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.

    We are in the count-down of getting ready, packing has begun, and book-work getting caught up....If thats possible. Stan is working hard getting projects wrapped up.
    Been to the Doctor's getting back pain issues under control so I can be productive and travel with out any problems. Hopefully that will prove to be successful, Pray that the body will stick together!
  We are looking for prayer partners, friends that we can call on or that we will just know are praying for us as we embark on this trip, that we will accomplish what God has planned for us, and that He will give us wisdom an knowledge for the projects He has planned. Experiance from the last trip, made me realize that I needed to be in constant prayer for guidance and knowledge, even for little sewing projects.
    There has been many projects and needs brought to our attention that we feel we as a group should be involved with, at Sovanapoom Care Center, Government orphanage, and Joy Club (ministry to kids living in slums). Also there are other missionaries in the Phnom Pehn that we would like to meet with and be an encouragement to, Please pray that we will be sensitive to what God has planned for us, and not spread ourselves to thin so that we don't accomplish what we are sent to do. Thank you all for you interest in this trip, and your prayer.