Some of RJ's Rantings, Writings and Reflections ...


Meditation Thursday 29 July 2004: "From Siem Riep to Wilcannia"

From Mike & Jean Brown (Adelaide) in Siem Riep

(Reported by Cynthia Lawler 28/07/2004)

Our 21 year-old, Chris has been travelling with his friend Teresa Lawler for five weeks in South-east Asia, and has now successfully ended-up at the Asia-Pacific Youth Conference of MRA-IC (Initiatives of Change).

We're pleased to support him on this mission, because he's made a huge effort to accomplish this, following on from his time with some of the same people visiting the Aboriginal community at Wilcannia in the NSW Outback, and his trip to Jakarta last year.

We were initially quite fearful about it all, but became more relaxed as it became evident that they were competent travellers in the region, and made an effort to email us quite often.

Here's one of the recent letters:

*** * ***

Sin Chiao, adep (beautiful) family,

Everytime I travel I get a deep sense of the importance of family. On this trip, I see that there is nothing more impotant in Vietnamese culture than family life. It is strange how we often don't appreciate what we have untill we lose it. I am most grateful for all and the love and stability you give me.

It is interesting how we spend more time wishing we were somewhere else rather than apprectiating what we have. I really miss you and can't wait to see you next week!!!

Well, Teresa and I made it to the Conference safely after travelling in a most bumpy road all day last Thursday from Pnom Penh to Siem Riep (Ankor Wat). We arrived on Thursday evening just in time for registration. It is funny how you say to a Tuk Tuk driver where you want to go and he agrees with a confident expression, then you see that as you travel the scenery starts to repeat itself and he is getting nervous, he stops to ask someone where to go, we realise that he doesn't have a clue where he is going. Even in such a small town he did not know where 'Wat Rajabo' was. However they do go to every effort to find the place for the bargained down arranged price.(about $1.50 for a 30min Tuk Tuk ride).

We have had a fabulous time meeting people from all over the world including a reunion with our Indonesian friends, Korean, and Cambodian people who I met in Melbourne during the last two Life Matters Courses. I could not believe that I already knew over 50 people out of the 230 attendants.

I was given about a dozen jobs within my first hour in Siem Riep. One of them was to give the Opening Address to all the attendants, with Thursday night to prepare (scary!!). I did it on Friday morning with great success and have presented two other performances since then, who knows what next!!!

I have become really inspired by the Action for Life team and would love to take part in it next year, however not sure what I will be doing. Teresa is well and we are only just slipping in enough sleep every night. We have embraced the Cambodian culture as well as learning all the difficulties about this country.

The roads are a mess (main roads worse than our driveway in Wamboin!!) People are poor (beggars) and there has just been an outbreak of Dengy Fever!! The only way Dengy Fever can be cured is with a blood transfusion. When hearing about this I organised a group to go to the hospital and give blood. I gave my fair share of blood, and when going to the hospital I was horrified. At least 200 people all sick and dying, babies screaming lying on the floor waiting to be admitted to the full hospital. The place althought disturbing was very clean and for donating blood we got T-shirts, drinks and sugar biscuits. The experience was all worth it. I am going to try and organise a few more people to go this week, as they are in desparate need of healthy blood.

We have met inspiring people like the leader for the Khmer Youth asociation who spoke highly of his country. I learned from the Mine Squad leader that over the past 5 years they have removed over 90,000 land mines, which is less than 10per cent of the mines that reside in the land of Cambodia. Hundreds of people are injured every year from the mines. They have two choices, risk the mines in the rice fields or starve!!! The war is very evident in the hatred of the people the destroyed land and the bad roads. However it is slowly improving.

Our time here although tiring is extremly enjoyable and we are still very healthy. I have made it a must to go to bed before 11pm and wake up after 6am.

Mike Brown says:
The program is going well but where we are challenged to meet the expectations of 200 young Asians for healing and purpose in their personal lives, and for constructive action in the face of corruption, conflicts and economic injustices in their region. Already we have witnessed some stirring breakthroughs of the prejudice and hatreds between Chinese and Muslim Indonesians, some beginning steps of personal honesty and the start of what promises to be an intensive dialogue between young Khmer and Vietnamese.

Thinking of you always,
Love Chris.

His letters are all of a similar tone, reflecting on the vast differences in environment, culture, language, religion and material wealth among different cultures, but noting the fundamental similarities among people everywhere.

Last week's Bible reading recounted Jesus story about going to a friend's house in the night, knocking on the door, and expecting some help. Isn't that just something that we can all identity with?

Chris's travel and cultural encounters have been a challenge and an inspiration to us. A challenge because it brings closer to home the reality of the conflicts and difficulties that seem so overwhelming. It's an inspiration because he speaks constantly of how people in what we regard as dreadful circumstances remain happy and friendly.

His friends from Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim culture rejoice in their common humanity, ahead of sparring over petty differences. This does not in itself solve all the problems, but it's a good start.

From : Luke 11: 1-13 last week, we hear those memorable lines of Jesus: "I say unto you: Ask, and it shall be given you; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks shall receive, and he that seeks shall find, and to him that knocks, it shall be opened."

Amen

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