I said at the beginning that Chomno was a level five leader- the very best, but it was the quiet way in which he brought us to see his new building which really struck us. At first it just seemed like a quiet little evening outing. We didn't quite know what we were going to be shown, but we know it was to do with the vision for the future of the Cambodian Hope Organization, and to do with rescuing young girls who might get caught up into prostitution. When we entered he building, empty like a warehouse, we at first couldn't believe that it had really cost $500,000. Then we realized the size it was. Four floors, going very far back from the street, into which he hoped to move and grow his organization, which till now has been in rented premises.
Then, like the acts of a play he unveiled the plan:
Level 1 was to be a cafe with (as he described it) 'really good coffee' -Churches take note! And a really good bakery in the back. These girls will be trained in skills they can be proud of. They will not just survive- they will produce the very finest!
Level 2 will produce tee shirts which he will sell to the world, and at a good price. A fantastic embroidery machine is already there, and any logo or ext cam be put on them. And we all bought one to make that point. These are well done, but we warned them that XL means something different in the UK, and something different yet again in the US!
Level 3 will be offices for the CHO, which needs really good administration, and
Level 4 will be the church, though useable for conferences as well. As close to heaven as you can get!
When we asked Chomno where he and his wife and femily would live, he didn't seem to have got round to organizing that. They live in one room in the old building at the moment.
Here, in this place, the captives will be set free, Good News will be preached to the poor, and the Kingdom of God will be seen in the incarnation of the love of Jesus. It all makes my heart beat faster. My vision for churches is that they will be a little glimpse of heaven on earth. In the west, we make such heavy weather of it, but to a man like Chumno it comes naturally - or do I mean supernaturally?
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