Ok folks, it's time to get real. This is going to be pretty harsh, I'm not going to lie. Perhaps some things are better left unsaid, but I think here in the real world, it's alright to share one's thoughts, particularly negative ones, for they can help us question and really think about our activities and current ways of doing things, particularly if the results of such are impacting on others' lives. This obviously has a background context to the developing world and those who are mission minded, but should include anyone in any context, towards any action. It's basically common sense.
I apologise if I step on any toes here, but perhaps it was intentional. I want to pull those strings. I want you to stop and think.
So where to begin?
Sigh. I am a selfish and sometimes negatively outspoken person. Oh yes. Very much so. Particularly in regards to developing countries and how we have a responsibility to aid them. I mean, I've spent the last 6 years of my life studying in that area. But, as I'm sure you know, there are two very special countries, two that are very dear to my heart, where my personal responsibility is a whole another story. Growing up in Myanmar and Cambodia, I have somehow become overprotective of them, thinking that they are 'My Cambodia' and 'My Myanmar'. It is not a good thing, oh no. Is it a TCK (third culture kid) thing? Undoubtedly. My years living there, inclusive of the amazing experiences and the pain and grief surrounding us while my family and host countries were seemingly isolated from the modern world, grew in me such a strong association and emotional bond with these places and their people. I feel as if I was raised by these countries, for them. It is as if I have given myself the role of defending these struggling developing nations against the world, and making sure they can develop in the best possible way. It is a fact that I've become incredibly cautious to 'the Western Threat'... not necessarily western ideology or technology, but from the do-gooders who have the right intentions, but who do not think deeply enough or observe the situation properly before they barge right on in. And I am 100% guilty of that.
This time around, I'm seeing it more clearly than ever before. Westerners, who come here and bring their ways of doing things; full of gusto and pre-planned agendas and 'Yes I'm gonna save Cambodia!'. I know. I've thought like this. We did this. We are this. When you pack up your whole life into a suitcase and head to such a destitute place, you have to think like this. You have to encourage yourself that you're not crazy, that that country needs you, and that there's a purpose much higher than your own. You're going to help. We've only lived in Phnom Penh for 4 months, so we're following this manual to a tee. But one thing we try to do is to acknowledge of our intentions and why we are really here. Yes, we've chosen His path, answered His call, we're living for God, and we've moved to this developing country to help the people: It's not about us. But in a way, it is. I know I am here for them, but I am also here for me. As closure for my mixed up, messed up TCK childhood. As a supporting wife to my husband (who was called this time not me) and as one testing the waters of her career as a budding development professional. We're here now so we can be somewhere else then, either in time or physical place. It's a shaping, moulding process that we're going through, not just for them, but for us and how He wants us to be. Unless we're all honest or take the time to really think about our 'do-gooder' attitudes and intentions, you're going to be impacting those lives around you in a much less helpful way than you believe. You'll be blind to your own ambitions, pre-conceived agendas and even the plans that He has for your life.
So that is the first step. Think. Think about yourself and your real reasons for wanting to go on that mission trip, for building that school, for planting that church. You can tell yourself you're doing a great deed for them, but guaranteed it'll benefit you more than it will them. These comforting words we tell ourselves so we don't feel guilty about spending the $2000 to go serve in Thailand for a week rather than just donating the money, need to be thought about out in the open before we are truly free to focus on others. It is OK to go for yourself, to learn about the world, to be exposed to poverty, to feel good about doing good as your follow in Jesus' footsteps the way he intended. Just do not hide that fact.
The second step is something that, now I've been here a while without being blind to my own intentions, I've had the most helpful experience one can get in relation to helping those around us: The opportunity to observe. To take in what is actually going on here in Cambodia. To see trends and patterns, see what is being done well and what is not. And what I have observed, and get my Cambodia-Myanmar-jealousy-defensive-armour on about, is the do-gooders. Sigh, the do-gooders. They come in many shapes and forms; volunteers, english teachers, church planting missionaries, NGO workers. One is even called Ruth. We are them. Yet there is an increasing pattern of activities that are being done by those with good intentions, that I think has a range of negative implications that could be easily avoided if more people were to stop and observe what is already in place.
