Monday, May 14, 2012

News - May 2012 - JAPANESE


Greetings in His name!

いつものようにしばらくニュースレターを更新できなかったお詫びから始めたいと思います。確認したところ最後のニュースレターは20112月と判明しました。信じられません。本当に申し訳ありません。


今年に入っての大きなニュースはゲートウェイを子供たちと共にそっくりプノンペンへ移転させるというものです。去年の12月までこの地を離れるなど選択肢として考えたことはありませんでした。 ところが妻クリスティーナと娘聖乃香の病気、そしてこれまで繰り返して来たスタッフ問題などが一気に重なり、ゲートウェイの通常の運営はもちろん、子供たちに対するケアや責任を果たすことが困難となりました。このような事態はこれからも起こり得ますし、その時に責任を果たせないような形でゲートウェイを運営し続けることはできません。そこで1月から家を探し始め、3月末に購入を完了。現在は8月の移転、子供たちを受け入れる準備を進めています。

移転によるメリットは緊急時の対応が容易になるだけではありません。これまでのようにゲートウェイとプノンペンを行き来することがなくなり、私たちが頻繁に留守にすることもなくなることから、子供たちのために費やせる時間が飛躍的に増えます。私たち自身の心身的な余裕も生まれます。


この4年余り、孤児院に住む子供と彼らを預かる責任者という関係ではなく、彼らにとっては私たちができる限り“親のような存在”で、私たちにとっても彼らはできる限り“自身の子供のよう”であって欲しいと願いつつ支援を続けてきましたが、実際は親のようにすらなれない厳しい現実を突きつけられる連続でした。

愛するがゆえに罰を与えれば、それが気に入らず親戚のもとへ帰りたいなどと平気で言う子供がいるかと思えば、学校を退学して働き始めると安易に言い出す子供までいます。どのケースも問題は彼らには常に逃げ道が用意されているということです。親戚はゲートウェイに残っても帰って来てもどちらでもよいなどという無責任極まりないメッセージを子供たちに送り、そこにはある程度の年齢の子供なら労働力として受け入れてしまうどうしようもない社会があります。すべての子供には教育の機会が与えられるべきという考えが社会全体に存在しません。同じように学びを放棄するクラスメイトを頻繁に目にしているため、子供自身そうすることにあまり抵抗感がありません。


スポンサーの方々に何年もご支援頂き、私たちなりに愛情を注いできた子供たちをこのような形で失うことは耐えられませんし、教育を受けない子供の将来がどのようなものなのかを知っていながら手放すことはとてもつらいことです。しかし、学ぶ機会を捨て去り、ゲートウェイを去ると決めた子供に対して私たちはあまりにも無力です。養育権はゲートウェイにありますが、彼らの意志に反して無理矢理留めておく権利をどこまで行使すべきなのか毎回決断に悩みます。ずっとケアしてきた子供を失うかもしれない可能性はこれまでも私たちを悩ましてきましたし、プノンペンでも常にそういった危険性と隣り合わせであると思われます。

子供たちとの時間、彼らのためのプログラムを設ける時間に余裕ができることで、そんな危険性が即取り払われるわけではないでしょう。しかし、どうしても自分たちの力の及ばない問題があるということを認識し、受け入れ、主に委ねるということを私たちは学ばなければなりません。どのような物事や問題に向き合うにしても、それは相手があってのことです。自分たちでもどうにもならない部分で悩むよりも、主を信じ、結果は委ね、結果が好ましいと好ましくないとに関わらず、自分たちに与えられた使命を誠実にこなす姿勢を学び続けなくてはなりません。


私たちにできること、それは子供たちに対するケアの向上に努めることです。ここ数年子供たちのケアや教育、しつけなどに関してはクメール人スタッフを雇って任せるのではなく私たちが個人的に責任を持って担当しています。恵まれない子供たちを受け入れて、ただ単にほどほどなケア を与え、ほどほどな教育を受けさせて、まるで工場で何かを生産するかのような形で、時期が来たら機械的に彼らを押し出すようなことはしたくありません。従来の“孤児院”のイメージを払拭し、子供たちのための“家”を一緒に作り上げて行きたいと考えています。子供たちにはできる限りの愛情を受け、学校やゲートウェイでの生活を通して大いに学び、心身ともに健康に成長し、いずれ巣立って行って欲しいと願っています。スポンサーファミリーの皆さんやご支援頂いている方々と共に祈りながら愛し続け、支援を続けていくこと、それが私たちにできることです。その上でゲートウェイに留まる子供と、あえて去る子供がいるということは、現実として受け止めるしかありません。

移転後は私たちゲートウェイのリーダー自身の霊的健康管理にもこれまで以上の注意を払います。どんなに力強い主の導きがあっても、私たちがそれに傾ける耳を持たず、心にも余裕がなく、従順な姿勢に欠けていれば、移転によって生まれる様々なメリットや 恩恵を台無しにしてしまいかねません。飛行中の緊急時に保護者がまずエアマスクを装着し、それから子供のマスクの装着を手伝うのと似ています。せっかく主が子供たちのために用意してくれている酸素(恵み)を無駄にすることがないように、まずは私たち自身が霊的な健康を保ち、子供たちの手伝いをできる状態でなくてはなりません。子供たちのケアは24/7124時間、週7日間)です。皆さんのお祈りやたくさんの励ましのお言葉、いつも感謝しています。ありがとうございます。



“…kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you…”

                                           —1 Timothy 1:6



Many blessings,

Taka & Christina

Gateway

News - May 2012 - ENGLISH


Greetings in His name!

