The rough schedule for a summer day for the kids here goes as follows:
5:00am Wake Up
5:30 Chores
6:30 Breakfast
8:00 Study
9:00 Play/Recess
10:00 Study
11:30 Lunch
After lunch rest/naps
2:00 Afternoon free-time/work project
5:00 Chores
6:00 Dinner
7:30 Movie if there is one
Last night they watched a movie about Jacob and Esau. Over the weekend while we were gone they watched a couple movies. One was the Scorpion King. I don't remember it but Alfven does. The kids here really liked the movie Frozen. On the day we went to the mountain the girls were singing "Let It Go" as they were coming down the long stair case. It was pretty amusing :)
This is our last full day here at the orphanage. We are heading to Phnom Penh in the morning and will stay at a hotel before our flight out the following day. It's been a trip I don't think I can put into words. As Kit said today this orphanage and school has been such a culmination and collection of miracles both big and small. Miracles of children being rescued from horrible circumstances. Miracles of the Lord supplying daily needs. Miracles of the work of Jesus in the kids hearts and workers as well. Miracles of the village seeing the Lord's hand on them and giving credit to God. These children are bold about their speaking of Jesus and what He's done in their hearts. Miracles of God answering prayers the way they hoped and sometimes not but still in the way they needed. It is only through the Lord's power that Kit and Ream are able to do what they do!
I pray I have reflected why we have come. To encourage, strengthen, work along side and love all the people here at A Greater Hope Orphanage.
I just grabbed some more pictures around the farm today. We did some more wash and also headed back into the market for a few snacks and Winter Mellon Tea. This is a bunch of bananas that are growing in the yard near the clothes wash basins.
The girls visited the animals and fed the rabbits.
We found the duck nesting under the ladder stairs in a tire :)
Anna, Grace and Benjamin enjoyed picking up the turkey chicks. They follow you around and peck at your toes while you are in the barn area.
This is the wall between one bedroom and the living room. The kids have been putting on shows for each other through the window. They are hilarious!
Mangly did a beautiful braid in Grace's hair that I hope to be able to replicate after some practice.
Several of the kids took us on a great bike ride to a lady who used to do silk weaving. Ream was explaining how beautiful the designs and colors were. They work each strand separately and use natural dyes that get more beautiful with time. The lady has stopped doing the weaving because they sold for too much money and people would buy the cheaper imitation from the factories that have moved in. Ream said this province used to be known all over Asia for it's masterful silk weaving.
We passed the pet monkey on the way back. The kids teased that it doesn't like the color red and will jump on people who wear it. I of course was in red shorts.
When we got back the work on the catfish pond had started again! Here Kit pulls one from the water that was huge! They caught at least 5 more today that I can remember.
They stoked up a grill and started cooking the fresh caught fish for a special dinner!
We all ate in the great room and enjoyed fish cooked several different ways. It was a feast!
After dinner they surprised us with an invitation to the church for them to perform traditional dances! It was a great honor! Ream said they hadn't done this in a long time (and some of the kids had outgrown their costumes :) The first group was 5 girls who did a blessing dance. The traditional music is Buddhist but they changed it to Khmer Christian song that praised Jesus and told of His great love for us, His dying on the cross and His resurrection. It also gave blessings to those listening :) It was a great gift of love. It was a beautiful, slow dance with great attention to their hands and feet.
The second dance was both boys and girls, 5 of each. They had half coconut type instruments that they clapped together and with each other. Again, it was a wonderful tribute to an ancient culture giving praise to their God and Creator Almighty.
We all came home in the dark with laughter, down the dirt lanes and friends holding hands. Tomorrow will be hard.
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