Going back in time

Our Home is blessed by God through generous and good hearted young people who have sacrificially invested their life by coming and helping our kids by their talents and skills.

In fairness with the first few volunteers that we have been so blessed , I have to go back in time because it is hard for me to go on with my write ups without remembering the 3 lovely, willing, and talented young ladies and 1 gentleman. Two of them have made in possible for me to know and enjoy blogging.

The four of them filled in the entire task they can do so I can focus on another very important report. i'm truly indebted to Catherine, Michelle, and Samantha for the precious time they invested to our Home. They endured the heat of the dry season without complain. Ladies that are high-spirited that lift up our kids and bring out their smiles.

The 3 young ladies stayed with our home for 1 month while Ivan stayed for two months. To you guys, thank you very much. God bless you and all your endeavor with good success. Our kids will remember each one of you. To God be the glory.

Welcome! Rain

Each of us welcome the different season of the year in our life differently. Sometimes a season reminds us of something bad or memorable experiences of the past. Anyway, our attitude towards it doesn't matter because the cycle of nature will come whether we like it or not.
In our home, we look forward for this season with excitement even if it will mean a smelly clothes dried by the cool wind. ( Hopefully and prayerfully we will have a drier soon ) , dirty feet and dirty slipper marks all over the Mess hall.
This is because every season has something to give to us that we can take advantage with. Our kids love every part of this season. On the first part of it softens the soil which signal us that it's time to till the land. When the water is accumulated up to the knee it is our time to plant the rice and later to move to farther more area to be cultivated to plant more vegetables. Our cultivated useful area is becoming bigger every year because of the rainy season.
On the night that we can hear the frogs singing suggest another delicacy in our kitchen menu. Maybe, to some like me the thought of it would give our tummy a different feeling but, our kids love it. When the working in the field is over then, it is also their time to play and run in the rain. It is the season that we have more hot soap in our plate and above all the season the we sit close together and cuddle each other on devotion time.
In our home, we praise God for the rain.

Why and How

Friends, visitors and supporters usually ask why and how we started our "Home". These "why" and "how" usually make me silent and will bring me back to our past trying to search for answers just how? Why? and Where? did we really start.
Hhhmmm... Honestly, "Home" was never in our mind and in our plans. Our desire is simplified in this four letter word, to be in the " will " of God in our service to Him. In anyway we can and in everything we do in our committment to make a change and a difference in the life of people here in Cambodia one step at a time through one person at a time through the knowledge of the true living God.
We started by helping one child then later on we realized we're becoming bigger and larger in number. Changing a life by giving a child a purpose and a value so he will have a future is our objective.
It's exciting to see each child change in the way they live and the way they see life.

Our Home

Having a big family like our Home needs several people to take care of the different needs of each member of our family. These wonderful workers of God are with us in our vision to make a difference in our world one child at a time.
Meet Raksmy - She came to our church to avail of our free computer and English classes in the early part of 2001. She starts to help us the following year as our church secretary. Presently, she follow up the health improvement of the children through proper nutrition and personal hygiene. Most of all, she help us with the character building of the children through our night family time fellowship in the word of God in our absence.
Her valuable part in the contribution for the children's welfare and future are beyond compare. We are thankful that she stays with us through many years of toiling imparting her own life to her own people.

recovering

We are very thankful that our 7 year old Ram which we fondly named Mark has continue to recover from health problem. He has been very active lately that we all feel satisfied with our effort to give him and others not only a home to live in but a health to enjoy.

Gardening

God has blessed us with a property for both our home and our school. One on the things that our kids maximize their time for fruitful revenue is gardening.
We have been into organic gardening eversince. From our hogs, chicken and turkey's waste we have a natural fertilizer.
Our kids have group themselves together and it depends on their group leader to divide the members into necessary work in taking care of their plots.
Their unity, attitude toward their leader and work attitude are also being motivated.
It does help us economically but most of all, it helps the kids to develop their positive attitude on team work thus improving their relationship to each other.

End opens a new beginning

We have a real good time tonight during our after service fellowship. Yummy food, hearty laughter and reminishing the many days that Ivan spent with our kids.
Most of us think that end is end. Something that we usually counted as a part of our life that has ended or maybe like a close book that we do n't want to open again.
But, it's not for Christians. For us, a new opportunity opens up for God to use us more and be more effective in bringing the news of the great things that God has wrought in our midst.
We are praying that the 4 young volunteers would be the voice of our children. They will be our mouth to places we can't go and to people we don't have a chance to meet
May they carry with them the burden of training the future leaders of Cambodia. An oportuntiy that many young people doesn't have a chance to do.

family outing

It's the first time of our new kids from Battambang to taste the sea water. Their home town is in the remote area of the northern part of Battambang. It's a place where there is no trail for both human being and car, that both the life of the car and man is in danger but, they call us and we found them by going to where they are.
Until now, I still consider it as a miracle to have them. We are on the opposite sides in the "world" like east and west. But, here they are with us.
It's also their first time to go out as family. They grow up not having a chance to see their parents or not having a chance to enjoy the "little" things we enjoy that most of us would take for granted.
Most of all, our home is their first "real" home. Hopefully and prayerfully, someday when they are able and it's time to leave our "home" they can say, "home is the place where your feet may leave but not your heart".

