CROSS CULTURAL DRAMA CAMP: Cambodia Buddhism Advice

Advice from Mark Smith (InnerChange)

While nominally our neighbors are Buddhist, what really drives them day by day and moment by moment is fear of spirits; Cambodia is really an animist culture.  Nature spirits, ancestor spirits, etc., etc., fill my neighbor's world.  So teachings on the POWER of Jesus are relevant, meaningful, and usually have impact.  For example, a lesson I've taught in just about every one of the churches with which I have contact is from Mark 4:35 - 5:43, a trilogy of stories where we see clearly that Jesus has power over nature, spirits, sickness and death.

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Casts Out "Legion" Demons

Mark 5:21-43 Jairus's Daughter, the Bleeding Woman

Two other topics that are hugely important here are how to deal with anger (e.g., Mark 3:1-6) and how to resolve differences in a righteous fashion.  The Cambodian way of dealing with conflict is to ignore it until it builds up to an untenable level (trying to maintain face/relationship), and then to lash out violently or to secretively stab someone in the back (figuratively, though literally all too frequently as well).

One common verse to stay away from, by the way, is John 3:16, which is a verse that either doesn't make sense to a Buddhist or which can be offensive to them.  A longish explanation is needed here so if you're interested I can try to explain why when you're here. (Perhaps you've read Poles Apart and know about this already?)

From Susan Smith

Fatherhood of God/our adoption can be big themes here because of war and other things breaking up families--people feel comforted to have a trustworthy Father.

Forgiveness, dealing with anger. Using anger to be productive is something I have been considering lately--God can use anger to stir up our vision and get us moving. 

We could have a dinner with your group in our home (how many people?).  Mark returns from the US (leadership meetings) on the 14th, so if we give him a couple days to get over jet lag... the weekend would probably be best.  17 or 18.  16 if we have to.  On the 19th (Sunday)  we hope to see you at the International church at 4 in the evening which is where much of the missions community fellowships, and our team usually goes out to dinner afterwards, so that would be another opportunity. 

From David Ooi (I think he’s a Singaporean missionary)

FAMILY PERSECUTION: The PC’HUM BAN festival commences this week. This is the peak time of the year where Cambodian in general would offer sacrifices to temples. As students returned home for holidays, we PRAY for the Lord’s protection on them as very often, they will be required to visit the temple to offer sacrifices with family. It is a testing time for their faith!!!

5. Do they know of anyone who has translated into Khmer the STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST (Dr. Neil Anderson who wrote THE BONDAGE BREAKER and VICTORY OVER THE DARKNESS). I've written to their ministry to ask them directly, but may or may not hear back from them. I would really like to use some of the prayers in this healing tool for our teaching times (and hopefully create some new culturally relevant dramas from the inspiration these prayers will provide).

THIS IS A GOOD BOOK. I AM USING ‘LIVING FREE’ BY THE SAME AUTHOR FOR DISCIPLESHIP TOO. I AM NOT SURE IF IS HAS BEEN TRANSLATED IN KHMER. IF THERE IS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. OTHERWISE, I DO HAVE A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TRANSLATE THE BOOK.

BY THE WAY, WHERE WILL YOU BE PERFORMING?

7. Are there any Bible stories or teachings about Christianity that are particularly challenging to the Cambodian mindset? (what do preachers like to preach on alot?)

THE CAMBODIAN LIKES STORY TELLING. IN PREACHING, MOST OF THEM WOULD ‘TALK’ ON A WORD AND OR PHRASE, AND VERY SELDOM ON THE WHOLE PASSAGE. HENCE, TEACHING WISE, THEY ARE NOT ‘DEEP ENOUGH’. I STRESS MORE ON APPLICATION WHEN PREACHING/TEACHING BUT SOME OF MY STUDENTS FOUND THEM VERY ‘CONFRONTING’ IN KHMER SETTING. ON THE WHOLE, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT KHMER BIBLE TEACHING IS VERY WEAK. THEY DEFINITELY WOULD NOT PREACH ANYTHING THEOLOGICALLY AS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COMPREHEND. VERY OFTEN, THEY FOCUS ON THE ‘GOOD SIDE’ OF WHAT THEY WANT GOD TO BE, VERY LACKING IN WHAT GOD WOULD WANT THEM TO BE.

