Village Blog

Dear Village Bible Church,

After almost four years in this Land of Smiles, I've learned to embrace a new normal. I've gotten used to perpetual heat, eating bugs and tiptoeing through the night to avoid scorpions and poisonous centipedes. I've gotten used to rice at every meal, beautiful smiles and warm greetings... and incessant curiosity about my freckles.

But after four years - two of them in this little rural village that I've grown to love - there are still some things that feel far from normal.

I can't get used to sixteen-year-olds getting married off because they made one bad decision and their parents needed the wedding dowry money. I think of "Jane" being led, somber-faced, to her Buddhist/Khmer wedding, and her pleading eyes asking if she can come back to study with us after she's married knowing chances are slim.

I can't get used to failing education systems where teachers use bamboo sticks as weapons if uniforms are out of line, but illiteracy is ignored. I think of "Anne" cowering before a power-hungry teacher, being shamed and struck with a bamboo rod for getting into a cat-fight with her friend...and "Abby" weeping as she confesses there's no way she can dream about college when she can't even read as an 11th grader.

Over my time here, my day-to-day experiences have turned abstract policy and development issues into stories of "my girls". It's gotten personal, and it's gotten harder.

What started as a research project and hands-on attempt at holistic community development has turned into a test of faith, patience and character. My life is no longer in controllable compartments; it's on trial and on display every day as I "do life" in a single-room house with 12 girls.  It means highs and lows of life and work are painted on our sweaty t-shirt-sleeves, and it's not always a pretty picture.

Through the trials of these last six months, I confess I've found myself in the crux of questioning mission/identity/faith. I've fought sickness, depression, team trials, ministry disappointments, teenage drama and heartbreak, temptation to call it quits, and my latest favorite: a scorpion hiding out in my "Be Joyful" devotional book. After my heartbeat returned to normal (and the scorpion was good and dead), I couldn't help but laugh as the scene summed up this past season of life pretty well.

So here I am. Trying to overcome six months of writer's block and reminding myself that God calls us not to great things, but to the Great One who works best in the midst of impossible situations.

Our latest impossible situation: The Breakthrough Teen Center construction project. After what felt like chasing our tails for over a year in preparation, we're finally shovel-ready. It has been (and continues to be) a test of faith and perseverance, but we're determined to charge ahead with a Jonathan-style attitude of "Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf."  Plans are finalized and we miraculously found a trustworthy contractor (and a reasonable bid), and shovels are staged awaiting funds.

Our goal: We need 40% of the construction costs to get through Phase 1 of construction, andwe're $18,000 short. If funds come through soon (i.e. in the next week or so), we can bring the construction crew in to start before I head back to the States in early August for harvest and fundraising. If things stay on schedule, construction would be done in time for the girls to move in for the next school year (Spring 2015). Click here to help!

PRAYER REQUESTS

• That the Teen Center building project would be birthed in prayer and a blessing and witness of God's hand to all involved, including architects, contractors, builders, supporters and, most importantly, the teens and community members.   
• For provision of funds at the "right time" and that all would move forward in God's timing and not our own.
• Praise that Bonnie Martin (licensed professional counselor and trainer) will be coming to join us later this month to work with our staff and conduct teacher trainings at a few local schools.  We're currently $600 short to cover the costs of her trip; let me know if you feel led to help out!
• For our teens as they continue their studies, and for grace and wisdom in interacting with the difficult local school situations.

Thank you for being a part of our team!    

Sending love from the green rice fields,
Cori and the Breakthrough team