse
with beauty evenings are easier because food is growing and the rains continue unabated and the joy turns to worry and the
worry to despair as the water creeps inexorably higher and the crops fail. And the parents come home and they despair Who will
hear them when they cry?
Some children have lost their parents they are orphans for when the crops fail, the fathers go to the city to work for many
months in their loneliness so far from home in their despair they sleep with unknown women and take home a disease within a
few years both parents have died from AIDS leaving behind children too young to be alone to young to bear the burden of being
adult when evening comes there is no food and no one to lay them down to sleep Who will hear them when they cry?
In late afternoon, when the day is done and the shadows grow long and people hunger for rest the rains begin again. There is no
sleep for the roof is just thatch and the rains tumble into the small shacks everyone is shivering and they huddle together
often for hours throughout the night they are so cold and so very tired. Who will hear them when they cry?
As children toil out in the fields they watch as others go off to school they wonder: how does grass grow; where does rain come
from; what does my name look like and why can I not go to school. In the evening they ask their moms why can we not go to school
and the moms reply with anger tinged with despair go to sleep there s work tomorrow. Who will hear them when they cry?
Moms sit buy their little ones who are wracked with fever that will not stop. There is no money for a doctor nor any way to get to
one there is no water to cool them off the night is wracked with pain unimaginable as moms watch their little ones slip away
from their life on earth. Who will hear them when they cry?
We will hear them when they cry this past month the staff have visions of reaching out to more than 35,000 families with over
260,000 people in our coming year beginning in October they have visions of helping 3,300 families get access to water they
have dreams of having teams come and build more than 500 houses they can see all 35,000 families change through savings.
I thank my God that He has heard our cry I thank my God for each of you for you have heard their cry. May it be that none of us
ever become tired of hearing their cry.
Janne Ritskes
Tabitha Cambodia
www.tabitha.ca Dear friends and partners,
Happy Khmer New Years - Happy Easter - next week is a big week for all of us in Cambodia - we celebrate Khmer New years - a time
when all Cambodians return to their birth homes, to family and friends - its a time of renewal - a time of reflection - a time of
remembering those who passed on with special ceremonies - a time of eating and playing - a time of new clothes and new dreams - its
a time of rest with a week long holiday.
It is also Easter time - a time of re-birth - a time of hope - a time of reflection - a time of thanksgiving - a time of new
clothes and a time of eating - a time of remembering those who have passed on - a time of dreams.
We just finished our March report -its 6 months into our current program year - it's a time of reflection - a time of renewal - a
time of celebration - a time of dreams. Each one of you have given so many blessings to so very many people - you have given
renewal - you have given refection - you have given life - you have given a time for dreams.
In the past 6 months - 5,786 families went from one meal a day to 3 meals a day - that's 46,288 people who are eating well this New
Years - this Easter because of you.
In the past 6 months - 2,108 families were able to buy blankets, towels and sleeping mats so that they can sleep better - that's
16,864 people who are warm because of you.
In the past 6 months - 1,111 families can have light at night because they were able to buy a battery - that's 8,888 people who
feel safer at night because of you.
In the past 6 months - 7,350 families were able to pay school fees and buy school uniforms - that's 22, 050 children who were able
to attend school this semester because of you.
In the past 6 months - 1600 families were able to buy pigs, chickens and ducks - that's 12,800 people who are able to increase
their incomes by 50% because of you.
In the past 6 months - 353 wells and 1 reservoir were dug for 2165 families - that's 17,320 people who were able to have access to
clean water - to be able to go from less than 50 cents a day to over $2.00 per day income because of you.
And there is so much more. And our dreams - we want to dig another 353 wells in the next 6 months - but we can't do it without
you. We want to make sure that our families afflicted with AIDS live with hope and dignity but we can't do it without you. We want
to expand to another 5000 families who are waiting for us - but we can't do it without you.
Happy Khmer New Years everyone - thank you for making it happy for so many.
Happy Easter everyone - a time of re-birth - thank you for making that so for so many others.
It's a celebration of life - a celebration of all that is good. I thank my God that this is so.
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
Dear friends and partners,
It seems like only yesterday that I wrote you - so much has happened and I want to share some of these happenings with all of you.
We have picked up a new sewing group - this is a group of 21 women who have AIDS. They were taught how to sew quilts from patches
of material by a foreigner who decided she could no longer help them and asked if we would absorb these ladies into our program.
Compassion for these women made the decision an easy one - of course. The decision from a rational process was more difficult -
their skills are not so good - the building they are currently in floods with the rains - twice this week - and is located in a
part of town that suffers from severe electricity shortages. From a rationale standpoint we know that we have enough sewers - what
will they make? Despite all the rational negatives we said yes. These women will continue to make quilts from patches of materials
- we are making room at our building to absorb them - we are excited about their future. This group of women had a visitor in 2002
- a man named Jim Washburn. He wrote a poem about the impact these women had on him and I want to share this poem because it says
what we know is true not just for these women but for all our women in cottage industry.
