Cambodia Beach Girl. Image: Kyle Lease

Who would have thought that Cambodia would have a beach – well, I for one definitely didn’t. So naturally when I was asked to go the beach for the weekend I was a little skeptic but when we got there Saturday afternoon I was a little shocked. It is beautiful. We went to this little island just off the coast of Cambodia. It seriously is like a little resort but without many of the luxuries we all take for granted. Electricity only between the hours of 7 and 10 at night and the bathroom wasn’t really a bathroom but more of a squat toilet and a shower that was directly about this toilet – even though it could hardly be classified as a toilet. But other then living without the luxury of a bathroom the whole island was beautiful. Very picturesque!!!

So, I stayed at this island for two nights with Sokun (Metamorphic’s Asia Manager), Sokun’s sister and brother-in-law, Kit and Ream Carson (they started A Greater Hope Orphanage that I will be talking about momentarily), their two boys, three volunteers from the orphanage (Rachel, Neil and Sarah) from the USA and Germany, Sarah’s friend from Germany and one of the girls from the orphanage. It was a relatively large group but we all had a lovely weekend holiday.

Girls Playing at A Greater Hope Orphanage. Image © Tim Humble 2010 – fotofugitive.com

So on Monday, on our way back home from the island, instead of going back to Phnom Penh with Sokun, I went to Takeo to stay in the Orphanage for a few days with Ream and Kit, all the helpers and of course the kids. The moment that I walked onto the grounds at the orphanage was so precious. These kids don’t know me at all but when I walked in, they all ran to Sarah and me and gave us the biggest longest hugs. Some of them giving me hug after hug, holding my hand, tickling me – they just accepted me.

We can learn so much from these children. Though they may not have the proper education you can teach them to accept everyone that walks into your world. As soon as they walk in shower them with love. Hug them as a constant reminder that they are loved, hold their hand so they know there is always someone on their side and tickle them to make sure they know what it is like to laugh, to feel happy. It is simply understanding the concept of accepting and then implementing it into your life that your will make a difference to the lives of those who come into contact with yours.

These children, the orphans of society, understand this value, this concept and it is them that will teach us Westerners what it is truly like to live life to the fullest. We can have all the education in the world but without this understanding of accepting people, life will be a whole lot harder and sadder to live. I believe that most children know what it truly means to accept, to trust, to believe and to love but over time these values are lost because of greed and hurt. I believe that if we can learn what we once knew so well, our life would be very different. We would be better off.

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About Tahlia:

Hi everyone, my name is Tahlia van de Beld and I’ve just finished Year 12. Just before starting university this year, my parents offered me the opportunity of going to Cambodia. Being a travel bug, I jumped at the chance of exploring a little more of the world – gaining an understanding of the world I live in. I do not want to merely live in this world but I want to be apart of it. The world is full of different cultures, traditions and laws. It would be naive to believe that you live in one country and not be affected by all the others. As the world becomes more interconnected through the use of internet and the advancement of technology, it is of upmost importance to gain some knowledge of these different countries.

I hope that this trip to Cambodia will teach me more about the world I live in and also how to appreciate every aspect of life. I think that as westerners we often forget to appreciate the little things in life and I know that poverty-stricken countries are the best examples of people who “go with the flow” and appreciate every good thing that comes their way – no matter how small. As I am doing this trip by myself – well without anyone I know – I hope that I learn more about myself. It will give me a chance to spread my wings, perse, and hopefully allow me to find out what and who I want to be or grow into. I want to see and hear how God has changed people’s lives. I hope to build long-lasting friendships. There are so many possibilities and I truly hope Cambodia will teach and show me so much more than what I hope for.

Posted By: Metamorphic in Blog, Guest Posts
Tags: Tags: A Greater Hope, Beach, Cambodia, Orphan, Orphanage, SE Asia, Sihanoukville, Southeast Asia, Takeo Province

Metamorphic

Metamorphic works in developing countries around the world, transforming lives through planting churches, developing communities and breaking the poverty cycle. Be sure to follow us on twitter @MetamorphicTeam and 'like' our Facebook Page

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