Catching Up....

Well to let all my faithful followers know how the rest of the trip went, sorry I wasn't able to keep this up on a daily basis, now we realize the value of wireless internet!!

    Thanksgiving Day, Stan and James headed with John back to the farm, (Picture, is head chef Leta at the farm)to see the well driller, and make sure the well was drilled also they had built a ripper since they came back from the lst trip and were anxious to see it work.

well rig

Amber and I went to the local market (Toul Kourk) and looked for ingred. to make apple pies and pumpkin pies for thanksgiving dinner, (Sally and Ron Carraway invited us all over Thurs. evening for dinner) with a few substitutions we sucessfullly baked an apple pie,  and a couple pumpkin pies! some ingred. just aren't available in Cambodia. Then we went off to New Life Church to meet the Joy Club group to go to the Slum.

While there we got a tour of New Life and heard all about the many ways they are helping the poor in Cambodia, the people at New Life Church definatley have a lot going on, It will take a lot more churchs doing this and more to see results very quickly, the need is so great in this Country! Then we headed off to the Slum with the Joy Club group, it was as expected disgusting and dirty, but the poor kids caught in that life are a joy to be around, the schedule was to help wash clothes, and kids and give a few haricuts, and give out worm meds,vitamins, and see what medical needs we could help out with, Katie and Aaron were in their element here! Amber and I got out the horse clippers we brought and starting in giving haircuts! ( I was a little out of my element! ) the first boy I was looking at his head of hair wondering OH My where do I start? but it turned out ok, the next boy wanted a police haircut? Ok then, with an interpeter we figured out what a Police haircut was. After an hour of this, they put a tarp down and the kids all gathered on the tarp to sing songs, and hear a Bible Story. Amber and Shelby helped lead & teach a couple songs. There were approx. about 120 to 150 kids. Plus all the adults that are in the vicinity  get to hear the Word. This wasn't the best day we had, while here, I was quite ill, but trying to continue, (thankgoodness for Prayer,  Pepto-Bismo and Tylonel!) and not knowing quiet what to expect, After this we went off to Sally & Rons for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.     All to say we had better days.... I was personally glad to see Thursday end! Friday I felt a bit better, worked on sewing skirts, until noon then Shelby and I headed off across the river to Sovanapoom Care , I needed to help the girls finish their projects and try skirts on girls, and talk to Tess about her curtains she wanted sewed, Shelby had been wanting to just hang out with the girls and get a chance to sing and play music. It was a relaxed day! Tess gave permission for Seena to come home with us, to spend the night, and help with sewing projects, I was thrilled! We ordered Pizza in and sewed until 11pm, then starting sewing early the next morning, we had to finish up the skirts, and I was teaching Seena how to make curtains so if I didn't get them all done, she could make them after I was gone,

At 11:30am Seena and I got a Tuk Tuk to take us down town to meet up with the rest of the group for lunch and a bit of shopping at the Russiuan market. Before taking her to the ferry, so she could be home before dark.

Stan and James returned from the farm on Saturday, with lots of stories, Well drilling stories, Tarantula catching, and many more, the ripper they had built was a hit with the guys! and worked good.

Sunday we headed off again for the feeding program & Church at Sovanapoom,  Nancy (Shannon Warkentins Aunt) went with us. she is teaching in a school in Phnom Penh. It was a sad Sunday because it was goodbye day,:(  Raw asked us to stay for lunch, so she could cook for us one more time, which gave us more time to take pictures and hang out with all the wonderful people there at Sovanapoom Care. I even got to hold Tonet and Sreylins baby :)  :).

Monday we went to Russian market, to finish up shopping, we met Sally there and she took us to Daughters of Cambodia, an organization that is helping to re-habilitate Prostitutes and girls that have been caught up in sex trafficking. It was wonderful to see an organization that is organized doing a good work here!! (You can look them up on-line)  they just need more of these, they can handle about 50 girls at a time. and say that they are full most of the time, Prostitution is huge problem here, on the street we lived on there were 3 brothels we could observe from our balcony, and that is just one street of many!

We went to the other orphanage in the city to see the kids there one more time before we had to leave 2 good byes in one day was almost to much:( Dont' forget to keep all these kids in your prayers

  We ended our trip with a wonderful dinner at a resturant we frequented on our first trip, last February, "Friends". time to finish packing for home. :( 

I feel that this trip was way to short, I felt rushed the entire time, trying to get everything done before we had to head  home. So much to do here, and I like it!!

sewing sewing & so much more

The last few days have been very busy, On Saturday we took the older girls from Sovanapoom Care shopping for fabric for their sewing projects, they always enjoy a day out! It was a fun day going around the city in Tuk-Tuk's we went to 2 markets, 1 for fabric, and another to get the buttons and zippers ect.  while in the markets, we shopped for shoes to take to the orphanage in the City that we have been trying to help out at a bit. After taking the girls out to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch we sent them back across the river and we headed off to the City orpanage to give the kids shoes, teach them some songs, ( from Vacation Bible School), and play games with them. Stan took some farm pictures of haying equipment and the boys were quite intrigued. The kids seemed to really soak up any bit of attention and love shown to them.

this little guys had scours, all over me!!! :( One of the older girls rushed me off to hose me off in the bathroom!  :)

not sure what happened to this little guys ear but they say sometimes the rats chew on them, Katie doctored him up every time we went over there.

Sunday we went to the feeding program bright and early:) then back across the river to New Life Church, had a wonderful lunch at Kmer Seryvon? Are you jealous Cheryl? then off to the city Orphanage to work with the kids on hand sewing bags, we all sat on the ground and hand sewed bags with 70+kids!! amazing we got all done in about 2 hrs! I had brought back some mending we had taken to do for the kids and the girls started bringing me more skirts that needed new hook and eyes,. I could be kept busy here!!

