Team Members

This group picture was taken with members of the Bowin United Methodist Church - members of the VIM team are:
Standing - Jay Kyung Kim, Sherry Morresy (GBGM - Thailand), Ben Humphrey, Heemoon Lee, Steve Phillips, Bob Squirrell, Mike Morresey (GBGM - Thailand)
Seated - Pat Peruccio, Vicky Brown, Carolyn Stapleton, Laura Galbraith
The pastor of Bowin UMC (pictured with a patch over one eye) was not in the least bit hindered when a splinter of bamboo got sturck in his eye. He and his wife (pictured hold their baby) are tireless workers for the Lord. There faith and dedication to the church is awe-inspiring.

Our Team Members included the following laity and clergy!

Rev. Gunshik Shim, Pastor - Plainview United Methodist Church, Long Island, NY (not pictured above)
Rev. Carolyn Stapleton, Associate Pastor - Chinese United Methodist Church, New York, NY
Robert Squirrell
Benjamin Humphrey
Victoria Brown
Rev. Jay Kyung Kim, Pastor - Sheepshead Bay United Methodist Church, Brooklyn, NY
Rev. Laura Galbraith (Team Leader), Pastor - Asbury United methodist Church, Forestville, CT
Patricia Perruccio, Conference Staff - New York Annual Conference
Rev. Steve Philips, Pastor - Pleasantville United Methodsit Chruch, Westchester County, NY
Rev. Heemoon Lee, Pastor - Bridgewater United Methodist Church, Bridgewater, NJ

Also pictured above are Sherry and Mike Morresey, and memebrs of the Bowin United Methodsit Church, with whom we worked while in Thailand.

May God bless these wonderful Christians!

Return to Phnom Penh from Kratie

Our last night in Kratie was difficult for most of our team. Due to government's need for the hotel in which we had been staying for three nights, we had to move to another hotel, appropriately name the "Hor Bunny Hotel." I think the "Hor" is short for Horrible; or perhaps Horrid, Horrific, or some other adjective beginning with "Hor"! First it was located too far away from the town center to allow access to restaurants, the market and Internet cafes which were readily available at the other hotel. But the biggest problem was the bathrooms, which even in the best hotels are primitive by western standards. In most of the rooms, there are no pipes attached to the sinks, so that what ever you run (or spit) into the lavatories runs straight onto the floor and, if you are caught unaware, your feet. But I am beginning to sound like an ugly (spoilt) American.

Much of the day was devoted to the long trip from Kratie to Phnom Penh. I have written about the roads and this trip was no better of worse than our other road trips. However, we did stop at a wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Phnom Penh was was beautifully situated on the bank of the Mekong River. There was a wonderful cool breeze and I had frog legs with chilies. Very tasty! In Phnom Penh we went straight to the markets. Most of us needed to purchase gifts for our families, friends, and, especially, for all those in our churches who have supported us with funds, encouragement and prayers. With out this support and God's grace this trip would not have been possible.

In the evening, we met up with Joseph Chan, his wife Marilyn, Romy, Tora, her husband Tera, and other members of the GBGM staff in Cambodia for dinner. It was like a family reunion even though we had never met many of the people sitting around our common table. At dinner, Gun Shik Shim and I sat with Joseph and Marilyn. We heard the stories of how they had been separated several times and the harrowing events that they survived during the years of the "Killing Fields." The word miraculous is thrown around far to loosely, but their story is undoubtedly a miracle! Apparently, an author traveled here a few months ago to record their story and a book about these two wonderful Christian people will be released in April.

Speaking of the "Killing Fields", tomorrow morning we will be visiting the memorial to those killed. There is a picture of it and the story behind it on one of my earlier postings. I hope you have had an opportunity to read it. Throughout our trip, I have written often about the wonderful children who we have met everywhere we have been. I have posted a brief video (7.5 minutes) about the plight of the children of Cambodia and the work that the General Board of Global Ministries is doing in this part of the world for these children. I hope you will take a few moments to view it. Blessings,

Homeward Bound

Well, at long last we are sitting in the Inchon Airport, prepared for the long trip to JFK. We are all bundles of emotions. Excitement at seeing our families, friends and congregations; regret at leaving the many new friends that we have met in Thailand, Cambodia and South Korea; and anticipation at how how mission trip will have changed our lives when we return. One takes a trip like this for a variety of reasons. First you think that you might be of some help to the people in the mission field, both missionaries and newly converted Christians. Second, you think that you will learn about for off peoples and places and that you might be able to share that new knowledge with friends and congregations. However, I am convinced that the real, the lasting benefit of a trip like ours is what one learns about ones self. The ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus said "You can't step into the same river twice." Likewise, you cannot return home after a long journey to lands of vastly different customs and believes and expect to be the same person that you were when you left. I cannot begin to predict the impact that this trip will have on my traveling companions and me. Only God knows and time will tell.

