One January afternoon, a team from TWR-Cambodia visited what has become known as “Garbage Mountain” on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. On a vacant space on the dusty, dirty mountain, Cambodian children sat down, learned a new praise song and played a game together.
The team also brought 250 pieces of sweet bread to give to the eager children. Not only were their stomachs in need of food, but so were their hearts. These children need to experience the love of Jesus and hear His Word—and their young hearts were open to the gospel that the TWR-Cambodia team presented. At the end of the visit, each child received a loaf of sweet bread. Even though the bread dwindled all too quickly, and the last loaf had to be divided among six children, they all were content to receive a piece.
TWR produces two programs in the Cambodian language for children: Happy Children’s Garden and Nature Corner. Happy Children’s Garden (HCG) is broadcast on 10 local FM stations in Cambodia and also over KTWR, Trans World Radio’s shortwave station on the Pacific island of Guam. HCG is making a significant difference in the lives of Cambodian children, as these listeners attest. “My name is Teov, and I am 13 years old,” wrote one child. “I like Happy Children’s Garden program very much and when I do not feel happy, I listen to it. It makes me happy and also gives me more understanding about God’s Word.”
Another HCG listener wrote: “My name is Ra, and I am 13 years old. I live in an orphanage. I like Happy Children’s Garden because it helps me in understanding the Bible stories. My favorite story is ‘The Birth of Jesus!’ because this story tells me about the place where Jesus was born, how He was born and the reason that He was born. I learned about God’s love to others and me as He sent His Son to the earth.”
TWR’s other Khmer children’s program, Nature Corner, is broadcast on three FM stations within Cambodia. Nature’s Corner helps children celebrate God’s creation. One listener, Vatey, wrote how he liked a certain episode about a tiger. “I learned all the things that God put in the tiger, even on its skin, face, tail and feet,” he said. “This program encourages me so much because it makes me know that God not only has a purpose for this tiger, but He also has a purpose for my life and cares about my needs, too.”
In addition to these broadcasts, TWR’s team in Cambodia produces CDs for distribution to churches and orphanages. With the visit to Garbage Mountain, it’s obvious TWR-Cambodia’s ministry goes beyond radio and CD distribution to meeting the needs of Cambodian children and their families.