This article was written in 2009 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: My spirituality has
changed
Twenty-eight year-old Sokha Pheach is
the eldest daughter of 5 siblings. Sitting with a group amongst other
colleagues, Sokha shares, “I conceit never accepted others’ ideas. I was
considered by
others as a snob because I was really proud of my thoughts both at work and at
home.”
With her fair complexion and skinny body Sokha recalls her attitude, “before, I got mad easily and I didn’t care to be friendly or close to anyone. I considered myself as a powerful one with all the ideas, and I was a vicious lady who has very frustrating manners.”
Sokha plays an important role in her family since she was 14 years old. She adds, “I dropped out of school once when my mother delivered a new baby, and there was nobody take care of my mother and the baby. So I quit school and look after the family and help in earning income for the family. I sold second hand clothes, which would earn little income to support my family conditions.” Sokha’s hardships made her strong and proud. She often asked herself, “why my family always face difficulties, while other families look so nice?”
Sokha and her mother have tried hard to earn and save income for the family without the help of a father. Sokha used to have a father. He is an active person who loves justice and he is a leader who fights against the local authorities to protect the city from the construction a new market in Battambang province. His protest made him a target from those who opposed his views. To be safe, Sokha’s father had to move to live in Phnom Penh. Later on he met another woman and he decided to not return home. He abandoned his wife and children. The burden to taking care of the finance of the family falls on Sokha. “My family was struggling financially and emotionally when my mother was sick when my father gave abandoned us, and there was not enough food to eat”, Sokha said with tears.
A former Buddhist Sokha says, “I was born in a Khmer family that strongly believes in Buddhism. I was a Buddhist for sure. Yet things gradually changed when I was recruited as a Transformational Development Facilitator (TDF) at Samlot Area Development Programme (ADP) in 2007. I was encouraged by my colleague to keep and trust God who loves us always. I always feel fresh whenever I have learned the verses by reading the Bible and sharing with my team. Regular devotion and reflection within my teams really inspired me and encouraged me to be strong in the struggle of life.”
All Modules of Learning for Transformation (LfT) have taught Sokha, and this really heartened her to learn more about development tools and it leads her to understand more in term of development work, work with the poor; she knows how to work in a team and how to lead through good teamwork.
Sokha used to feels embarrassed that she is a Christian and her mother raised her as a Buddhist. But through sharing the Bible with her mother and helping her mother to understand the teachings of the Bible made her feel better. “I now always go to church every Sundays without caring about others’ word that said I am a Christian and my mother is a Buddhist. My mother didn’t like me being a Christian at first, but I always explained and teach her verses of the Bible, now she doesn’t mind and she said since I have become a Christian I have never hurt her or others, this I have become a better person. I usually share with my mother and my family about Christianity and they listen to me. I am very happy with this.”
On the brink of tears Sokha said, “I have never dreamed that I would see this day. I thank God who called me to work with World Vision and taught me many things. I gratefully thank my mother who always supports and encourages me to return to school; I now graduated with a Bachelor degree in the field of agriculture. I thought that I could not attend the university. I love learning, and I’ll keep learning always.”
“I see Sokha is growing now especially her working and personal life, and she has Jesus in her life. Her attitude is completely changed; she listens more and thinks first before acting too quickly in anger. She has moved upward to be a TDF team leader at Banan ADP and she shared with me and set a good example for staff under her supervision,” smiles Pisey Him, 46, Sokha’s former direct supervisor.
With her fair complexion and skinny body Sokha recalls her attitude, “before, I got mad easily and I didn’t care to be friendly or close to anyone. I considered myself as a powerful one with all the ideas, and I was a vicious lady who has very frustrating manners.”
Sokha plays an important role in her family since she was 14 years old. She adds, “I dropped out of school once when my mother delivered a new baby, and there was nobody take care of my mother and the baby. So I quit school and look after the family and help in earning income for the family. I sold second hand clothes, which would earn little income to support my family conditions.” Sokha’s hardships made her strong and proud. She often asked herself, “why my family always face difficulties, while other families look so nice?”
Sokha and her mother have tried hard to earn and save income for the family without the help of a father. Sokha used to have a father. He is an active person who loves justice and he is a leader who fights against the local authorities to protect the city from the construction a new market in Battambang province. His protest made him a target from those who opposed his views. To be safe, Sokha’s father had to move to live in Phnom Penh. Later on he met another woman and he decided to not return home. He abandoned his wife and children. The burden to taking care of the finance of the family falls on Sokha. “My family was struggling financially and emotionally when my mother was sick when my father gave abandoned us, and there was not enough food to eat”, Sokha said with tears.
A former Buddhist Sokha says, “I was born in a Khmer family that strongly believes in Buddhism. I was a Buddhist for sure. Yet things gradually changed when I was recruited as a Transformational Development Facilitator (TDF) at Samlot Area Development Programme (ADP) in 2007. I was encouraged by my colleague to keep and trust God who loves us always. I always feel fresh whenever I have learned the verses by reading the Bible and sharing with my team. Regular devotion and reflection within my teams really inspired me and encouraged me to be strong in the struggle of life.”
All Modules of Learning for Transformation (LfT) have taught Sokha, and this really heartened her to learn more about development tools and it leads her to understand more in term of development work, work with the poor; she knows how to work in a team and how to lead through good teamwork.
Sokha used to feels embarrassed that she is a Christian and her mother raised her as a Buddhist. But through sharing the Bible with her mother and helping her mother to understand the teachings of the Bible made her feel better. “I now always go to church every Sundays without caring about others’ word that said I am a Christian and my mother is a Buddhist. My mother didn’t like me being a Christian at first, but I always explained and teach her verses of the Bible, now she doesn’t mind and she said since I have become a Christian I have never hurt her or others, this I have become a better person. I usually share with my mother and my family about Christianity and they listen to me. I am very happy with this.”
On the brink of tears Sokha said, “I have never dreamed that I would see this day. I thank God who called me to work with World Vision and taught me many things. I gratefully thank my mother who always supports and encourages me to return to school; I now graduated with a Bachelor degree in the field of agriculture. I thought that I could not attend the university. I love learning, and I’ll keep learning always.”
“I see Sokha is growing now especially her working and personal life, and she has Jesus in her life. Her attitude is completely changed; she listens more and thinks first before acting too quickly in anger. She has moved upward to be a TDF team leader at Banan ADP and she shared with me and set a good example for staff under her supervision,” smiles Pisey Him, 46, Sokha’s former direct supervisor.
-Ends-
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