A Successful Week!!!!

THE HAPPY FAMILY...

Here I am this morning picking up the family, that we have recently located from the river front, to go to church. They are really happy to have a home to sleep and eat in. The little boy's name is Rhit. He's 7 years old. He now comes running up to meet us and gives us a big hug when we arrive. Two weeks ago he was a sad eyed little boy, wondering the streets late into the night, begging for money from the tourists. Now his face lights up when he smiles. He has his own bed! Praise God that this family now look forward to their future.

A hug from Rhit is priceless.

Making woven bracelets:
The other day I walked to the Toul Sleng Museum, to see a movie about the Pol Pot regime. But God had other ideas. I'd mixed up time and place, so I didn't get to see the movie, but I came across this lady selling just the kind of bracelet's that we wanted to train our girls to make. So I asked the lady if she would train me to make them, so I could train our girls. She is a lovely lady, and agreed very happily. It was totally a God appointment. We thought we would have to make a 3 hour trip to Sihanoukville to find someone to teach us. So here I am getting my lesson in Khmer handicraft.
The bracelet's have ÏTS NOT OK" woven into them. Citipointe church will buy them from the makers and sell them in Australia. The girls get paid by the piece, and then they are sold at conferences etc, and the profits go back in to the SHE home here in Cambodia......
A success Story:

This is Srey. She is the mum of the family we relocated two weeks ago, from begging on the river front. We took her to be trained in how to make the bracelets as well. She was REALLY happy to have the opportunity to learn a skill that could potentially help her create an income for her family. We supplied her with all the materials that she needs to get started. She picked it up well, and has since done two more practise ones at home.

One of Srey's practice bracelets....

But there's more:

We had been wondering how and what type of work we could get for Kouen, the husband. He had been a farmer before he moved to the city and had no other skills, and very little confidence. We noticed there was a lot of construction work going on around where they now live. So, with the help of our Khmer tuk tuk driver, we asked around at the building sites. We managed to get him a start on a site. Two weeks training, then, if he works out, he will be paid after that. Please pray that it works out for him, as the family really need some work. And he especially, needs it for his self esteem, and needs to be the provider for his family. If he is left at home the temptation to drink etc is great. He hasn't been drinking since they moved into their new home, and are going to church regularly. They have no transport, so we take a tuk tuk and pick them up every Sunday.

When we arrived to pick Srey and the family up for church this morning, she proudly showed us all the bracelets she had made since we gave her all the supplies a few days ago. She is getting creative and creating new designs as well. I can't wait to see what else God has in store for this family.

Doing it hard in Phnom Penh: It's tough, but hey, someone has got to do it......

It is Julie's birthday this month, so Hilary (the project director) took us both out to dinner, at the Inter Continental Hotel. We had a lovely night. It was a lovely posh setting, and a buffet full of the most beautiful food. Not to mention all the delicious desserts. We felt very regal posing in these chairs.

Just for interest (especially for Noel) I thought I'd include a "guy" thing......More construction:

There is a lot of construction going on in Phnom Penh. This is another example of Khmer scaffolding... I thought that you might find it interesting, I did...!! The guys on the sight were intrigued at me taking this photo.



Getting ready for church one day.... photo taken at home. I love being a part of what God is doing over here. It makes me happy to be able to help in very practical ways, and see the growth in the people around me. The older girls, that I spend a lot of my time with, are growing into lovely young ladies. At times I catch a glimps of them actively modelling themselves off me. It's so sweet. God is doing wonders, I can't imagine what their lives will be like in about 5 years time.

Well, I will sign off for another week (or two). The days travel so fast, it's a surprise to realize that I have been here 4 months now.God bless you my friends. Please keep praying for me and the work over here, not only at SHE Rescue, but also in the whole of Cambodia. Love Lane.