Saying Good-bye while waiting for the next Hello.

One of the hardest things for Dr. John and I this week has been to see the surprised look on the faces of the students and staff who ask eagerly "How long are you staying?" and needing to answer "We leave Tuesday evening."

I must remind myself that time is relative; that one visit lasts for a thousand impressions in the minds of those we meet.  Here are the House Parents Sophal and Narun at Prek Eng 2, and a crazy attitude shot of the children who were home during our visit.

While we were visiting, one of the high schoolers started talking about our daughter Kim, who spent several weeks with them SEVEN years ago.  She said "I remember the day that Kim walked into our home."  There is so much earned value and love by being present with them for weeks, or even days at a time over the years.

Was our trip for one week worth it this year?  Words cannot express the looks of gratitude and happiness and joy in having even this short time to visit one another, encourage one another, and fill up on the next "praying for one another".  It is to be humbled to have a House Father look me in the eye and say "We pray for you every night".

 Somary and Sopang are the longest serving House Parents, at PE 1

 They have raised these children for over ten years, and are sending them off to begin to study for their future.  Sopang also loves to play music and has taught them well on musical instruments.


Remember what I said about the dormitory students liking to return home for the weekend?  Well, it is a school holiday, and all of these students were home from universities.  The young woman on the right is the woman I recognized singing at Narin's GCF church on Sunday.






One of the homes, PE 3 have already moved into their new home. You can see on this boy's face his "Pride of Place" knowing that this is his bed, in his room.

The House Parents are Savong and Pisey.  During our visit we saw the fruit trees already planted, and the area where they were going to develop a play ground. Walking to school?  Not a problem.  The Asia Hope school for grades one to six is only a few hundred feet away.

These kids live as a family.  That includes having a family dog (two of them actually).  It also includes praying for one another and encouraging one another.  They all showed great concern for their cook Khoum, with the knit hat, who is battling breast cancer and will undergo surgery.  Please pray for her healing to be total.

Have we ever told you that Khmer like to laugh?  They love to pose for these crazy attitude pictures.

While we were visiting at the new PE 3 house, we were able to see the construction progress on the PE 4 house.  They were tiling the roof.  RavI and Thary are the house parents and hope to be moved in by Christmas time.

AND FINALLY, THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST, AND THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST.  ALL OF THESE REMARKABLE MEN AND WOMEN HOUSE PARENTS, AND WONDERFUL PARENTING OF THE CHILDREN, ARE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF OUR NATIONAL DIRECT SAVORN, SHOWN HERE WITH HIS WIFE SONY.  REMEMBER THE SONG "FATHER ABRAHAM HAD MANY SONS, MANY SONS HAD FATHER ABRAHAM.  IT CAME TO MIND AS I TRIED TO THINK OF A WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE QUALITY LEADERSHIP THAT SAVORN DEMONSTRATES IN CHOOSING STAFF, LEADING STAFF, AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MYRIAD DETAILS THAT IT TAKES TO RAISE UP ALMOST 400 CHILDREN WELL IN CAMBODIA.  THANK YOU, SAVORN AND SONY