8. With time short and LOADS of books and articles available, Advise about what to read to prepare us best in understanding culture and our students' backgrounds.

MANY MATERIALS OUT THERE ARE ABLE TO GIVE YOU SOME KNOWLEDGE, IE KILLING FIELD, LIVING FIELD, ETC. THE DIFFICULTY IS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MINDSET, WHICH SOMETIMES IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND IS THE GREATEST BARRIERS TO MINISTRY. I HAVE OFTEN GOTTEN MISSION TEAM TO COME FOR MERELY ABSORBING THE KHMER MINDSET, MORE THAN UNDERSTANDING THEIR CULTURE. IT IS THE WAY THEY THINK THAT CONFUSED FOREIGNERS LIKE US. YOU MAY WANT SOME ONE TO WALK THROUGH SOME ‘LIFE CASES’ OF CAMBODIAN WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN ORDER TO HELP YOUR TEAM’S PREPARATION.

I HOPE THE ABOVE HAS BEEN USEFUL FOR YOUR PURPOSE. DO LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS MORE I COULD HELP. SEE YOU.

.

ABOUT 15 THAT ARE YOUTH...MIGHT HAVE SOME CHILDREN ALSO. IWILL CHECK. RON RIEMAN WANTS TO SEND 4 OR 5 YOUTH AS WELL

2. Can we have some of the students from the week do drama/sharing in
the church on the weekend (and not us using a translator?)
THAT WILL BE FINE IF THE YOUTH UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

 MOST OF THEM HAVE DONE YWAMDRAMA'S AND SOME OTHER  DANCES

4. Please give us an indication if the students will be outgoing and
sporting to try improvisational games from the beginning, or will we
need to spend a few hours (days??) warming them up and drawing them "out
of their shells?"
 I THINK YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT!

 WE ARE BUSY WITH "RENEWING OF THE MIND "

 THE GOOD SAMARITAN, THE PRODIGAL SON
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING WHAT HAS A BIT OF THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE?

CCAM’s answers……………..

1. About 15 boys and 15 girls would be good candidates for drama.  A few of them are primary school age, the largest group are teenagers, and a few are young adults (early 20s).  However, it is not mandatory that all of them participate.  Just tell us how many of what ages you feel comfortable working with. [Same thing for dance class.]
   
   We can ask each of the students to ad lib a 30-60 second skit to introduce
   themselves the first day.
   
   A little warm up might be good since they don't know you, and because your teaching methods may be different from what they are used to.  However, these 30 students have been chosen because we have witnessed aggressive demonstrations of their dramatic gifts in the past.  But most of them are very young, so consistency has not yet been mastered by many of them.
   
    We have been studying the Book of Revelation.  They have been inspired
   learning about the glories of heaven awaiting the faithful.  And they have
   been sobered learning about the awful plight of the faithless.
   
   Parables of Jesus.  We are developing a stage play, a radio drama, and a
   children's picture book on The Prodigal Son story, so don't pick that one.
   
   Saturday will be a gathering of all the groups (refer to the schedule)  Joke, CCAM, Ron in the afternoon and they will all be showcasing something that they learned that week as well.  There will prob. be about 80+ people.  CCAM has the largest - 60 students.  This will also give everyone an opportunity to do something.

29 September notes

DRAMA

Read: Serena’s paper

Finalize flight details and visas

Date for group photo

Pack toys and clothes to leave behind (school uniforms)

What gifts for hosts?

5 more STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST

contact Gospel Light about translation

Diane Moss’ emails to Ruth

LizDimmel tapes and books to Ruth

Joseph DVD to Serena

Children of the King

Picture books/postcards of Singapore

Minus ones for Paul 

----- Original Message -----


From: K!Mberly Creasman

To: Eileen OConnor [A4J-COOS]

Cc: Paul SEOW ; Serena & Sean Tobin (E-mail) ; Steven Wong (E-mail) ; Ruth Elliott (E-mail) ; Josephine Liardon (E-mail)

Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 5:22 PM

Subject: Preparing for Cambodia: Drama Questions




EILEEN!!

