Here!

Well, they are not on the map...

After settling Michael and Kerri in downstairs, we decided to go out to dinner and enjoyed a great meal and time of fellowship.

Then it was time to hit the supermarket to stock up the fridge and pantry. We used to 'bump into' each other at Belmont Forum often, but this supermarket is miles from there...

The team have been on about changing the Transform uniform for both the children and the team for quite some time and the discussion - 'Khmer Style' - continues...





Some of the team were happy to partake in a sample 'fashion parade'.

When Kerri and Michael left Phnom Penh in December last year, they said that they would return again next December. Well, that isn't guite what happened - they're back and feel like they are 'home'. It's as if they never left!

It was presentation day - time to present a story book, handcrafted texture book and their very own personal story book... to the 'children'.

Here, the two centre teams work on a training activity.

...continue to fill Centre 2 at various times throughout the day.

As the month drew to an end, it was 'salary time', but there was one catch. No contract - no pay. So at lunch time, they made sure that everything was in order.

For some it was their first salary, which made it a very special occasion indeed!

Naturally, in order to teach the children, you need to have the expertise yourself! So it was time to get creative with the Paint and Disney programs.

... about releasing women in Cambodia from their poverty entrapment.

Women who are serious about becoming committed to this venture and stepping up and out together to embark on a relentless, passionate pursuit of changing the lives of the poor and needy women of this country.

Are you excited?! It's easy... It's already underway ... Join me and get 'on the bus'.

You can do it from your study, lounge room, church or wherever you may be.

Still not sure if you want to be a part of this life changing mission to forever change the circumstances of fellow women?! Let me know if I can help with answers to any questions you may have. I don't want you to miss out!

For details, email us with your interest. patrickandcarol@everyday.com.kh

Khmer people love to discuss 'something', so this conversation centred on the new folding tables and everyone had their bit to say.

One of our young neighbours also has a nice new motor bike. How cute?!

Our friend recently commenced work at an NGO and has a nice new 250cc motor bike (company car?!) in the package. He is really happy about having a big bike to travel to the provinces!

It was a warm day and made even warmer by the fact that the power kept going off. But the team were great as we moved from one area to another trying to find some relief and they were still all smiles at the end of the day.

We first met this little guy while conducting research for the Newseason's Transform Cambodia project back in 2005 and we always loved him because he was full of mischief (in the nicest possible way) and vitality.

Here's a photo from way back then... See what I mean?!



So it was great when the time came to invite children to enrol at the centre and he fitted the criteria. His older brother also attends Metro House.



We are so blessed to be a part of his life!

... a number of political party representatives continue to parade around town.

A young sister of one of our team members is losing her battle with cancer and has been brought into a city hospital. Doctors do not expect her to live through another night.

It was a very moving experience for the Metro House team and volunteers when we were invited to join our friend to travel in convoy to the hospital to pray for her sister, during the lunch break. It was such a privilege to pray for this young lady and offer comfort to her parents who are heart broken, sitting at her bedside.

It was certainly a quieter convoy of people on motor bikes who returned to the centre for the afternoon session.

This little girl has been second in her class each month since she started school - but after lots of hard work that has changed and now she is #1.

Well Done!

They are an awesome team and thoroughly enjoying the training.







They were doing a great job...



Then this group lost it...



...but soon regained composure.... and finished strong!

The theme this afternoon at Patrick's surprise party at Metro House, was one of love!

The team and children had put in a lot of effort to ensure that their favourite man had a great party with lots of cake and singing.

Street Children Phnom Penh Cambodia - the Global Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DndPbhrf65A

Thanks, Ros!

Isn't he cute?!



Years before Bob the Builder, there was Pat the Painter!

Check out the amazing story of William Wilberforce in the 'Amazing Grace' Movie Trailer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Cv5P9H9qU

... and may we all be modern day William WilberFORCES.

Thanks, Ros!

If you can speak English and would like to help educate orphans and refugees or if you are 'crafty' (as in sewing, arts & crafts), we would love to have you work on our projects.

We have all the resources you will need. We just need you!

So don't be shy - stir up the flame that is within you and contact us to find out how YOU can be a part of changing this world!

Email us at patrickandcarol@everyday.com.kh

[Let me say] "This is my work;
my blessing, not my doom;
Of all who live, I am the one by whom
This work can best be done in the right way."
Then shall I see it not too great, nor small,
To suit my spirit; and to prove my power;
Then shall I cheeful greet the laboring hours,
And cheerful turn when the long shadows fall
At eventide, to play and love and rest,
Because I know for me my work is best.

Henry Van Dyke

Freedom from slavery...

27 million are victims of modern day slavery across the world.
50% of victims are children.
20 million bonded laborers in the world.
126 million children works in the worst form of child labour.