An example. (And prepare for a rant). Did you know there are over 50 different churches in Phnom Penh listed on the first few pages of the Yellow Pages alone (I couldn't be bothered to keep counting), not to mention the dozens of their various plants across town and the hundreds of small home churches that Khmer's generally prefer to go to. Phnom Penh is not a large city. You can get from one end to the other in half an hour. These churches are widespread and are across a large number of denominations, even interdenominational, catering to just about anyone. And yet even now, more missionaries come to add a plant of their particular church in this city, to put their organisation's name on it, to have their only slightly differentiating doctrines taught. Is that really what the Khmer people of this city need? There are already many churches here! Go out into the provinces, by all means. Go out and reach those who cannot be reached. Church planting out there in the poverty-stricken isolated corners of rural Cambodia is a different story. There is much need out there! But I cannot see the benefits of bringing in white pastors who use western metaphors and sing English songs when there are hundreds of pre-existing local churches that are held in Khmer, that teach according to Khmer customs, by Khmer pastors, for the Khmer people. Are there not parallels the former draws to old, colonial and now rightly criticised ways of thinking? Surely the latter makes more sense? If you are catering to the foreigners and expats in the city, fine. Say so. But do not show in your advertising material to your church back home that Phnom Penh is a desperate city unreached by Christianity! It is a desperate city, but not solely for that reason. If you want to grow the church, great! Consider partnering with the local Khmer churches, increasing their numbers, their outreach. They are already doing a fantastic job, with a fantastic response. What makes you think Phnom Penh needs another? You want to be needed? These local and provincial churches need support not competition.
I believe that this is the case with many things in developing countries, non-government NGOs included. So often the story goes that the local organisations that are in place, and have been working quietly and successfully from the ground up for years, are suddenly trampled on by big name Western groups who think they know better. Did you know there are over 3000 NGOs in Cambodia? 3000, in a country just slightly larger than Tasmania! How many of them do you think are working on the exact same things; poverty reduction and livelihoods, children's education, human and sex trafficking, HIV/ AIDs, water and sanitation? What would happen if instead of spreading the donated aid and resources so thinly between 3000 different groups all competing for funding and staff and a backing by the big Donors to do the same work, they had networks of sharing, so that every province was covered by every area of development focus? Doesn't it make so much more sense? So why then does this occur? If we think about the needs of the poor, like really truly think about their needs, would we have such a divided and uncoordinated system? Where small local NGOs run by Khmers can only afford 4 staff while big international groups pay foreign staff western salaries with 5 digits? I don't think so. So why then do we? Because people don't observe. They don't take time to just look at what is already there, or research what gaps need to be filled. And because at the roots, even though our hearts want to give and serve and help, WE HAVE OUR OWN AGENDAS. How we think things should be done, which is in essence how we want things to be done to benefit ourselves in one way or another. Why do so many organisation focus on children? Is not everyone equally important? It is because stories about children sell, and boring policies about state health regulation don't, even though the latter may have direct benefits for the plight of the children in the first place, whilst benefiting everyone. Western governments at least advertise their prejudices publicly when giving foreign aid, openly choosing to aid only the nations physically closest to them or that may provide a threat to their security in future if the wars, poverty and diseases are not handled. Why can't we be more open too, particularly us missionaries and do-gooders? We are only human, and believe it or not, humans can relate to other humans when they are honest.
What will it take for people to set aside some well-needed time and just watch. Observe. Do the research. Think. What is actually going on here. What is actually needed. What do they want us to do for them? What are my reasons for volunteering, for moving here, for helping out, all this? If you see a gap to fill, fill it. A special niche that has been left untouched? Explore it. But if the government or church or NGO is simply just not doing so well, don't come in guns ablazing all new and cashed up, placing your project right next door to overshadow the existing one! That is where the mission is! Help them to be better, support them! Pick up their pieces so they can pick up those of the poor. Become a funding body, a support network, arrange a partnership, train leaders. I really believe that if more mission-minded people took the time to think and observe properly, more money would be saved, more gaps would be filled, and more people would be truly helped, in a way that is more coordinated, more effective, less selfish, and more focused on genuine love.
