Archive for July, 2007

Good out of bad

Published by ilse on July 15, 2007 in Personal Journey. 0 Comments

Good can come out of bad, especially if you make it happen yourself!!!!
Gerry

Hi there,

I want to tell you what happened after my video camera got stolen. I received many calls from people upset for me. My aunt told me that “Something good will come out of this.” She told me that “It was part of my plan”.
To be honest with you, at the time, I can’t say that I completely believed this in my heart. I mean bad things happen to people all the time and I’m not sure things always turn out for the better. Late at night, I was reflecting on this idea about a life plan. I was almost asleep, when I jumped out of bed with the answer. It’s not about sitting back and hoping that good will come out of bad. It’s about making it happen.
I got on the computer and spent the entire night doing research and writing my contacts in Cambodia and making plans. I wasn’t going to wait for good to come out of bad, I was going to make it happen. As I worked, the plan unfolded before my eyes and I knew I was not working alone.

On Monday July 16th, 2007, a young 16 year old girl that lives in a hut in the countryside of Cambodia, started English classes and a dream for her came true. All because, someone stole my video camera.

Thank you
Love Gerry

Stolen Hope

Published by ilse on July 10, 2007 in Personal Journey. 0 Comments

Hello,

I think that many of you have already my story about the stolen video camera. I wanted to tell you about what actually happened, because it’s been a good learning experience for me.

I’ve been crazy busy working during the day and working of the charity every night. On Thursday night, I stayed up until 3:00am, putting together a presentation to give a Grade One class in the city about Street Kids. The classroom raised funds to help a young boy, Virak, get out of the dump. I had videos of Virak as he first arrived at the centre and say hello to the children. I also had a video of children at the school for children of poverty, where the kids in Cambodia sang to the kids here in Canada. The song was “We can change the world”.

Friday morning, I rushed out of my house, because I had a two hour meeting at 8:30am in the morning. I threw all my presentation material in my car (i.e. digital camera, video camera and connectors). When I got to the office, I parked in my regular parkade that has security guards. I was in a rush and just left my bag on the floor of my vehicle for my two hour meeting. When I returned to my car, my window was broken and everything was gone.

The security guards told me that he say two young boys, about 16 years old, run away with my stuff. It was very hard for me. They didn’t just steal physical goods, they stole something that was very important to me. It’s like they stole some hope I had for those wonderful children.

I mean, the children’s very lives and struggles were on those video tapes. And now, little Virak and Srey Mom and my Yellow Class are with a group of kids that chose to steal from others. I was with the poorest of the poor, living eating and sleeping in a garbage dump and never once did someone try to take my video camera. Frankly, I never met more generous people in my life than those I met in Cambodia that had nothing.

The loss was a big lesson for me. It was a lesson about not leaving things in my vehicle. But, it was really a bigger life lesson.

Bad luck? Good luck? It’s Too Soon to Tell!

Love Gerry

Update

Published by ilse on July 2, 2007 in Personal Journey. 0 Comments

Hi there,

I continue to work through requirements for a Registered Charity. I’ve made many great contacts with people and will have things set up shortly.

I’ve been getting many e-mails from the children at CCH, the School for Poverty Children and Green Gecko. They are the most precious e-mails. It continues to surprise me that a person can make a difference to these children in a matter of a few months.

When you think you are too small to make any difference in this big world, all you need to do is think about that one person whose life you can change. That will mean the world to you. This week, I’m going to show you some of the e-mails I’ve received from some of the kids in Cambodia. They will warm your heart.

Love Gerry