Fun times on the swing's are still had by all, but the swings were in much need of repair, the big tire swing was completely worn out!! Stan and the boys have been working on making repairs, soon they will have their favorite big tire swing back in business!

Rae and her helper going to check on how the laundry is doing, this little girl is a real helper! always trying to help out however she can, John has nicknamed her Martha, because she is so helpful:)

helping to sew curtains for Joseph's family

finished product!

   This has been a full week, getting into a routine, learning how best to help out, how I/we can best relieve some of the load for John & Tess. I have had the pleasure of helping in the mornings and evenings with shower time, helping the girls get their hair done ect. Its been a good way to bond with the kids. During the day I am busy with teaching sewing,  and helping with mending, working with their schedules can be a bit of a challenge with the older kids and adults that want to learn. So Saturday's and Sunday afternoon will be their time, for some of them. Earlier this week I had a very frustrating day, with getting machines to work properly and getting kids started on projects. By the end of the day nothing worked!!  But after praying for wisdom (I am not a sewing machine mechanic!!)  but quickly needing to learn, beause I had them all in the shop the day before!! I figured out the problems and have them all running smoothly!!! Thank goodness or I would be bald by the time I returned....

Stan helped the boys build a work bench for welding, and purchased a bench grinder, They are in business now! enjoying being able to sharpen drill bits ect. Also added new bigger teethe to vice! its starting to look like home here:)

Well I hope you've enjoyed a bit of a glimpse into our week here! Hard to put into words what a privelege it is to be here:) I've got to get myself to church.. update more later. Wait ti you see the giant centipede I had to kill in our apartment!!! So glad I didn't step on it!

This is the generator shed

soccer field

new big generator!!

Preschoold class on break:)

Leta and Phillip

 Leta grown up form her "rice girl picture"

Our shopping adventure! First stop was to get the sewing machines fixed! then off to Oressay market & Olympic market. One of the things I was realizing while out shopping was the fact that the first time here we were constantly taking pictures of all the "strange" things, but yesterday this was my only picture I took, nothing seemed to different or strange anymore!!!

I have been asked to help with evening showers, making sure they get washing done properly. 

I thought it would be nice to french braid the girls hair after showers,  I guess I wasn't thinking about how many girls would need braided!! Although its been a good way to bond with the younger girls.:) they love it!!

     Monday was a disastrous day for the people of Phnom Penh as most of you have heard on the news!  Pray for the people of this country, as they have lost family and friends.
Yesterday (Tuesday) Rae and I went to Phnom Penh to go and shop for clothes for the kids,  it was obvious to me, and brought to my attention by several here, that it was a need I/we could help with, with some of the funds that was raised at Outback Gardens Hot August night fundraiser. This bridge where the stampede took place was at the ferry dock where we get on/off the ferry on the city side. There was still crowds of people along the river watching and waiting Tuesday morning, by Tuesday afternoon when we went to the ferry to return, it was shut down and the area closed off, Rae said they were saying that they still had some of the dead people to transport from the area, and "many loose moto's" meaning unclaimed moto's I guess. So we had to go over the Japanese bridge and around the peninsula to a different ferry to return, a bit if an adventure since I had no clue where we where going!!
   Monday I started sewing classes with 3 of the children, I get them during their breaks and at lunchtime, so I have to get myself organized!! Saturday's will be our day to fill with getting much done on projects for the older girls. Most of them are now teaching school during the day.
   Another project I'm excited about is making gardens on the walls, using "ROOT POUCHES" a fabric pouch that you plant in and attach to walls,  Thouen is in the process of making soil for them and John says it should be ready by Friday to start planting in. They can make compost from kitchen scraps, ect in about 3 days!! Where it takes years in our area.
     One Project that John is having Stan help design is an incubator for eggs, for the Chicken farm project. but it has to have a thermostat controller that doesn't use electricity, any ideas out there would be appreciated.
   When the kids are busy with school, I have been helping Rae with laundry/mending ect. which is a full time job!
  
