MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Winter 2025

Hang Tran, Cambodia

Sopea (right) colors with other youth during an arts and crafts activity at the Home of Hope in Cambodia.

Sopea is in his late teens or early twenties and lives with developmental challenges. He was brought up by the Providence Sisters and studied until the sixth grade. About five years ago, he was transferred to the Home of Hope. Sopea spent a lot of time in the bathroom, consumed with washing his hands, and preferred to be alone.

He often seemed melancholy. From time to time, Sopea said he was not happy or that he wanted to hang himself. At the Home of Hope, he received regular checkups at the Psychiatric Hospital, medication, and counseling from the Caritas Cambodia Mental Health Team.

One day, I asked Sopea, “Could you help me push the wheelchairs for youth who are not able to push their own wheelchairs, please?”

“Khnhom ot cheh thvou (I don’t know how to do it),” he replied.

Sopea (right) twirls a hula hoop alongside a staff member, discovering new confidence through play and movement.

I put his hands on the handles and showed him how to maneuver the wheelchairs. He tried a bit, then withdrew to his room. For several months, I consistently sought his assistance. He declined. I affirmed that his diligence had set a good example for other kids to follow…

In a hot and sweaty climate, Sopea and the other youth enjoy salty tastes and pleasant aromas to counter electrolyte loss and body odors. So, I got snacks with savory flavors and sanitizers with the scents of bergamot or jasmine, and all the kids heartily enjoyed these treats.

Sopea was not very keen on trying “new” things, such as when he was introduced to a hula hoop. I showed him how to twirl the hoop at first. After a while, Sopea was twirling the hoop and called out to me, “Bongsrey, bongsrey, khnhom thvou ban haoy! (Big sister, big sister, I can do it already!)”

Together with the other kids, Sopea is responsible for bringing out materials for our arts and crafts—such as paper and crayons—and then putting them away afterward. Sopea delights in vibrant colors in drawings or sparkling metallics on Christmas decorations. Each day, he gets a workout physically, mentally, and socially—kicking a ball or doing yoga, creating artwork, as well as helping to cut nails or clean the hands of other youth.

Sopea has come a long way and looks stronger and more upbeat. He discovered for himself that he could learn new skills. From not knowing to becoming skilled at hula-hooping was a crucial step toward self-discovery and healthier self-esteem. Not only self-reliant, he is now an engaged contributor to the daily living activities of other youth.

“The LORD gives sight to the blind;
the LORD raises up those who were bowed down.
The LORD loves the just;
the LORD protects strangers.”

Psalm 146:8–9 reminds me of the importance of sight for both the external environment and the internal landscape—both of which can be changed for the better. Thanks be to the Lord for abundant grace for all who look out for differently abled youth like Sopea. Moreover, thanks be to the Lord for Sopea, who has been actively participating in his own healing process.

I found A Novena for Mental Health—a beneficial resource for raising awareness, praying, and caring for the mental well-being of ourselves and our loved ones, whether young or young at heart.

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