Thought the world might want to know.

The Truth vs. Dramatic Heroes

Several years ago I read the book The Road of Lost Innocence: The true story of a Cambodian Heroine. It's a very wowish book in which a Cambodian lady went through awful, awful things at the hands of brothel owners after being sold and trafficked.  Eventually she found her freedom and began a foundation for rescuing other girls. 

It's an amazing story really.  An amazing woman!  The only thing I always wished was to hear that Samoly Mam had somehow learned to know Jesus. 

None the less, Samoly Mam is a hero.  She spent about 20 years helping others, rescuing them from brothels and giving them a better life.  I kept telling myself, if I ever go back to Cambodia I must look up Samoly Mam. When Nicholas Kristof and Half the Sky made a documentary in which he took celebrities into different countries to raise awareness of the oppression of women around the world, I was delighted that Samoly Mam was included.  Yes, Nicholas took Meg Ryan to visit and interview Samoly Mam.  In watching the documentary I again felt a tinge of sadness that no recognition was given to Jesus who is in the business of changing lives. 

Then recently I heard that there are allegations out that Samoly's story may not be entirely true.
So why would she make up such a story?   And what about the many girls who are being helped through the organization that she founded? 
Yes, she raised tremendous awareness to a real problem.  Human Trafficking.   Some may say that although her methods might not have been the best at least awareness has been raised and good has come from it. 

Does the end justify the means? 

On the other hand is it possible that WE THE PEOPLE and our love for dramatic success stories could be part of the problem?
We like to hear about the rescued girls who are simply overjoyed that we would share a few dollars so that they could have a better education.   We like to hear how our donations to good causes are feeding the hungry, saving lives, and transforming their futures.

Having lived overseas with the hope that I might be able to help a few young people have a better life I know some of the stresses of  wanting to tell supporters what they want to hear.  Sometimes it is just plain hard to know what to write in newsletters.  Life is normal. The dramatic seems to be happening to others, not so much for me.   Youth you are working with don't seem to be listening to what you're saying.  And believe it or not there are some who don't want to be rescued...or even know they need to be rescued.  There are those whom you try to teach new ways, who simply return to the same old ways.  Furthermore, I am selfish, I get very annoyed (I don't want to use the word mad, because that would sound really bad), have bad attitudes and wonder what in the world is wrong with these crazies who aren't listening to me. These are things you really don't want to write home about.  Sometimes the stories of failure happen way more often than the successes.  And what?? People are sending you money to fail?! 

I say that during my 5-1/2 years in Asia I believe that God taught me more than I taught anyone else.  This can be a bit disconcerting when you meet me and realize that I'm still a basket case.  Really I spent all that support money on language study, housing and food for me, to succeed at what??

So...WE THE PEOPLE... Let's learn to be okay with the truth.  The truth that life is not always dramatic or filled with dramatic success stories (although granted there are a few).   And let's do our best to know The Truth.  Which by the way, is the best part of what I've been thinking about for this post.  

What is The Truth?   Or maybe a better question would be Who is The Truth?  
For Jesus said "I am The Truth".  John 14:6
And in John 8:32 He says; "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".  Maybe, just maybe we should capitalize The Truth and make it a proper noun.  I'm not trying to change scriptures or take things out of context but...Jesus did say..."I am The Truth".   And I know that there is freedom in knowing HIM.   

So my hope...my dream...is for Samoly Mam and all her girls to know The Truth.
I also hope that someday when I get to heaven I'll learn that some of my failures where not so much failures but some how, in some way The Truth has turn them into success stories (complete with some drama). 

And to my faithful supporters over the years.   Thank YOU!  Thanks for believing in the power of The Truth.   Thanks for not giving up on me.  Thanks for allowing me to be real, for allowing me to fail and believing that in the end The Truth will bring freedom for many. 
And Please...continue to support others by allowing them to be real, allowing them to fail, and believing that although sometimes your support might seem to fall upon failure there are a few...a few lives changed, a few rescued from slavery, and best of all a few more beautiful people whom we'll meet in heaven because of your promotion of The Truth.

