Subsistance Farming - a visit to Svay Rieng district to visit Savy's family`

Svay Rieng which is the home district of Meas Savy. Note the boy driving the buffalo and man carrying the wooden plough

We first visited the Phnom Penh BEC in July 2009 so it was great to return and renew friendships with the Bre & Sis and young people of the Phnom Penh Ecclesia.

Tamara has been friends with a number of the young people on facebook since 2009. We have also kept in touch with Meas Savy who we met in 2009 when he was a student at the LCDI and also being tutored by Sis Una Stremple at the BEC.

Savy at the King Hotel opposite the former BEC location in July 2009

Due to limited emploiyment opportunities Bro Don Stremple had been able to arrange employment for Savy as a tuk tuk driver for the King Hotel.

One of the first important lessons Savy learnt was to make sure he regularly topped up the tuk tuk with gas! Its not much fun pushing a tuk tuk up that was out of gas in peak hour traffic!

Out of gas crossing the Monivong bridge over the Tonle Sap river

Phnom Penh Ecclesia July 2009

When we first met Savy in 2009 we travelled with him to visit his parents and family down in Svay Rieng province which is the area at the bottom south east of Cambodia near the border with Vietnam, and about three hours from Phnom Penh.

Savy is now teaching English in a primary school in the northern province of Preah Vihear. When he heard that we would be in Phnom Penh in January this year he arranged to take four days off so that he could travel from the village he teaches in, first by tuk tuk to the bus station, then 7 hours by bus - 8 hours in all. We then travelled with him the three hour journey to see his parents who Savy had last seen 7 months before.

On the way to Savy's home in Svay Rieng district January 2012

Crossing the mighty Mekong by ferry at Neak Loeung

When it gets too full in the van - then you sit on the roof with the luggage!

Savy's parents grow rice on a small 3 hectare farm. This produces just sufficient rice to meet the needs of their extended family. Any other requirements are met by a family member obtaining casual work to pay any expenses.

The location is idylic, far from the noise of Phnom Penh, in a quite rural area 7km from any main road, with no running water or electricity. Everything was green last time in July. This year we are here in the dry season so most paddys are waiting to be ploughed.

Entrance to Savy’s home village – their house is 7km from here.

The ploughman. Wooden ploughs that have been used for centuries still in use in 2012

It is usually the task of the youngest son in the family to look after the buffalo. Here Savy's brother is with his buffalo. The buffalo were very nervous even when Savy was close, but quite relaxed when their keeper was with them.

An addition to the buffalo family in 2011

. . . and a new niece for Savy !

The original family home that Savy lived in before moving to the LCDI in Phnom Penh.

The family have few possesions, but the girls (Savy's sister and neices) were some of the happiest we have met. (2009)

Three of the girls in 2012

The area where Savy's family grows rice (2009)

The same paddies waiting to be ploughed 2012

Part of Savy's extended family that relies on the rice grown on their 3 hectares

The new family home built in 2007 - still no electricity or running water.

Savy with parents and grandmother 2012 The family lost several members under the terror of Pol Pot

Two grandmothers - both the same age

if you know how old Sis Una is you will know how old Savy's grandmother is!!

The well is the only source of drinking water – and for washing!

"home away from home” - many of the laneways are lined with rows of Aussie gum trees!

We look forward to returning to Cambodia in the future, God willing,

Tim, Sue & Tamara Harrington, January 2012