When on trips with CGA, we are usually surrounded by an in-country support system.
In Cambodia, we have our guesthouse, a place where we have stayed for years. The staff has taken care of us day in and day out. We feel safe and protected, and at times, Tat Too Guesthouse becomes our home. Our drivers are our family. They carry us safely through the bustling streets to CPO Orphanage ever day, and they don't stop there. They are only responsible for our transportation to and from, yet they choose to spend their days helping us at the orphanage. These men can be seen building things, mixing concrete, translating and making themselves beyond useful. They invest themselves in our work and service projects. These men are our protectors, our safe place. We would not survive the streets of Phnom Penh without Boo Lay, Boo Phat and Boo Tong. This brings us to our translators. The word translator hardly encompasses everything these women do for us. Meng and Sothy do indeed bridge the language gap for the group. They offer insight on Cambodian culture that no guidebook could compete with. They too get down and dirty with physical tasks. Meng will stand up to unfair treatment of our group and the children at the orphanage. She is kindhearted, yet strong and confident. We are never taken advantage of as foreigners, because Meng does not stand for such things. Over the years, Meng and Sothy have become the dearest of friends to us. Their selfless, loving acts tug at our heartstrings. We are so blessed to have an extended family so great, so far from home.
When exiting Kilimanjaro airport, we are greeted by the large smiles of Jodie or Kelvin and the other members of KATz. The KATz team supports and assists us unfailingly from arrival to departure and everywhere in between. Upon reaching Maisha Cottage, the smiles we encounter belong to Dada Dotto, MwaJabu and Oscar. These three feed us two meals a day and treat us as though we are royalty. Every encounter begins with a "Karibu" and a big hug, followed by questions about your sleep, your breakfast, and your general well being. These genuine questions reinforce the fact that these people are the most kind and generous souls. Every day, a KATz member, picks us up and drives us to LOAMO. A LOAMO welcome is unlike any other. It is a place where the adults are more excited to see us than the students. The staff at LOAMO would give the clothes off their backs to any member of CGA. Some of them have endured pain and struggle that is impossible to fathom, yet by their kindness and generosity, you would never know. Their hearts are so full of love. Every moment with them is a blessing, every moment should be cherished.
In Nicaragua, we are honored to work with Aleyda. Our firecracker translator keeps us from being unfairly treated or overcharged due to our foreign status. Although my time in Nicaragua was short, there was never a doubt in my mind that Aleyda and our drivers were invested in our cause, our projects, and us.
