The world is extremely rich with history. I may be stating the obvious, but I so easily forget. Any country visited or any interaction with a human can reveal information that occurred in their past. These historical circumstances can help us understand why present situations are a certain way. It has been some time coming to write about the trip, but I recently had the privilege to learn about the culture and history of two, beautiful countries.
Surrounding Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are geographically close to one another, yet they are significantly different. They each have their own unique systems in place for politics, employment, transportation, communication, entertainment, and fashion. These diverse countries do happen to share one thing in common. They each have endured a nationwide tragedy. One experienced a mass genocide while the other faced a fatal war. As I toured historical locations in a famous city of each country, I was reminded to keep incorporating history in my perspective as I go through life.   
It is easy to look from the outside and draw a conclusion about the condition of another country. Once I stepped inside the other countries' territory, I began to see from a new angle. Especially when I entered Cambodia, I was expecting that I would be exposed to more poverty than Thailand. This expectation wasn't wrong, but I was thrown off at first when many of the people spoke fluent English, used US currency, and drove like Americans. While traveling to the RNhu home and the floating villages, this first impression changed as the Western (and French) influences in the city quickly diminished. Then, the poverty screamed loudly.
In the late 1970s, the people of Cambodia suffered from the Khmer Rouge. The reigning authority at the time claimed he wanted to create all people equal and to do so he needed to start from ground zero. He tortured and killed off the educated, suspected spies, families, a few foreigners, and many others. At prisons and work fields, thousands throughout the country unexpectedly faced an early death. The results of the genocide are still clearly visible as the country continues to struggle in developing from square one.
The results of major events in history help me better understand why homes like RNhu are needed in places like Cambodia. In Cambodia's situation, the children are essentially the third generation in their country. The first generation were their grandparents who were lost in the genocide, and the second generation were their parents who were just children themselves during the tragic event. Resources and energy since the event have been spent trying to survive and develop that not much is left to support a family or an education. Children are left vulnerable.
The trip also brought to my attention the importance for people to learn a skill or trade. Education is important, but people who survived the prison headquarters of the Khmer Rouge were the ones who possessed a skill in art or had a trade in mechanics. Their skills created a way out. When there is not an opportunity to earn an education that will provide a future career, what else is available to be used as a source of income? I would hope the chance to learn a skill or trade would be available before people think the last option is to be sold or to sell their child.
     I know I've written most about Cambodia, but my visit there just reaffirmed why I joined a ministry like RNhu. Children and families are aided with resources to provide an alternative way to life. Remembering history will unlock ideas in knowhow to help others. 
What will you do with the history you know? 
Written By: Remember Nhu Intern, Thailand
https://remembernhu.org/

To support Megan's work in the field go to:
Note Megan B. - Thailand in the notes section.


My story currently intertwines with fifty other stories concealed behind the eyes of Asian girls. Although the English is limited to communicate their stories, the bits and pieces revealed are like treasured jewels. Their stories may even have common themes, but each one is unique. Since my tongue is fluent in English, I would like to give an insight to a few of their stories.

 One girl in particular, Noy*, had a conversation with me shortly after she returned from her village. The blooming 18 year old told me, "My back hurts a lot. I had to plant corn." Can you imagine? A young woman with a tall and slender frame toiling in fields on a mountainside for hours. This would be a common scene to encounter among hill tribe families. With minimal resources and slim chances of receiving an education, most families work together in corn or rice fields for a living. Looking at the scene inside Noy's home does not improve. Her father favors a bottle of alcohol while her mother suffers with arthritis. 

As for Lyn*, she thrives in her studies at school, and she has a dream to attend a university to improve her English skills. Lyn's father implanted and encouraged this dream at a young age. He understood that vast opportunities would be available to his daughter if she learned English. While making her dream a reality, her father passed away in an accident and left his wife struggling to support three children. 


Ali* has a similar story to Lyn's in the fact that she lost a parent. The difference isthat Ali's mother did not pass away. She ran away. A child should remember a loving and caring mother but instead Ali will remember going with her father in search of her mother. They managed to find her...with another man. Ali's father is now remarried, but living with a step parent increased Ali's risks of being neglected and sold while her father was constantly at work.

 Here is where God gets the glory. Noy happened to be related to a house parent in the first Rnhu Refuge home. She was brought to the home and became one of the original, twelve girls. These girls were rescued from spending a life time working in fields or from being sold into illegal employment. Noy is about to complete high school and has a new avenue to earn a living. She is planning to continue her education at a vocational school to study about local transportation.

  Lyn has received educational support from Rnhu for the past five years, and her dreams to study English are becoming a reality. Perhaps one day, she will be found serving her community as an English teacher. Ali is now receiving love and care in the Refuge Home as she enters her teenage years. She is also hearing about the Agape love extended to her by a Heavenly Father. May she come to have a special relationship with her Savior.

 In my "coffee shop" reading, I also came across a quote by Beth Moore. She said, "You cannot amputate your history from your destiny." God can redeem past events to shape futures, and He is doing so through Rnhu. I can testify to that. 
Written By: Remember Nhu Intern, Thailand

https://remembernhu.org/
To support Megan's work in the field go to:
Note Megan B. - Thailand in the notes section.


We are beginning to “settle in” and a “routine” is evolving slowly. Routine is in quotes because, of course, there is no such thing here! We are still dealing with some bureaucratic details…we need permanent resident cards and it is time consuming, not to mention frustrating, to jump through all the hoops! Meanwhile school has started. It was delayed until last week because of Tobaski and the first week children go to school but spend the day “weeding” the school grounds. This week classes have begun. Each school requires a different uniform and students must buy “exercise books” (notebooks) and other school supplies. It is quite daunting to prepare approximately 50 children with uniforms, shoes and supplies. I am so impressed with the rather efficient way all of the children at three different homes, with different uniforms and requirements were outfitted and ready to go last Monday!

Last Saturday there was a birthday party for all the children in the homes who had birthdays in August, September, and October. There were eleven children celebrating birthdays and a good time was had by all. Each home brought the tables we had built but the cashew tree branches were too low so the tables were removed from the vans and carried in to the compound! “Where there’s a will there’s a way!”
The day was complete with rice benachin, cake and snacks. It was so good to see all the homes come together and develop a sense of community.
We are looking forward to the end of rainy season when we will be able to travel more freely. We are hoping to visit the first village within the next 10 days and start an English class for women. I have started working with a pastor here to do Bible study at the homes once a week and two out of three homes now have working TVs and DVD players so we can show English speaking movies, an excellent way to improve their English skills. I would like to begin each session with a game or activity. So far I am planning on some “Minute to Win It” competitions.


Written by: The Martins
https://themartinsinwestafrica.wordpress.com/

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