By Julie Blum
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008
COLUMBUS -- When Jon Hitz went on a mission trip to Cambodia, he wanted to make a difference in just a few people’s lives.
But it turned out the biggest difference he made was in his own.
“I went over there hoping to change four lives. I changed one, I know, mine,” the Columbus man said.
Hitz, 65, and his wife Betty have been quite the travelers over the years. They visited foreign lands such as Mexico, Jamaica, Germany and Aruba. It was a trip to China last year that convinced Hitz that he could use his background as a businessman to educate others and make their lives better. Hitz was the owner of El Matador for 17 years and has been involved with the counseling to small business group called SCORE.
Working through World Mission, he tried to set up another trip to China to teach people there about business. But instead it was suggested that he go to Cambodia where much of the population is poor and uneducated, he said.
“These people are non-educated. When Pol Pot came into power, he killed everyone with an education. If you had glasses, you were killed because then they knew you could read,” Hitz said, speaking of Cambodia’s former leader.
Hitz traveled to Cambodia on Jan. 26, visiting several cities where he taught basic business workshops to men and women.
Most of those in Cambodia, around 90 percent, are farmers, but own less than three acres of land. Hitz said he stressed to them that the only way they will be able to make their lives better is to become educated. But because many there are poor, Hitz said he also tried to help them improve their ways of farming to help them earn more money. That way they would be able to afford an education.
The average person in Cambodia earns about $40 a month by working six days a week for 10 hours each day, Hitz said. While the older population is reluctant to change, Hitz said the younger generation wants to learn and improve their lives.
During his nearly month-long stay in Cambodia, Hitz said he was amazed by the poverty the people there lived in.
“I’ve never seen anything as poor as I did there,” he said. “If they could just have what we waste ... .”
While the mission trip wasn’t necessarily focused on spreading Christianity, Hitz said he found himself growing in his own faith while he was there. He found himself spending evenings alone in his hotel room, and without American TV channels besides a fuzzy news station, Hitz spent a lot of time in prayer.
“I hadn’t knelt beside the bed since I was a little kid, but I did that in Cambodia,” he said. “You don’t know what it’s like to be thankful until you visit a place like that.”
He said the trip has left him “spiritually changed” and he plans on returning. Hitz also said he would be willing to share his experiences with local service groups, church groups or others, and can be reached by calling 564-2377.
Thursday, Mar 06, 2008
COLUMBUS -- When Jon Hitz went on a mission trip to Cambodia, he wanted to make a difference in just a few people’s lives.
But it turned out the biggest difference he made was in his own.
“I went over there hoping to change four lives. I changed one, I know, mine,” the Columbus man said.
Hitz, 65, and his wife Betty have been quite the travelers over the years. They visited foreign lands such as Mexico, Jamaica, Germany and Aruba. It was a trip to China last year that convinced Hitz that he could use his background as a businessman to educate others and make their lives better. Hitz was the owner of El Matador for 17 years and has been involved with the counseling to small business group called SCORE.
Working through World Mission, he tried to set up another trip to China to teach people there about business. But instead it was suggested that he go to Cambodia where much of the population is poor and uneducated, he said.
“These people are non-educated. When Pol Pot came into power, he killed everyone with an education. If you had glasses, you were killed because then they knew you could read,” Hitz said, speaking of Cambodia’s former leader.
Hitz traveled to Cambodia on Jan. 26, visiting several cities where he taught basic business workshops to men and women.
Most of those in Cambodia, around 90 percent, are farmers, but own less than three acres of land. Hitz said he stressed to them that the only way they will be able to make their lives better is to become educated. But because many there are poor, Hitz said he also tried to help them improve their ways of farming to help them earn more money. That way they would be able to afford an education.
The average person in Cambodia earns about $40 a month by working six days a week for 10 hours each day, Hitz said. While the older population is reluctant to change, Hitz said the younger generation wants to learn and improve their lives.
During his nearly month-long stay in Cambodia, Hitz said he was amazed by the poverty the people there lived in.
“I’ve never seen anything as poor as I did there,” he said. “If they could just have what we waste ... .”
While the mission trip wasn’t necessarily focused on spreading Christianity, Hitz said he found himself growing in his own faith while he was there. He found himself spending evenings alone in his hotel room, and without American TV channels besides a fuzzy news station, Hitz spent a lot of time in prayer.
“I hadn’t knelt beside the bed since I was a little kid, but I did that in Cambodia,” he said. “You don’t know what it’s like to be thankful until you visit a place like that.”
He said the trip has left him “spiritually changed” and he plans on returning. Hitz also said he would be willing to share his experiences with local service groups, church groups or others, and can be reached by calling 564-2377.
No comments:
Post a Comment