Hi there,

I’m still in Phnom Penh and not going to leave until Friday. I stopped in at CCH for a few minutes to get some information about sponsoring a few of the children. The next thing I know, I decide that I’m not leaving. I don’t want to leave this place yet, or ever to be honest with you.

It is Cambodia New Years here. It is the biggest holiday of the year in Cambodia and it last many days. The main focus if to be with family. Many of the CCH children went off to their caregivers the other day. It was difficult for me to meet a few of the caregivers and know the background of the children. That said, I know from our little Missy that no matter what a parent may do to a child, the child still has a longing to be with that parent.

There are many children at CCH that have nobody. I saw one little boy crying as he saw other kids get on motorbikes with uncles, brothers or a grandmother. He has no one at all other than the CCH family. This little guy was dropped off on a street corner a while back and lived on the streets with people feeding him. When the Director found him, he didn’t even know his name and the centre named him. Poor little guy. He is 12 years old. He is a very affectionate boy and needs a sponsor.

Anyway, I spent the day with a group of children that have no family. Most of these kids have lost their parents to aids or other. We drove out to the country with many children crammed in the back of a van and in a car. It was awesome. We were in an area where most people live in huts. They eat from banana trees. There were kids running around everywhere. Many of them were half naked and dirty. They were all amazed by me, since I was probably the only “white” person in these parts. This definitely wasn’t a tourist spot. I joked with the kids and had an amazing time. One old village lady took me over to show me her hut. I had no idea what was going on, because she took my hand and pulled me in that direction. There was no English to be spoken. I put me arm around her and joked with the others that she was my girlfriend.

Then we took the kids to the river front and had corn on the cob. We all sat of mats on the ground and ate. Restaurants here are not like home. Many of them are just families that cook something and try to sell it.

I saw the most amazing thing……

A lady came up to us begging. I passed her first and didn’t give her any money. There are beggars here everywhere and I get asked for money hundreds of times a day. I turned around and I saw my table of about 15 little girls all giving this lady money from their pockets. One of our girls even stopped the lady to give her more money that she found deep down in her pocket. These are kids that are poor and have no parents and were taken from working at the dump. They are here because they have no family that will take them for New Years. They are giving this lady allowance money from their pockets. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a group of kids, as much as I did that moment.

Love Gerry