"The moment of meeting was very special"
This week's blog is a sponsor visit story 'with a twist' as Artist Ambassador Paul Ewing reflects on visiting his sponsored child, Chanthorn, in Cambodia. We're very grateful for Paul and all the time and energy he spends as an artist ambassador, and thank him for sharing his story.
Chanthorn, 10 with his sponsor, artist ambassador Paul Ewing
"Blessed is he who cares about the weak..." Psalm 41:1
Cambodia. It's an ancient country that has seen its fair share of pain, heartache and trouble.
It's easy to arrive in Phnom Penh, breeze through, take advantage of the luxuries available for cheap, perhaps take pity on the street kids selling books to tourists on the waterfront, and then to travel up country to marvel at the majestic and ancient wonder of Angkor Wat, before returning to a more civilised world.
But, this time round, I am going to see beneath the surface of this historic land.
I'm Paul Ewing, an artist ambassador for World Vision UK. I was genuinely thrilled when World Vision asked me to join them on a field trip to Cambodia to visit my sponsored child Chanthorn.
Revelation and hope
Even though I am currently resident in Thailand and somewhat used to seeing a certain amount of poverty and other challenging aspects about a developing world, I have to admit that I was not completely prepared for the emotional and challenging experience that lay ahead.
It was a week filled with revelation, tears, and hope. Hope that shone through the midst of it all, like a beacon.
We had an amazing week prior to this, but I have to say meeting my sponsored child was the highlight of it all.
Chanthorn lives in the foothills of a mountain range in Cambodia. He is 10 years old. He and his family had been waiting for 4 years for sponsorship, and so my wife and I were thrilled to be able to be able to sponsor him.
Chanthorn and his mother and father had risen at 5am and borrowed a neighbour's motorcycle to travel the 35km to the Area Development Programme office run by World Vision.
We arrived at 11am, and they had been there since 7am!
When I finally got to meet this family, I was moved in my heart and spirit. Chanthorn was such a sparky young boy, with a quiet confidence, and handsome too!
The whole family were visibly moved and excited to meet me, and little Chanthorn was shaking. The moment of meeting was very special - the world seemed to slow in its spin to a halt, as we shook hands and sat together and I learned more about his difficult life.
An extension of family
As a father, I know how important play is to children, but Chanthorn had never even owned a ball to play with.
One thing that was really important to me through this meeting, was for this family to know that I was there to find out more about them, and that I was genuinely interested and concerned about their lives.
I realised that Chanthorn and his family were somehow an extension of my own. This little lad who enjoyed maths at his school, and herded cows when he got home and at the weekends, who had never had a ball to kick around, who wore trousers that his mother had very obviously re-sewn countless times, who had never seen a person of my colour before, not watched TV or listened to popular music, and who had no concept of the internet, was in a position to receive support, care and prayer from someone miles away.
Through the sponsorship, not only Chanthorn’s family, but his whole community would benefit.
I think of this young boy as I sit next to him. I think of the privilege that I have of being a part of his life. I thank God that although this family had been waiting for 4 years for a sponsor, I am now able to help this obviously gifted and bright young lad.
I can make a direct impact on his life.
And what is also remarkable is that Chanthorn and his family makes an impact on my life, and that of my children. Through his story, his picture, and the communication that we have through World Vision, my own children get to know him a little, learn of how his life is so different to theirs. His reality touches theirs, preparing their hearts to understand that there are many others in this world with much less.
It is my heartfelt delight to hear my own little ones pray and speak his name, to watch them draw him pictures, and to know that their hope for him, becomes a reality in his life and for his parents too.
It is through this experience that I grow to understand more of the meaning of Psalm 41, and yes - I am truly blessed, with a blessing that is not about my own success, but about the love and hope that is there for all mankind.
As I prepare for my World Vision Light of Hope Tour in the UK this June, I know in my heart that this experience is a powerful fuel for me, as I share my own story, and that of Chanthorn.
As we pass on the light of hope, we do it because we are all called to truly love one another.
We cannot underestimate the impact that the little we do in supporting children like Chanthorn, can have on the lives of a whole generation.
You can't get a better blessing than that.