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Organizations collect money in Cambodia just like everywhere else in the world, but here they don’t use robocalls and direct mail. It’s a more people-to-people approach here where figures like these process through the streets accompanied by a tuk-tuk with a loudspeaker announcing the presence of the figure–and the accompanying woman who collects the money for a Buddhist organization in this case.
Today was a travel day from Siem Reap where we had our annual meeting to Kampong Cham, Kampot, and Phnom Penh where are centers are located. Click here for pictures from the trip to Phnom Penh.
This was the second full day of our staff meetings and the morning was full of discussions. But the afternoon saw some special recognitions and then a trip to Angkor Wat and to the tourist area of Siem Reap. Click here to see some photos from the day.
Today was the first of two full days of reports and discussions. Click here to see what we did.
The DDP staff came from Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham, and Kampot today to a reflection center in Siem Reap, the home of Angkor Wat. Half the day was travel but then we got into our agenda. Click here to see our journey and the meeting beginnings.
When I tried to fire up my main computer a few minutes ago, it refused to cooperate. I took it apart and tried cleaning all the contacts but the drive may be shot so I’m using my little netbook that I use for trips to write this.
Tomorrow morning I head for Siem Reap for a meeting of all of our staff. I’ll be back in Phnom Penh on Friday afternoon, but should be posting from the retreat center where we are staying. And I hope my computer will be working when I get back!
Most shops and stores are open to the elements in Phnom Penh and so shop owners need to consider how prolonged direct sunshine will affect their wares on display–and also their customers. Click here to see some ways the proprietors deal with the sun.
Couples for Christ is quite active in Cambodia—and throughout Asia–and today they had a Christian Life Seminar to encourage believers to live out their faith more fully. I gave the open talk in the two-day program, about Jesus and who he is.
In the eighteen years I have been in Cambodia, I have seen this man numerous times over the years. He is always dressed the same: shorts, no shirt, a hat, and flipflops. He carries a large bag and picks up recyclable trash like cardboard and plastic bottles. He can’t make much given the meager scale of his operations but he seems to get by.
The Maryknoll Deaf Development Programme doesn’t work in isolation. There is very little room to work with the government of Cambodia but DDP is always on the lookout for possibilities of working with other groups. This past week Sokly (R) and I met with representatives (old friends) of the UNDP, the UN Development Program, to look at possible collaboration on projects.