Hear Cambodian missionary's work to help 'garbage dump children'

Reaching out to the children who work in the garbage dumps or wander the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia is the passion of Clara Mridula Biswas.

Zion United Methodist Church of Hampshire will host a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 22 at the church, 157 W. Jefferson Ave. It is open to all. A free-will offering will be gratefully received.

"About every five years, missionaries get time off to visit their supporters. A few years ago, we heard about Clara's work and raised some funds for her. Now we are thrilled to meet her in person," said the Rev. Diana K. Otterbacher. "Our junior youth group has been fascinated by her ministry with the garbage dump children and have already raised some funds for Clara."

There are many large dumps outside Phnom Penh where whole families dig through the waste for items to sell. The dumps are constantly burning caused by the methane gas as garbage rots. During the rainy season, the area is swamped and the children live and play in fetid water.

Clara's Street Children Ministry is one of the organizations that helps the children of Phnom Penh obtain an education with opportunities to study through scholarship; improving living conditions by providing vocational training; providing medical care and financial support to the ill; and with education creating awareness on human trafficking, human rights, and domestic violence.

The program supports 620 students in public schools by providing classes in such areas as music, computer science, and art. It offers Sunday school and conducts Christmas and Easter programs each year. A health component refers patients to hospitals and nongovernmental organization (NGO) health centers. Clara has worked for a long time with a church at one of the dump sites, and now also works with the Berung Kok Methodist Church in Phnom Penh's large slum area of Toul Kork. She also networks with other churches and NGOs, as well as visiting, monitoring, and caring for patients

"When people are able to get jobs and when they get assurance they can continue to study in higher levels of education, that gives them hope for a better future," said Clara. "It is joyful to watch the faces of happy children as they go to places they had never gone before. Although we bring the Gospel informally, we see the joy of the children singing Gospel songs and performing in dramas depicting Christmas and Easter."

Clara is originally from Bangladesh and was sent by the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries to work with the "poorest of the poor," especially children, in slum areas and garbage dumps to facilitate their transfers to relocation and rehabilitation centers.

Everyone is invited. Refreshment will be served. Donations may be sent to Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 515, Hampshire, IL 60140. Please make checks out to Zion UMC RE: Clara. For information, call the church at (847) 683-2430 or visit www.zionunitedmethodistchurchofhampshire.com.