The Last Days:(

   As our time hear is drawing to an end, we have been looking back and trying to understand the lessons learned, also looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us in the future. God is doing a great work here at Sovanapoom,  but  Everything that is worthwhile doing,
takes time, patience, perseverance and much hard work and heart-ache sometimes comes with it. Especially when humans are involved.

Loves the swing!! hates to get out:(

 


 This past week Stan and I took a few days and went to the small town of Kep to see what the coastal area was like, and to celebrate our 30th anniv. a bit early. I had to pinch myself while there, who would have thought I would ever get to spend an anniversary, in South East Asia, on a beautiful beach!  It was a very quiet, peaceful place.

     During the last trip to the farm, Stan and the boys built a torch cart,  made the welder portable and learned about air tools, So they understand what all they can do with the tools they now have available to work with. They had a practice run with the now portable welder. The harrow broke in the field so they got to go out to weld it back together. They brought several of the boys back from the farm, to help with some of the big projects that are going on here at Sovanapoom.

  The boys here have been busy finsishing up an apartment for John & Tess, so they can get moved out of the main building, Their living quarters is being repurposed to be the "Early Childhood Develpment Center and a small apartments for staff to stay in.
 This past week, Stan and one of the older boys starting building a new compact clothesline, with 10 lines. so all the clothes hanging will be in a small area rather than all over the place, trying to make better use of their small area here, so much has to fit on this property!!
    On Jan. 22nd I had the opportunity to attend a Cambodian cooking Class, I took one of the older girls with me:) we learned how to make Banana Flower Salad, Fish Amok , fried Spring rolls, and Sticky Rice with Mango. all was very good and  we had a fun day learning & eating!!

banana Flower Salad

Fish Amok

   Yesterday, (Saturday) Mandie and her Daughter  returned, and everyone is glad to have them back:) they are a nice addition to the Sovanapoom family.  We are enjoying getting acquainted, ( I think she is anxiously waiting to move into the apartment:)  

    This morning we enjoyed helping with our last Sunday feeding program, and soaking in the worship service listening to the kids sing, during church. 

Their are quiet a few Cham people ( they are a muslim fishing village people group) Coming to the Early Am sunday service,  I had  captive group of kids that I had fun getting some photo's of. Seems like the crowd just keeps growing, Fishing hasn't been to good this year, so that is why there are many fishing families coming  Praying that they will have their hearts stirred by what Tonet is faithfully preaching! 

   The next few days will be busy packing and cleaning and finishing up last few projects. We fly out at midnight on Wed. Feb 2nd  Cambo time which will be I think 8am your time, Pray that we have a safe trip home, anxious to see everyone... but will be hard to say goodbye here also. 

Hope you have enjoyed hearing what we have been up to this winter, Its been a wonderful experience here, Trying to understand a different Language and culture.... sometimes we as Americans that are use to filling every hour of everyday, "being busy"have to learn thats its ok to slow down and go with the flow of how a different culture does things..... which may have been one of our harder lessons to learn! 

    Thank you all very much " "Au koon Chnam" for the many prayers, and encouragement :) 

Please keep Sovanapoom Care family in your prayers.

   This week seemed full of finishing projects, starting a few new ones.

new baby swing is finished!

 in the background are new trusses for more roof, the boys have been busy building

testing out the new swing just her size! It also has doubled for a high chair for eating:)

her first steps! :) soon she will be running.... she is a busy baby!