We need your help - we need customers for all our workers - later this year I hope to send to anyone who wants - a monthly set of
products for that particular month. Do let me know if you would like me to send you this.
I would like to share with you the excitement in our new province - we have 400 families enrolled. But what is the best is that
several women have returned from the border because they heard that we had come.
Phan Ny returned with her children - she was one of the first to receive a well and within days had planted a field of vegetables
called trakun - a Cambodian staple - its a vegetable that is fast growing and can be harvested for several months. From earning so
very little in a brothel - she now earns 10,000 riels a day - not just Phan Ny but 20 other families as well - families who have on
average 8-10 children - families in despair - to see them change so quickly makes our hearts soar.
We were in Kirivon last week - our reservoirs that we completed last year provide water for several thousand families - the
families uncovered another one - would we help? In less than 10 days, they dug a pond 25 meters by 35 meters and 8 meters deep -
the children collected stones - piles upon piles - all of us together are amazed at how good it is. In a village 20 kilometers away
we met 120 families who were unable to eat a year ago - we installed 10 wells 8 months ago - each family has a plot just 20 meters
square - all full of vegetables - half are earning 10,000 riels a day - $2.50 - they asked for 10 more wells so that all could earn
the same - of course.
I could write all day of the blessings you have given - of the people you have reached - and still there are so many waiting.
I am so thankful that my God has called me here - I am so thankful that each of you stand with each of us.
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
Dear friends and partners,
Happy 2006 to each and every one of you. Seems like the greetings are a bit
late - this year I had my sister and her husband visiting for the month of
January - a rare occasion - one that I and Miriam celebrated with thankfulness.
One of the questions they asked is how do we decide on where to work - a
question often asked by many of you. Let me share how the process worked to
open up in our newest province of Svay Rieng this January.
Part of the vision of Tabitha Cambodia is to reach out to the very poorest
throughout every province in Cambodia. During our annual staff meetings in
July, Pat our manager in Prey Veng asked for permission to open in Svay Rieng
this program year. We all had heard stories of the poverty of this province so
the staff gave him the unanimous support to investigate the possibilities.
Pat, like all my staff, know they need each others support to convince me and
to receive my permission to open in a new area. In December I was invited by
Pat and his staff Ponluck and Choeun as well as Srei, Heng and Nari to please
come and see the work in Prey Veng. I knew in my heart it was going to be one
of those days.
They brought me to a village of Prek Sneu - an area which I had seen 2 years
before. The poverty had been hurtful to see then - people full of despair - no
incomes, no food, pain and suffering etched in the faces of young and old.
This time, there was no pain - the faces were etched in joy and in anticipation
of what they wanted to show me. A team of house builders from our local
international school had come and built houses there 2 years ago. We had put in
three wells and the families had put in another 2 wells. One after another
showed me their work - for the first time in remembered history - all the
families had grown 3 crops of rice - half the families were raising pigs -
others raised ducks - all had chickens - they had formed groups of 5 families
and each group had set aside a quarter hectare to grow vegetables - and most
remarkable of all was that each family had made their own private fish pond -
they were all raising fish - 1500 in one pond, 2000 in another 1300, in
another. Fish is cheap during the rainy season but becomes very expensive
during the dry season - the water from the wells keeps the water level up in
the ponds.
I laughed at their joy - how much income do you make each day I asked - the
average was 10,000 riels a day - about $2.50 per day - and they had all the
food they needed. What was wonderful to see was that the men folk were all home
- working hard to make a better life. Their smiles were something to see.
And then the staff took me to Mesang District - it's on the border with Svay
Rieng - here we met the village chief and as we walked through his village the
poverty was hurtful to see. The houses were decrepit - the children -
malnourished and dirty - the women with downcast eyes - and the men - well, the
men had all left to find work on the border with Thailand. Then was saw a car
with its trunk open and women and children gathered around - in the trunk were
gifts of clothes and pretty hair bands - enticement to take the children away
to work on the border. We were deeply offended by what we saw.
This, said Pat, is where we have our new district in Prey Veng - and then he
pointed to a line of trees in the distance - that, he said, is Svay Rieng - in
this area, there are more than 2000 families living in poverty - in Svay Reing
- there is even more. Please, may we start there? I looked back at the car and
the torn expressions of need and despair on the faces of the mothers as they
struggled to say no - to keep their children, I said yes.
Pon Luck was appointed the new manager in Svay Rieng and rather than take his
annual holidays - he and Pat went and opened our newest province - in less than
6 weeks - Pon Luck has enrolled 200 families in our programs. In two years, I
hope to write another newsletter about the changes in the lives of these
families.
None of this would be possible without each of you. It is your support and your
faithfulness that gives us the ability to be supportive and faithful to the
families that need us the most.
I thank my God for His faithfulness in my life - I thank each of you for your
faithfulness to us.