Stan, Nathaniel, and John left Tues. am ( I think ) last week and got back on Friday afternoon, They met with a well driller, made plans for the well to drilled this week, (Stan, John and James will head back to the farm tomorrow am) SAw some beautiful country, lots of rice paddies, and villages, alongthe way, spent time helping figure out a way to till the ground with the small tractor they have. here are a few pictures of the fam, Stan will have to share about his experiances, you'll have to ask how they took showers :) farm

Projects in full Swing!

Wednesday and Thursday,: Yesterday,very windy almost like home, we headed off to Sovanapoom at 7am just us gals & kids, on the island side we have aquired a self appointed faithful tuk-tuk driver to take us from the ferry to Sovanapoom, it is a bit to far to walk with all the kids, (due to the fact they moved the ferry landing farher down the river),

We sang, Shelby worked with the kids on musiccal instruments, and then we have the younger kids hand sewing bags and dolls, which is going very well, most of them are very good with handwork, the older girls are learning to knit and catching on quiet well also,  The older girls and I designed new school uniform skirts and have started them in between helping with knitting and helping the younger kids with their sewing, hope to make good progress on Friday.

Like I said it was very windy this little girl was enjoying the wind on the ferry!

In the afternoon we went to the orphanage in the city to try to help out a bit,  hard to know where to start! they said they had been out of baby formula, so we stopped at a shop and purchase 4 big cans, also thought it would be nice to take the kids some fruit, as it doesn't look like they have much to eat,  Sally brought her sewing machine and we started doing some mending for them. One of the boys brought some school pants that were to big for him, and he was very specific about the fact that he wanted them to have tapered legs! so poor but still trying to be in style!! We played with the kids a bit, and did a little sewing then it was time to go. but many plans for Saturday afternoon for them! I think this little guy remembered me from the first day, (I held him quiet a bit) when he saw me sitting here he smiled and crawled straight to me!

The guys made good progress on bridge building!!old bridge vs. new bridge! not quiet finished..

lunch time is always good photo time new little guy still learning to eat

Stan, John and Nathaniel Roth are still up at the farm, talked to Stan for a brief moment yesterday (Wednesday) they are still alive and he said it was going well, will be back here on Friday, but will return up there next week because the well drilling rig will arrive on Wednesday.

!st few days/ adjustment

FINALLY I'M ON INTERNET!! Sorry I haven't updated on our trip but the internet has been a bit difficult, we have 1 cable plug in(no wireless) for all of us!! and to make matters worst My computer didn't seem to like it at first. Oh well, we are up now:) view from our balcony

Yes we made to Cambodia just fine, the kids all traveled real good only little Isabel threw up on the first plane just before landing, it was quite turbulant:(  First day here was amazing Ron & Sally (missionaries with New Tribes Mission) met us at the airport and brought us to our apartment, which turned out to be very nice! very spacious!!

But the 5 flights of stairs were a bit of a challenge with all the luggage and then groceries, Just wait we'll have great leg muscles by the time we get home!!We got settled than called up Dara our faithful Tuk Tuk driver from last trip and went to Lucky market to stock up on groceries and water, then went to find dinner. We all managed to stay up till dark, Dara didn't make it back to pick us up from the resturant so we walked back, in the dark, our first night, I felt a little sorry for the new people on this trip ( probably a little nervous).
Day 2 Saturday, Us gals & kids walked across our street and found the Toul Kourk market a miniture version of Oressay market I'd say, did a little shopping, then met up with the guys and went to the Wat pnohm temple and down to the river for lunch, and then to Oressay market to give everybody a glimpse of Cambodian life. Yes a few got quiet gaggy in the food (wet floor) section, It is very differant from Safeway or Costco, but I find it to be fun to shop with the locals, bought some large prawns to cook for dinner!!

Stan's little beggar friends at Wat Pnom

Day 3 Sunday, headed off at 6am for the ferry for Sovanapoom to help with feeding program and church, Soo excited to see the kids, and get reconnected!! prove to be just amazing as I remembered, so many people the placewas crowded with lots of kids and adults, Several of the kids came up and gave me a hug and said they missed us!! Good feeling,,,

Church time was amazing, several kids and 1 lady went forward to be saved, she was Bopar's mom!!!! That was exciting in itself knowing that 1 of the parents of a few of theses kids is getting saved thru this work!!

shelby helping with feeding program

Day 4 Monday went shopping for a baby bed and fan for Tonet & Sreylin's new little baby, then off to Sovanapoom  to get started planning projects. Raw the cook was excited we were back but very sad that Kindra wasn't with us!!, she made us an excellant lunch today, I heled herin the kitchen, geting the small childern fed lunch, then planning with John and Tess the schedule for sewing projects and a shopping day for fabric with the girls. Tomorrow morning Stan and Nathaniel and John will head to Northern Cmbodia to the farm, pray for their safety, and that they will acccomplish what they set out to do. James and Aaron will be saying here to work with the boys on projects.

After leaving Sovanapoom we came back to the city and met with Sally and Ron and headed over to the governmant orphanage, so sad 71 kids including10 babies living in horrible living conditions, 6 months out of the year they literally live in at least 10 inches of water! it just dried up, We are trying to figure out how we can be of help, You can see the hopelessness on the kids faces, I would so love to bring these kids home with me!!

2 of the 10 babies

school/boys sleeping area of government orphanage

2 of the older boys, so glad for a little attention.

Pray that we will be wise in knowing how to help these poor kids.