The Fruits of Labor

On Sunday our bookshop shift decided to do some work for a local HIV hospital for children. James, one of the book shop workers met with the director of the hospital to see what kind of help our crew could provide. Meeting a director of any hospital back home would never happen, but here in Cambodia as long as you can provide some sort of service for free, you can pretty much schedule a meeting immediately. Originally, James thought the deckies would only have to build a bookshelf and the ship would provide free children's books. The book shelves were built, but we also ended up cleaning and painting a building that was going to be a designated quarantine area for final phase HIV and swine flu patients.

Our group walked into the decrepit building with grimy walls and cob webs hanging from every corner. It was most definitely in need of a face lift. It was amazing to see how the group rallied and within three hours all walls had been scrubbed thoroughly and we had a fresh coat of paint on. The following day we repainted the inside as well as the outside of the building. I was given the task of painting a mural with one paint brush. I had an hour to finish it. I gathered some help and we had so much fun as I designed a simple abstract design that wrapped around the room. It was sad to think though that this building was essentially where people were brought for their final days of resting peace.

While we were working some of the children from the clinic came to watch us work. They view us with curious eyes as anyone who's not Cambodian sticks out like a sore thumb. At one point one of our team members took out some balloons and we began blowing them up for the kids. They started giggling and had fun to no end. They loved throwing the balloons up in the air and trying to catch them. It was amazing and joyful to see how the children that lived under such despereate situations could appreciate the smallest moments in life.

After painting we visited the clinic. Children lay on their beds with deep sorrow in their eyes. One baby lay in a hammock, lifeless as a nurse treated her. The scene was emotionally heavy and I felt helpless. Their sadness left and indelible mark on my heart.

Afterwards I prayed for the children and hoped that God worked though our efforts to help make the ward more pleasant than it had been.