200 years after the official abolishment of slavery there are more slaves today than ever before. Many people find it hard to believe that slavery still exists today. Modern slavery has more slaves today than were seized from Africa in four centuries during the trans-Atlantic slave Trade.

Slavery in the form of bonded labour, rice mills, plantation, brick kilns and the deplorable trade in humans to serve the sex industry. It affects men, women and especially children.

It never ceases to amaze me just how close vehicles can get without actually touching each other. What we consider a close call at home goes on all the time here and nobody bats an eyelid.

In Australia we tend to be cautious in case anyone tries to run a red light. Well here, they also run a green light. True!



Thanks to the digital countdown traffic light system, with about 7 seconds to go - they restart their engine (yes, many of them turn the vehicle off to save fuel), 6... 5... 4... and a lot of them are off - against the traffic!

This is an excerpt which caught my attention in a Development and Cooperation Journal...

... Non government organisations have important roles to play in cooperation with governments, but also in opposition to them.

Too true!

I was delighted today to find the following written in English and French on a whiteboard in a government ministry office...

Le splendeur de la vérité pourra briller partout.

That the splendour of the truth may shine everywhere.

Jesus Christ

It is always great to meet up with Reverend James (all the way from America) when he is in town on ministry business, as well as Pastor Ken (who lives here).

If you and your team would like to visit our 'Sewing Skills Training', please contact us to find out the session details.

It is fantastic that we are equipping and empowering these women and enriching their lives by providing them with a means to generate an income.

We are changing their circumstances!



You are welcome to purchase various silk and crochet items made by the ladies.

Thanks to you, Kay Stiches-of-Hope

Take a look at the Transform Cambodia team and check out the kids looking through the gates.

Centre 1



and the very casual... in training centres...

Centre 2 Manager (on the right) and teachers. We are yet to appoint a cook (and you can see the cleaner in the group photo standing in the back row on the right).



Centre 3 Manager (second from the left) and teachers. We are yet to appoint a cook and cleaner.



And altogether - Centres 1,2 & 3

As we said earlier, the rain started to fall this week and brought with it a nice few 'cooler' days - but it didn't last long and with the change of season the mercury is on the rise.



It would be a great time to 'hit the beach' - if only there was one!

This guy missed out on a teaching position this time around, but he gladly accepted an invitation to volunteer at Transform...



...and so did this young lady.

Transform Cambodia's new program is in full swing and free play has been replaced with creative, intentional play. The kids love it!

This group of children were blindfolded (or at least those who hadn't removed their blindfold to take a peek) in order to experiment with their senses.

What does this sound like?



What does this smell like?



Now you can taste it!

After a few days of training, our new teams joined the team at Metro House to get some on the job training which they are thoroughly enjoying. It's a great opportunity for the children to get more one-on-one tutoring.

The kids and team members are missing us now that we are doing the training at Centre 2, so they were pleased to see us arrive for a brief meeting.

The new Transform Cambodia team members have had another great day at Centre 2, as we continue to work through the training manual.

Role play.



Craft.



Creating energy!

Blue sky - we haven't seen any blue sky since we were in Perth in January, so it was beautiful to see a new season break forth here in Cambodia.

Here's the 'Kelly Gang 2006' in Joondalup after the ride.



We didn't get to ride again in this years Freeway Bike Hike, but I believe that the team 'did us proud'!





Well done 'Kelly Gang 2007'

After thinking how dry everything looked yesterday, the rain that started in the evening went on throughout the night. Needless to say, that a lot of people would have been struggling to keep dry. That makes the water that we had to clean up in our home this morning, insignificant.

... we had a flat tyre...



Where's the RAC?!



No problem - I can fix it! And he did for 50 cents.

And we got home before the big downpour!

How nice it is to smell the rain when it hasn't rained for months. Surely one of the simple pleasures life has to offer!

Let's start with devotions...



... followed by introductions...





... and Transform Cambodia's strategy...









... small group activites...







Let's break for lunch...



Notice that there isn't a need to take too many bikes... there's three on each of these.



Time for a sing-a-long during the lunch break...



Now tell me a story...





Let's have some friendly competition.





Now back to the more formal training room...

Here they are!



Note the palm trees - we could be in paradise!

It was time to make sure that everything was in order for the first day of training for Centre 2 and Centre 3 team members.

Manuals, lights, projector ...

A lady that we know has had a vision to open a children's centre in the village in the previous post. Her vision is so strong, that she recorded the details of the project in a proposal in 2005 and she believes that the funds will come so that she can open it.

Any takers?!

This is a popular saying in Cambodia - you can even buy a T shirt with this on now - but it sums up how we felt when we left a village that we went to for the first time. We have been to a number of villages and they all have their own sad story. The people in this village can only live there during the dry season and have to move to the local pagoda during the wet season, as this entire area floods.



This is their drinking water - I wouldn't want to have to wash my feet in it!



Here are some of the amazing little kids we met and had the opportunity to spend some time with.