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
November 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 inconvience 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.
I have a team in town - they went to Kirivon for the week-end
- it was 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 TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
Oct 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 TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
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 if 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 old daughter
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 honor 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 understanding 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 - 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.
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 humor 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
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
www.tabitha.ca
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 son's 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 marveled at how good it is to take joy is these things.
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday March 28. 2007
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Monday February 19. 2007
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday January 17. 2007
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: Tabitha.janne@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Tuesday September 12. 2006
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday April 5. 2006
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Friday March 3. 2006
Their common thread is peril - these daughters, moms and wives,
Fragmented and forgotten, just pieces were their lives
But rather than surrender, their common thread they used
To sew together pieces, of lives so much abused
Hunger sewn to anger, anger to despair
Sadness sewn in clusters and fear in every square
Distrust became a pattern whose border was in black
Blue was the emotion that covered the whole back
Of the quilt created, created from such pain
And yet at its completion so gorgeous it became
For quilts are made from pieces so worthless all alone
But absolutely priceless when together they are sewn
The quilt is so much bigger than all its shapely parts
The lives it brings together - creates a central heart
Forgiveness is the pattern, a theme of joy sewn in
Bound in understanding, for love connects all things
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday February 7. 2006
Feb 7, 2006
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday July 21. 2005
#239, Street 51, Corner of 360,
P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
www.tabithastore.com
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday May 25. 2005
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
e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, April 7. 2005
April 7, 2005
Dear friends,
Its 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 neighborhood 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 over 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 kilometers 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 kilometers 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 teams into 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.
The elders, staff and I talked about how big this would be - the elders said we want to dig 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 us 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
e-mail from Cambodia : Wednesday, March 16. 2005
Dear friends,
Every so often we get to share good news with 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 side by 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 Kilometer 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 to 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 - 1 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
e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, November 4. 2004
November, 2004
Dear friends and partners,
It has been a very busy few weeks. October was our tenth anniversary month and so we celebrated. Of course, we didn't do it the normal way by having a big party - instead we decided to build as many houses as we could for as many families as we could. The result was 9 volunteer teams came with 183 people and they built 62 houses. This averages to 2 houses per day - what a month! The teams brought their own brand of excitement and of grace which was infectious and so we were all excited and were surrounded with grace. What a way to celebrate!
Our orders and sales were also phenomenal - in fact - we were able to hire more workers. 2 of these workers are young ladies - sisters actually - one 17 and the other 19. Their home situation is one of extreme poverty - mom had been ill for several months and the medical bills were paid through borrowing funds from money lenders - they were not too happy that these could not be repaid. The family of 8 was down to 1 meal of just rice per day - their home nothing but a simple hut made of grass - it was rainy season and so all members fell ill from being wet and unable to sleep through the night as the rain fell inside as well as outside their hut.
Neither one of the girls had any sewing skills but what they had and still have is determination. Their first few weeks were a trial for everyone - it was hard to sew even a straight line - they earned a few riels - but not much. And then I let it be known that if their skills did not improve dramatically - they would be out of a job. Several of the workers live together and invited the girls to share their home. Each night they worked with the girls. As the orders increased, the pressure was on to work hard. Then one Friday, there was a lot of chatter and laughter. I walked through the building and both girls were standing in the hallway looking very distressed. I asked Nari what was going on. The girls were struggling with their pay - in their minds they had been radically over-paid - they had never seen so much money in their lives - they wanted to give some back. Everyone was enjoying their disbelief - we were all deeply touched with their thankfulness and joy when they realized the money was all theirs - what a way to celebrate!
We celebrated the coronation of a new king - my little princess was dismayed - her own birthday coincided with the former king's birthday. She believed that her birthday was very special because of the fireworks held in honor of the King. With the rest of the country we were delighted with the new king and my princess was even more excited that the fireworks lasted for 4 nights. What a way to celebrate!
I have taken time this month to reflect over the past ten years. One of the greatest miracles is how each of you has become involved and is an integral part of all that has happened. I thank my God for each of you - for each of our staff - our miracle workers - but most of all - for the grace of being able to be a part of each of our families. What a way to celebrate!
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
e-mail from Cambodia : Tuesday, September 21. 2004
September 2004
Dear friends and partners,
It has been a very hectic month since I last wrote to you. We found a new building - its in a better location - as a friend of mine said - "its fun to go through the store - every room is another room of treasures" - a fine compliment and explains our joy and thanksgiving. The actual act of moving was not so much joy - we were horrified at how much stuff we have accumulated so it became an opportunity to clean house. Our old landlord was horrified that we would leave - our new landlord was delighted - he agreed to do all the repairs and additions that we wanted. We had customers before the displays were ready - a steady flow each day - so different from our old location. And all of this was accomplished in three short but very long weeks.
