Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - After his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1994, Steven Althaus worked as a missionary for the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), in Kentucky, and Food for the Hungry International (FHI), in Cambodia. Since 2003, he and his wife, Sovann Srey, have been independent missionaries, helping youth in Kampot Province, Cambodia.

The past eight years in Cambodia have impacted Althaus in many ways. When he first traveled to Cambodia, he left Wisconsin in the snow and arrived in Cambodia in 100-degree weather. But he said the weather patterns were not the only differences between Cambodia and the United States. Althaus realized differences were in nearly all areas of life, including language, culture, food, economic conditions, road conditions, expectations and ideas. Over time, he came to appreciate many of these differences. In part, his experiences at UW-Platteville helped him adapt to life in another country. He said, "At UWP, I was a student and learned how to do many new things. That process of learning, I have carried with me. While in Cambodia, I have had to learn a new language, new culture and new skills for my job." His three years in the residence halls also helped prepare him. "When I was at UWP, it was the first time I was away from home. I learned to live on my own, and I also learned to live with people from a variety of different backgrounds," he said. The more he worked as a missionary, the more he dreamed of impacting the community more directly and working with youth. This dream was realized when he married Srey. He said, "Largely, my involvement with youth started as a result of marrying my wife. During my time with FHI, one thing that I always wanted was to have more direct impact on the community. I also wanted to work with youth, believing that youth are the focal point for changing a community or, for that matter, a country."

Srey already worked with youth at the local church and dreamed of building a house near the school so that students could stay there instead of having to travel the long distances between home and school each day. Her dream was prompted by her struggle to be able to study, waking at 3 a.m. and walking three to four miles each way. When Althaus and Srey became engaged, they planned to build a house near the school to fulfill both of their dreams. Seven months after their wedding, the house was built and the first group of students was living with them. Currently, they house 10 students, providing them with food (the students bring their own rice) and a place to stay. Several of the students living with them come from a distance of more than 20 kilometers (about 12 miles). Althaus said, "I enjoy having the students stay with us very much. They are like my children, and they always call me Pa. It keeps me young. It helps me keep my perspective of what's important in life. Life's about relationships; it's not working 50, 60 or more hours a week."

He and Srey have also helped some students pay for extra study time in private classes, go to university and learn to sew. In addition, Althaus teaches English for free to anybody in the community that is interested. He currently holds four classes with about 15 students in each, most about high school age. Last year, he taught one man basic computer skills (MS Word), and that man is now teaching those skills to the students who live in their house. Having learned that life is about relationships, as he said, it is clear that Althaus now lives with this focus in mind. The family he has made in Cambodia - Srey and their one-year-old son, Daniel - gracefully extends into the community. He said, "This is the best time in my life. I have a job that I love and have a lot of time with my wife, my son and with people living in the house. If I need to take a break from teaching, I can do so. I am under no pressure here." In addition to the community he has joined in Cambodia, he has sustained friendships that began while at UWP when he joined the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. He said, "Without the lasting friendships, my time here would have been more difficult. I am still in contact with several of the people from that group. They have supported me and encouraged me through their letters, e-mails, prayers, and some have given financially to our ministry." Althaus was a 1989 graduate of James Madison Memorial High School. Althaus is the son of Rose Durni, who lives in Platteville and works in the Engineering Department at UWP. His father, Jerry Althaus, lives in California.

Contact: Steven Althaus, independent missionary,salthaus@fhi.netor 012650340@mobitel.com.kh

Prepared by: Kate McKinney, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,mckinnka@uwplatt.edu