As the sun rises over the Mekong River in Cambodia, Joshua McFadden (name changed for security reasons) treks to an isolated fishing village to build relationships.'I love Cambodia,' college grad says
Apr 11, 2007
by Dea Davidson*
(*Names changed for security reasons)
Baptist Press
SOUTHEAST ASIA (BP)--Even before he's fully awake, Joshua McFadden* knows he's not in Kentucky anymore.
Roosters crowing, babies crying and his neighbors pumping water from the well outside his bedroom window remind the recent college grad that he's in Cambodia. So do the thatched-roof homes on stilts he passes as he bikes down the red dirt road to a Cambodian-style outdoor diner. Yet, as he wolfs down breakfast and endures teasing by the older village women, he is thankful God brought him to Southeast Asia.
"I love my job. I love these people. I love Cambodia. I love my life," McFadden says. "I know it sounds sappy, but it's true. When I'm riding my bike through a village and say, 'Hi,' to all the kids, it's a daily revival. How often do you go through a village and everyone speaks to you?"
McFadden's interest in sharing Christ internationally sharpened as a result of trips to Cambodia and China in college, but he can see how God started working on him back in the fourth grade. That year, his Sunday School teacher, a short-term missionary journeyman just back from Kenya, brought carved rhinoceroses and tribal masks to class and helped make sharing Christ come alive. That teacher, Randy Jacobs*, is now McFadden's team leader in Cambodia.
McFadden has learned a lot since he stepped off the plane in August 2006 – not only about fitting in with a different people group but also the importance of helping them physically as well as spiritually.
"It's really important for Christian people to do development work in addition to evangelism to catch the vision for really changing a place," McFadden says. "I just hope I am able to portray to them someone who genuinely cares about their needs. If we totally ignore the dire situation and physical concerns, it's not responsible on our part as Christians."
McFadden and his team minister to the Cambodian people first by providing water filters, locating cleaner water sources, providing medical education and creating educational videos. Within his team, McFadden is taking a key role in animal husbandry and agricultural programs. As he helps his neighbors raise healthier goats and pigs and produce better crops, he builds relationships that give him opportunity to share his testimony.
While McFadden loves the work he is doing now, he is excited about plans to move to a more remote village on his own. That village, accessible only by ferry across the Mekong River, has no electricity, running water or concrete buildings. By choosing to live among these isolated Buddhist people, he hopes to show them that happiness in life comes not through rituals or things but through a God they have never heard about.
At the end of his two-year term in Cambodia, McFadden hopes he will have helped change the lives of some Cambodians, but more importantly, his life will have changed.
"It's one of my biggest hopes that I'll be different when I go home," McFadden says. "I love my life in America, but I want to go back and be different so I don't get pulled back into American culture. I think it would be the way Jesus would live on earth."
Roosters crowing, babies crying and his neighbors pumping water from the well outside his bedroom window remind the recent college grad that he's in Cambodia. So do the thatched-roof homes on stilts he passes as he bikes down the red dirt road to a Cambodian-style outdoor diner. Yet, as he wolfs down breakfast and endures teasing by the older village women, he is thankful God brought him to Southeast Asia.
"I love my job. I love these people. I love Cambodia. I love my life," McFadden says. "I know it sounds sappy, but it's true. When I'm riding my bike through a village and say, 'Hi,' to all the kids, it's a daily revival. How often do you go through a village and everyone speaks to you?"
McFadden's interest in sharing Christ internationally sharpened as a result of trips to Cambodia and China in college, but he can see how God started working on him back in the fourth grade. That year, his Sunday School teacher, a short-term missionary journeyman just back from Kenya, brought carved rhinoceroses and tribal masks to class and helped make sharing Christ come alive. That teacher, Randy Jacobs*, is now McFadden's team leader in Cambodia.
McFadden has learned a lot since he stepped off the plane in August 2006 – not only about fitting in with a different people group but also the importance of helping them physically as well as spiritually.
"It's really important for Christian people to do development work in addition to evangelism to catch the vision for really changing a place," McFadden says. "I just hope I am able to portray to them someone who genuinely cares about their needs. If we totally ignore the dire situation and physical concerns, it's not responsible on our part as Christians."
McFadden and his team minister to the Cambodian people first by providing water filters, locating cleaner water sources, providing medical education and creating educational videos. Within his team, McFadden is taking a key role in animal husbandry and agricultural programs. As he helps his neighbors raise healthier goats and pigs and produce better crops, he builds relationships that give him opportunity to share his testimony.
