From an Adventist news source:

Upper Columbia Academy Shares Christ in Cambodia
April 13, 2019 | Youth | Eric Johnson

On March 18, 2019, 42 students loaded onto the Upper Columbia Academy (UCA) bus to begin their long journey from Spangle, Wash., to Siem Reap, Cambodia. They were headed to an orphanage started and run by Tim and Wendy Maddocks, just outside the city.

The Maddocks are an Adventist family from Australia that dedicated the last 26 years of their lives to ministering to the children of Cambodia. They built the orphanage from the ground up at the height of the AIDS epidemic, and it is amazing to see how God has blessed their ministry. They now not only have an orphanage but also a 300-student K–12 school as well.

In addition to the students, our team included 20 adults. We were able to provide a dental clinic, a vision clinic and tackle painting and remodeling the orphanage homes. Our days began at 7 a.m. with a wonderful Cambodian breakfast and conclude at 8 p.m. with an inspiring worship from Tim Maddocks. Each evening, he shared with our students how God has challenged him to live a life radically dependent on Him. On the final night of our stay there, Tim issued a call for our students to rededicate their lives to Christ and commit to faithfully serving Him in all things.

On Sabbath, we divided our group into nine different teams and headed out to area churches. Churches ranged from established city churches to small buildings on stilts in the rural countryside. Our UCA students were able to preach as well as give special music for the local members.

Abe Ellis, a UCA sophomore, was able to be one of the student preachers. He said afterward, “It was so awesome to be able to worship together with my new friends from Cambodia. It made me realize that I really do belong to a global church.” Many of our students were also struck by the fact that, even though the people lived very simple and often difficult lives, they exhibited so much joy.

While our team endured extreme heat and humidity as well as an extra-large helping of mosquito bites, giant spiders and some scorpions, they all agreed at the end they would not trade this experience for anything. Some insisted that this would not be the last time they came to serve in Cambodia.

Many of our students were in tears as they had to say goodbye to the children of the orphanage with whom they had formed such bonds. As we traveled home on the plane, the conversations centered on the fact that we went over to Cambodia to be a blessing to the people there, but in reality we were the ones who received the biggest blessing.
https://gleanernow.com/news/2019/04/upp ... t-cambodia

Oooops, i just murdered the cat again.

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 4:20 pm Oooops, i just murdered the cat again.

God will forgive you for the first eight times.

I can't believe this friggin shit is still going on. These religious fanatics deprive khmer children of their mostly buddhist culture and............. as we've learned over the past 15 years or so not all children declared orphans are actually orphans but have a living parent !

A short time ago the Cambodian Gov. released an official statement confirming that Cambodia has approx. 5000 registered NGO, several hundred outright foreign owned, the others mostly feature a khmer person running the show. Siem Reap has proven to be the epicenter of using the Orphanage Ruse for years. "Hug an Orphan" Voluntourismus Holiday became one of the major income sources.

In the interest of khmer children the Government should declare these western run religious based NGO as non desired "foreign agents".

kaputt wrote: ↑Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:01 pm I can't believe this friggin shit is still going on. These religious fanatics deprive khmer children of their mostly buddhist culture and............. as we've learned over the past 15 years or so not all children declared orphans are actually orphans but have a living parent !

A short time ago the Cambodian Gov. released an official statement confirming that Cambodia has approx. 5000 registered NGO, several hundred outright foreign owned, the others mostly feature a khmer person running the show. Siem Reap has proven to be the epicenter of using the Orphanage Ruse for years. "Hug an Orphan" Voluntourismus Holiday became one of the major income sources.

In the interest of khmer children the Government should declare these western run religious based NGO as non desired "foreign agents".

I wouldn't say it quite as strongly as you've put it but I agree with the general gist of your point.

Gotta give credit to the aid these groups provide to the poor, orphaned kids etc. However, where I have an issue is when these religious groups/missionaries provide that service with a view (or more likely a condition) that the people they are helping convert to their religion. Exposing people to another religion is fine as long as the subjects are free to choose and don't feel obligated to do so to receive the aid. Young children especially are not mature enough to know better.

If the aid provided is truly unconditional then fine. If not, I agree with your point that the gov't should consider the merits of such groups and possibly restrict their entry.

My opinion FWIW.

So the people running the place have told the kids point blank if they don’t convert on the spot they will thrown out and left to die on the street?

This "News" shows that many of the media in western countries have turned a blind eye on the subject for at least the past 15 years !

Siem Reap is plastered with "Orphanages", i remember a report of about 60 or more NGO in that sector in Siem Reap alone.

For Khmer Kids this is no help but a desaster ! We know that institutional child care is totally counter productive and leaves children with scars in their development. Particulary those kids that have at least 1 living parent should never, ever have to stay in a orphanage ! Most foreign funded Orphanage-NGO are here for their own wellbeing, money or self satisfaction.

The dark side of "Help the Cambodian Children" business models often feature non registered, private western owned facilities. No control ever happens there.

This has to stop ! If anyone is responsible for Khmer Children it's the 1.Khmer Family, 2.the Cambodian Government but never a foreign run evangelical piece of shit. The Organisation featured in this thread could/should instead help the US Children abandoned by their drug addicted parents and government.

https://www.spiegel.de/international/gl ... 62975.html

I find the Der Spiegel view of the Cambodian universe amusing.

The Cambodian government should massively increase expenditures and have a socialist style system just like Germany to take care of the kids? The same government that depends on foreign country donations for 50% of its budget and NGOs provide 50% of services expected of a government (like drainage, mosquito nets, clean water).

And the Cambodian family? Often times grandma is overburdened with half a dozen to a dozen kids while the parents are off working the city or another country or getting sloshed every day. That ain’t good for the kids, either. They come back changed for the worse.

Life in a fake orphanage with wholesome meals, good education, and guided socialization activities sounds like a good alternative.

And exposure to a non-Buddhist religion might broaden their horizons as well.

Just my opinion.