In day-care it has been a quiet start to the year.
The children continue to be unwell with coughs and fevers. One child who has been particularly on our hearts, has been missing from day care again for almost 10 days. Please pray for his family situation and that they see the value of their child being in our day care. This child is struggling with family life and needs the security and stability that we provide.
We had a return visitor to day care at the beginning of the month. Kyle had been out on mission last February with a team from Ballyhenry Presbyterian. As part of a break from his University course, he decided to come out to Cambodia on holiday and help us at the same time. Kyle spent three days washing and painting the inside of the container.
This space is used for storage and an office, so it was great to get it looking a lot more presentable. Kyle worked very hard and we thank him for doing this especially giving up some of his holiday for us. Somnang was very happy as Kyle brought him a BAP for his lunch.
Early January was our Operations Manager, Sokheng’s birthday. We had cake and the children sang happy birthday to her. She recently went to a charity to have her ears tested and they discovered she had 90% hearing loss in one ear due to an infection and that this had happened when she was a child. She was taken into hospital the following day and they performed an operation to try to stop any infection from spreading. Please pray for her, that God will heal her quickly.
Our children are doing well in their studies. Our older children love crafts, writing and drawing, while the younger ones love to sing the ABC song and play learning games. It is a joy to watch them grow and see a difference in their attitudes. One of our little girls comes into day care looking very fearful but after being with us for an hour or so, she relaxes and enjoys her day. Another little girl cries when she has to go home, and one of our boys, hides when the family member comes to take him home. All this is a testament to God’s love in the lives and the support and love that our staff give them.
In mid-January Liz went on a weekend retreat hosted by a group of ladies from Sydney, Australia. It was a great weekend spent with other ladies who work on the mission field in Cambodia. It was a time of fun, fellowship and spending time with God. A lot of the ladies Liz knew but had never spent any quality time with, so connecting on a deeper level with them was very special.
January also saw our son Adam arrive to take up his new position in a Khmer language school. We would value your prayers for him as he settles in and for his brother Craig and family back home as they learn to do life without him.
On 19th January we shared with the Anglican Church in Phnom Penh about our work, it was good to share what God is doing with the children and the village in which we serve.
End of January, Liz had her 59th birthday. As a surprise I arranged for us to go home so Liz could spend a little time with her father. He is almost 95, becoming frailer and is almost totally blind. We had a special time with him and thank God for all the years he has given him.
Another lovely event took place while we were home, our Minister and friend David McClay was consecrated as the new Bishop of Down and Dromore. What a privilege it was to be with over 1,000 people at St Anne’s Cathedral to witness and be a part of the celebration. We wish him every blessing as he steps into his new role.
On our return to Day care, after all the hugs and kisses, the children and staff gave Liz handmade birthday cards and a photo of her in a frame – it was very special and again reminded us that following God’s call on our lives, although tough, is so worthwhile. Seeing those little faces excited to see you back makes your day all the brighter.
That is it for this month, as we said a quiet one at day care but with lots of happening in other areas of our lives. Have a great February, until next time.
As always, God bless!
Mark & Liz…