I met Chomno In when I visited Cambodia in September. He is one of the most tranquil and peaceful people I have ever met. When I first laid eyes on him I thought he was in his early 30’s – in fact, he is 48! And he has no right to look young! Half of his family were killed in the killing fields and he himself was on the death list. He describes his survival as a miracle. As a convert to Christianity he spent 9 years as a refugee in a camp in Thailand. While he was in the camp he trained as a doctor. On his return to Cambodia he trained in development work, gained employment with UNICEF, and it was while working this job that he saw Poipet – a town on the border of Thailand. He saw the poverty, the entrenched unemployment, the lack of clean water, education, and hope. He saw the children begging around the international casinos (yes – just like Vegas!) who can earn more than their parents so they are sent to beg. He heard of countless children trafficked into slavery and the sex industry. He heard the peoples cry. And, as there was no Christian presence there to help he decided – after much prayer – to start a project there to empower the people of Poipet. To do so he SOLD HIS HOUSE in Phnom Phen. Imagine that, a former refugee and victim of genocide, selling the security of his house to serve OTHERS… Six years later there is an incredible development project and church that has emerged from its work. People are skilled up, children taught, young girls rescued from sex slavery, communities given clean water, the sufferers of HIV visited and supported. The government and police worked alongside through advocacy and challenged where necessary. Incredible! And inspiring. Here is a pic of Chomno with one of the families who are being helped by a “Carpet making” project. Now the children don’t have to beg, they can go to school, and the mother has the dignity of providing for her children through new skills. And you’ll also see a pic of one of the many youngsters on CHO about to be helped. He is, like so many kids, trapped in pulling huge carts of goods back and forwards across the border for work… But one day he will stand with dignity and sing with the other kids in CHO’s outdoor classrooms. And that is what CHO means in Khmer: it means, STAND!