As soon as we settled into our new location, we began work on our plans and budgets for this New Year which begins in October. It's a plan of dreams and visions - it speaks of dedication of our staff to the people they serve - it speaks of the assurance you give us to go out and do. We desire to reach out to 20,130 families affecting 152,550 people. What is so amazing is that the cost of helping each family to achieve 4-6 dreams this year is only $10.00 US per family. We are so thankful for that gift. Now, we ask that each of you help us to find 20,130 families that would partner with a family here at $10 per year - for Singaporeans, Canadians and Australians it means $18.00 per family. Can you help us achieve these dreams?
We are blessed with new opportunities to sell our products. Tabitha USA is in process of opening an on-line store with all our products. The Friends of Tabitha in Singapore has held another Silk Fair and plans several more; individuals like Margret are promoting our goods to large corporations, Living Silk in Australia has begun to sell. All of these as well as our regular customers enable us to pay for many of our administrative costs - leaving the costs of development to a minimum.
Tabitha Foundation Singapore has become a registered charity in Singapore. Their new web - address is on the signature below. This makes five foundations - all volunteers who give so freely of their time and skills - it makes so much more possible.
Now we are busy with teams and expansion areas - next month we hope to produce a 10th Anniversary report on all that we have achieved - all the dreams the people have created and done - all the work which would not have happened without the support of each of you. I ask you to come and see what you and we have done together.
All of this, of course. takes time - sometimes another 10 hours a day would suit me just fine. But it is the staff that amaze me most - they are working very long hours and not a word of complaint. I suggested that maybe we should slow down accepting new teams for house building - their response was quick and loud - we can do more. I suggested that perhaps we don't need new customers - their response was to bring in 4 young ladies whose choice was to work for us or to work in brothels. Big grins as I just laughed. I suggested maybe we should be content with the families we had - their response was to tell me to come and see and to tell these families that are waiting myself that we will not come. I suggested to make sure that our dreams are one - their response was to show me that we are only just beginning our quest.
So it has become a time of rejoicing - a time of renewal - a time of continuation of what is started - a time of reaching out to more. It is a time of thankfulness to our God and His Grace - a time of thankfulness for each of you. I don't think life can get much better except for a bit more time for Miriam - even she, in her young age - says its okay mom, there are many people to help.
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com
e-mail from Cambodia : Wednesday, June 2. 2004
Dear friends and partners,
One of the best parts of my job is the privilege of visiting the project sites. These visits are about having time to talk one on one with all the development staff and seeing what they have done. Nari often accompanies me on these visits so that we are both up to date on what is happening. On our first site visit we went with Srei, Tharry, Pon and Heng to our new project in Kampot province. There was lots of time to talk with each of them and time to talk with all of us and even some time to meditate for the roads to Kampot vary in degrees of horribleness - on a scale of 1-10 - with 10 being the best - we started on a 6 and rapidly decreased to a 2 - I am a seasoned traveler - but this time, even I was beginning to fade with the bouncing and jouncing and the terrible snail's pace we kept up for hours at a time.
The seven of us were delighted to finally arrive and meet our new staff, Sokha. He is a gentle and unassuming man and took all of us in stride. The people kept finding us and pulling us to come and see what they had done. Within 6 weeks of beginning, 320 families had joined our program. The poverty was ameliorated by the enthusiasm of the people. We went to a number of homes - our driving finally ended as we ended up in rice paddies in mud up to the axels. We left the boys to free the van - us girls went off to see the wonders of the wells. We met a group of 5 families - they had plowed several hectares of land and had planted cucumbers (about 6 cm high) and lettuce. There was such excitement as they showed me scrub land that had been like theirs before - and then they showed me more hectares that other families were tilling to plant their vegetables. "We have water, we can do so many things,"-they all said. I was a bit dubious about it all - and asked - did you not plant before - no, they chorused - no one ever came and talked with us - no one ever shared ideas with us - we couldn't think anymore - but now we can think of so much that we can do."
A few days later, we went off to Prey Veng to visit with Pat, Ponluck and Choeun. We arrived at our office and I was delighted to see how Pat had fixed his house into an office for Tabitha. Our travels brought us to new areas - once again I was appalled by the poverty and touched by the eagerness of the families to show us what they had done. In one small village of 30 families stood a well donated by Pat, Ponluck and Choeun in memory of my mother - there were 8 new houses built by a team of volunteers. The people had so little yet they were full of enthusiasm for all they could now do - once again, I heard the refrain - we couldn't think anymore, we had no ideas - until Tabitha came - now, come see what we can do.
We went off to see 70 families in another village - they had just completed their first cycle of savings - each and everyone had bought water jars - we stopped at the a house where a well was being dug - it was fascinating to watch the drill as it hit water and it came up the spout - Chouen's desire was that we see each and every water jar for it was the first time that the 860 families in this village had their own well. There is only so much one can say about water jars.
At the end of the day I asked the staff if they wanted to ask anything or say anything. Pat spoke, its so good to have you come - you tell us our mistakes without us feeling bad and in a way that is easy for us to do - you show us all the good things we do and it makes us want to do more. It is good that you come - you must come more often.