Learning Through Song

Sometimes I wonder why I feel the need to keep songs such as this on file somewhere.

Maybe it's because I've never quite left my childhood behind. 

Or 

maybe it's because I've been an ESL teacher.  Maybe after having been a teacher it takes years to get the appreciation of kids songs out of your head.  Personally I think that if I would have been introduced to this Fruit of the Spirit song while still teaching I would've most likely taken it to the classroom.  

And

This thought brings back many memories. 

One thing that is so awesome about teaching English as a Second Language is that you can take kids songs into a classroom full of adults and get full participation.  

Well, sometimes you get full participation and sometimes they get a teacher that looks like a fool.  But really, take some simple words, put them to a catchy tune and I bet your students will remember them.    

I remember many a day walking through school and hearing strains of  "Hello. Hello. Hello. What's your name?" Drifting through the air.   

Yes, most likely that was a student from my class.  I'd say at least 75% of my students have heard that song at some point in their English Education.   

(I have no idea why this video clip has a Japan Airline picture on it)

Thank You Phaivahn for being my student! 

And yes, when I think of Mr. Phaivahn putting his heart into it his line of "My name is Phaivahn", amid the laughter of the rest of the class, it still makes me smile.

Of course there were also songs such as "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and the "ABC" song which could be brought out to liven up life a bit as well as teach important vocabulary such as body parts and...well... the ABCs.  

Somehow "The Ants Go Marching One by One" made it into my classroom.  This was inspired by my friend Linda who pointed out just how much English Vocabulary could be learned from this simple song.   Think about it...Verbs and Nouns. Think of all the everyday activities that littlest Ant does.   He sucks his thumb, (this is not an everyday activity for me), ties his shoe, opens the gate, climbs a tree, shuts the door and many other important things. 

Then there was Jesus, Love is a Bubblin' over.  First taught by my dear friend Jess, and later brought back into the classroom for students in the following years.  Ya gotta love songs with motions and very few words.  

But my favorite experience of all... Okay, I'm gonna brag just a little.  I'll admit I got a little bit of a big head over this experience but I've just gotta write this story down for snowy days when I need to remember that my students really did like me.  So sit back, relax and enjoy.   

Once upon a time, in a far away place, there was a group of about 20 students who all had this deep desire to learn English.   You see, English is an International Language and if they could only learn this rather difficult language they might possibly be given an opportunity for a better paying job. 

By an act of God these students became my students.  Ajaan Ann they called me.  Now Ajaan Ann had a curriculum to follow but she would randomly come up with things that really had no connection with the curriculum. Songs such as I've already mentioned.  Songs that involved marching like ants, or waving arms and making strange noises, or doing a little 'rap' such as this.  (okay so maybe it doesn't qualify as rap)

Basically I figured that my students were in a state of confusion when I appeared with my songs.   

Then one day I arrived at school to discover an IGo team had arrived.   Now I'm not at all sure IGo teams really appreciated when I gave them things to do.   I'm know to put them to painting rooms or cutting grass with hand clippers in the heat of the day.  In this case I noticed one of them carrying a guitar.  Since none of the other American staff had arrived at school yet and these poor IGoers really looked like they needed something to do (In actuality they were probably walking around with glazed eyes looking for a place to lay down and sleep They had just traveled all night by bus) I pointed out the guitar I asked if they liked to sing.   

They did.   

I handed them a song sheet and asked if they would teach my students this song.  Class starts in a few minutes.   (I'm sure their dreams of showers and sleep quickly vanished but this story is not suppose to include concern for the IGo students, this story is about my pride and me feeling like the most honored teacher)   

The IGoers readily agreed and showed up in my classroom to teach the song. They did an excellent job of it too.   Then they departed so that I could continue teaching all the good things I was actually suppose to be teaching.  

My students sat and quietly watched this tired team of IGoers file one by one down the steps.   As soon as everyone had disappeared the students all looked at me and said, "Now you teach us this song".   

Yeah, it made me a little proud.   

Yeah, I think they liked me.  I kinda liked them too!!