Today we got to meet a neat guy named Brandon, he’s a Canadian man that’s been living in Cambodia for the past 11 years. As we spent the day with him visiting his ministries, we found out he’s quite the comedian and story teller, as well as a hard worker serving in a very tough country. So the day was quite fun as well as eye opening.
First we visited one of his ministries called Hope Center. It’s a beautiful thatched roof community that can currently house six widows and their kids. It was created for women who have HIV/AIDS, whose husbands have either left them or died. At this center, they learn knitting skills and are in the business of making wool hats that are sold to churches around the world. And they earn money for each hat they make. Therefore it gives women the skills as well as the ability to now earn a living while maintaining their family in a safe environment. What’s also great is that the Bible is studied regularly amongst the women and families and two of the women were just baptized a couple of weeks ago.
We also got to spend a lot of time with the children there, playing games, teaching songs, and making crafts. We decorated the meeting tent by folding paper hearts and decorating them.
Today was also a special day as we got to welcome a new woman, Ngek and her son into the center. She had 5 children, 3 of them who have died of HIV/AIDS, 1 who is already in an orphanage, and now her youngest son is the only one left with her. She herself has the HIV/AIDS virus and her husband left her for dead living in a cot with a tin roof over it. Thankfully Hope Center was notified about her situation and they took her in to give her a new start and chance in life.
Next we were able to visit Brandon’s second project, Mercy Ministries School. It’s a free public school that has 100 students taught by qualified, certified teachers. Finding a Cambodian teacher is already hard but finding certified ones are even more difficult. So the education these grade school children are getting is excellent compared to a lot of other public schools in Poi Pet.
The last part of the day blew me away. We went to the slum community of Poi Pet. I thought the Burma slums were harsh…until I experienced this. I really don’t think anything can get as bad as what I saw here: beautiful children and people living in putrid filth. Garbage everywhere, massive stench, and run down shacks with no running water were what made up this community. The next pictures will probably say what my words cannot. I was literally speechless and my heart was truly saddened when I saw these images.
First we visited one of his ministries called Hope Center. It’s a beautiful thatched roof community that can currently house six widows and their kids. It was created for women who have HIV/AIDS, whose husbands have either left them or died. At this center, they learn knitting skills and are in the business of making wool hats that are sold to churches around the world. And they earn money for each hat they make. Therefore it gives women the skills as well as the ability to now earn a living while maintaining their family in a safe environment. What’s also great is that the Bible is studied regularly amongst the women and families and two of the women were just baptized a couple of weeks ago.
We also got to spend a lot of time with the children there, playing games, teaching songs, and making crafts. We decorated the meeting tent by folding paper hearts and decorating them.
Today was also a special day as we got to welcome a new woman, Ngek and her son into the center. She had 5 children, 3 of them who have died of HIV/AIDS, 1 who is already in an orphanage, and now her youngest son is the only one left with her. She herself has the HIV/AIDS virus and her husband left her for dead living in a cot with a tin roof over it. Thankfully Hope Center was notified about her situation and they took her in to give her a new start and chance in life.
Next we were able to visit Brandon’s second project, Mercy Ministries School. It’s a free public school that has 100 students taught by qualified, certified teachers. Finding a Cambodian teacher is already hard but finding certified ones are even more difficult. So the education these grade school children are getting is excellent compared to a lot of other public schools in Poi Pet.
The last part of the day blew me away. We went to the slum community of Poi Pet. I thought the Burma slums were harsh…until I experienced this. I really don’t think anything can get as bad as what I saw here: beautiful children and people living in putrid filth. Garbage everywhere, massive stench, and run down shacks with no running water were what made up this community. The next pictures will probably say what my words cannot. I was literally speechless and my heart was truly saddened when I saw these images.
Brian
Their backyard playground 
Priceless smiles
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