   As usual, we have to start with an apology for this long-overdue-update of Gateway Cambodia.  We have just checked and found that our last newsletter was sent out in Feb 2011.  Please, accept our deepest apology.


   Our biggest news this year is that we will be moving to Phnom Penh together with our children.  We had never thought of leaving our current location in the local province until December last year.  However, when Christina and our daughter Senoka got seriously sick, and we continued to experience our usual staff shortage and problems all together, we found it very difficult for us to run Gateway and continue to provide our care to the children.  This could happen again anytime in the future, and we came to realize that we should not run Gateway where we could no longer be responsible for the care and safety of our children in case of personal emergency.  We started looking for a suitable property in January, found it, and already completed the purchasing process in March.  We are currently preparing for our departure here in Bos Knor and receiving the children in Phnom Penh.

   The merit from this move will go well beyond our current abilities in that we will be able to respond to emergency situations more effectively.  We will no longer have to travel back and forth between Gateway and Phnom Penh, with one of us having to be absent frequently.  This will produce far more luxury of time; time we can spare for our children.


   Over the last four years, we have been trying to take care of our children, not in the way that we are merely the ones who are responsible for an orphanage and its children, but in the way that we are like their parents and they are like our own children as much as possible.  Yet, we have repeatedly had to be confronted with the fact that we cannot even become “like their parents.” 

   There are children, who express their desire to go back to their families or relatives just because they do not appreciate small punishments we give out of love due to their wrongdoings.  Some even want to quit their studies and start working.  In any case, the very root of such problems is that unfortunately there is always a retreat where they could possibly run away.  Families and relatives carelessly send a message that either remaining at Gateway or going home would be fine, and that they (the children) could choose.  To make matters worse, the Cambodian society, which does approve child labor and receives those who are at certain ages as their work force, only endorses this option (i.e. quitting school and working as a child laborer).  The thought that all the children regardless of their gender and age should be given an opportunity to learn at school is present but regarded more as a suggestion rather than necessity.  Children also do not seem to think of it as a big deal as they often see their classmates drop out of school and start working.


   It is always heartbreaking and unbearable for us to have to let them go, especially when we have poured our love in our humble way no matter how long or short they stay with us, and we know the kind of future that might be waiting for those with no education.   However, we are powerless to those who are strongly determined to drop out of school and leave Gateway.  We do have an authority to raise them; in other words, an authority to keep them with us.  But we always find it difficult to decide how far we should use our authority to hold them against their will.  It is such a time when we are reminded that they are not our children and we are not their parents because this would not be an issue if it were with Lin or Senoka, our own daughters.  We have been troubled so much by this possibility of losing children, whom we have been caring for, and most likely will have to face it again even after we move to Phnom Penh. 

   Such a possibility, or danger we would say, will not be taken away immediately just because we will have more luxury in time for the children or the addition of various programs for them.  But we have to acknowledge that there are matters beyond our capacity, accepting them as they are, and leaving them to the Lord.  Whatever kind of things or problems we face, it is always relational.  Directly or indirectly there are always people involved.  Instead of being troubled by such things we have no control of, we are to put our entire trust in Him, leaving outcomes to Him, and continue to learn to maintain a positive attitude while we continue to faithfully pursue precious tasks given by God, which unfortunately we have not been very good at. 


  We will unceasingly try to improve the quality of care we provide to the children.  This is what we can do.  It has been a few years since we stopped hiring staffs to take care of our children, and we started taking responsibility personally for their wellbeing (i.e. discipline, care, education, etc.).   There is one thing we are determined not to do: we will not just receive underprivileged children, provide them with just enough care, materials and education, and then push them out of Gateway when the time comes just as if they are factory products.  We will continue to seek the means to transform our “orphanage” into a Home for Children.”  We want them to receive as much love as possible, to learn precious and countless lessons through their lives at Gateway as well as their study at school, to grow up beautifully, and then we can send them out one day equipped and able to thrive.  We will continue to love and support them together with our sponsor families and our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.  And whether they remain with us or leave us, we have to accept this as it is. 

   In Phnom Penh, we have to be more aware of our own spiritual health and status.  No matter how powerful God’s leading and guidance are, if we, the leaderships, of Gateway have no ears to listen with no room in our hearts, and lack obedience, we could spoil all the merits and blessings prepared for our children in this upcoming move to Phnom Penh.  In case of emergency on the plane, we need to put an oxygen mask to ourselves first before helping children.  In the same way, we ourselves need to maintain our spiritual health in order for us not to spoil the blessings (oxygen) God has prepared for them, but to help them to receive abundantly.  When it comes to caring for children, it is 24/7.  We always appreciate your prayers and encouragement.  Thank you so much. 


“…kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you…”

                                               —1 Timothy 1:6


Many blessings,

Taka & Christina

Gateway