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Sun, May 20, 2012
Patrick's Blog: Patrick in Cambodia
Tuesday, 15 May 2012 15:24

6 Months and counting

Written by Patrick Meir
It's been 6 months since I have been back here... Hot season nearly over, not as bad as I thought it would be...
Monday, 16 April 2012 11:32

The week before the beginning!

Written by Patrick Meir
I write this after a long road of challenges and trials, but all are insignificant to the challenges and trials to which all involved with the new aftercare home will face the week after next, namely the suffering children and the staff administering daily care. The dream of many people will start to take true identity shortly. After a long road we start to receive the first of many children, we hope to encourage and treat them to a state of strong health, wellness, security and hope in their future... We've had a lot of back and forth and learning experiences for both expats and local staff and will continue to do so, but we are building a team, a home, and working together around a purpose to see healing fulfilled in broken lives. The new facility has been kitted out with top notch security, a new sewerage system, fresh paint, plumbing, an outdoor traditional gazebo, tire swings... Completely self inclusive yet very homely, a great place of restoration. Just as the facility has undergone a complete transformation, even the hearts of people attached to this work. We see beauty and hope emanate out of every corner, every staff member and we know it will reach to the hearts of the kids. Each one of our staff have grown in this short space of time and are excited for the continued hardwork they will need ahead of them. I am doing all I can to assist in helping this work suceed. It's succes can be judged by seeing us stay accountable and uphold the highest of standards in this country, but seeing the day to day lives of each child we care for become stronger, healthy, confident, secure, full of passion, purpose, dreams, and seeing them responding encouragingly to the care the receive will show not just people on the outside that restoration is possible, but to the children themselves. Please keep this work in your thoughts... Patrick
Tuesday, 28 February 2012 00:31

News from Cambodia

Written by Preaching Uploader
It’s great to have the chance to share with you what has been taking place over the last few weeks. Do you remember me mentioning about our office/house having a “milk fruit tree”, we believe that this resembled the provision of God, not only did it have milk fruit, but it also had a bee hive on one of the branches. We know that this was God leading us to a land of milk and honey, a place where we need to drive out the giants, drive out the enemy and take the promise of God for us.
About a month later we found there was a snake on this same tree, this obviously to us was a warning, but we didn’t recognize that immediately, it took us till after some things had happened to realize that God was warning us about an attack on the work here. God is leading us and showing us signs, pray that we can be more alert next time.
So you know about my passport, we have been told it should be arriving back this week, which is only 2 weeks after we submitted the paperwork.
The last few weeks have consisted of training our staff the Child Protection Policy and Destiny Rescue Procedures. Sometimes dry, but our translator was incredibly energetic and helped our staff a stay alert. This led us into the first of three weeks training for a course called “hands that heal” it’s a Christian based teaching for caregivers of sex trafficked victims.Cambodia doesn’t have a large supply of trained educated people in cases of trafficking in persons, so we need to find and start to train many inexperienced but gifted people. Our social worker is the only staff member with previous experience in this field, the other 5 members of the team are new, but extremely passionate about seeing children cared for in a safe secure environment that enables them to heal from the struggles that they have endured. So this training is a great time to get our staff knowledgeable on howto care for this precious children.
Last week was a week of travel and hands on training at a facility here in Cambodia, as we are still in the training phase, the staff needs to see and experience day to day care. They enjoyed it very  much, and have come back eager to start, and prepare the house for when the children arrive.
I am well, and have been healthy for the whole time I have been here, except for a few days early on. I do have a little bit of a cold coming on so please pray for me, and my health as our weeks are long and very busy. Balancing training staff and still have time dedicated in the office is difficult.
Newest update is.... we have found our house! It's pefect for the kids, and we are excited to start the reno's so it's in top notch condition for when we open. It's been a long time trying to find the best place.
Friday, 27 January 2012 11:31

Exciting times everyday!

Written by Preaching Uploader

It's been a coupe of weeks since my last update. This update is an exciting one for me in many aspects...

 

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 14:16

Happy New Year

Written by Patrick Meir



Happy new year to everybody and I hope·you all·had a great Christmas. Whether you were working too much or not enough, I hope that you found time to be around those that you love and care for. Though Christmas was only three weeks ago, we here at the not4sale team, we worked straight through Christmas and New Year.... No family, but we love the team God has given us...

 

As well as working straight through Christmas and New Year we traveled a lot. I myself went up and down the country during the last few weeks. A lot of the last month we·have had interviews for our staff positions here in Cambodia. I have been able to initiate a lot of the contacts that we have had for our open positions. And even for one of the interviews we had, I was able, though very little, help with the translation of the interview. It's amazing to think that even the little I know can help in situations such as interviews and communication! Oh and for anybody that·is coming over as a missionary or to visit the project, I I'm starting classes for foreigners :-)... Gotta keep busy.