Nowhere to Go

Middle of last year, we realized that one of our kids are already grown up that he is able to find a job and support his family. Our initial plan is to send him home first to see his sick mother.
Word was sent to his remote hometown in Battambang. Days later, his mother called our female widow pleading to convince us to let Joel stay with us because there is no job and no hope and no future for him in their hometown. It doesn't matter if she die without seeing him but, as long as we will promise to help her son to have a brighter future is already enough for her.
To date, Joel still stay with us and our administrator has given him a job in the home. Joel's name was originally "Chawan" but we change it to Joel because it's easy to remember and the meaning conform to his features and traits.
Joel means strength. He truly became the strength of my husband during his temporary physical inability to move and to do the usual work in the school and home.

Growing in grace

It is so encouraging to see children growing bigger daily. To see each one of them day by day on the breakfast table with their hair neatly comb with their winning smile and sparkling eyes that I can't help myself to thank God and went back from the first I saw each one of them.
I can't forget the first time Ram came out from the van. His looks made me think he might have some serious disease. His body seems like to dislodge from it's frame anytime. When kids are running and playing he usually sits on the sides watching them.
But, today one of our staff called me and said, " look! Ram is already running and playing around with the other kids."
There are still much to do and mountains of effort for the physical rehabilitation of these kids but, I could say, it's worth it. Each child is very special to us because each one of us is also special to God. I know that God has brought them in our home because He has a great plan for each one of them that as of this time only Him knows.
Be part of our home.

Spending Holidays in our Home

Cambodia allocate two long weeks for their New Year celebration. First week is spend for thorough house cleaning and preparation and second is for temple visitation/offering for the departed love ones and going back to their home town to pay a long awaited visit to the relatives and friends. Celebration includes special food preparation.
In our home, we also have activities almost like they are used to like house cleaning and awaiting the events prepared for this year like the sport fest where friends from other areas will come to our home to spend about two to three days. The event usually have games, fellowship/knowing each other and special food preparation also.
Usually the last night is the most memorable of the event because we have bonfire and barbecue and the fellowship is extended for hours.
Our goal is to give glory to God in everything that we do. Whatever we do and wherever we go. To impart our life to the best we can to each child God has given to us.

Adaptability

For years of keeping the kids, I'm amazed on how God work in each of the kids life regarding with adjustment to their new environment with a lot of new changes. Not much with the material blessings that they are presently enjoying but, with the emotional effort of adjusting with discipline and order.
They have been to a home where there is no order and no rules to guide them. One kid once ask me why they have to do things at the same time like eating time, sleeping time and playing time." In my house, my mother let me do anything and whenever I wanted". Although I follow but I just wanted to know, "Why?"...
Our home is totally different from where they were yet the grace of God is more than enough to accept a new totally different way of living.

New Year in our Home

Cambodia with it's mixed but unique culture has crafted me into being resourceful and creative especially during special family occasions. Although, our "home" can't be like the usual home most of us enjoy but, we try to make it like "almost" home to each child we have. We celebrate birthdays, pray together and share many things together. One of those occasions we observe is New Year. For us, time like these are loaded with fun and most of all we have a "little" extra, yummy food.
I mentioned "these" and "are" because in our home we keep three New Years. Khmer, Chinese, and the New Year we usually celebrate.
We do this because our kids are from different kinds of origin. By keeping the different occasions we understand and we become more attached to each other. We are cultivating mutual respect and appreciation to each others uniqueness and heritage.

beginning of today

Upon arrival here in Cambodia 11 years ago. Our home is already open with teens that wants to find shelter. In one particular year we have about 8 men living with us. Now some of them have already jobs in other places but two men stay with us until now to help us with the present ministry. One of these men is Eng Sary. He was personally brought to us by his father because he wanted to learn more computer and English. Presently, He is now our interpreter and staff in the School and Children's home.
I personally saw his diligence in learning and work hard to attain basic skills. All his efforts are really blessed and he continually being fruitful in our other Church in the border of Thailand.

hitting two birds in one stone

When a volunteer will come to help the Children's School. He is actually helping the children's school and the children's home. That's what I mean with, "hitting two birds in one stone". Everyday after school, we have play time which the volunteer is free to mingle with the kids. Following the dinner that is before bedtime we have fellowship together separately in the girl's house and boy's house sometimes join together in my family's room.
During this time, we interact with each other. We encourage acceptance of differences because each of them are from different area and background. That is why the foreign volunteer becomes more effective because in our home we don't put boundaries and borders. Whoever and Whatever is your gift you have a place to lend your hand and your heart. Red, yellow, black, brown and white are precious in God's eyes.