  

We are settled in here at Sovanapoom Care Center, so good to see how the kids are growing, spiritually, and physically, some I hardly recognized! Also sad to hear that some of the kids, have left 1 of the girls I felt a special closeness to has left. I am very worried, knowing what life  is like out there for her, lots of prayers!

Stans first project this week is to build a grate to cover this drainage ditch.

     The apartment that we are privilaged to stay in is very nice!! the boys have done an excellant job building!!  They are now finishing up th upsairs of the main apartment that they are building that will be John & Tess's and their families home, but at Christmas ther is a team from Australia coming that they are hurrying to finish so they can stay there.
 Stan and John have been discussing needs, and making plans! the boys at the farm are busy harvesting rice, by hand a hard long, tedious job. John is excited for the good crop! plans are being made on how to best prepare the ground for replanting, and what equipment may need to be built or purchased.

    I've been busy helping in kitchen, and helping where needed, I've also got some knitting students, Saturday a few of the younger girls came to apartment to learn knitting.
    Today was feeding program and church Feeding program was a packed crowd! lots of small childeren and babies! I was told its been an explosion of babies being born, and it looks like it !!
 One little one, I have been having fun with, she comes with her Grandma for meals here, John discovered her 2 months ago at the feeding program , she extremly malnourished her mom had ran off leaving her, she is 14months old, so they started having her Grandma come for meals, making sure she was getting food,, and she is tiny but very lively!!
More to come soon!

We have arrived!! Long trip, and glad to be here! Oh, one word of advice, never eat a wonderful big Thanksgiving dinner prior to flying on a long airplane trip!! the 2 just don't go together very well!
     A reminder that God cares for even the little things in our lives,  Our suitcases were very close on weight, I was nervous about them being over and having to pay extra, so sent a quick prayer that they would all be fine, and they were!! no extra fees to pay! I was thanking God for that! then we arrived in S. Korea a bit late with only 20min. until our next departure, I was sending up prayers that God would make our connecting flight held up for some reason.  20 minutes isn't enough time to get off plane,  thru customs and to the next gate. Plane was loaded, But we made it!! What a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks!!
    Divina (friend/roommate of Nancy Friesen) was waiting for us at the airport, So very nice to have someone coming to meet us!! Even tho she doesn't know us, One good thing for facebook, thats how she knew what we looked like!!
   Besides that the only other hiccup is that the suitcase that has all our personal things, clothes ect. didn't get here with us, so pray that it shows up by tomorrow am. We checked at airport today and they said that they expect it late tonite!
    Tomorrow morning we will be going to get settled at Sovanapoom Care Center. I am anxiously waiting to see all the kids again. kinda wanted to go and at least visit today, but have to make wise use of time.
   Thank you for all your prayers!

Reality of Cambodia, Fast approaching

     The countdown has begun! only a couple weeks left before we head off for Cambodia!! We are very excited to see what God has in mind for us while we are there. We aren't real sure of what "PROJECTS" we will be working on, but, I am sure there will be lots of lessons for us to learn! 
 As God reveals to us what He would have us do, we will let you know so you can know more specifically how to pray. Some prayer request to start off would be;
1. Good health, I had back surgery 6 weeks ago, pray  it would keep healing and that there would be know further issues,  and a few other health issues, that have kept me from preforming at 100% this past year, I've been getting better, but Please Pray that I wouldn't have any relapses. So that I can be 100% able to do the jobs HE  sets before me. 
2. Safety in traveling.
3. That we would be sensitive to Gods leading. We want to do the jobs that God wants us to do, NOT what we want!
4. Pray for wisdom, and sensitivity to the cultural differences, the last thing we want to do is offend someone!
     We are hoping to get a grasp of the language while we are there this time. We feel we would be much more effective and helpful if we can communicate better. 
We thank you all for supporting us in advance, we appreciate it greatly!!