Actually on the topic of being busy, the last six weeks have been very busy. As well as all of the interviews we have had I am learning Quick Books and taking over the finances for the project. Hopefully we will have a staff member hired for this position eventually, but give me a few months and I'll be able to teach anybody.

We do have our first staff member though, she is the wife of a local pastor here. Her name is Srey Roat, before she met us she said that she never used to smile or laugh much, but now she is all smiles and laughs all of the time. We know it's because she has the same spirit and heart as·us·and God led her to us as well as leading·us to her.· At the moment she is working with us in the office and cooking mostly all of our meals. She is learning "Carin's way" as well, and seems to be loving it a lot. I have also :-)

We have been praying and fasting as well as working hard here for the month of January, and we have really seen God answer our prayers and give us the strength to work despite the conditions here. We are still believing for breakthrough in many areas but we know that God will provide all that we need.

We believe that the staff that we will hire will be leaders not only in this project, but leaders in their church, in their community and even across the country. For example with Srey Roat, we are encouraging her to step up and step out and trust that God will provide her·with·the wisdom and understanding·that she needs to become a leader in this house for the girls. We know·that becoming leaders will be the case for the other staff that God leads us to, as God wants to see the children that come to our home and leave our home,·restored and healed and encouraged in their pursuit of Gods purpose in their life despite the struggles and pain they have faced and will face in the years to come.

We were at a children's home·and we were given the chance to play some songs and sing for the children there. They actually had a few dances for some of the songs that we sang, as I tried to choose songs that were familiar to them.· Despite the songs being in Khmer, I have been given some help to translate the songs from English words into Khmer words, it's been amazing to sing in a different language. My work here·with the children will be limited but being able to worship in song with the children will be a special time to spend· with them and see them grow closer to God.

So, thank you to everybody that is prayed for us, those prayers have helped in a huge way. God is blessing myself in a huge way both spiritually and financially, that all of my needs are met each month. I am healthy and strong and thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Hopefully by my next update we will have all of our staff hired and in the process of completing the training before we open the facility. Continue to pray that God brings the right people to us both here in Cambodia and to the volunteers in Canada. Please also pray for every person involved in this ministry that God provides for their every need. We are obedient to Him and trust that He will sustain all of the staff connected to N4S and Victory Children's Homes, here and across the world.

God Bless You all, thank you!

Thursday, 08 December 2011 02:08

@Siem Reap

Written by Patrick Meir
The best way to start this next update is that it feels like I never left! The transition back into Cambodian life has been somewhat seamless and to think that I was away for 8 months is really amazing.
Sunday, 20 November 2011 18:16

I'm in Thailand...

Written by Patrick Meir
After having a week in Calgary for meetings and such before we left Canada on Thursday...
Friday, 11 November 2011 15:31

Getting back to Cambodia

Written by Patrick Meir
It's that time again! I am officially only a few days away from returning to our work in Cambodia...
Sunday, 10 April 2011 14:09

All about the buses

Written by Patrick Meir

This week has been a great week for broken down buses... For my entire time in Cambodia to this point I haven't been in a bus that broke down once, which incidentally is one of the most common occurrences in the country. Now two times in only a few days.

But what it did give me was a chance to chat with some Cambodians on the bus for a few hours more than usual. It is amazing what happens when learning a language and putting it to use can give you. It brings slot of fun, and relaxation. I am far from knowing Cambodian but what I do know helps me everyday. I was sitting next to a policeman and we chatted about a work and me, he even read my palm (not something I go and do everyday). I had my laptop out and he watched a movie with me. There was a young guy on his way to work. To some it would be hard to talk in an unknown language to unknown people, but as much of a introverted person I am, in small groups I love talking in Cambodian as they talk me in English. It's a funny dynamic, they ask me a question in English, and I an answer in Cambodian, and vice versa. It's the small things like that help me relax. When some people are skydiving etc for fun, not my thoughts of a fun time, but chatting for 10 minutes in Cambodian is a lot of fun.

 

But in a few weeks it will all be over for the first stage of the project, I will back in Canada for May, and no heat to live with, no rice everyday, no motorbike traveling. Re acclimatizing will be tough, it will have been the longest I have been away from a western culture. Despite the fact I will be going back again in a short time. Mentally I have to deprogram and weigh up all that has gone on, so that I am not a mess when I return. I should be fine, but if anyone sees me craving fried grasshoppers and speaking in a strange language, it's ok I haven't gone crazy, I'm just re-acclimatizing and I'm balanced :-)

Hmmmm, first time for everything... Three different modes of transport on the same 6 hour journey over 7 days, and a mugging (well half a mugging)...

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