Back from Thailand with my Cambodia thinking cap on now...sorry for the delay. Last week was NUTZ!!!



(cc'ing the rest of the group FYI)



I am more than happy to make phone calls rather than these missionaries feeling like they need to take the time to respond by email...if they'd prefer this, please give me their phone numbers and best time(s) to try calling.



After reading the information you've sent

(THANK YOU!),



Here are some DRAMA Questions, for us they are IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL questions for maximixzing our visit there!



1. Number of students we'll work with (Can this number be broken down to how many primary school aged , teenagers, adults?).



2. Can we have some of the students from the week do drama/sharing in the church on the weekend (and not us using a translator?)



3. Have they had any training before, or done any drama as part of their ministry (this will help us know what to teach, AND I'd like to ask them to do something for us on our first morning to help us get to know them and their ability better before we start).



4. Please give us an indication if the students will be outgoing and sporting to try improvisational games from the beginning, or will we need to spend a few hours (days??) warming them up and drawing them "out of their shells?"



5. Do they know of anyone who has translated into Khmer the STEPS TO FREEDOM IN CHRIST (Dr. Neil Anderson who wrote THE BONDAGE BREAKER and VICTORY OVER THE DARKNESS). I've written to their ministry to ask them directly, but may or may not hear back from them. I would really like to use some of the prayers in this healing tool for our teaching times (and hopefully create some new culturally relevant dramas from the inspiration these prayers will provide).



BONUS QUESTIONS (extra credit!)

6. What have they recently been being taught in discipleship/Bible study that has made an impact on the group?



7. Are there any Bible stories or teachings about Christianity that are particularly challenging to the Cambodian mindset? (what do preachers like to preach on alot?)



8. With time short and LOADS of books and articles available, Advise about what to read to prepare us best in understanding culture and our students' backgrounds.



Blessing & Great Joy,
 
K!Mberly Creasman
CRM Singapore





Dear Gioia and Joke,
Thank you both so much for your feedback to my questions. It was really insightful.
We've chosen to make our teaching of drama be around the theme "God is a good and loving Father."
We are all so excited about the planning and preparations for our trip to meet you soon.
Learning SO much now, and are coming with our ears and hearts open to learn more.
Hope what we offer you the week we are there will be of help in your service of our Lord and King!
Attached you will find items for translation. I have had another missionary in town offer to help, if you need it.
Let me know if there is any problems or questions.
Blessings & joy,
Kimberly Creasman
 
As I remember, Gioia has offered to do the pre-translation work for us, so these are mostly for her, but #1 and #2 is also for Joke 
(unless we reach you by phone and have already taken care of it!)
QUESTIONS:
1. Do you want to translate and have the copies made there, or do you want to send back to me and I'll get them copied here. 
Would making overheads of the material be better? What do you suggest?
30 students with CCAM
Up to 20 students with Joke’s group 
(includes some of Ron’s kids if he sends them)
=50 copies of handouts.
 

ALSO: Will the students have Bibles to look up the verses from "Steps to Freedom?"

We’d prefer for the verses to be written out for them to read on the handout. 

We will do improvised dramas from their responses to the verses.





2. Can I send “He Knows My Name” as a file through email to expose students to it ahead of time? Or is email too slow there?
(zipped = 1553kb, as windows media file = 1.52MB) If you have the music, (iworship, disc 1)
I would be great for you to expose the children to the song ahead of time and tell them that it will be our theme song for the week.
If you don't have this album, we will bring it as a gift!

 
3. Is it possible for CCAM to choreograph this song with simple Khmer steps and teach us?
Perhaps this is something they could present to us on the first day?
We’d like to translate the entire song and as a group be able to sing in both English and Khmer for Sat/Sun events.
 

4. We have 2 more items to choose for translation ahead of time: 
An Introduction to "Playback theatre" I am currently editing 4 pages to a breif summary of one page
And a children’s story on the theme of Fatherhood of God. We will send this ASAP.
 
5. Would you be in agreement to invite some from New Life Foundation to join us Saturday afternoon? 
We have people from our network of Christian dramatists in Singapore who are doing some training with 
them the week before us (a short mime on Creation). We’d love to meet them and let you all share 
what you’ve learned from each other too.