November started quietly at day care. One child left to go and live in the country with his grandma, and we started another two children.
One child is 6 months old. His mother owed money and ran away leaving the boy and his 3 year-old sister with their grandparents. The grandparents are sick, and the father must work, so we took them into day care. The 3 year-old little girl doesn’t understand why her mother has left them and looks sad and bewildered.
14th November I had a big surprise. Our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren arrived at day care. The staff were crying as I screamed at seeing them standing there in the office doorway. We had a lovely few days’ spending time with them going to Siem Reap and the Island where there is a beautiful beach. They are away home now, and Mark and I are missing them very much.
I came back to work and there was a little Mars bar on my desk from a staff member to cheer me up.
While Mark and I were away, a team from Singapore came to day care for what was to be a few hours, but they loved it so much they spent the whole day helping and doing crafts with the children. Thank you everyone!!!
Water Festival was full on this year, the first since Covid and everyone enjoyed the boat-racing, the atmosphere, and the fireworks. It is quite spectacular watching all the colourful boats racing down the Tonle Sap with some boats having more than 100 people rowing them. There were so many people watching and all having fun.
Back in day care the Christmas trees went up, the children decorated one and the Bible Study Group decorated the other. I don’t think I will ever get used to decorating a tree when the sun is shining and it is hot outside, but I am not complaining!
I was driving to work the other morning, and this was in front of me. This is how to arrive at work relaxed. There were 3 people sleeping, 3 sitting up, 2 sitting on the trailer joint and 1 driving.
Sokheng and I are preparing for Christmas. We are out buying presents for the children, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt for the boys, a dress for the girls. They will get a schoolbag and some sweets. We also buy for the children who have left us. We will have around 60+ at our Christmas party. We all love this day, seeing the children who have left us and giving them a party. Thank you to all who contributed to blessing our children this Christmas, it is a real blessing, and we get share the story of the birth of Jesus with them.
This will be our last newsletter before Christmas, so we want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas, we remember why we celebrate the Saviour of the World coming into the world and pray that he will be the centre of all our celebrations.
Until next year…
Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.
