Another day is in the books, and yet again, we had amazing experiences in the Cambodian culture.
To start the day, we paid an early morning visit to the Takom Village in Siem Reap where more than 200 families live in poverty. We worshipped with residents of the village in their weekly Tuesday church service and distributed more than 100 water filters to village families. Sharing in a time of worship in a Cambodian village is pretty awesome. (I mean…how often do you get to go to church wearing bug spray and sunscreen?!)
After the service and filter distribution, we relocated to another area in the village where the integrated farm is located. The integrated farm was established and maintained by several groups and organizations, including the Lee University Department of Business. The farm helps to sustain the village by teaching them to grow other crops in addition to rice and to store the crops during the rainy season. Lee University alumni proudly took a group picture (with the most recent Torch edition) in front of the farm’s sign.
Following a yummy lunch at Common Grounds, the team spent the afternoon and early evening at PCL’s Siem Reap children’s orphanage. The 28 kids of the home welcomed us with hugs and smiles as we stepped out of the vans. It was as if they had known us for years. The lovely children performed dances, gave everyone on the team a handmade scarf, and provided us with a tour of their facilities. While we waited for the evening church service, Lee alumni painted fingernails with the girls, played basketball and chess with the boys, and took advantage of the opportunity to establish friendships with some awesome kids. We capped off the visit with a wonderful worship service and some very difficult and sad goodbyes.
It was such an emotional day…we had laughs and we shed tears, but we will never forget the life-changing moments.
It’s off to bed we go. Tomorrow’s day starts off with a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat Temple.
Stay tuned,
Mitzi