A few days later, we were off to Kompong Som to visit with Vonn, Peu and Seyha. Seyha and Peu were anxious to show us their new communities - the car could only go so far and then we started to walk. I asked how far - they said, just till the end of the village - the end was a long ways away. It was good to be in the countryside - it was good to share and it was good to see what all they had done.
We all went off to see the new communities Vonn wanted to expand to - another new province. The trip was wonderful - along the roadside we stopped to buy fruit - the staff went crazy - 50 kilos of rambuttans - I said, can't you buy these in Phnom Penh - they all laughed and said, Cambodian fruit is the best - there is no medicine used and its fresh. I started to laugh - it had taken so many years to hear them say that Cambodia was number 1 in something.
Nari and Srei went for a week to see our work in Banteay Meanchay and Siem Reap - Kameak is doing well but oh the poverty, Janne. They saw Mari and Sarouen's new communities - and the same report - they are doing well but oh, the poverty.
In between the site visits, we were very busy with finishing the orders from our second Silk Show in Singapore and preparing our first set of products to be sold in Australia. There was and still is silk everywhere - the office is full of colour and chatter and laughter - many of the workers actually slept in the office for several nights - trying to put it all together. The weavers are weaving in a season that is traditionally slow - there is no hunger for our workers this year.
Its been a month of miracles, a month of grace - so many people - so much accomplished - so much more to do. No matter where we went or whom was talking - there was thankfulness and excitement - a deep awareness of how God has surrounded us with His grace and how each of you have been a part of that grace. Thank you all.
Janne
TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh
www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
E-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday April 28. 2004
Dear friends and partners,
Happy Khmer New Years to each and every one of you. Its been an = extra-ordinary
month but it seems that each new month, each new day is extra-ordinary.
This month we closed all our shops and all our work down in order to celebrate
the holiday - it is the first time that we have been able to do so since
we opened Tabitha in 1994. It was a gift given to us by all of you - our
support base is becoming strong enough to bear the closure for a few days
- giving all of us a much needed break.
My little family celebrated in true Khmer fashion - with our friends we went to the country side to throw water and baby powder - we got as good as we gave - my Miriam forgot to open her window several times and so I received more than I should have. She was delighted and so was I. click Miriam for more news.
Its also been a month of trauma. This past Sunday night at 2:30 in the morning, I was woken to find a man standing by my bed shining a flashlight in my eyes. God has promised to take care of us in such times and He did so this time. Without a murmur, I closed my eyes while I registered the fact that this was not good. I did not cry out, nor did I move. In the 30 seconds it took to think about the situation I received the wisdom to turn on my bed light near my hand and to stand quickly - easier to fight while standing, I say. The bed light is dim but gave enough light for me to see that my bathroom door was slightly open. I walked quickly to push it just a little, enough to know that it was not my imagination as the window glass was gone.
I was not frightened - my thoughts were clear - make sure Miriam and Tuit were safe and so I left my room with the door open and went to theirs. I told Tuit there was someone in the house and to call the security man next door. Tuit, in a confused state, said "don't worry, I will kill the cockroach" - I grabbed her and said again, "a man, not a roach, call the security next door". I stood in the living room with a flashlight ready to take on the intruder should he come out of my room while Tuit opened the backdoor - she did not call out - she slammed it and came back breathless and badly shaken, a second man was standing near by.
We went into Miriam's room - she did not cry out, she did not say a word, she just held her arms out to be held. I had bought Tuit a hand phone for Christmas and she grabbed it - "call Nari," I said. Another miracle, Nari answered after the first ring: she said, "don't leave the room, don't make a sound - I will call the police." Meng Wan, our second nanny was sleeping in the outside guest room - we phoned her and she, too stayed quiet.
15 minutes later the police and Nari arrived - Meng Wan walked across the yard in slow motion, deeply traumatized by what was happening. As the police entered the yard, I held my door shut while Tuit opened the main doors to the house. At first, the police thought I was just a crazy foreigner until I took them to the side to show them the empty window. It was only then that things happened quickly - guns and more guns and a thorough, professional search of every inch and every nook and cranny of the house, the garden and the roof. One of the intruders had left his shorts behind, a fact that left Miriam wondering why.
There were so many police and so professional - it was so very comforting. I started to shake and then they asked me what happened - we told them everything - the police were astonished - "why do you think he did not hurt you?" they asked me. They always hurt people if they know you are awake. I was still a bit numbed and my mouth opened before I thought: "I think they were after one of the pretty girls and when they saw I was an old lady, they decided it was too much." The laughter eased the tension but all of us were beginning to tremble from the fright.