    Also thank you to all who have been praying for Stan's foot.. God is healing it much faster than we ever expected!!!! He can now walk without crutches although a bit carefully, still a bit of swelling and bruising but at least it looks like a foot again!! Early in the week, he was dreading the weeks, of hobbling around while trying to get his work done! but God is good:) I also had a good week of feeling good:)
    Everyone here was so kind and eager to help with Stan's foot problem.

future KFC Sovanapoom style:)

       Today ( Sunday) Stan and I enjoyed a nice lunch in Phnom Penh with John and Tess, than off to the Russian Market for a bit of shopping, Stan needed to get more parts for the tire swing the ones they put on a few weeks ago have been worn thru! unless they are in school the swings are in constant motion!!!   I also had the opportunity to finally stop at a Nursery:) It was fun poking around at a tropical nursery!! orchids, everywhere:) Of course I had to purchase one, and a lime tree.... So maybe next time I'm here we can pick limes for our mango:) 

   We got some Root Pouches hung and my baby plants all planted, (my windowsill was a bit full of seedlings) anxious to how they work out, of the two pouches, one has got tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons, they other one has bok choy, lettuce and green beans. ( It has been fun starting plants when you don't have to worry about finding them frozen the next morning!)

   A couple weeks ago Joseph planted corn and carrots seed, they are coming ups nicely.

     Tuesday Stan and John will be heading back to the farm, with many things they want to accomplish, pray for safety traveling and that they will get all the projects that they need to get done finished.

mixing cement

    I apologize for not updating you all sooner on the happenings here, Wow time is flying by!! we only have about 23 days left:( , I don't know how we are going to get everything finished up in that time..... While the Aussie team was here, the guys took a short trip to the farm, the main project was to pour a concrete floor in part of the big building for a shop area, and plumb an air compressor that they purchased for them. They were only able to finish 1/2 of the concrete and so the air compressor plumbing wasn't finished also.

 the Aussie headed back to Sovanapoom, a day earlier than John and Stan, Stan wanted to finish welding up the harrow.  Stan hopes to return to the farm to get some of these unfinished projects done and help the boys set up their tools,
before we head home.

a lot of rebar! 

     The boys and Stan have been working on a swing set for the littlest kids and hope to finish it up this week, Along with welding up some trusses for more of the building projects here.

many hands make light work! 

 The kids spent Saturday afternoon  moving sand to fill in under the playground, Making it a softer play area.  These are some hardworking kids! and strong, I helped with a bucket while taking pictures, and it was HEAVY! 

figuring out the best way to pick it up 

   Sewing lessons are going well, the kids have graduated from sewing backpacks, to zip up hooded jackets, a few want to tackle jeans,  ( I told them I would have to think about that one) this week one of the girls wanted to sew a nightgown, which ended up 6 of them sewing nightgowns! :)

thats how it is, one has an idea and all follow! I  would like  to get some skirts sewed for the smallest girls, its hard to find school skirts small enough. ( so much to do so little time). Looks like I need to go on another fabric shopping trip!

   Saturday, Peta organized a moto trip to Koh Doch beach the "clean beach" so Stan and Peta went to Phnom Penh to rent extra moto's so several of the older boys and teachers from Sovanapoom that don't get to go out much could go, it was an eventful day, starting with Stan and one of the older boys trying to pull start a moto, and Stan 's moto falling on top of him and twisting his foot:(  = swollen foot..... This morning 2 of the older boys carried him up the stairs to church this morning! today we prayed for healing. After church one of he older boys, spent the afternoon making him a set of crutches! Now he can get back to work...

  Always something exciting in every little thing, some excitement we really could do without!!

vendors always trying to sell something, banana', silk, snails, ect.

it was a windy day, unusual 

The boys had much fun playing in the "waves"

boys washing their cows 

    While at the beach I had a stomach attack, so had to search for a bathroom.... it costs 1000 riel, for a very small squatty potty, in a tin/mat wall, out-house.... ,maybe that was to pay for the small girl who guards the door! since it doesn't shut! Oh well, will add it to the list of Cambodian experiences!
    God is at work here! its exciting to see!! the Sunday outreach/ feeding program is growing there seems to be quiet a few muslims attending, which is a bit ususual. Praying that many will grasp the meaning of the message, Tonet does an excellant job leading the worship service and teaching the gospel to the crowd! But whenever God is working it seems Satan tries hard to discourage, so we as Christians always need to be on guard and need to be armed daily.