Tabitha newsletters
November 2005
Dear friends and partners, Today is the first day of the annual Water Festival in Phnom Penh. It's a week when more than a million people from the rural areas travel to the big city to enjoy the boat races celebrating the beginning of the harvest season. This season is marked by the waters flowing down the Mekong River reversing itself and flooding up country to fill the Tonle Sap Lake in the middle of the country.
Oct 12, 2005
Dear friends and partners, It's been a whirlwind few weeks but my, how good the weeks were. In the past 3 weeks, 69 houses were built for our families - we had one day when there were 3 teams in town and all in our shop - they shopped and we had our biggest sales day ever - over $9,000.00 in 2 hours. Not only that but all the teams combined helped us start our new fiscal year with gusto as they brought more than $12,000.00 for our development program. People sometimes ask me if the work doesn't get too much. The answer is that Tabitha is always celebrating even when there is sadness or harsh realities that make us stop and mourn. When we have so many partners here with us, rejoicing and encouraging - no, it may be busy but our cup is flowing over.
Chrismas story
Dear Friends and partners, It's that time of the year when we want to take a moment to wish each and every one of you the best of the holiday season. December is a month when we refuse all teams; it's a time for me to visit all the project sites, a process that can be very tiring but also very exalting. Let me share a bit of yesterday's site visit.
September 2005
Dear friends and partners, This morning, our development staffs are off to Banteay Meanchaey - all 31 of them - they have gone to have a look at one of our youngest programs but they have gone with trepidation. You see, most of the staff is used to traveling for long hours on motorbikes - in the heat or the wet - it doesn't matter - they are used to long hours and very hard work. But Banteay Meanchaey is one of those areas where even motorbikes cannot go. Our young staff walk anywhere from 5 to 10 kilometers per day - just to meet with the families.
July 21, 2005
Dear friends and partners, Like most parents, I worry that Miriam learns to appreciate and be grateful for what she has and that she learns to be compassionate with those who are not so fortunate. Sometimes I get a glimmer if my desire is taking fruit. Let me share one such glimmer.
May 25, 2005
Dear friends and partners, A couple of weeks ago, staff asked me to come out and visit 60 families who had just completed their first cycle of savings. The families wanted to show me what they had done. I went rather reluctantly because I was not feeling well, I was on a special diet for my illness and my body hurt and ached. The visit pulled me out of my self pity. As we went from home to home, people ran to show me the things that they had bought, things they thought they could never have, things, they said, that only rich people can buy.
May 25, 2005
Dear friends and partners, A couple of weeks ago, staff asked me to come out and visit 60 families who had just completed their first cycle of savings. The families wanted to show me what they had done. I went rather reluctantly because I was not feeling well, I was on a special diet for my illness and my body hurt and ached. The visit pulled me out of my self pity. As we went from home to home, people ran to show me the things that they had bought, things they thought they could never have, things, they said, that only rich people can buy.
April 7, 2005
Dear friends, Its that time of the year to wish each and every one of you a Happy Khmer New Years. It seems strange to celebrate three New Years each year - Jan 1, Chinese New Years and Khmer New Years. The celebrations have started although the actual New Years days are April 13-15th - each evening our neighborhood rocks with the laughter of children and adults as they play games in the early evening. Hearing Miriam's laughter amongst them is very good. Khmer New Years also brings out the occasional electricity problems - not sure why, whether its because the country shuts down as everyone goes to their home villages, including those who do electricity or its because the weather is always at its hottest and the electricity use is at its peak. Whatever the reason, my home was without electricity for 2 days and nights - an experience that tests me to the core of my being and results in a schizophrenic personality that swings from utter despair to elation and unusual bonhomie to one and all when restored.
March 15, 2005
Dear friends, Every so often we get to share good news with those with whom we work. This month is a bit special. When we started Tabitha in 1994 - none of us could imagine what changes there would be - how life would impact each of us. Today I want to share the story of Pisette - our very first sewer.
January 28,2005
Dear friends and partners, It is time to wish each of you a happy and blessed 2005. The year started out with a reminder that life is short and not to be taken for granted. The tsunami in our neighboring countries caused us to pause and think about these families who have suffered so much - just like so many here. The waters in our ponds and wells - rose and fell that day - there was panic in several provinces as people tried to come to grips with what had happened. At first, they believed that there were evil spirits and then as the news spread of the earthquake and the resulting tsunami - people settled down again. Our condolences to all of you who lost loved ones in this tragedy - our prayers of thanks for all of you who were there and survived. Our thanks to our God for reminding us, yet again, to make each day of our lives count - to appreciate the gift of life - to remember to say I love you, to all around us.
