This is a thanks-full entry in honor of American Thanksgiving Day
(We are not having turkey today, but we are ordering in pizza. For those who have been to Cambodia before, we are amazed to tell you that there is now pizza delivery service in Phnom Penh!!).
Today we are thankful for the real stories that we can share of changed lives through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Ou Savorn and his wife Sony, with their sons Malvin and Billy.
Savorn is the Asia’s Hope National Director in Cambodia. His story begins during the years following the Killing Fields. He was a youth in the 80’s, walking 8 kilometers to school in the fields and jungle near the Thai border. His family was very poor. He ate crusted left over rice for breakfast, and found a piece of fruit in the jungle for lunch.
Those who know Savorn know that he has a love of learning. After finishing his limited educational opportunity near his home village, he was required to join the army during the Khmer occupation following the murder of 1/3 of his countrymen.
What he really wanted to do, however, was find a way to continue his studies. He heard that there was free education in the refugee camps. One day, he took a great risk; he laid down his gun and ran 12 hours through the jungle to get to the border in order to be in one of the camps.
Indeed, he found education there, completing his high school coursework. Along the way, he also heard multiple times about the love of God and about Jesus, but had no interest. Two years later, though, after he began to sense the hopelessness of his life, he was interested in listening to a God who wanted to make a difference in him.
The rest…..as they say….is history. After Savorn became a Christian, he first went to Bible Institute to learn more about his God. He then earned a Bachelors and a Masters in Business Administration, a Masters of Divinity, and has just begun his study for a Doctorate of Divinity.
Three years ago Savorn accepted the lead position for Asia’s Hope in Cambodia, using all of his knowledge and his network of fellow believers to develop a good staff for the orphan homes.
We in Asia’s Hope are thankful for the provision of Savorn to love and minister to the staff and children.
This next picture is Sopang, his wife, and these boys who have been in the Orphan Home he leads for five years. Sopang has a love of music. Like any father, he passes on his love to these “sons” who form the music worship team for church on Sunday morning.
Bobbi brought shoes to this Orphan Home (now called Prek Eng 1) five years ago on her first trip to Cambodia. She still remembers carting a suitcase of gently used shoes all the way around the world, and, in God’s provision, having exactly the right number of shoes in EXACTLY the right sizes for the children living there.
We are thankful that these boys have been loved and provided for during these five years, and have a “father” in Sopang who is interested in their future.
Three years ago, Bobbi and John, with their daughter Kim, were present when Prek Eng 2 was opened in Phnom Penh. Some of the children in this picture arrived scared to an empty home still being fitted with bedding, rice cookers, and clothing for them. Two of the kids in this picture are actually the children of the Orphan Home directors Narun and Sophal. Can you tell who they are? We are thankful that you can’t because it is comforting to know that ALL of the children are receiving love to grow and blossom.
So….Happy Thanksgiving day from the other side of the world. Thank you for sharing with us in praying for these kids, the staff, and for sharing God’s money placed with your family to help with their needs.