Improving an orphan's talent

Our children's school also provide the kids an opportunity to discover and improve their talent in Music, Expressive reading, Arts and Sports. By presenting a monthly song for each group level the kids learn the art of Singing and playing musical instrument. During especial events they also show their talents on drama, musical play and different stage performances. We also host sports fest in the home that will enable them to meet new friends from different areas in the city that will also improve their athletic prowess and social skills.

curves in an orphan life

Being an orphan have multiples curves to experience in their own personal life. To be rejected and neglected is one of the most painful experience they are trying to overcome. Our home are not only a healing place physically but, also a place for emotional healing for each child with different experiences and from different backgrounds. Ram, which is the weakest among the younger ones are one of these kids that needs especial care. By his physical features and response to care that we gave, it is evident that He was neglected with the basic necessities of a child. A hug, would bring out awe and sparkle from his still sunken eyes.May we be able to do our part the best we can to help each kid in our home.

mending a wound means mending a wounded heart

Ram, is physically the weakest child of the newcomers. This child's condition is actually not new to us. Most of the kids that come to our home are physically weak and malnourished. It takes about 2 or more years for them to recover to be vibrant lively child. Although the heart and mind is hungry and longing to be running around with other kids but, Ram can't enjoy physical activities like other kids. He is 7 year old boy with a weight of a 3 to 4 year old child. Yesterday, when all the kids were playing in the play area, I saw him sitting down with other children watching the game. I was relieved thinking everyone is having a good time. While i was in the room I can hear a pleading and hurtful cry. I run out passing bye drops of blood in the pathway. Ram, fall while just walking to the kitchen to get some drinks. He got 3 stitches wound in the forehead but, I'm thankful that today he greeted me with those sweet smile that has touched my heart.

the baby of the newcomers

Sew Ee is the youngest among the new kids, only 3 years old girl that was left in the care of her old grandmother. Upon arrival I told my son, shem about her happy mood. The journey from her mountainous place to preynop takes approximately about 14 hours. During the travel she makes the atmosphere in the vehicle lively by singing. By hearing it, my son called her Melody. Yes, melody is making our home happier and more lively.

New kids

Recently, 13 kids was added to our big family. The place where they came from was very far and dangerous. But, to have them now is the most important thing. There is no shortage of kids that need a home. This place is catching up with technology and prosperity but there are still many poor children that need help. We are thankful for the opportunities of having them because all of them are someone in the making. It's a blessing to see kids hoping to be somebody that can make a difference because our home have given them opportunities to dream and to follow that dream because we care for each of them and many blissful hearts gave so we can continue to help them fulfill their own dreams.

Home

"Ma'am, a father is waiting for you downstairs with his daughter. He is asking if you can still accept another girl in your home. " I repeatedly hear this statement almost everyday either personally or by phone. There is no shortage of kids that needs a home and a family. You can see them every part of the city especially in parts where tourist are mostly visible. More and more kids are prone to abuse and risk as they try to survive by begging for empty soda cans, few cents and food. Some of our kids are from these kind of children. Every child in our Children's home have their own story to tell.

Children's Home for kids at risk

Teacher!, "please let me stay with you! Can't you hear my cries every morning?". Our co-worker told us the dilemna of Samuel ( formerly Kim Leang ). I didn't say a word because actually I close my ears and eyes everday as I survey my neighborhood. There are many forms of abused in this place. But, what can we do except pray for God to work! But, how?

I just can't knock their doors and tell them, " Hey! your abusing your kid." But, how? This is how our Children's Home started.

Preynop Children's home is the home of kids that are at risk at their own environment and family. We started to host 4 kids from people we knew for months and a year. One child, Samuel ( Kim Leang ) beg us several times to accept him in our house in Koh Kong. He comes to our house daily for our free English Literacy program. The mother came and told us the abused he suffered from her live-in partner and believing that we can both shelter her son and give him a brighter future so, she is giving him to us.

From one boy to another boy and another girl and on ... and on... Now, we have about 30 kids in our home. How many of us have the privilege to touch a child through our care indirectly or directly. How many of us will just close our eyes to many helpless kids in our neighborhood. You too can make a difference one child at a time.

Home is where our feet may leave but not our hearts...

Learn more from our children's home. http://www.goducate.com