A Poem from Anthea Hill

Cambodia- Tabitha House Building July 2017

A while back Jim and Elaine wanted to do a charity thing
Invited any of their friends, colleagues to do some building
Build houses in Cambodia for poor farmers in Kampot
They need anyone who can come and help a lot

We all came together at a place to eat
Jim introducing each of us with a greet
Twenty One of us in total as a group
Some ate meat, noodles, frog or soup.

We all went to the Tabitha Foundation headquarters
Saw beautiful things made from silk, there were wallets, purses and pyjamas
Janne spoke to us about the foundation, Cambodia and Pol Pot
Many people now helped but before some killed, tortured or shot

Visited the Toul Sleng Prison for men, women or children
What a place, many sad memories, cruel and sullen
So many people, so many lives destroyed and lost
Innocent people, young or old came with a cost

Taken from prison to an unknown area, field or place
Moments to live, looking sad, feeling hardship they did brace
Many a body lies in a huge grave or pit
Those poor unfortunate Cambodians with bones broken or split

A lovely visit to the hospital that Janne is getting built for women only
So much to do, organize and I’m sure sometimes for her quite lonely
What a huge achievement this women with help can build
By workers, volunteers and labourers that are quite skilled

Travelled in three buses to Kampot through markets, provinces and rice paddy
House, farms, roads that are looking a bit shabby
Learning a bit of Khmer the language here
Sounding really weird and a little bit queer

Walking to a place for some good food
Talking, joking and above all in a good mood
Someone lay dying after a motorbike crash
All of us around, we were there in a flash

No Cambodians helping or trying to sort it out
The family of the man will know what happened, no doubt
Feeling a bit sad, the mood was quite grim
Thinking about that poor man -we didn’t even know him

Met Addheka- a women who has had tragedy in her life
She has helped and taught a lot of people that may have been in strife
She is an inspiration to all her friends, colleagues and how she helps the poor
Educating people in her school, her aid projects, it isn’t a chore

Got to meet Sakun, a man with lots of courage
He got people dancing, making videos –he did encourage
Has had a lot of support in his work at Epic Art
Now is a volunteer at PPCIL which is just the start

Time had come to build houses made of wood and tin
Hammering in nails and trying not to hit your skin
Up ladders, into the house, banging it together with satisfaction
Our team going great and even with some locals interaction

Built 15 houses for a village, the humidity and heat
Did some drawing, some skipping which was a feat
Gave the families a beautiful embroidered blanket for the floor
They were so grateful, so humble and yet quite poor

Visited a school, which had not a lot of room way out in a village
Sang songs, did some movements, left equipment which was our privilege
Some of the team went to the mountain to see across the valley
Walking, climbing, cold and looking around which was right up their alley

On a river cruise to relax, have a drink and chill
Saw fireflies flickering that could not keep still
Pouring with rain, having fun dancing on the boat
Choosing a song from someone’s phone with a musical note

Last meal together having a great time and chat
Saying goodbye to all and giving them a hug or pat
Everyone has had a fantastic time doing the humanitarian thing
Our determination and what we could achieve we did bring

You came away from this trip with maybe a new direction or drive
Helping others, less fortunate than us and happy to be alive
A wonderful experience, helping people whose lives may be grim
It has been such a privilege -THANK YOU so very much ---Elaine and Jim

​Written by Anthea Hill- Tabitha/Cambodian Trip 2017

Anthea and Stephen Hill with one of the Village families July 2017