Rescue Cambodia dance troupe performs at Luseland

By Joan Janzen

LUSELAND – International dancers from Rescue Cambodia performed at Luseland on Thursday evening, October 9. Luseland is home to Marie Ens, the founder of Rescue Cambodia – a haven for orphans and at-risk children. Marie and her husband were pastors at a rural church west of Luseland in the 1950s.

“Luseland is where Marie began her work, and she continues to be involved with Rescue Cambodia to this day, living in Cambodia, which she now calls home,” explained Luseland resident Jean Halliday.

There are three centres in Cambodia, which include dozens of homes for boys and girls, plus three university dorms, granny homes for elderly orphaned women, elementary and high schools, learning centres, baby houses, youth centres, gardens, fish ponds, and staff housing. The goal of the centres is to provide quality education for the children and thereby transform the country one child at a time.

A large assortment of handmade crafts was available for people to purchase. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Rescue Cambodia dance troupe performed at Luseland on Thursday evening, October 9. Marie Ens, the founder of Rescue Cambodia, pastored a church west of Luseland in the 1950s, along with her husband. Today she calls Cambodia home and continues to be involved in Rescue Cambodia. SUBMITTED PHOTO

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Over a hundred people came to enjoy the vibrant cultural dance performance and hear the children share their stories. A number of people in the communities of Luseland and Evesham billeted the young dancers for the evening. The Evesham Community Church has sponsored a child at Rescue Cambodia for years.

The twelve dancers, aged 11–13, performed a number of dances, including The Lord’s Prayer, Coconut Dance, Stick Dance, Praying Mantis Dance, and Rice Harvest Dance. They were attired in appropriate costumes for each dance. “For the Coconut Dance, they carried two coconut shells and had additional shells strapped to their knees and elbows, which they expertly clicked together to make an intriguing beat,” Jean said.

Each dancer introduced themselves and explained when they came to live at Rescue and what they wanted to be when they grow up. Two of the four adult Cambodian chaperones in attendance also shared their stories of how they came to Rescue Cambodia as children. They are examples of graduates who come back to be on staff at Rescue.

The dance troupe, accompanied by nine chaperones, is travelling across Canada by bus, performing nearly every night. Their tour began in Ontario on September 19, and their final performance is scheduled in Maple Ridge, B.C., on October 25.

These valuable centres are supported entirely by the generous donations of people who believe in what Rescue Cambodia is doing.