Rescue Cambodia Update

For many years, our church has partnered with Rescue Cambodia and Marie Ens. Just last fall, we hosted a group from Rescue Cambodia. Below is an update from Rescue Cambodia on how they're coping with the current times. 

Marie Ens (now 85 years young) declined the Canadian government offer to return home to Canada because of the virus. After all these years, her home is really in Cambodia. She gladly chose to stay there to ride this out and encourage the team at Rescue.

As of May 6, there are 122 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Cambodia. I will assume the actual total Is much higher due to a lack of testing & reporting. At least for now, the virus appears to be under control.

All three Rescue centres in Cambodia were locked down for the past 2 months and keeping everyone on site. They just started to allow some people to come and go once again.

Of course, all schools in the country have closed. So the staff is finding creative ways to keep hundreds of kids occupied each day. The bigger kids are stepping up and helping the younger ones. It’s good to see them all pitching in together! Of course the weather is a balmy 35* C so the kids can play outside morning to night as long as they stay on site. The learning centre is also getting put to good use! Lots of games, puzzles & books.

NOTE: Rescue has 57 university students this year. Some of them have returned to the orphanages since their classes are cancelled as well. So wonderful to see these young adults coming “home” to help out!

Rescue also cares for a couple dozen elderly women (the Grannies) and families living with HIV/AIDS. Although they take an anti retroviral drug daily which keeps AIDS at bay, they would be more vulnerable to the coronavirus than most. Thanks for your prayers for them all!

Through it all, we stand on the truth found in God’s word. “Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid” (Isaiah 7:4)