Many of the more than 3.5 million travelers to Cambodia go to Siem Reap as tourists because the city is near the famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

But Steve, Christie and Takaila Pink didn't go to see the 9th-to-15th-century monuments of the Khmer Empire.

They traveled more than 8,300 miles to start a training center in Siem Reap.

“We felt the call,” said Steve Pink, a Slippery Rock High School graduate who was recently in Butler Township to visit his parents.

Several years ago, the Pinks attended a conference in Cambodia organized by one of Christie Pink's graphic design clients, the South East Asia Prayer Center (SEAPC).

While there they visited children's homes of a SEAPC partner, New Hope for Orphans.

“We felt connected to the kids,” Christie Pink said.

“The ones that graduate and have creative potential don't really have career opportunities related to that,” Christie Pink said.

They decided they could help. Christie Pink was working as a graphic designer, and her husband Steve had experience teaching graphic design at the Bradford School and La Roche College.

Together with SEAPC, the Pinks made plans to create a vocational training facility for graphic design named Creation Haus.

Tina Tomes, director of Raising Kids SEAPC Global Sponsorships and SEAPC's Cambodia coordinator, said the Pinks were well known to the organization through Christie Pink's work and their church activities.

Tomes said, “We knew their history, the type of people they were and their hearts.”

“We had no idea what it was like to live in Cambodia,” Steve Pink said.

He said the average age for a Cambodian is about 26, the majority of the population works in agriculture and many people cannot read or write.

“It is very impoverished and corrupt in the government and police,” Steve Pink said.

The Pinks adapted to unreliable utilities, while Christie Pink grew accustomed to shopping in open-air markets and to people staring at her.

Steve Pink said everything is different.

“Essentially, it's the fear. 'If something serious happens we might lose our life or not feed ourselves.' That's not rational, but you feel at risk. Then you remember why you're there,” he said. “God sent us here. God's going to take care of us.”

Their daughter, Takaila, 14, had a change that she seems to like: attending a private international school.

“It's fun,” she said.

She enjoys the students from Korea, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and other countries, has made good friends and also has opportunities for Cambodian friends.

The Pinks, their American dog and their new dog and cat from Cambodia, now live in a two-story cement building rented from Cambodian owners. The first floor is their living space. The second floor is a studio for Creation Haus.

“They started diving in right away,” Tomes said.

An 18-month apprenticeship program will begin in October.

They have the studio, students and connections with schools and other nongovernmental organizations that work with children and global sponsorship.

Graceway Community Church in Butler is one source of support to the project.

“The creator, his creation and creativity, those are the things we teach,” Steve Pink said.

As a major tourist destination, Siem Reap has advertising potential and other creative work that could be done locally.

“Cambodia is developing very quickly. This is a good time to come in and offer training like this,” Steve Pink said.

Steve Pink said Creation Haus work will incorporate Cambodian tradition but not be bound by it.

“In Siem Reap, all of the souvenirs are very traditional,” Steve Pink said. “What we're developing and training our students to conceive of will be more contemporary versions.”

The Pinks became involved in another big project: a church planting by a team from International Christian Fellowship.

“They invited us into the leadership,” Christie Pink said.

Christie Pink is now the director of children's ministries at the church. Steve Pink is an associate pastor.

Steve Pink said that although Buddhism is considered the predominant religion in Cambodia, it is mixed with animism.

“They want to appease spirits to achieve good luck and avoid bad luck,” he said.

In just one year, the church has grown rapidly. Last Sunday, 383 people attended services. The official grand opening of the church Sept. 7 attracted 2,000 people.

A big challenge for the Pinks and other Westerners, especially Christian organizations, is the concept of “saving face,” or avoiding embarrassment and maintaining dignity.

“They won't say they don't know how to do it or can't do it,” said Steve Pink. “They will make excuses or not do it.”

“Even people with strong Christian character will adhere to this principle about fairly significant things to the point of lying,” he said. “They'll tell us 'Yes, yes, yes' and then it's actually 'no.' It's hard to be effective when you can't trust the people you're working with.”

However, the Pinks said other characteristics make up for this.

“They are kind and very easy going,” said Steve Pink.

The Pinks have extended their stay for three more years. They know what they want in terms of success.

For the church, Steve Pink said, “We can replicate it in other parts of the country.”

“Our kids are growing up loving Jesus and understanding his love for them and becoming leaders in the church and community,” Christie Pink said.

“For Creation Haus to succeed, we need to establish sustainability. If we walk away, it will continue to help the Cambodian people,” Steve Pink said.