Mike Morgan
Guest Columnist
Zanesville Times Recorder (Ohio, USA)
I have been very negligent in writing my article to the newspaper, and I repent and promise to be more punctual. I have been so busy with all of our assignments the article has dropped down the priority scale. I use the word "busy" because that is the most common word in Cambodia. When we speak with people about attending church or other activities, the most common answer is "I am busy." We have been serving more than one-third of our time in the mission field, and it seems like every day is more challenging but every day is very "busy."
We have spent our first Christmas out of the United States and away from our family. It was a very difficult time for my wife. Luckily, there are very few men in Cambodia who are built like Santa Clause. We were asked to play Santa a number of times - 12 to be exact. I ordered a Santa suit from the states, but it still hasn't arrived. We managed to adapt an old Santa suit and life went on. Cambodia is 95 percent Buddhist, but there are many Christens from Europe, Australia and the United States on assignments in Cambodia, as well as many native Cambodians who want to celebrate Christmas and the holidays. Many of the stores sell decorations, trees and other Christmas items. We played Santa for probably 500 kids in church units, orphanages and schools. We were so "busy" worrying about helping others, we scarcely had any time to worry about home, family and the holidays.
Recently my wife and I traveled with a puppet show from the church, a company of about 10 young people, out into the provinces. The area we were in was very rural and had many very, very poor people. Most homes had no electricity and probably would not even be called shacks in the U.S. There were a few water wells, but most collected the rain water for a water supply. The weather does not get below about 65 degrees all year, so keeping warm is not a factor. The puppet show group would pull up into a village and begin playing music and setting up their portable set. The skit was very simple and cute, teaching people about breast feeding, hygiene, clean water, simple disease and mosquito control. After the music was playing for about 30 minutes, about 50 to 75 people - mostly mothers and young babies - would gather and sit on the ground and enjoy the performance. The people were so kind and appreciative of the presentation.
I read the e-mail from the T.R. almost every day, and I enjoy reading the articles and news about the community. I, of course read the sports columns and the obituaries, but I also follow the election results and some of the local politics as well. I compare the editorials about the taxes and school levies to life in Phnom Penh, where there are no taxes. The schools receive almost no money from the government officials. Teachers make about $30 per month and almost all teachers work several jobs. If a student wants homework or anything more than babysitting, the student pays the teacher directly. There are many, many private schools throughout the city, but they are very expensive. Additionally, there is one fire station and five fire trucks to handle the fires for a city of more than 2 million people. There is also one post office for the entire community; no home or business mail delivery system. There is no sewage treatment plant, as the sewage dumps into an open canal that courses through the city and empties into the Mekong River. There are two or three police officers on many of the street corners and pull over motos and some cars for various violations. The violator pays a fine directly to the officer, who keeps the money as a supplement to his salary of $30 per month. As I evaluate the community services in this third world country to the services we receive in the states, it makes the taxes that we pay a bargain. I love the USA.
Mike and Mary Lee Morgan are on an 18-month assignment in the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They have been assigned to do both proselyting and humanitarian services for the Cambodian people. Dr. Morgan retired from his dental practice in Zanesville, after 41 years of practice. He will periodically write about their adventures.
We have spent our first Christmas out of the United States and away from our family. It was a very difficult time for my wife. Luckily, there are very few men in Cambodia who are built like Santa Clause. We were asked to play Santa a number of times - 12 to be exact. I ordered a Santa suit from the states, but it still hasn't arrived. We managed to adapt an old Santa suit and life went on. Cambodia is 95 percent Buddhist, but there are many Christens from Europe, Australia and the United States on assignments in Cambodia, as well as many native Cambodians who want to celebrate Christmas and the holidays. Many of the stores sell decorations, trees and other Christmas items. We played Santa for probably 500 kids in church units, orphanages and schools. We were so "busy" worrying about helping others, we scarcely had any time to worry about home, family and the holidays.
Recently my wife and I traveled with a puppet show from the church, a company of about 10 young people, out into the provinces. The area we were in was very rural and had many very, very poor people. Most homes had no electricity and probably would not even be called shacks in the U.S. There were a few water wells, but most collected the rain water for a water supply. The weather does not get below about 65 degrees all year, so keeping warm is not a factor. The puppet show group would pull up into a village and begin playing music and setting up their portable set. The skit was very simple and cute, teaching people about breast feeding, hygiene, clean water, simple disease and mosquito control. After the music was playing for about 30 minutes, about 50 to 75 people - mostly mothers and young babies - would gather and sit on the ground and enjoy the performance. The people were so kind and appreciative of the presentation.
I read the e-mail from the T.R. almost every day, and I enjoy reading the articles and news about the community. I, of course read the sports columns and the obituaries, but I also follow the election results and some of the local politics as well. I compare the editorials about the taxes and school levies to life in Phnom Penh, where there are no taxes. The schools receive almost no money from the government officials. Teachers make about $30 per month and almost all teachers work several jobs. If a student wants homework or anything more than babysitting, the student pays the teacher directly. There are many, many private schools throughout the city, but they are very expensive. Additionally, there is one fire station and five fire trucks to handle the fires for a city of more than 2 million people. There is also one post office for the entire community; no home or business mail delivery system. There is no sewage treatment plant, as the sewage dumps into an open canal that courses through the city and empties into the Mekong River. There are two or three police officers on many of the street corners and pull over motos and some cars for various violations. The violator pays a fine directly to the officer, who keeps the money as a supplement to his salary of $30 per month. As I evaluate the community services in this third world country to the services we receive in the states, it makes the taxes that we pay a bargain. I love the USA.