In the morning light the police returned to take the fingerprints, the chief of our commune came to make sure all was well, the landlord sent workers to fix the windows - iron bars - and to install razor wire and spotlights. Nari and I decided that this was a message to make sure we were safe and so we hired a night guard - something I had resisted for so long. At the end of the day, all of the staff and workers came - about 90 people - to touch me and make sure all was fine. We shared, we hugged and we laughed - so much comedy in the midst of it all. We thanked our God for keeping us safe. Tuit's prayer touched my soul - she prayed that God had kept me safe because He had sent me to be a tree - covering all of them with cooling shade in their times of sorrow - I was a cooling steam of water in their hard lives - and she prayed that He would keep me safe in the years to come. My tears flowed freely.
I returned to work on Tuesday morning - my body feeling so very heavy - it was hard to lift my feet - I was so desperately tired. And then I opened the e-mails and there were 140 orders from our second Silk show that was held in Singapore a short week before. Nari, the staff and I looked at each other and we began to laugh, my weariness disappeared and today, there is colour everywhere - silks are on the floor, on the desks and people chatting and laughing making beautiful house wares. Sharon, one of the mainstays of the Singapore show, phoned to discuss the orders and I shared what happened.
And now I share this with you all because life is not always easy. But mainly I wanted to share about all the miracles - no one was hurt; we could fix all the problems without worrying about funds; we have the relationships to ensure that when we need help from the local authorities they do respond and with expertise. God's grace surrounds us even in moments of distress - we are surrounded by each other and by all of you. As I said earlier, it is an extra-ordinary month but then each day is that way - and each of you are a part of it. Thank you for that gift. Janne
e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, March 25. 2004
Dear friends and partners,
It has been an unusually busy time since I last wrote to all of you. Let me begin by saying that the hot season has arrived earlier than usual. This brings its own unique set of problems. It is in this time that so many of our staff and workers become ill. Last Friday, we were rejoicing over opening our first real shop in Siem Reap - as we were talking, Ani, our manager, received a phone call. One of our long time workers in Cottage Industry had passed away suddenly. Meng Sarouen was only thirty; she had come that morning to our devotions, she seemed to be fine, smiling and chatting with all of us. As is the norm on Fridays, she received her pay, picked up her work for this week and went home. When she arrived, she sat down on her mat and passed away. Meng had suffered from tuberculosis for many years - the hot season exacerbates the illness. She died without complaint - her 3 year old adopted daughter was taken home by her neighbours - orphaned yet again.
In many parts of our projects, the hot season leaves the land looking barren and dusty. We visited a new commune -Trapeang Sap - a community of 800 families whose main source of income is the making of brown sugar from palm trees.It was already hot when we arrived - as we entered the volunteer's home - the heat increased dramatically - over several open fires were large vats with sap bubbling merrily away. A young lady of 14 was stirring the sap and continually adding wood to the fire. Different families kept bringing more sap, all contained in PVC tubes, and the sap was poured to begin the process of changing sap into sugar.
I told them how we made maple syrup in Canada where the heat was welcomed as it was often very cold. There was a bit of misinterpretation as one of the women put a blanket around my shoulders. No, no more heat thank you. It took a day and a half to render a vat full of sap down to 5 kilos of excellent tasting sugar. Cambodian cooking usually requires a pinch or 2 of this sugar to make the dish just right. Nary, Srei, Tharry and I all delighted in putting our fingers into the freshly made sugar -it was very sweet and made us all giggle.
I marvelled at how hard these families worked - their land is small as children grownup and get married and receive their own parcel of precious land as a wedding gift from their parents. Most families only had a quarter of a hectare ( a bit more than 1/2 acre) left to grow their main staple, rice. It is too small to feed the family for a year. The palm sugar was their only other source of income - for three months the sap runs and each day every member of the family is involved. The men, both young and old, tap the trees and then carry 30 tubes of sap to the cooking fires - some as far as 2 kilometres - each tube of sap weighing several kilos. Their backs are bent and their muscles are strained as they walked through the fields. The women tend the fires and constantly stir the sap until only the sugar is left - a hot and tiring task. The elderly and the very young spend their days scavenging for materials to feed the fires. The sap is sold for 1000 riels (10 cents) a kilo - unbelievably cheap for so much labour - we all bought several kilos - my share given to our staff at the office.
These families renew our desire to reach out to so many more. There is so much to do. All of you have made this month so wonderful. Tabitha Singapore sent us joyful news - they had been accepted by Singaporean authorities to officially start Tabitha Singapore. The Friends of Tabitha arrived to select products for our next Silk Show to be held in Singapore, in April.
Tabitha Australia worked with us in designing an innovative way
of selling our products in Australia.We hope to begin this process in April.
Tabitha USA, Canada and UK all came forth with the funds
needed to work freely - without worry. Many individuals visited us and
still many more contacted us through email, regular mail and phone calls.
How good that is.
We reached another milestone with our volunteer house builders -
more than 200 volunteers arrived to build a record 37 houses in one month
- the majority were students from various International schools in Asia.
