Meeting God along the lake shore, an encounter with Cambodian boat people

Monday evening, November 18

As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net. Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” At once they left their nets and went with him. Matthew 4:18-22.

Jesus spent most of his three year public ministry in the coastal villages on the sea of Galilee. He seem to have a special place in his heart for those who made their living fishing. On Sunday morning, we visited the boat people who live on one of the largest lakes in Cambodia-Lake Tonle in The province of Siem Reap in the north. We traveled a long bumpy road to get to a small boat which traveled out across the lake some distance until we reached a little church also floating on the lake. The villagers had prepared a simple lunch for us and the local children welcomed us with songs and smiles. After lunch, we celebrated the Eucharist in Khmer, The primary language spoken in Cambodia. It was a simple but beautiful celebration with the kids choir making beautiful unto the Lord. We were amazed at the thousands of boat houses Floating in the lake. This lake grows six times its size during the rainy season which is from March through October. The primary occupation of all these boat people is fishing. After mass we took another small bow to visit one of the parishioners of the church. Sophia is a single mother of two, her two month old infant is named Maria.

We brought her some simple gifts of food and then sat down on the wooden floor in the house boat to listen to her story and to share a little bit about ourselves. She told us that what she wanted most was One solar panel so she could provide lights and electricity without using a gas lantern. She was afraid the lantern would set the place on fire and did not want to endanger her children. We ended our time there there holding hands and saying The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples – the Our Father.

I was amazed at how the Maryknoll missionaries went out to the far reaches of Cambodia to share of the good news. They share the gospel not by preaching or proselytizing but simply by accompanying people on their journey. Like Jesus they listened to what people wanted and needed and tried to offer that to them.

As we waved goodbye to Sophia and her family I remembered what Jesus said to those first disciples who lived on the sea. Come follow me and I will make you fish for people. It seems to me that there are a lot of people who need to be fished out of their poverty, their loneliness, and their sense that The world has abandoned them.

For a brief moment, I think Sophia sensed that she was not alone nor abandoned but connected to a larger community thousands of miles away. Please pray for Sophia and all the boat people as they struggle to make a living on Waters that continue to be polluted human disregard for mother earth. Below are some pictures of our visit to the floating boat people of Cambodia.