We are going to start this newsletter by introducing our wonderful Operations Manager, Pich Sokheng. She is such a blessing to us and our children. We will say no more and let her tell it herself:
My name is Sokheng I was born in a small village in Kampong Cham Province. I have five siblings and I am the oldest sister.
I was born in a very poor family and our culture the oldest always has responsibility for the family especially for the girl. My mom sent me to work in the city when I was 16 years old – my first job was as a Housekeeper. I do all work in the house, cleaning, cooking, no weekends off and I remember that I got only $10 per month that was about 18 years ago.
I had so many hard works my life was hopeless I have no education no skills know nothing. I quit school since I was in grade 3rd I thought I would be end up working in garment factory working 12 hours a day and get very low pay not good environment – I also became very sick.
In 2005 I became a Christian that’s how I found my new hope and started a new journey with God. He has transformed me to different person from where I was, he is so faithful he has blessed me so much without him I have no today and no future.
I am currently working at Eggshell Cambodia (Child Haven Organisation) nearly two years, it was my calling, and I am very pleased to follow God’s plan. Before I came to work with Child Haven, I worked in a big company have a good position working in very nice office, but I did not like it. I start to ask God what he wants me to do.
One day I have read a news that two kids were killed after they got raped while parents gone to work and left them on their own, my heart was so broken when I read this, and I asked God what can I do to save those kids who are living in risk. About two months letter I got a job offer from Liz and Mark. They are both faithful Godly man and women who has the heart for Cambodia’s children they sacrifice to leave their beautiful country, family and friends leaving from a good place to the hardest land in Cambodia I know it’s not easy for them, but they listen to God.
My passion is for children and the poor – especially for the children. I want to see them growing up in safe environment, teach them to love the words of God and love to learn so they have better future not lives in the same situation as the parents because they don’t have a chance.
As an Operation Manager in our day care my responsibility is daily running day care to ensure we are providing a good care to the children make sure that we train our staff well to do a great job and providing the best service.
It been difficult for me and all our teamwork during this Covid pandemic we are not able to see our children since February till now and we are still not sure when we are able to be back again, but I still Thank God for his mercy on our staff and children they all are safe even though they not happy and not understand why they can’t come to Daycare. One of girl wake up every day getting her Uniform to dress up and get ready to come to Daycare, she is so unhappy at not being with us.
As you have probably picked up from Sokheng, we are closed yet again. This time the outbreak of COVID is very serious and numbers are climbing rapidly. Please pray for all that this means to Cambodia and to the people here, everything is changing rapidly and presents many challenges.
We gave our families food packages to help them again, the situation is terrible with many places closing down, jobs being lost, money being scarce and exploitation now on the rise again as people try to meet their daily needs. As people are going hungry – we want to ensure our families at least get stable food to see them through and help others where we can. We thank everyone again, for donating and enabling us to ensure our children are safe from exploitation.
We took the children, chocolate Easter eggs, which is fun to deliver in hot season as it is 38-40 degrees most days and chocolate runs to mush very very quickly in the heat. We managed to deliver them, and the children were happy if a little chocolatey.
In the midst of all this, God has been working, we will have some exciting news to share with you all very soon. Watch this space …
Mark and I, after 4 hospital visits, managed to get our first COVID vaccine (being over 60 does have some advantages). When speaking to the Doctor, we had to speak up really loudly in Khmer and confirm that we were over 60 as we looked younger than the others in the queue and we didn’t want to be lynched.
We also recruited new volunteer Board Members both for the UK and Cambodia. We welcome all of them and look forward to their input, expertise, and passion.
It has been a bit of a hard month emotionally for us. Liz’s dad took Pneumonia and had to go into hospital again, the doctors then discovered he also has cancer. He has just had his 96th birthday. As much as Liz wants to be with him, it is just not possible with all the restrictions back home and in Cambodia.
Then it was Adam’s (our son) turn. As we type this, he is in the Royal Phnom Penh hospital with a spiking temperature, infection and three large abscesses in his liver. We are praying for both of them and asking God for his comfort and healing touch.
Please pray into all the situations mentioned above and for God to give us strength to ride the storm.
We leave you with a picture taken in the foyer of the hospital Adam is in. Given where they seem to think a womb is, did not convince Liz that Adam was in the right hospital !!!
Also, a sweet picture of one of our children, getting a ride in a tin bowl on the back of her grandma’s bike.
Until next month…stay safe.
Mark and Liz.