It is always very good to inter-act with these young people.
see also Volunteer
Housebuilding Program and visit :PHOTO
GALLERY OF HOUSEBUILDING,
To keep it all in perspective - to remind me that I have a family, Tuit,
who is Miriam's nanny, developed lumps in her breast - they are benign.
Miriam got to play with a cycle while I
was up country - breaking her arm and getting an overnight trip to Bangkok
with mom. click Miriam for more news.
But the worst was myself - I developed a little blister on my big toe
from having my nails cut - it was embarrassing as I greeted visitors and
friends with a lemon tied around my toe - Cambodian herbal medicine - and
pain that brought tears to my eyes. How could such a little thing hurt
so much.
Thank you to each of you - you are enabling us to do so very much. I am humbled and amazed by my God who has brought each of you into our lives. Life couldn't get any better. Janne
e-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday, February 18. 2004
Dear friends and partners,
Starting in new provinces always involves a lot of work - staff spend days travelling through-out the province - meeting with the local chiefs and talking with the people. Discussions are held with me and other staff - more questions - more travelling - more answers until we think we should begin.
But before we begin in a big way, I am requested to come and see for myself - to give my final stamp of approval. This week was one of those final approval weeks. I approved the opening of Banteay Meanchay province - a province whose location is contiguous to Siem Reap and is a natural choice for expansion. Let me share my 2 days that I spent with Ani, our manager in Siem Reap and Tim Kameak who is our new manager in Banteay Meanchay.
Kameak joined our staff in 2000 - he was a close friend of Dara. Dara, I suspect, knew that he was dying, and so he quietly trained Kameak in the work. After Dara's death, it was natural to hire him as staff and to take over Dara's work. Kameak is just 30, single and women are a bane in his life. He is the youngest of 5 children; his parents killed by the Khmer Rouge, his oldest brother as well - leaving his 4 sisters and himself. He is another quiet one, putting up with the constant teasing of the female staff in Siem Reap and the hugs and kisses from me, his boss. But he likes it - if we don't do all these things, he thinks he has done something wrong.
Monday morning started early, I left Phnom Penh at 7 a.m.and arrived in Siem Reap 45 minutes later. Ani and Kameak had the car ready and off we went. Kameak was the driver and he took his vengeance out on us. The road is tarmac for 30 kilometres - on this section he drove no faster than 30 kilometres an hour - my patience was tested but I said nothing- and then we hit the dirt roads - speed crept up to 120 kph and both Ani and I were white faced and perspiring - slow down I would say as we hit another crater - he smiled and just went that much faster - I smacked him on the arm and I got the grin - by this time, Ani had her arms around my neck - her breathing came in gasps and groans - I smacked him harder - then we saw a bridge - and he slowed down to 10 kph - a breather except the bridge was in horrible shape - gaps in the girders - spikes all over the road - but we made it - it was the first of 77 bridges - I came to love them and hate them at the same time.
In an hour we entered Banteay Meanchay province - at first it looked like Siem Reap and then became flatter and flatter - huge expanses of seemingly endless plain - dotted occasionally by communities. We arrived in Banteay Meanchay at 10:30 and Kameak proudly drove us to the office he and the staff had chosen. I was horrified. It is a shack of broken wood with mud floors - Ani saw my face and quickly assured me there was nothing better for $20.00 a month - I said, we can afford more; but then she said, we looked - $100 ones are the same and she then showed me one on the outside it was done nicely - coloured tiles but inside it was wood and mud. "This will not do," said I, "you must fix it - cement floors and new walls, a bedroom and a kitchen and a toilet" - Ani laughed - she said: "I knew you would say this when you saw it" Kameak gave his grin again and I gave him a hug.
Then we went off to see the potential families - we met several families, representing 650 families - all of whom broke rocks into small stones for a living. It was hard to imagine breaking rocks for a living - the morning had gotten hot and women, men and children all sat in makeshift shades breaking rocks, - none stopped as we talked - they worked 7 days a week to crush one truck-load of rocks - their homes were mere shells of bits and pieces of grass and plastic, mud floors, little else - a life time of misery for so very little. Yet none complained; for then Kameak showed me the ones with no homes and no work - hundreds of them and I was appalled. Breaking rocks, the people said, is much better than having no work and no food. Poverty is a hard task master. I am humbled by the quiet strength of those who work so hard for so little and even more humbled by those who desire to work but cannot find any. Their will to live is so very strong.
At 2 p.m. we left for Poipet - the border town with Thailand. Here my
culture shock re-asserted itself - we stayed in a Casino with a 5 star
Hotel - price was $30.00 which included 2 meals and a $10 chit to gamble
with. I was horrified, but Ani said, you need to see this. As we stood
at the top of the hotel we saw horrendous poverty - next to the wall of
the hotel, 850 families lived in shacks - no water, no toilets, no anything.
