When I
started writing a few years ago a small group of friends enjoyed my writing and
asked me to forward my latest to them.
In the last nine months I have started this blog Larry42km. The original group still receives the first
notice of my writings, but in this time I have added a few more followers some
of whom I let know of my writings.
When I
started putting my writings onto this blog I had no idea of how this system
works but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Something in the program keeps a running
total of views, lets me know the time a person looks at my blog, and even which
Country the person is viewing my blog from.
Saturday
September 22 I had a milestone and much like many things in my life until a few
years ago I would not have even have known of the significance of this
milestone. I had my 888th view. Yes, the Chinese number for good luck. I am not superstitious and I am not Chinese
but I felt blessed that in a short period of time that many people have read
about the work of Ratanak International, possibly some for the first time, and
hopefully at least one person has made the decision to become involved in
making a difference for the exploited children in Cambodia.
That
particular Saturday was meaningful in another way as the Ratanak Toronto Core
group had our monthly meeting.
This was
an exciting time as Lisa Cheong Country Director for Cambodia was sharing some
of her experiences of the last year that she served in Cambodia. (Lisa is the person who started this group
and is responsible for most of us learning about Ratanak International and it`s
work.)
Tears
are a part of most meetings. Although
done in as sensitive as a way as possible (without the media approach of shock
value) the stories we hear about for example a five year old’s repeated sexual
abuse is hard to stomach. I find the
Documentaries equally as disturbing and really hard to watch. When the abusers try to explain away or
justify their actions I am angry enough to physically hurt these men, but what
really gets me is the victim`s and their families. They look so beaten down, so hopeless I
usually cry at the unfairness of these people`s lives.
My 10
year old Daughter Isabella asks many questions.
She always has and I hope she always will. When you ask questions you are not accepting
the "status quo" of what the world tells you and you are trying to
find your own answers. Some questions do
not have answers that can be explained.
One question Isabella asks me quite often of which I cannot explain is
"Why do you continue to be involved in the girls in Cambodia lives’ if it
makes you cry?" I would most
rather do anything else than cry in public.
Yet possibly these tears are what is used as the fuel for standing up to
and confronting great evils in our lives.
The
first thing Lisa did at this meeting was hand out a bracelet to each person, a
few people put them on with Lisa showing them how it was done. I somehow missed the instruction and put the
bracelet in my pocket thinking I would figure out how to put it on at home.
The
bracelet letters say Ratanak Int`l, the colour is green with yellow strands.
A small
card tucked in to the bag that came with the bracelet says
This
item was handmade with Love
by girls
rescued from sexual slavery.
Your
support is greatly appreciated.
Another
card in the package has the words
3Strands
jewelry includes a seed from the Sandlewood tree, native to Cambodia. These seeds represent the life of a Cambodian
child rescued from sex trafficking.
These same girls, as young adults, make all 3Strands jewelry by hand and
are now ready to grow.
I have
the bracelet with me now; each time I read these words tears well up in my
eyes. I feel like David in The Bible
when he refused to drink the water after his three soldiers broke through the enemy’s
line risking their lives because he said he was thirsty. I feel sort of unworthy in a way.
I do not
know if I will ever wear this bracelet.
I have thought of putting it with my running medals, for now it will
stay in the bag.
Lisa
than talked about a new program Ratanak has been working on for quite a
while. Ratanak with Lisa in charge has
done a lot of hard work to set up a program for girls in Cambodia who are on
their way to recovery from sexual slavery and want to have a chance at an Education,
and are not quite ready to live on their own.
Twelve girls will be accepted into this program. What I found so encouraging is that these
twelve girls will be taken from other programs that have rescued children in
them. I like this because now twelve
girls who are rescued from slavery will be able to take the place of the former
girls who are ready to move on.
I wrote
down some of the words from a Document titled Client`s Right and
Responsibilities I just wrote down the rights.
You have
a right for a safe place to live.You have a right to express your feelings.
You have
the right to be loved and accepted for who you are.
You have
the right to a clean bed and clean clothes.
You have
the right to protection from physical and emotional harm, abuse and harassment.
You the
right to eat nutritious food
You have
the right to receive medical care.
You have
the right to learn to read and write.
