Hi Everyone,On my first day in Cambodia I was blessed to be able to visit the Citipointe SHE RESCUE HOME, Phnom Penh, where I lived and worked with the staff and girls for 6 months in 2009.
I went to the office to sign in etc first. The new Project Supervisor, Nicole, is lovely and spent time filling me in on all the progress since I left two and a half years ago. She showed me how the micro enterprise project had grown as well. They now have several families making the bracelets and paper bags.
The bible verse where God says " .... don't despise small beginnings..." came to mind as I reminisced about my involvement and how it all started with me putting together about '6 craft kits' with all the materials etc needed, and God lead me to the lady in the shop opposite Toul Sleng (the school that Pol Pot turned into a prison and torture chamber) who was able to teach the two Khmer mothers to make them.
This enables the families to support themselves and get off the streets, or stay home and work, so their children aren't left alone and vulnerable to predators.
Since those small beginnings, they now have about 13 families involved in making them. They get international orders for huge amounts (1000 to 2000) bracelets and paper bags, and they have a store room at the office full of the materials and stock to fulfill orders. How awesome is that???? Praise God for small beginnings.
Then we went to the house where the girls live. They are in a new premises and now have about 23 girls. I was so warmly welcomed by everyone. All the girls remembered me, even the little ones. The three 15 year old girls that I was teaching english amongst other things, have all moved on. They all did hairdressing training. One is married now with a baby, I believe and the other two are back in their community with family.
THE STAFF WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE ME!! They even rang the House manager for her to say hello to me. She was disappointed to not be there, but it was her day off. They all miss me, it is humbling to realize what an impact you have had on peoples lives without realizing it.
God Bless till next time.....
