On one of our days off last weekend we travelled to Kampong Chhnang province, 100km north of Phnom Penh. We were invited by a member of the church to visit the province with his family to see the work he is doing there with World Vision.
So we packed 4 adults and 12 children into a 15 seat van plus the driver (yes it was a little cramped) and we travelled for a few hours along a very busy bumpy road to the province. The area we were visiting was an island in the middle of the Tonle Sap River so we pilled out of the bus and into a much more spacious boat for a half an hour trip across to the island.
We spent the rest of the day travelling in two oversized tuk tuks around the island. On the way around we visited an orphanage run by some local Christians. We spent a few hours singing songs and playing games with about 20 orphans ranging in age from about 5 to 15.
We thought that we would donate another one of our footballs to the orphanage after we played some matches but it wasn’t the football they were keen on…
After we had lunch, we pulled out the face painting kit that we brought. As soon as the kids saw it they all wanted to get their faces painted. We ending up staying longer than we had planned. We were glad we did because it was such a humbling experience to spend time with these children who had very little but who had a joy on their faces. No doubt this is thanks largely to the Christians working there who were taking care of these kids and had given them a hope in the gospel of Jesus.
As we travelled around the rest of this very beautiful little island we saw people living alongside the road in very poor conditions with no electricity and no running water. The contrast couldn’t have been more striking. Despite this, our kids waved enthusiastically at at the locals as we passed by and their greetings were returned all the way around with smiles and waves back. One of our kids commented later on the way home about how happy these people were even though they had very little.
Our concerns are nothing compared to the concerns of these people and yet many of us don’t seem to be as happy as they are. Ironic.
hey guys, do you wanna make me a video for this Sunday? Just talk to the camera and say hello! we wanna see your faces. I’ve already forgotten what you look like. Your hair is grey, right Cam?
Hi Sam, Thanks for the message. We are going away from Phnom Penh for a break this weekend. So perhaps we could send you a video for next weekend (no promises though)? BTW my hair is actually going jet black…I think I’m turning Cambodian, I think I’m turning Cambodian, I really think so. Da na na na na naaaah.
Sounds like you guys are having a great adventure. God bless!
Chris and Deb.
Love the photos Cameron! Especially the one of all the kids sitting around Lara and the kids. Very cute.
It certainly seems you are getting out and about in Cambodia. It must be confronting to see so much poverty. Glad you guys are there! Great photography too!
What amazing experiences you are having…you’ll all have so much to tell us when you get back. You are learning so much more about life than you could ever learn from text books.
Love, G’ma and G’pa.