“There was not a dry eye in the house” is a saying we all
know well and this was true at the Dorm two Sundays ago (28 October) when we
enjoyed the first “Bethézer Dorm Parents’ Weekend.” |
| Kea and Tut with their fathers |
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| Dy cooking food for all |
Many of the parents of the dormers travelled to Phnom Penh for the weekend to visit where their children live, some of them for the first time. Brother Him and Sister Theavy coordinated a wonderful weekend together, finished by an evening none of us will forget.
At 2.00pm sharp on Sunday, a four-hour presentation by the
dormers began, MC’d by the capable Brother Veasna (“Medium Veasna”) and Sister
Vichem. We were entertained with stories,
jokes and a song by Vichem. This was
followed by two dances by Rathana, Sister Kim Srien’s granddaughter. Brother Him also did a presentation for the
parents outlining what their children did while living at the Dorm.
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| The Play |
After this the much anticipated play began, met with raucous
laughter as Vannak entered the stage convincingly dressed as an old villager
sporting greyed hair, “peasant clothing,” a stooped back and unsteady
gait. You did not have to use much
imagination to see him as he may be in 40 years time! The play unfolded as a story of their lives –
poor families who hear of the Bethézer Dorm in Phnom Penh and meet with
Brother Him and Sister Theavy to arrange for them to watch over their children
while they further their education by going to university.
The play outlined the positive change it has made in their children’s
lives, their opportunity to find better employment than they otherwise would,
learn to communicate in English and also dedicate their lives to God through
their learning of the things in the Bible.
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| Sokhorn |
I happened to be sitting next to Vannak’s mother and she was
almost instantly in tears when the play began.
I was concerned she was upset by something so asked Sister Rasmey if she
was okay. I was told that she was more
than okay, she was overwhelmed with happiness because she had never seen a play
and her son was one of the actors. Many
more tears were shed by the parents as they saw their own story being acted out
and the good that has been done for their children. The play was serious with some funny moments
and many lines were learned off by heart by those involved.
One of the last items for the evening was a song which was
led by “Medium Veasna.” It began with a
prayer and then a song sung by all the dormers to their parents. Once again the tears flowed throughout the
song as they said goodbye to their families and thanked them for all they had
done.
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| Dorm Item |
After going over this blog it sounds as though all we did
was cry but this was most definitely a time for tears. To see the dormers kneel before their parents
as they gently washed and dried their feet was extremely moving. They then turned to Sister Kim Srean and
Brother Him and Sister Theavy to also thank them for the love and care they give
while living at the Dorm.
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| Feet Washing |
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| Washing Om Kim Srean's feet |
The Dorm overflowed that evening with parents sleeping in
any available space, close to their children for the last time in a while.
It is certainly an opportunity to be repeated in the future and a highlight in the year for both parents and dormers and also us as fieldworkers.
It is certainly an opportunity to be repeated in the future and a highlight in the year for both parents and dormers and also us as fieldworkers.
~ Jess
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Love, Toddies