Newsletters
With our regular newsletters, we aim to keep you posted on all the interesting and important news and updates of our programs and various activities. Enjoy reading!
August 2004
Dear friends and partners, It seems like so long since I have talked with all of you. Partly, it is a result of being in Canada for the month of July. Miriam and I left on the first of July and returned at the end of the month. We traveled to see family and to meet up with 12 of our adopted children and their families. What a privilege it was to see these young people again - to be allowed to enjoy their personalities and their strengthening friendships. It is so very good.
It was good to be with family - to enjoy their fellowship - to laugh and to reminisce - to encourage and to be encouraged. It was good to be with Miriam and marvel at all that she marveled at. Canada's Wonderland provided opportunity for her to comfort mom after just one too many rides on the roller coaster. She thought our 2 door rented car was magic but didn't think much of having to sit in the backseat all alone on our many miles of travel. She loved McNuggets, swimming with her cousins, riding the tractor with grandpa, getting spoiled by her aunties, going on all the water slides and her most favorite thing of all, getting to sleep in mom's bed the whole time - making mom a true convert to king size beds. On our return to Cambodia, we both felt a bit jet lagged. This lasted for several days until the yard needed to be de-snaked. It was an episode not soon to be forgotten. We had been troubled by snakes for several months. On the Sunday afternoon after our arrival we were sitting in the yard and a snake came out of our rock garden, slithered along the fence - noticed we were there - raised his head in consternation - flicked his tongue and then climbed into the tree. None of us said anything - we just sat frozen where we were. The next morning I announced that the snakes must go - and the drama began. First task was to find the snake man - it took most of the day - he was finally found in a field several miles from the city. He was delighted to come but it would take an hour of preparation. Of we went to the local village where he gulped several large glasses of the local wine. This, he said, would calm the snake. Back home we came and called several of our male friends to help us dismantle the rock garden - this took quite some energy as all of us were afraid of the snake deciding to make an appearance - the evening turned dark when finally a snake was spotted. Our snake man had sat quietly bemused through all these efforts - he came to life - in a few moments he had one snake and then another and then yet one more. With each appearance - there was laughter and chatter but we all took a few steps back. They were vipers - not dangerous, he said, if they bite, the skin and muscles of your hand will wither and die but you will not die. Into plastic bags they went and our evening party slowly subsided. By then it was 9, 2 hours past our early evening sleeps and for the first time, both Miriam and I slept through out the night. The staff had met us as the airport on our arrival. They were full of stories and chatter of all that had gone on. They were delighted to see us but the usual list of urgent problems and decisions needed when I was away was not there. They had pulled together and with the help of Miles, a volunteer had handled all the issues. That was so very good. Now we are back into a regular routine - our most pressing issue is to find a larger building - we have outgrown our current one - so each morning a dozen or more of us look at yet another place - we may have found the right one for us today - but, if not - we will continue to look. The programs continue at full pace - something that we have never been able to do before - usually our summer months require strict budgeting and a slowdown of projects. It is because of all of you that we are free to work - free to dream - free to expand. What a gift you have given us - I praise my God for each of you - I praise my God for each of my staff - I praise my God for every family that we reach - it is all so very, very good. Janne