When I
read the words I was grieved for how much I have taken for granted in my life
of privilege as I assume these rights every day of my life, no one has to state
them to me. Yet, how often instead of
gratitude I seem to find things to complain or become upset about.
Hopefully
I can look at my life in comparison to these Girl`s lives and harbour a Spirit
of Gratitude, especially with Thanksgiving approaching.
When you
see these pictures there is something common in all of them. The girl’s eyes are not shown, this is for
their protection.
Other
people around the world who suffer and need help (AIDS victims, natural
disaster victims, food and water shortage victims) have been victims of
neglect, these people are victims and need help but more times than not we
choose to look the other way and ignore their situations, instead of offering
help.
The
girls that are shown situation are different, in that they are also victims but
of abuse not neglect. Someone has
deliberately physically harmed these girls.
In our increasing liberal world it is still a crime to sexually abuse a
child. So when these girls are rescued
they are actually in some danger as they are potential witnesses against the
powerful men who have abused them. Their
eyes are not shown for their protection.
Sometimes
I think their eyes are not shown for my protection. "The eyes are the windows of the
Soul." What stories could the eyes
of a young child whose life has consisted of being a victim of repeated sexual
abuse tell me; possibly more than I could bear to hear.
Annie
Lennox wrote a song Universal Child about looking into the eyes of a young
child dying of AIDS in Africa. I think
the meaning holds true for a young child of repeated Sexual abuse in Cambodia.
Universal
Child
And when
I look into your eyes,
so
innocent and pure.
I see
the shadow of the things
that
you`ve had to endure.
I see
the tracks of every tear
that ran
down your face.
I see
the hurt, I see the pain,
I see
the human race.
I can
see you, your everywhere,
shining
like the Sun.
I wish
to God that kids like
you
could be like everyone.
Lisa
then showed the words from a quote by Agape International Mission again a
Ratanak partner
Did you
know that when youpray and give toward one of
our
rescued girls without ever
seeing
her face you help rebuild
her
dignity.
You are
giving a selfless love
that
expects nothing in return.
THAT is
what changes a life.
Right
now I would like to thank all of those who have contributed funds and prayers
to my Marathons, and to the many people who took part in and contributed to the
Ratanak 5km walkathon. I have thanked
you, Ratanak has thanked you. The
Children you will never meet thank you!
On this
note I get a sense that this year" I am going to go for it" for the
Cleveland Marathon. By this I mean in
asking for donations. Recently I was
encouraged by some members of the Toronto Core Group and their boldness in asking for funds for
the "Ride for Refuge" a bike ride where all money from this group
went to Ratanak International. Be
forewarned if you read my blog you will probably be sent an email in late April
asking if you are able to make a contribution.
A few
weeks ago Gloria told me she saw me running up Lakeshore Blvd in the Toronto
Marathon nearing the finish line. I do
not remember the exact quote but it was something like " I saw you were in
a lot of pain and it did not look like you were having a lot of fun."
She than
told me it reminded her of another athlete she had heard about who climbed
Mountains for his Charity and used the thought of the children`s pain and
suffering compared to his and this image kept him going. For myself this is true to a point; as I
think of how much pain that these children have endured, the many moments in
training for and running a Marathon when I think of stopping sometimes a
picture of one of them appears to me and I keep going.
This is
such a moment a photographer captured in the Toronto Marathon. What I find amazing about this picture is my eyes. The same as the children in Cambodia you cannot see my eyes;
they are closed as a result of a combination of Pain and Sun.
The
other day when I was running in my Ravine I saw an image I have seen before
that will be my families, and my reward.
One day my family and I will see a sort of unveiling; we will be able to
look into the beautiful eyes of Cambodian girls that we do not see now.
Revelation
21 vs 4
He will
wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away.
Family
you sacrifice a lot for me as I train for the Marathons and I am grateful; this
sacrifice has started already and only becomes greater closer to the
Marathon. You have given me a
"carte blanche” as long as my work involves helping the exploited Children
of Cambodia.
Beautiful
Family we may not see these beautiful girls eyes on Earth but we will see them
in Heaven, and they will know us by name.
Thank
you for all you allow me to do.
Larry