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Cambodia Trip - Aftershock

I just came back from a "mission trip" to Cambodia - May 2-19. There were 23 young adults that went from our Church. We went to Cambodia to work with kids, bring a tonne of supplies and to help (mostly financially) with a building project. Sometimes I have questioned the value of these types of trips, and I still do at times - but I will leave that for another post. This whole experience affected me in ways I am just beginning to understand. I saw things there that you just don't see in North America - the poverty, the prostitution (VERY aggressive), the social needs. We may have a large problem with these things in North America, but we have found ways to hide them better so that middle class people like me don't have to see them too much. I found the needs impacted me so much, that I can't wrap my head around the needs I see here at home. We have meetings to discuss how we should change the programs at our church...my kids feel they "need" new things or more attention...my computer doesn't work right...I feel like I want a rest...things need fixing around the house...we have the same old discussions at church meetings that we have had since I got here...and I just feel like shouting, "STOP, don't you know that people are starving, that people suffer through crap everyday and we (I) am doing nothing about it! Can we just do something meaningful instead!" I get frustrated easily, and I think I am just starting to figure out why. Either it is because I just can not adjust back to real life for me, or I have been enlightened and it actually really sucks.

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Unknown said…
i know how you feel trevor. when i was in jamaica, i was absolutely sickened by the amount of tourists (and i've been one) that were content and happy to just ride around and watch the poverty and starvation that goes on in that country (they just don't show it on the commercials or in the pretty pictures of the resorts). i don't think i will ever be a tourist again.
12:38 pm
Pamela said…
hey Trevor, )found your blog via your facebook notes)...
I think we all need experiences that open our eyes and your short, but intense, time in Cambodia was one of those experiences. Prehaps that is what one of the purposes of short-term missions is: a way a encouraging long term action.
7:18 pm
philter said…
yea, your totally enlightened and it does suck. I am glad you wrote about Cambodia. I don't want to forget bro. I am trying to continue to see injustice so that I don't grow warm and just relaxed. You will never be the same and life just gets more frustration. Yeehaa. You should read the Iresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne. It is great.
10:19 pm
Trevor said…
Yeah Courtney, being a tourist lost it's appeal a lot...especially in a 3rd world country

I agree pamela, that is definitely one of the purposes (porpoises) of an experience like that.

Phil, thanks for the encouragement...more frustration, I can't wait! I will check out that book, I have been wanting to read it.
6:51 am
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