Mike and Mary Lee Morgan are on an 18-month assignment in the Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They have been assigned to do both proselyting and humanitarian services for the Cambodian people. Dr. Morgan retired from his dental practice in Zanesville, after 41 years of practice. He will periodically write about their adventures.
12 comments:
Mormon missionaries should get out of Cambodia. They don't belong there.
I know their great work for humanity. But they should not proselytize innocent kids for their congregation.
If it is work on a humanitarian basis is fine, but it is for recruting buddhist, poor kids, they should pack their bags and join their families elsewhere.
Why don't they help the kids in all forms of aid such as food, shelther, clothing, and education, and their religion?
Isn't there missing one component? Their religion which is buddhism.
Please kids, take their and appreciate it but don't stick with their Christian religion.
I think these ppl are clueless with their means of help.
They shold know that Cambodia's religion is Buddhism, but why are they teaching them Christianity? Isn't it stupid for their act?
AH CHHAY's IDEA: FOLKS, I don't understand as well Khmer people always use an oxcart to transport things.
Why Cambodian people now use cars and van.
They used to ride on horse back to delivery messages. Why now they use cell phone?
Now they use to live under Hun Sen CPP control -why some people want to change the Government?
All women used to wear Sarong on daily basis- Why now many young women and middle ages in Cambodia dress up jeans and pants. sometimes they looks very sexy fashions.
AH CHHAY DON'T UNDERSTAND. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO KEEP BELIEVE OR STAY IN THE SAME FASHION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
To 12:35PM and 2:33PM,
A change and accepting a new religion are up to the individuals. What makes you think that Buddhism is better than other religions?
Open your mind, dude, if you don't open your eyes!
I'm not a Christian, but I think your narrow-minded beliefe does not represent what an intelligent or perhaps a poor Khmer wants.
If you are holding a believe like you are now, consider relinquish your English, and keep everything in a pure manner.
Pathetic!
To 3:20 AM:
Are you some kind of moron?
Why would I relinquish my English? It's the universal language to communicate!
All I'm saying is that there should be a fine line between what is humanitarian and what is proselytizing poor, Buddhist kids who orphans or victimized by society.
Where in the line that I said Buddhism was better than Christianity? Please put it in the correct text, my fellow Khmer.
If you're not Christian, then what religion do you worship? Are you an atheist?
Do the kids have a choice to accept a new religion and change their religion? Apparently not, some are young as five or six years old that are preached by the gospel day and night. Apparently, they are still young to know the difference.
Why don't those humanitarian church groups just help without offering any some sort of religion? Don't you see what is happening?
Would you accept that I help your family by giving presents, money, and training with all the knowledge in the world, and offer to take your wife away from you? I would think not, wouldn't you agree?
Well, that would correlate with the same dilemma.
Beware!
That's the problem. Christianity thrives at the place where poverty flourishes. I know people who used to be Buddhist. Their great grand parents were Buddhist. Now they are Christian and they were banned by the ministers/preachers what ever you want to call them, not to attend the temple, or any ceremonies that relate to Buddhism.
For Buddhism you have the freedom. You can go/do/join in any activities that you want. The missionaries are not helping these poor people. They are exploiting them for their own sake that is to get these poor peasants to join in their religion, Christianity. I have nothing against any religion, but I'm against the method uses to induce people to it. If Christianity is pure and good, why it has to persuade and bate people to join in? They came to knock on my door many times and try to persuade/preach me the words of god……blah…blah…I told them I believe in science and humanity not god. Look at it. They have war amongst religions themselves. I know people use religion as a pretext, but without the many religions from the beginning of civilisation, would there be an Osama Bin Laden and the many religion problems we are facing today? Competitions between, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism which lead to many problems/issues around the world today. This is crazy.
7:26 AM, I totally agree with your point of view!
I couldn't have said it better!
These are some of the problems with the way they proselytize Christianity: Bate, Catch, and own.
Like I said before, if you wanna help the world and humanity. Just offer what they need, instead of mixing your religion with the offer.
I've heard that some poor peasants in the countryside were not even offered food when they refused to join their congregation.
It's sad to see some former Khmer buddhists not able to be happy with their neighbours, friends, and the whole Khmer population in celebrating Khmer traditions with compatriots when their congregation ban them from joining.
Basically those converts live in basically isolation from the rest of population. They're outcasts in their own land. How gloomy is that!
This is the worst scenario ever that you are indigenous to your land but live in total isolation with few other converts.
So I say to those missionaries to change their views of their missions and start offering pure help without inducing other indirect purposes.
Japanese expression is that: "Asia for the Asians".
Beware!
Thank you for generousity for the suffering, poor, oppression in Cambodia.
Religion is great as long as they are not going to rob our land like YUON.
If you all have time, please just help to stop YUON from Cambodia.
I believe there's only 8 million eligble votes in Cambodia, what if there's another 10 million illegal Vietamese votes in the future?
Who would win every elections even before they even start?
Beware!
Proverb: "Beware of fun that may have consequences down the road"
This is what I see happening in Cambodia!
Beware!
Strong education in homeland,healthy population economic, strong forces, and sovereignty will secure the longevity of Cambodia!
Beware!
The people said they are busy...perhaps they don't want to go the church...hahahaha
I respect all religion because all religion never preaches hatred, violent or war! It is the human who use religion to advance their agenda to create hatred, violent, and war! I believe it is human nature to kill one another!
I believe few thousand from now and the human will have the capability to build spaceship and fly out into the unknown finding their own planet and that may help solve some human problems!
i agree with you Mr.1:22pm.
I love spaceship and flying car,May be it's happen in the future: perhaps mankind can build time machine too.
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