Jun
16
By Charlotte Bumbulis
“To Christians in America, buying something like a bag doesn’t feel like mission work, but to countless families, your purchase is their lifeline to a better future—a future filled with hope, healing, new possibilities, and the tangible love of Christ.”
On May 11, I returned home to Austin after spending two weeks in Phnom Penh and Battambang, Cambodia. This was my first international trip, and one with a very specific purpose in mind.
Let me rewind and share the story of how this opportunity came to be. Back in September 2009, when I was traveling around Texas networking with churches to market Good News Goods, I met Bryans Fitzhugh, Missions Minister of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth. There was an immediate connection between us because of Good News Goods’ partnership with our Fair Trade apparel producer, StopStart (Stop Human Trafficking. Start a new life), in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and the church’s on-going relief and development work, and pastoral training in Battambang, Cambodia. As we were meeting, we realized the overlap of our ministries and our common areas of interest, so Bryans invited me to accompany UBC on their 8th annual mission trip to Cambodia. In the moment, I hesitantly said yes, but never thought that I would really be able to go, mostly due to financial reasons. However, the church was very gracious and offered me a scholarship that made this dream trip a reality. In addition to their typical trip itinerary, Bryans added a visit to the StopStart factory in Phnom Penh, so we could meet and interview some of the women workers whose stories I tell and bags I sell at churches throughout Texas. So on April 28, I joined a group of people whom I barely knew or had never met, and began the 24 hour trip to Cambodia. (You can read more about my trip from the Good News Goods blog, Good News Done.
When I stepped foot in Cambodia, the reality of the devastating poverty that engulfs that country was not an immediate shock to my senses, due to previous knowledge-based exposure. However, the difference between reading about global poverty and actually encountering someone living in poverty is comparable to prescription glasses. Without the proper prescription, one may be able to see the world around them, but not clearly, thus quickly becoming disoriented and overwhlemed. However, as soon as you place the properly prescripted glasses in front of your eyes, the picture comes into sharp focus and you are suddenly aware of your surrounding reality.
Likewise, the vision I now have of Cambodia is no longer that of a distant statistic or a sad anecdote. Rather,it is a distinct smell from the busy marketplace, a feeling of intense compassion and love towards a gracious and needy people, a charming yet filthy little girl begging for her family, or a woman’s hands hard at work. Specifically the hands of a woman I interviewed at StopStart—a woman who suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, who experienced healing through Hagar International’s Women’s shelter, who has been given a second chance through dignified, fair employment, and who’s hope for the future is to open her own small grocery store and earn enough money to provide for her children and have her mother come live with her .
Sadly, her story of abuse is not rare in Cambodia, or anywhere else around the world where women are not held in high regard, or viewed as children of God. Currently, she is one of about 40 other workers at the StopStart factory, mostly women, who are vulnerable to or victims of physical abuse, exploitation of labor, homelessness, and/or human trafficking (mostly in the form of commercial sexual exploitation). Because they are now employed by a Fair Trade business, the workers are provided a livable fair wage according to the economic context (about $20 US dollars more per month than other garment factory workers in the city), overtime pay, dignified treatment in the workplace, a safe and healthy working environment, free childcare, machine training, and language classes for the workers who cannot read and write in their native tongue. Because StopStart is not only a fair trade business, but a Christ-minded business as well, the women and men workers may also participate in a weekly Bible Study. It is the future goal of StopStart to maintain a sustainable, fair trade business in order to employ more workers and fill all ninety sewing machines. In addition, StopStart plans to offer free English classes and computer classes to workers outside of their scheduled work hours, so that their skills can be expanded, and better future opportunities can be attained.
One of the interview questions I asked this particular woman was “What would you like to say to the people in the United States who buy your bags?” She shyly responded by saying, “Thank you, and please continue to buy bags from StopStart so that I can keep working here.” To Christians in America, buying something like a bag doesn’t feel like mission work, but to this woman and countless others, your purchase is her lifeline to a better future—a future filled with hope, healing, new possibilities, and the tangible love of Christ.
Through Hagar International’s social services and StopStart’s social business, the whole person is cared for and their hope is renewed, enabling them to care for themselves , their families, and their surrounding community. A little hope goes a long way. Good News Goods is proud to partner to missional, life-giving businesses like StopStart.
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One Response to “Living the Christian Life – A little hope goes a long way”
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Charolette, When I began reading this article, I did not realize that you had written it. I am so happy to see this work become established. I worked with missionaries in Thailand for 15 years marketing the products their projects were making. My contacts were limited to people that I knew is separate churches aound the country. This larger BGCT organization responding/agreeing to sell the goods is the dream I had but did not know how to make it happen. I appreciate your work and agree with your assessment that lives are changed by the purchsing of these products. It is just so difficult for Americans to realize what a difference it makes in lives when we choose to buy gifts, food, bags, paper, jewelry from these very humble, industrious people. I am so glad you got to Cambodia, experience the culture and meet the people you help every day. Good article! Exciting Work! Blessings to you. JAne Lowrimore