Yesterday we attended two services at the first Methodist church built in Korea by Henry Appenzeller back in 1886. Appenzeller , a fellow graduated of Drew Theology School, was sent to Korea by his home church in Lancaster, PA. He and his wife Alice must have been inceredably brave and resourceful; people of unimaginable faith. We attended two services; the first at 11:00 (it was already the third service of the day) - there must have been 1,000 worshipers, including a choir of about 100, a full symphony orchestra and an annex full of worshipers who could not fit into the main sanctuary. It was an absolutely amazing. The music included to two of Korea's top opera singers and players from the national symphony.

At the 2:00 service, our team leader, Laura Galbraith, preached on what we had experienced in Thailand and Cambodia. The church had a medical mission team leaving for Cambodia that very afternoon. I was the celebrant for Holy Communion. Last night we had dinner with the son of a member of Laura's church who is a Lt. Colonel with the U. S. Air force stationed in Seoul. It was inspiring to see how the men and women who serve our country live their daily lives. Thank you, Scott, for your service to our country. You are you family deserve the gratitude of your nation.

Well, it is time to board the plane. Now it is time to prepare for the Youth Ambassador's trip that will be leaving for Cambodia in a few short weeks!

Blessings

Greetings from Seoul

Last night we left Phnom Penh at about midnight and we arrived in Seoul a little before seven a.m. local time. We were picked up at the airport and spent the day playing tourist since for most of our team it is our first time in Seoul. We visited the Blue House,which is the presidential residence and analogous to our White House. We visited one of the royal palaces, which is rather like a smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Next we went to a sort of amusement park set up like a traditional Korean village from bygone days. I guess you might compare it to visiting Old Williamsburg, VA. it was facinating to see how Koreans not so long ago lived in harmony with nature. Things have certiny changed for the Korean people in a very short time.

By the time we ate dinner and checked into our hotel it as about 8:00 in the evening and we were completely wasted from fatigue. Tomorrow, we will attend two different church services. Our leader, Laura Galbraith, will be preaching at the English speaking service of the Jong Dong Methodist Church, the first Methodist church in Korea founded in 1885. It is indeed a historic church.

For now, I am very tired and have to get up early.

Blessings...

Preparing to Fly to Seoul

Today was our last day with our new friends and colleagues from from GBGM in Phnom Penh. We have extremely mixed emotions - happy to be going home but sad at leaving Cambodia. We visited the infamous S-1 prison in Phnom Phen were thousands of political prisoners were tortured and sentenced to death between 1975 and 1979. Afterwards we visited the Killing Fields Memorial which is located about 15 km southwest of the prison where so many were condemned to death. After being held and tortured at the S-1 prison, prisoners were transported to this place for execution and burial. Prisoners were forced to kneel down at the edge of a mass grave and then they were clubbed to death. The Khmer Rouge did not think that they were worth expending a bullet on. If the prisoner survived the clubbing their throats were slit. There were over 180 such "Killing Fields" scattered throughout Cambodia!

Over eighty mass graves have been uncovered holding about 3,000 bodies. It is believed that there are still about that many bodies which have not been unearth. As you walk along the paths between the graves there are remnants of clothing and bones that rise to the surface over time. Words cannot express the horror of this place. I have been to several camps used by the Nazis including Auschwitz. This is equally horrifying.

Tonight, Joseph, his wife Marilyn, Tola, her husband Tera, Romi and Ester accompanied us to the airport to see us off. It was a touching and heartfelt gester. We will miss these folks so much!


Must go now, our plan for Seoul will be boarding shortly.

Day four in Kratie

Today was our last day in Kratie; tomorrow morning we will be making the six-hour bus ride back to Phenom Penh. Today was mostly devoted to the children who come to the First Methodist Church daily for lesson in English and traditional Khmer dancing and singing. But today there were no lessons; only play.

