The Men & Boys in Svay Pak

Each day as our van entered into Svay Pak there is a local hangout at the top part of the main street corner where groups of men from the community tend to gather. Their daily ritual appears to be sitting around, smoking and playing cards or billards all day long or sleeping. I have been told that the men and young teenagers in Svay Pak often act as pimps. It is hard not to judge these men and at times keep an open mind that they too are in need of a Savior. Initially when we first drove by the local area, we received a bunch of stares from them. It’s almost as if Satan had parked his own bodyguards at the entrance of his territory and was trying to intimidate us. But in recent days we started getting waves or smiles from these very men when we drove by. Yesterday I went with one of the AIM helpers Ratanak and walked over to where they were---the main reason really was that I wanted to get a photo of them so we decided to ask them directly if it was okay. Their reaction was positive and not what I would expect. But then again, the darkness disguises itself as light.

On a second street corner we have also observed another set of men who daily stand around and appear to take note of all who walk up and down the street. Each day I have passed them by enroute to pick up the food packets for the kids at the VBS. Both Ratanak and I usually smile at them and greet them in Khmer. I took a photo of them as well and they chuckled when I showed it to them. Interestingly enough there is one guy who deliberately avoided having his face taken. I can only imagine why.

Around Rahab House we have noticed that whenever the Newsong girls come by on Tuesdays and Thursdays there is a group of young men---probably around 18 years who are trying to get the girls attention. They usually play with a hackey sack just outside Rahab house but yesterday they peered into see what we were doing. At one point, some of them appeared to be taunting a couple of the Newsong girls through their comments. Fortunately Clay a young American guy who works with AIM was also around. He was acting as bodyguard outside the building and would act as a barrier between them and the girls. At one point I found myself quite irritated with these boys as they seem to be jeering the girls on---perhaps they were just trying to get noticed and obviously were not having too much success but something in my spirit told me otherwise so I took the liberty of also speaking a few words to them in Khmer. They laughed at me and said a few words. In this environment, there is a mocking mentality---we see that with some of the kids as they pretend to say ‘sorry’ but don’t really mean it as a few minutes later they will hit another kid. These young men act the same way. It is not surprising, and so one learns not to personalize their reactions to us. I figure the best way to respond to this attitude is to give them a dose from heaven---ie: pray for transformation of their hearts. After all, God is the One who knows their hearts and it is ultimately the only One who can change them.

Friday is our final day at Rahab house...we are already having mixed feelings of leaving as our time with the kids here have been very meaningful. We see their joy and enthusiasm each day whenever we arrive as they run after our van on the main street screaming and waving and then crowd around us when the van's doors open. Each of them wanting us to notice them as they call out our names and touch us. It will be difficult to leave here as we have grown attached to them and they to us.