Latter-day Sentinel Article

LDS family learns life lessons through service in Cambodia

By Craig Howard, News Editor

 

December 8, 2012 — Jack Stringham grew up in Holladay, Utah, a cozy suburb of Salt Lake City. He served an LDS mission near the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, Calif. and now lives on the suburban slope of the South Hill in Spokane.

While Stringham's life landscape is comprised primarily of experiences in the Western U.S., it is a western province of Cambodia, not far from the border of Thailand, that may have left the most profound impact.

Stringham, a member of the Moran Prairie Ward in the Spokane Stake, will tell you he knew nothing about Cambodia when he received his mission call to Southern California in 2002. The assignment included word that he would be speaking Khmer, the official language of Cambodia. Approximately 50,000 refugees of the Southeast Asian country live in the Long Beach area.


Raising funds for the purchase of water buffalo, fresh water wells and other resources has been an ongoing mission for Jack Stringham and his family since the 2006 launch of a nonprofit humanitarian effort in Cambodia. Contributed Photo. 

"I was very surprised when I received my call, and began researching the Cambodian culture and language," Stringham recalls. "The language was difficult to learn, especially while living in United States."

While in Long Beach, Elder Stringham immersed himself in the culture and heritage of Cambodia, a nation over 8,000 miles from the California coast. In addition to learning about the food, customs and history of the country, Stringham also became aware of the toll taken by war and civil unrest. Estimates are that roughly two million natives of the country perished during the reign of the Khmer Rouge regime that began in 1975.

"I had a lot of opportunity to speak and learn the language and learn about the culture," Jack said. "While on my mission I learned that many of these people were refugees who came to the United States in the 70's after their country was ravaged by war. Most of the people I met had lost close family members and friends during the war. I grew to love this humble people. Although they were now living in the states most of them still had few worldly possessions. They felt blessed to be able to live in the United States and opportunity that living here provided their children."

After returning from his mission, Stringham found himself back the University of Utah, resuming his track to a medical degree. Even though he was living and studying in his home state, he still felt Cambodia calling. In the summer of 2005, he flew there for the first time to volunteer at a medical clinic in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. During his three-month stay, he toured other areas and saw residents living without running water or sewer systems. Sobering statistics - such as the ratio of one in five children dying before the age of 5 due to waterborne disease - left him troubled and motivated to make a difference.

"I attempted to set up some humanitarian projects for another nonprofit organization," Jack said. "When I returned home from my summer in Cambodia, this nonprofit told me that they did not have enough funding to expand their projects into Cambodia. After seeing the devastation there, I knew I still had to do something to help."

Stringham's family visited him during his first stay in Cambodia. Upon returning to Utah, the Stringhams decided to start their own nonprofit organization called the Care for Cambodia Foundation. The emphasis would be on the Pursat region where fresh water was especially scarce. In addition to wells, bio-sand filters and community ponds, Care for Cambodia provided school supplies, livestock, bicycles and schoolhouses.


Melissa Stringham visited Cambodia in 2006 with her husband Jack. The couple currently lives in the Moran Prairie Ward of the Spokane Stake with their three children. Contributed Photo. 

"Starting a grassroots effort is very rewarding because you know that a little money does make a difference," said Jack's father, Paul Stringham.

For a cost of $1,000, a well can be built, providing water to 70 people for a lifetime. A donation of $45 means a child can have a bike and attend school. A simple dollar buys a chicken.

"An average person can look up on line and find credible organizations to contribute to," said Kim Stringham, Jack's mother. "There are many needs that fit any budget. Even the smallest contributions make a difference."


Jack is currently finishing his medical residency in Spokane at Sacred Heart Medical Center. He plans on returning to Cambodia for a series of medical missions. Contributed Photo. 

In the seven years the Stringhams have been involved in Cambodia, they have raised roughly $140,000 and coordinated the construction of 52 wells, four schoolhouses and three community ponds. Some 1,500 bio-sand filters have also been installed. Along the way, 600 bikes, 61 rainwater catchment units and 38 water buffalo have been provided along with a number of pigs and chickens.

"We aim to make all of our projects sustainable by involving the villagers in the projects and asking them to help fund and build the projects along with us," Jack said. "Additionally, villagers are trained on how to maintain the wells, buildings, and other supplies that we bring to them."

On all their visits, the Stringhams paid their own travel expenses and other costs. Care for Cambodia eventually merged with an existing nonprofit called Sustainable Cambodia, an organization that dedicates 97 percent of its funding to clients. The remaining 3 percent in administrative costs goes to indigenous staff. Paul is a board member of Sustainable Cambodia and travels to the country annually while checking in regularly with employees.


A fresh water well in Cambodia can be built for the cost of $1,000 American dollars, providing 70 people with water for a lifetime. Contributed Photo. 

"I communicate every day with our staff in Cambodia," Paul said. "Though they are a half a world away they are some of my choicest, closest friends because they give and serve others. They are genuine, sincere and some of the kindest people that have ever walked the earth."

Kim notes that the experiences in a faraway land have taught the family enlightening life lessons.

"It is impossible to go to a country and come home and not have it change the way you look at things," she said. "The most startling difference is that the Cambodian people in their poverty are a happier people than we are. They are very grateful for very small things."

While villagers may not live in multi-story mansions and drive sparkling SUV's, Kim said they exist in communities where a priority on gratitude, charity and being a good neighbor represents value beyond any bank account.

"We on the other hand live somewhat hurried, isolated, compartmentalized lives," she said. "We may go weeks without seeing a neighbor and when we do it is passing by in a car. We live in homes with closed doors and fenced yards. We want more and more and are never totally satisfied that we have enough."


Paul and Kim Stringham have made humanitarian efforts in Cambodia a priority since first visiting the country in 2005. Contributed Photo. 

Jack, who is currently fulfilling a medical residency at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, said he plans to return to Cambodia again to begin a series of medical missions. His wife, Melissa, accompanied him to Cambodia in 2006. Jack and Melissa are parents to three children.

"I chose to go into medicine and specifically ophthalmology (eye care and restorative surgery) in large part so that I can continue to help these people in the future with my skills," Jack said. "Additionally I have learned from these experiences to have greater appreciation for all that I have, for the country in which we live, for the freedoms which we have."

Paul and Kim paid their most recent visit to Cambodia this past June. Paul said their experiences have been life changing for the family and their adopted friends.

"I love being involved in Cambodia," he said. "Our efforts and projects are making a difference. We're empowering and improving people's lives. They feel good about themselves. They have greater confidence in their ability to sustain their families."

For more information on Sustainable Cambodia, visit www.sustainablecambodia.org