Author: Charles Dittmeier

Ride OF Die?

This motorcycle helmet has a slogan: “Ride of Die” emblazoned on it. Probably somewhere some Hell’s Angels have “Ride OR Die” on their leather jackets, but, hey, this is Cambodia where knock-offs and undeciferable gibberish on clothing is part of the culture. The figure on the moto also looks like a knock-off image from a Super Mario video game.

Sunday of the Transfiguration and Hiroshima

A prayer for the Sunday on which we remember the Transfiguration and the bombing of Hiroshima

God of life, in a blaze of light on Mount Tabor, you transfigured Jesus, revealing him as your beloved son and promising us a share in his glory.

But in a blinding flash of warfare at Hiroshima we–the children who inherited the promise of glory–annihilated human life, disfigured the face of Christ, and mocked his gospel call to gentleness and peace.

Let the beacon of that gospel pierce again the clouds covering the earth, so that even in the darkness of these times we may believe your day will dawn. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your beloved Son who lives and reigns in the unity of Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen.

New Salesian Sister

Today Sr. Chantha (with bag) took her first vows as a Salesian Sister. She attended the Salesian vocational training school where I have mass on Mondays, graduating from there about 10 years ago and then going through the formation period to become a sister. Here she is with her parents (1st and 4th from left) who are Buddhists.

Football in Russia 2

This trip was a package of new experiences for the Cambodian deaf football team. Some of them had played a game in Thailand or Vietnam but none had taken part in an international competition.
They had their share of injuries, too. In addition to this broken hand, the goalkeeper messed up his knee and is coming home in a leg brace.
Meeting deaf people from all over the world was new and exciting also.
Even the travel between the football grounds and the hotel exposed them to a city very different from Phnom Penh.
Finally it was time for the closing ceremony on the last night.

Shoes for sale

Everything worn by human beings gets sold on the streets of Phnom Penh, from hair ribbons and hats to used shoes. There is quite a market in used shoes here. This wagon pulled by a motorcycle has quite an impressive assortment. For me the shoe wagon raises two questions: [1] How do you shop for shoes when the wagon comes around? Do you pick a style (boots or sport shoes or hard soles) and then sort through that category looking for the right size?, and, [2] How does a market for used shoes exist? I tend to wear my shoes till they are not good for me or anyone else.

Football in Russia 1

This week a deaf sports competition is going on in Ufa, Russia, and a football team from Cambodia is participating. It is the first time a Cambodian deaf team has been in a major international competition. It is significant also because the deaf people themselves organized their application to play. It is not a DDP-sponsored activity. Three of the DDP staff went along as interpreters and support staff.

Here is the Cambodian football team at the airport in Phnom Penh, getting ready for departure.
Here is the team 30+ hours later in Ufa in central Russia, taking advantage of a practice day.
Seven countries sent football teams to compete. Countries sent other teams to compete in a variety of other sports also but Cambodia’s first-time participation was limited to football.
Cambodia’s first game was against Russia and Cambodia lost 0-22. Teams from other countries were older and much more experienced and had played internationally before. The Cambodia team was definitely not at the same level. From our management point-of-view, though, the main objective was to give a different experience to Cambodian deaf people and to enable them to make friendships with deaf people from other countries. Here two Russian players pose with a Cambodian play after Cambodia’s loss.
Then it was time for a strategy session, to discuss the loss to Russia and prepare tactics for the next game with Vietnam.

[To be continued]