Mission Report: Cambodia: August 2010

Missionary Trip to Cambodia—Reported by Dr. Ligaya A. Acosta, June 2011

MR-320-cambodia

I travelled to Cambodia by bus from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, to where I had flown from my home country, the Philippines, since there was no direct flight to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. What would have taken 45 minutes by plane took six hours by bus. It was good that while I was in Vietnam for another mission trip in April, I saw the bus going to Phnom Penh daily, which prompted me to ask about it. Being a pro-life missionary has prepared me for the many discomforts that come with a life-saving mission, thus, the six-hour road trip and the two hours waiting time at the bus terminal, was bearable. As usual, it became an occasion for me to pray many rosaries and catch up on much needed sleep, which had been elusive to me due to an overly hectic schedule.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, I discovered to my surprise that everything is charged in U.S. dollars, including the tuktuk, an open motorized carriage, which is the main mode of transport in Cambodia. Thankfully, I discovered that one can haggle and/or negotiate for the fare, which they tend to raise for foreigners.

While in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ligaya would daily ride the Tuktuk to her destinations.

The Kingdom of Cambodia is located on mainland of Southeast Asia between Thailand to the west and north, and Vietnam to the east and southeast, sharing a land border with Laos in the northeast. It has an area of 181,040 sq km. (69,900 sq.mi.), (about the size of Missouri) and has a population of only 13.4 million (2008 census). Despite a glaringly small population however, Cambodia is into heavy population control, worsened by a high infant mortality rate; high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS; and the legalization of abortion in 1997. The law made abortion available on demand up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, but according to the same law, abortion can be done at more than 12 weeks on the grounds of abnormality and health of the mother, rape, and approval of the medical team in conjunction with the woman. Thus, practically, abortion can be done anytime.

DEATH PEDDLERS ON THE PROWL

Like in other countries, death peddlers are having their heyday in Cambodia, with IPPF’s affiliate – the Reproductive Health Association Cambodia (RHAC) operating in all areas through 400 community-based workers. These include: IPPF, USAID, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), UNFPA, the European Commission, the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), the Ministry of Health, the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), the Australian Family Planning Association, and the World AIDS Foundation. These and others are actively working in the country, pouring in a lot of money for the purpose.

THE CHURCH IN CAMBODIA

In the morning of my first day, I went for a courtesy call at the office residence of French Missionary Bishop Olivier Schmitt Haeusler of the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh, but I was unable to see him due to his hectic schedule. However, his secretary referred me to the Vicar General, Italian priest Rev. Fr. Mario Ghezzi, who readily welcomed me. She also gave me addresses and phone numbers of other possible contacts.

At the former Catholic Seminary now home of St. Joseph Parish, with Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Bruno Cosme.

From the Bishop’s House, I took another tuktuk to see Fr. Mario. Unfortunately, the devious driver brought me to another location and demanded more money to bring me my intended address. I thus decided to find another driver and proceed to St. Joseph Church instead, to further beg the Lord for guidance and blessing. There I met a very kind priest in the person of Rev. Fr. Trirong Multres, who certainly was God-sent. He not only gave me a tour of the church compound, but also gave me the number of the seminary rector. He also brought me to the office of the French parish priest, Rev. Fr. Bruno Cosme, who kindly gave me an appointment. Fr. Bruno’s parish is the largest in Phnom Penh where, he informed me, one third of the Catholics go. One contact led to another and another, and soon enough my days were filled. Like the Apostles, I journeyed from one place to another to introduce HLI and its mission – giving one-on-one presentations to key people: the vicar general, the parish priest, the rector of the seminary, the head of nun congregations—specifically the Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa, and the Salesian Sisters. Through the nuns, I was also introduced to heads of religious organizations like the Couples for Christ.

By God’s amazing grace, everyone who heard the message was touched and told me this was much needed in Cambodia. They also greatly appreciated the HLI DVD Library. With the vicar general, I was able to get the commitment for a return trip of HLI to conduct a pro-life training for clergy and religious, as well as talks with parishioners. Fr. Mario expressed the need for me to speak to the youth of Cambodia, as promiscuity is rampant and results in many abortions. He also confirmed the massive campaign on condoms, which has lured many people to destruction. He thought it important that their people hear the many side effects of contraception and abortion, which are common in the country. With the blessings of the bishops, he also said, he would want HLI to also visit the other dioceses in the country, who also need to hear HLI’s message.

Ligaya gives a talk to parishioners of St. Joseph parish in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the parish priest as Interpreter.

Rev. Fr. Bob Piche, the Canadian priest rector of the St. Jean Marie Vianney Major Seminary—the only seminary in the country—also expressed the need for formation of the seminarians on life and family issues, and thus was happy to have HLI. Currently, there are six seminarians studying there, who all came from public schools as there is no minor seminary in Cambodia. Also, I was told that future nuns also come for their formation. Thus, he said, he would want to have a day of talks with HLI for their future priests and nuns.

Rev. Fr. Bruno Cosme invited me to speak at the monthly teaching day of his parish, which fortunately fell on the Sunday I was there. There were 160 people in attendance, comprised of two priests, nuns, church leaders, parishioners, and the youth. Once per month, they gather after Mass at the big function room of the parish and are given free lunch to encourage them to attend the entire session, which ends at 4:00 p.m. It was a blessing for me to spend the day with them, especially since it was Corpus Christi Sunday. My short talk with the parishioners elicited a lot of interest, and a number of women stayed after to tell me how touched they were. They also said my talk made them feel guilty because they aborted their own babies in the past. They told me they looked forward to my return and to hearing more from me. Everyone also wanted to get the rosaries I brought but which was not enough for all.

THE YOUTH OF CAMBODIA

My talk in the parish also earned for me an invitation to speak at Don Bosco School for Girls. The Salesian Sister who attended promised to speak to the other nuns that evening, saying that my talk was exactly what they needed for their students, who at a young age are already having abortions. The next day, I got an email from the principal of the school, Indian Sister Leeza John, who asked me to come and speak to their students, which I was happy to accept. It was attended by 80 students together with their teachers who listened intently to my talk and watched with so much interest, albeit with pain on their faces, the abortion video I showed. The responses from the students were very touching. They said it was a big realization for them, especially the horrors of abortion and the deception of condoms, which they have been brainwashed into believing is okay. Everyone excitedly took the vow of chastity at the end of my session. Sister Leeza asked for a copy of my presentation and was overjoyed to receive the HLI DVD Library. She asked if she could invite me again to a bigger forum she will organize that will include the parents of their students and others. She also told me the need to speak at the Don Bosco School for Boys, but it was time for me to leave, and thus, it will have to wait until my return.

Students of Don Bosco School for Girls take the Vow of Chastity.

In all, I was able to reach around 260 people in Cambodia. More importantly, however, I was able to establish a base for HLI through a partnership with the Catholic Church there, which will hopefully lead to a pro-life program in the country. Before I left, the plans were set for future pro-life training for clergy, religious, seminarians, and church leaders, as well as various audiences around the country. God is good and God is great!

As I boarded the bus for another six-hour trip back to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam enroute to my home in the Philippines, I thanked God profusely for showing His hand again, as He always does. If only HLI could reach all the countries, there would be so much hope in changing the world, which is now profusely besieged by the culture of death.

I truly thank God—always and forever—for the privilege of being a part of HLI’s mission, and most of all for all of HLI’s generous benefactors, without whom missions like this would be impossible.