Also, for some of us, this was our last chance to work on the toilets next to playground that our young people will construct when they come to Kratie in February. I am so excited that my own daughter, Carla, who turned eighteen on Monday, will be able to experience this wonderful place and its marvelous people.

This morning we again purchased lunch for 50 children. Since more children showed up today than yesterday, there were no lunches for our team, so after saying our goodbyes to the children, we headed back into the town for lunch. We are truly saddened to have to leave these wonderful children. They are truly un-spoilt and every day seems to be an adventure for them.

After lunch our driver took us several miles up the Mekong River to a preserve for a nearly-extinct species of dolphins that lives in the river. According to a tourist pamphlet that we found in one of our hotels, there are only about 170 of these dolphins remaining. We border boats that took us out into the river so that we could see several families of dolphins that this region. We could only catch brief glimpses of the rare animals.

This afternoon, our group was joined by Rev. Gun Shick Shim who arrived from New York last night. He will serve as our guide and host when we arrive in Seoul Korea Saturday morning. We are blessed by his presence and praise god for his safe travels.

Our team is weary but exhilarated by our four days in Kratie. Tomorrow we move on to meet new friends and experience new adventures in Phenom Penh!

Blessings!

Day 2 in Kratie

Day 2 from Kratie (pronounced Kra-CHA), and our group is probably more exhilarated than we have yet been on our trip. But I am getting ahead of myself. This morning we awoke to our first real glimpse of the city because we arrive after dark last night. The Mekong River, which is just across the street from our hotel, is magnificent! Early in the morning before breakfast, we watched as local people set up their stalls, which remain open until about 9:00 p.m. What a way to make a living. Joseph explained that in Khmer “Kra” means poor or slow; and “Cha” means wisdom or learning. Some people say the name means “Slow to learn”; for others it means “Poor but wise”. I far prefer the latter interpretation – perhaps because “Slow to learn” strikes a little too close to home!

After breakfast we drove about 6 km to the First Methodist Church of Kratie. The new structure is beautiful and well planned; especially when you consider that the church, which was built in May 2009, does not even have congregation. But don’t think for a moment that the building is underutilized. A young student pastor and his wife, who is about 7 months pregnant, have started several programs for the local children. Right now they are taught English and they learn to sing and act traditional Khmer songs and drama. In Cambodia, primary school students attend classes for only half a day; some in the morning and some in the afternoon. So we were greeted by about 20 wonderful children.

Our job in Kartie is to assist in the construction of toilets and a shower which are being built next to the playground which will be built by a team of Youth Ambassadors from the Ney York Annual Conference in February. (My daughter Carla will be part of this trip! She will have such an exciting time.) If there was any disappointment for the day, it was that the contractor for whom we were to work was away until mid afternoon because he had to attend a wedding. But, we did not let that stop us; after an introduction to the vision for the new Methodist Center at the First Methodist Church, we started mixing mortar and laying bricks to build a wall of the toilets. I can’t imagine what the contractor must of thought when he arrive and say all these strange people working on his job-site. Judging by the quality of our brick laying, he must have thought that we were vandals. I said to one member of our team that masons going back into deep antiquity must have been rolling over in their graves. Fortunately, our brick work will be covered over by stucco and painted; so, no one need ever know the poor quality of the underlying brick-work.

The real excitement began after the end of the day at the local school. By about 3:30 in the afternoon, there were over eighty children who came to the church to sing songs and study English. They are so beautiful that I and hardly begin to express myself. One little girl sang a solo of a traditional Khmer song that brought many tears to the easy of our team members. Late in the day, some local men showed up and, perhaps seeing the quality of our brick-work, just took over the brick laying while several of us supplied mortar. Interesting, we discovered that these men are not even members of the church. In fact, as of yet, there are no members of the church. It has been decided that the best way to develop the church without arising the suspicions of the local Buddhist population is to provide services for the children. In due course, it is hoped that the parents will follow – just like the men who showed up spontaneously to help lay brick. The is none of the overt evangelization that is typically associated with missionary activities.

This is a “Field of Dreams” approach to church growth – “Build it and they will come…” Show the parents the hope and joy that their children receive when the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented in a positive way and soon that will be clamoring to receive the Good News as well!

By the end of the day, with the help of a few new friends, the wall that we started was nearly complete. And you know, it didn’t look so bad after all!