While McFadden loves the work he is doing now, he is excited about plans to move to a more remote village on his own. That village, accessible only by ferry across the Mekong River, has no electricity, running water or concrete buildings. By choosing to live among these isolated Buddhist people, he hopes to show them that happiness in life comes not through rituals or things but through a God they have never heard about.
At the end of his two-year term in Cambodia, McFadden hopes he will have helped change the lives of some Cambodians, but more importantly, his life will have changed.
"It's one of my biggest hopes that I'll be different when I go home," McFadden says. "I love my life in America, but I want to go back and be different so I don't get pulled back into American culture. I think it would be the way Jesus would live on earth."
17 comments:
Cambodia is a country where people have time for people. This characteristic should be preserved. If there are security and health services 24 hours a day, it will be among the best countries in the world, regardless whether it is poor or rich.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
So why he can`t reveal his real name? Anybody want to chime me in?
CC, California
I support her heroic action, for what she has done to help the poor. But with all the due respect,... what is the purpose of posting this article? Is this the encouragement to convert to Christianity?
Cambodia & its people has Sweet soul & Heart.
pls help her before she is swallowed by the Evil Yuon-Hanoi.
If people truely love this land, it should be shown and reguardless of their races and religions.
Our government must embrace all kinds of people and their belief. They should be able to continue to live in this land safety and happily.
Remember Cambodia is now a Tourist Land. We are no longer a country in the middle of no where. We are now almost in everyone's raddar screen.
Would a racism country bring more joy to their own people and others who come to see us? especially those who will open their wallets here?
Think happiness $ growing economy of the true future Cambodia.
Ordinary Khmers
Yep, and we should all united to
get rid of people like Ag Gringoes'
Slave or terrorist 9:34.
I can see that there would be a religous war coming soon to Cambodia. Thanks to these who have no respect for the believe of others. These people dogmaticaly claim they are the only true religion in the world. Budhism, Sheik, Muslim and rest of other people's believe are just a devil worshipor. If I have the power, I will not allow these pests to come in to polute my country.
8"29pm are you afraid of fair competition or try to keep people poor, needy and ignorance?
Missionaries, who ultimately profoundly disrespect the country and the culture they live-in, have no place in any country. Especially in a country such as Cambodia, where Buddhism—which pursues an ideal of tolerance—is the main religion. Thus, Dea Davison (whose real name is, it seems McFadden—as the editor did a poor job at covering the bloke’s identity) would be well advised to take his medieval concepts of conversion back to where he belongs: in that hellhole that is the Bible-Belt.
Certainly, the FBI would be interested in this individual's interest and intent.
People should be freed to worship any religion and live anywhere in the world peacefully.
We are all different anyway and life is too short to die for any religious cause. Let people have the right to choose and let many be available out there. There is no religion that is bad, just don't be an extremist.
Is it good to be born and raise to be an extremist? There is something wrong in their behavior as a child somewhere. That is for sure or else bad culture nuturing it.
Don't forget that Protestant is still the most powerful religion discovered by sociologists around the world. It teaches not only worshiping God, but how to bring " Power & wealth " to their citizen.
Check out Germany & The British, but so does Japan who main religion is Buddhism.
Love conquers all!
Ordinary Khmers
Compare and Contrast,
Why Christian church has money to help poor people?
Donation, donation every week at church.
How's about Buddihism?
We only donate or raise money when we have ceremony or big event.
When Christian people that you don't know them and approach you and say nice thing to you, I bet they must be Christian. I encountered a lot of them in school, Chinese or American comes to me and say "Hello" and starts conversation with you. I know this individual is a Christian. Later on he or she reveals himself and ask me if I want to join Wednesday morning's breakfast. My country men, If you believe yourself a buddhism, don't let yourself trapped with these people. Save your identity and dignity. Don't forget where you're coming from.
Buddhism never go around and ask people to join our religion, but Christian does.
Remember, They help you first with free things,
But, when you make money and join, you will help them with their salary by donating money to the church every week.
Does true monk have salary, home, or car?
Does Pastor have salary, home, car, wife? Yes, big salary.
Who and what is true monk?
Tep Vong the king of Cambodia Monk?
Does modern monk homeless and beging all the time, or they make of stone?
12:02 Am be real man?
are you communist, if yes you need place to stay and eat too! work for them!
What about Ah Gringoes' Slaves'
Monks, where did they ever get
the cashes to buy a Rolex watches
and drive around in a luxuriest
automobiles?
Hard working! not robbing like you communist read head!
Hard working, doing what?
I like to do some of that myself
if you know what I mean, hehehe.
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