Along with every nation in the world, Cambodia continues to battle against the effects of COVID-19; from shuttered businesses to nation wide lockdowns, mask mandates and no travel zones. During this difficult time, FCOP isn’t only meeting spiritual needs but also the physical by ensuring the health and safety of those in our care. As I write this, two of our refuge centers have been directly affected by COVID-19. Because of contact tracing results, both the Siem Reap and Tumnup refuge centers have been put under 14-day quarantine. We have found that the biggest enemy is and always has been fear and our greatest weapon is truth based hope. Much of what is touted as science is simply hysteria, a prime example is the faulty PCR test. We are very pleased to see massive demonstrations against draconian measures all over the world! God, hope and truth will win in the end!
Despite the lockdowns and quarantine, as our pastor in Siem Reap is undergoing treatment for COVID-19, the responsibility for leading dozens of smaller home-groups throughout the province has been given to more than capable leaders that have been discipled. One of those is a former tuk-tuk driver, who had moved to Battambang recently. As he and his family moved there, they started evangelizing in their local area and have seen a full-blown church birthed out of their ministry. Because of his skills in building and experience with helping lead churches where he is from in Siem Reap, he’s being leaned on to help the building of a new church building in Siem Reap province. New leaders that they’ve raised up in Battambang are helping while he travels back and forth to Siem Reap for the building of a new church. Praise the Lord for a good team of leaders and healthy multiplication.
We are also being proactive in providing preventative medicine for common illnesses through administering a combination of Ivermectin and Albendazole. These anti-parasitic medications help to kill various types of worms including tapeworms, roundworms, and many others. Due to the way food is grown and prepared, it’s not at all uncommon to ingest a parasite. Ivermectin is also used in the treatment of scabies. In the past, we used to have to make our own treatment using a mixture of Permethrin and shampoo that would be made by the gallons. There have been recent studies suggesting that Ivermectin is effective as a prophylactic agent against certain types of viruses including Dengue Fever and COVID-19. Dengue Fever is a mosquito borne illness that affects many people throughout the country during the monsoon season. Another way that we are ensuring the health of the kids in our care is with Hepatitis B immunizations. Dr. Lina and Khemerin (our staff nurse) traveled to the Tbong Khmum province to give the kids living at the Ou Rang Oue refuge center their final dose in the vaccination series.
In response to the various lockdowns, we are working to ensure that the refuge centers in these areas are equipped with the supplies they need. Staff members recently delivered a 3-month supply of rice, cooking oil, soap, toothpaste, and new clothes to the 7 refuge centers throughout the Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.