Then we drove around the town - behind the front row of respectable businesses
were thousands of families living in poverty. On the outskirts of the town
were entire suburbs of families living in poverty. Everywhere we went -
there was more - each place had its own unique mark - dirt, filth, limited
space - suburbs had space but showed just how terrible the living really
was. "Oh Kameak," I kept saying, "lots of work, lots of work." I kept getting
the grin. With such poverty, security is often an issue - we discussed
all our options and decisions were made.
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The next morning we stood at the border and watched people streaming across the border to find what work they could. Kameak was mesmerized and forgot he was driving - people were honking and screaming at us to move our car off the road, but he just couldn't absorb it all.
Finally we were off again, this time to find the silk weavers. 3 hours later - we were on a dirt road without gas; but a wizened man showed up with 10 cokes bottles of gas and we were ready to go. In the silk weavers villages - the poverty was much less - they were growing the silk worms and showed us the process - it was fascinating. Most of it is bought by our weavers in Takeo and other places. Very good.
We arrived back in Siem Reap to meet with the other staff - we were looking for a real showroom for our Cottage Industry Crafts to display to the tourists who visit the temples of Angkor Wat. Kameak still drove and he very kindly stopped in the middle of the road whenever we saw a place. We think we found one - decisions were made of who will do what and how, as this process moves on.
At 4 p.m.we were at the airport - Ani, Apo, Sarouen, Mari, Chrisom, Vath all said good bye - Kameak stood before me with his grin - both of us were hot and dirty and smelly - he gave me a big hug. I held him close for a minute and then said, well done, son, well done. Our 2 days together will never be forgotten - I am so grateful that God has given him to us as a part of Tabitha. I am so grateful that God gave us each of you to stand with us. It is so very good. Janne
e-mail from Cambodia: January 15.2004
Dear friends and partners,
It is the beginning of a new year and like all new beginnings - there
is an air of anticipation and excitement for what the future will bring.
For me personally, the year 2003 ended in sadness and celebration. My mother
passed away in mid December - she lived to a good age - her life was one
of faith and anticipation and excitement - she saw much and did even more.
My daughter, Miriam and I travelled home
to Canada to grieve with our family and to celebrate my mother's life and
the life she had given to all of us. It was a time of excitement as Miriam
discovered snow and all its joys; she discovered what cold is and all its
trauma; she learned about grief and that it is okay to be sad; she learned
that family is a source of renewal and hope
On our return we were met by our Cambodian family - there were hugs and tears - there was joy and excitement - above all there was a sense of relief - we had come back.
click Miriam for more news.
Sok Som is our handyman, our security here in Phnom Penh. He is 46 years old and is married with 5 children. Som never says much - never did and probably never will. He watches all of us and helps where is needed. My return brought a big smile to his face - a gentle hug - and a welcome home coffee. Som, my quiet one, spoke -"It is so good to have you back." We grinned and I wished him and his family the best of 2004.
Som began to reminisce - "You know Janne, before I met you and Tabitha in 1995 - my life was very hard. I had a very poor house; only 2 of my children could go to school. My wife was very unhappy - she had no work and she would sit all day and think of bad thoughts. These thoughts would make her ill and then she would cry - she grieved because the children were jealous of each other - only 2 could go to school each year - the other 3 had to stay home. Our children would be angry and ask us why they couldn't go to school. My wife and I were both so very sad and we had no hope. I could only provide for 20% of my family's needs. It was too hard.
Then I met you and you hired me as a guard. Tabitha was so different - you made all of us take care of our own needs but also the needs of the people we work with. You made us all equal and it made me feel like I was a somebody - that I was just like everyone else. You made me save and think of what I could do - not about what I didn't have. You kept telling me that a good home was possible, that my children could all go to school, that my wife and I could laugh again.
Then in 1999, we built our house together with you. Later that year I dug a fish pond and my wife had work to take care of the fish. She doesn't cry anymore, she no longer thinks about sad things, every morning she sings as she gets the children ready for school. Then she takes care of the fish; she feeds them and makes sure the pond is strong. Every day she brings fish to people in our community who don't have enough to eat. The fish we sell every month, helps pay for 30% of all our needs and she is proud of that.
Then you helped me buy my motorbike and I can be with my family each week-end. Before that, it was hard to go home because everyone was unhappy and I couldn't do anything to make it better - now I enjoy going home.
You know the best thing I like about Tabitha is the house building - I get to go all over the country and meet people who were just like me - a nobody - and now, just like me, they are somebody. I am so very proud that I can help myself and my family but I am even prouder that I can help others to be just like myself. I know that God blesses you and that He blesses me but I want you to know that I bless you as well and all those who help us. I and my family are so happy to be a part of Tabitha and all the people that we help. My blessings are not just for this year but for all the years that lie ahead."
Thank you my friend - I and Som and all of us at Tabitha wish each and every one of you the blessings you have given, to be returned ten fold - not just this year but all the years that lie ahead. Janne
For a picture of Sok Som see Staff
of the Month
E-mail from Cambodia: Thursday, June 26, 2003