... after an inspiring afternoon, meeting some amazing people - which we will tell you about later - we finished off Saint Patrick's Day with a Daniel O'Donnell Concert on DVD - Just For You!

'Just For You' must be for Mum and Patrick, as it's certainly not for me or my Dad.

I am happy in having learned to distinguish between ownership and possession. Books, pictures, and all the beauty of the world belong to those who love and understand them - not usually to those who possess them. All of these things that I am entitled to I have - I own them by divine right. So I care not a bit who possesses them.

James Howard Kehler

We enjoyed a great start to the day with breakfast at Hagar with friends.

The conversation centred on land mines, and the removal thereof, prisoners, the elderly and the very young (and I guess, everyone in between).





We are looking forward to breakfast overlooking the mighty Indian, Phil and Lissa!

Patrick had just made the comment to me - it's a free country - and I laughed, because at that time I was reading an article on the upcoming elections.

Everyday's home page lead story today, includes the following...

Prime Minister Hun Sen Thursday publicly warned that if the ruling Cambodian People's Party were to lose in elections, the country would fall into insecurity and instability.

These children were able to write their own letters without any assistance. How good is that?!





This little guy was so excited that he couldn't wait to come and tell me.

It is always great to be a part of the administrative establishment of wonderful projects.

Just what does the contract say, exactly?!

Getting certain things done here in Phnom Penh at the moment has turned into a waiting game. With the pending elections, many printing houses are flat out. Here's a group in their nice new printed shirts and caps complete with flags, parading the streets.

This young lady is very excited about joining the Transform Cambodia team as cleaner at Centre 2.

With Centre 2 getting fitted out, the local economy is getting a boost!



Oops! This lot fell off the roof of the tuk tuk en route!

... between a husband and wife at about 11pm last night, led to a deliberately lit fire, which resulted in the destruction of 4 homes.

Besides the destruction of the Boeng Salang homes, bicycles, motor bikes and contents were also destroyed.







While we did see a number of people with injuries, especially poor little children who were reportedly trampled on during the evacuation by people scurrying to safety, thank God no lives were lost.

These people are sifting through the ruins, trying to salvage anything of value.

The Metro House team enjoyed a motivation session before commencing work.

Below, is an excerpt from a current church bulletin.

There seems to be a great number of people than usual in the International Christian Community who are seriously weary. All the usual collection of causes applies but I suspect that the weight of spiritual oppression has increased lately for many.

For some it’s too many deadlines that have come close together; some have been here a long time and the weariness has accumulated.

Many work on the front line of dealing with the worst of human barbarity and suffering. And several, I know, are in the midst of pretty serious marriage struggles.

Let us persist in praying for one another; but also let us make sure we do not back off from supporting and encouraging one another.

It’s tough trying to figure out the way forward when every option seems to just add to the complications and weariness; and so, in supporting one another, let us listen well to the still small voice of God before we jump in with good advice.

Please especially pray for the marriages that are not in a good place – we all know why this is so important.

Amen

The children are thoroughly enjoying the challenge of ensuring that their articulation is accurate.

This young lady who is currently serving as a teacher at Metro House, has been successful in her application for a position as Centre Manager of one of Transform Cambodia's new centres.

She was moved to tears when she was advised of the news.

This young man, who is currently serving as a volunteer at Metro House, was so excited when we told him that he was a successful applicant. Training for his position as a full time teacher at one of the new Transform Cambodia centres commences next Monday.

We first met these children about three and a half years ago, so we have been watching them grow. They all spend most of their days working at the local market.

Parents of the children enrolled at Metro House, gathered to listen to speeches on the importance of education.



Our guest speakers included a Principal, Teacher, Dentist and Businessman.









The Principal of the school the children from the second centre will be enrolled in, also attended the meeting.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch with Joel and Jenni before they headed to the airport to continue on their journey - Next stop India!



What an amazing young couple!



Until we meet again...

... for a series of meetings...

It was time to get organised for a visit from the Dentist.

For some, it was exercise with the Aussie and Kiwi.



For those less energetic, it was time to relax and watch the cartoons!



For others, it was simply time for a cuddle.

The kids loved the English interaction class with Joel and Jenni. And yes, that means they were speaking Aussie English!

As I was walking down life's highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read Heavens Grocery Store.
When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide,
and when I came to myself I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said "My child shop with care."
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store.
And what you could not carry you could come back for more.
First I got some Patience. Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding, you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom and Faith a bag or two.
and Charity of course, I would need some of that too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost, it was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace.
And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free.
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,
for I thought I had everything to do the Masters will.
As I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and put that in,
for I knew when I stepped outside I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last hings on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near, so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the angel "Now how much do I owe?".
He smiled and said "Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked "How much do I owe?" "My child" he said,
"God paid your bill a long, long time ago."

Thanks, Ros!