Nov 30, 2011

Guest blog

We have a return guest that has decided to stay with us for an unknown period of time.
Currently Alicia stays at the orphanage and is helping with the childrens education.  During the day she is the principal of our private school A Heart for Wisdom, where 21 of our children attend.   
Alicia publishes her own blog called So Speaks the Heart.
I want to let you know there is a link to her blog to the right of our page located under "Current Guest Blog".  You should be able to click on the title and it should open her page.
She is a wonderful young lady with a great amount of love for the children of Cambodia.
She also has a fantastic way with words that you won't read on my blog.
I copied her last months post to share with you and to encourage you to look at her blog from time to time to get a different view of what we do and make sure to read over her past posts.

Kit

 

 " Seeds Planted in the Fall

10 months ago, I shared a little on the state of education in Cambodia, it's history, and the vision, a few years long delicately prayed dream, of Kit and Ream, the directors of A Greater Hope Orphanage, CCF, for a Christian school, and quite possibly the first one in the province.

Within this past year, outside the perimeters of the orphanage, faces have turned into more than just faces and prayers for the school have ended in "May your will, not mine (ours), be done." And after the long expected opening day, our seven teachers, students, and families, overflowing with excitement, together welcomed A Heart for Wisdom School's opening on October 3, 2011. Welcoming grades K-6, more than thought possible last January. A Greater Hope Orphanage (AGHO) children and local children make up the, a little over 100, children that are beautifully decorating the classrooms of our small school, the unused rooms of the church, where they study the Bible, Math, Khmer, English, Science/Social, and P.E., all while filling the spaces in between with their laughter and life.

Now, four months into an unknown time frame, equipped with an ever growing love for these children, this daunting beautiful honor to share God's love with these precious children, seems more incredible and more real than ever. Preparing each child for their future ahead and the challenges and struggles that the Khmer culture faces daily quickly brings into light that this generation is 'It.' They're the generation that is going to start the steep recovery process that this country faces. The importance placed on giving them the spiritual and academic tools needed to pass on to future generations to come, weighs heavily. To teach and encourage them to be the Josiahs' of their time, who with his whole heart sought after God, thus, transforming a nation.

Seeds are being planted almost parallel to the surrounding rice that gives this time of year the county's sought after photographic beauty. And like every year, "the God of the seasons...who caused the seeds to swell in the earth, burst with life, and send up their bright green shoots, the promise of harvest (Cormack, Don. Killing Fields Living Fields)," is ever so patiently waiting for this land, a demonstration of His mercy pointing to the unveiling hope that His eyes are on this country.

From Cambodia with Love,
Alicia"

Nov 9, 2011

Aussie team !!!

 Aussie team !!!
From Temple Christian College in Australia 

In short a lot of fun, growth and emotions.

The team had a young girl celebrating her birthday while they were in Cambodia and we had to celebrate 15 birthdays from the last quarter.  So we celebrated birthdays together, which was a lot of fun for both groups.
The girls and teachers helped us make a decorate the cakes so wonderfully.




The next day we rode bicycles around the area to see the new school and visit an old staff member weaving. 

Jon
 and Rachana jumped into help tie the silk so it could be dyed.

Ben was very  popular with our girls



A new village to work in only one adult Christian in this village.
The team played with the kids, painted faces and blew up balloons.
They also passed out rice and a little bit of school supplies.

Pastor Khon

Introductions



 The team got to pray with some of the on lookers.  Two of the ladies not Christians said the felt better that moment and had felt peace inside them.






School supplies




 Rice




Music
This young lady who was a bit challenged really, really enjoyed the music.
Now I see her ride past the school almost every day and she is always talking out loud to me as she rides by, saying in Khemer "hello white guy where are you from Phnom Penh".  Very cute.  
A grateful lady spends time thanking Pastor Khon after.

Next stop, one of the church cell groups that also has a preschool.





 Ben later became know as Ben 10 to our kids.




So much more has happened, so much bonding between the two groups each side mending and ministering to the other in ways we wouldn't have guest.

Good buys came to quickly.
I think nearly every child I have had tears in their eyes.

 Ashley's boys


 Thank you guys.