Holiday in Cambodia

Hello friends, new and old.

Firstly, for those of you who have not heard from me in over 2 years, I apologize. I am sorry I have been silent but I have embraced technology with a blog, texts and personal emails… and stopped mass mails. I have also become very sarcastic apparently. Please don’t be offended by words.

I am working as a fulfillment specialist for a niche publishing company, am finally finishing my Bachelor’s degree in human development and am attempting to not just be a Christian, but do it! I can explain what that means if asked. I am also volunteering with Not for Sale, attempting to bring awareness and end the slavery of 27 million people in the world today. Since moving to Portland I’ve been attending a Christ centered church that is active in the neighborhood and increasingly in the world. This has been great, but also leads to difficult discussions in my head about staying “comfortable”, like the one below.

As I drank from a city water fountain next to my bus stop today I realized I am rich even as a poor American. It runs 24 hours a day all spring, summer and fall. Potable drinking water flowing all day. We wash our clothes in water we can drink, shower in drinkable water, and boil already drinkable water for our coffee and our food.

This is not always the case. For more than 2 billion people in the world there is no running water available to their village. They must walk to a river or source often nearby, but away from their “latrines” and trash. This leads me to the reason for this letter. I am taking a Holiday in Cambodia! But with my church and partners, not the Dead Kennedys.

We will be helping a village that was forced out of their homes and the city. Imagine you are living on the brink of complete poverty. But you have a job as a waiter, or a canner (picking up cans for deposit or recycling) or as a porter. With this money you are able to buy your family their daily bread so they can eat. On a good day you can also buy a new shirt, or some fuel to cook with. You are happy and making ends meet, until one day the government comes in and tells you they need the property your home is on. Your ENTIRE slum— 9,000 families— is taken from what you called home to a field where there is nothing. As you get off the bus you realize that you have been traveling for longer than expected. You are told it would cost more than a day’s wages to get back to work and home again so you are forced to quit your job. You are forced to start making ends meet again but your roof is leaking and you have to step over waste everywhere you walk. You don’t feel well and the clinic is too full for you to get the cheap treatment needed. Which ends first?

This is where Advent Conspiracy, Medical Teams International, and Imago Dei Community come in.

For those of you that think Cambodians need to pray the sinner’s prayer before receiving help that is exactly what I will tell you we are doing, as long as your check is over $250. For those of you that think these people need some medical care, some roofing repairs, some sanitation care, some clean water and some children need to be played with…I will tell you the truth and say that is our goal. Personally, I will be working with the children, helping the doctors and assisting with the implementation of a sanitation system …whatever that means. Oh, and eating amazing food!

My teammates and I could use your prayers. We will be at An Dong from February 2nd through 10th with another 4 day vision trip into Hanoi. I will then be taking a true holiday in Malaysia with friends for another week before I return to the grind of the false American dream.
We could also use some of that extra cash you have burning a hole in your pocket. I realize this is a tough time for everyone, but if you want another $10 or $1,000 deduction on your 2009 taxes, I am here to help. The total cost will be about $2600. I would actually like to raise a little extra to help out teammates and bless them in this. I have been humbled by fundraising previously and want to share that experience. All money is due by January 10th.
My plea is even if you don’t send me money that you would check out Advent Conspiracy and give some time and creativity to your family this Christmas instead of more socks.

Thanks. In Him who gives me strength and love.

Jeremiah

PS. Please feel free to forward to all your praying friends, and playing neighbors.

Payments can be made online here. Please include “Cambodia 2010 and Jeremiah Meeks” in the comment box.
Checks can be made out to Imago Dei Community. Please include Cambodia 2010 and Jeremiah Meeks on the Memo line. Mail to address below.

Attn: Terry Shoman
Imago Dei Community
2830 NE Flanders
Portland, OR 97232