Cambodia May21-June6 - Field Report
by Sunya Woodward - Communications Director
Home | Field Report | Photo Gallery | Warm Blankets Home

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Here we are the day before the trip...packing all the supplies. Thanks to all who donated supplies, we were blessed
with many items to take to the women and children.  We took toiletries for the women, medicine, and toys for the kids.

Day One: May 24th

We arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 23 late in the evening.  The next day is filled with activities.  This is
where we begin.  The first thing this day is the Phnom Penh dump.

The steam from heat and decaying garbage creates a thick gray haze over most of the dump. There are few trees for
shade, this young man takes a break--only this is his home.

These people are sitting down in the midst of the dump to have lunch!  As we drive through the dump to get to this scene we
pass huge mounds of separated garbage--plastics, glass, and aluminum...as we turn a corner I see something I will never be
able to forget.  We were there to witness the arrival of a fresh load of garbage...the men, women, and children await it
anxiously hovering around the truck. They can't even wait for it to be dumped out--The  heat only makes the stench that much
more pungent-- How can it be that this is how these people live? 

Many of the children who dig for garbage have mothers who work in the clothing factories.  Another thing I witnessed
this first day.  I was surprised to learn that many popular American brands have their factories here-hmph.  And for 30 to
40 dollars a month, the price of one item I might purchase--these young girls are bussed in from all the provinces to work
14 hour days with ONE day off a month.  I knew slave labor exists and "sweat shops" were a reality, but it's different when
you look into their faces.  I think the simplest and most profound effect this trip has made in me is the change in my
perspective.  At any moment I am aware that these people are existing in these conditions.  That knowledge forever changes
you. 

Driving to the dump I saw trucks with a hundred girls standing up, holding on to a thin metal rail --the ones in the middle are
hidden due to overcrowding. They get off the trucks and walk in droves to these factories, on which I saw few windows, and
I know they are not air conditioned. At night these girls have no homes to go to. Some live in shacks, to keep rent down
there can be eight to ten girls in one room.  The others sleep on the street making them extremely vulnerable to sexual
preditors.  Ted, our main missionary wants very much to build a dormatory for these girls. He needs extra funding to do so.

The next place we visit is the AIDS hospice center .  There I witnessed men, women, and children--on their death
bed...moaning in pain, emaciated, open sores, flies hovering over their wounds. The toughest part to witness are the little
ones, babies still with so much laughter, playing..not knowing how little life they have left.  The nun we met with is an amazing
woman of God, she has the gentleness of a dove--but what a powerhouse.  Standing only 4 foot 10" she tells us of how she
desperately needs a  reliable carrier to bring the medicine.

Here we visit the Training Center. This will be used as a visiting center, it will house one orphan home that is, the kids from
Toul Kouk, and all pastors will be trained here.  To the left is the new Orphan home, and to the right is the actual training
center.

Next on the itinerary was Toul Sleng , the high school where Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge tortured Cambodians in an
attempt to overthrow the government with Communism.  The effects of this massive genocide are evident still today.  Visiting
this place really makes one understand why things are the way they are in this country.

This nation has no infrastructure--no social network.  It has over two million landmines, thats more landmines than people.
Cambodia has the highest AIDS epidemic of all of Southeast Asia.  We couldn't get over the chasm between the haves and
the have nots.  For example, there's a guy living in a shack next to a mansion--and to top it off, the guy in the shack still
manages to carry a cell phone! The reason being is due to all the landmines, telephone wire is impossible to put up, so they
bypassed land lines all together!  It's a strange thing.

(image 1 )We stopped at the market this day to buy shirts for the caregivers packages--quite the experience. (image 2)
Here's a typical street in Phnom Penh. Lots of motto dops.(image 3) Here is a happy family out for a Friday night drive--do
you see how many people they fit on these things! (Image 4) Barb wants to bring fruit to the children, so she and Randy
negtiate for a bushel of apples.  Meanwhile Katie and I wait in the car and a mob of women with babies and street kids tap
on the window, hoping we will give them some money. They are inches away from my face with sad hungry eyes...what to
do?

We visit our first orphan home, Toul Kouk . The pastor of this home is the head of all of Warm Blankets pastors. He is
 recognized as a national leader!
We get their for Friday night worship services. We enter from the side and look at the shirts we
 are greeted with--you gotta love that!!!

Sunya and Ganya
This little girl is precious to me, Ganya is her name. During prayer I knelt beside her and put my
hand on her back as she wept. I knew how she felt, as she cried out and God's love just poured
down on her..filling her...overwhelming her little body. We had a connection from then on. It was
her humble and exhuberant smile that drew me in. What a sweet heart! She stuck to me like glue
for the rest of the night.

Barb holds Timothy, who earlier that day had major surgery to correct a brain hemmorage...a condition that
affects many little boys in Cambodia. It is a birth defect that they think might be caused from the water. So
many of these kids, sick or not, just long to be held. Barb gladly holds this sleepy boy.
 

Day 2 Travel to the Battambang Province We wake up for an early flight on an old  Russian plane--scarry!
 

Sou and Barb--Barb is having fun for sure.. I'm already drowsy due to the Dramamine--I don't fly well. :(  
Incidentally on this plane flight I saw a geko run accross the wall and under the air vents...only in the tropics!

        Our pilots let Katie sit in the cockpit!   She's a pro!

The first home we come to is Ta Mart . And it was a HIKE to get there..after the plane flight, it was four hours before we
reached this home. This was my first real experience of Cambodian roads...whoa, it was a rodeo!

This is a typical bridge in Cabmodia..you must line up your car to drive on the two planks as it is not
uncommon to have part or all of one's car fall through. 
 

These are the caregivers at the Ta Mart home...a bit timid.   There are always a couple of shy girls..i just love this picture.
 

(iamge1) This little guy we like to call curious george...he was into everything, especially attention.
(image 2) Curious George found a blue light on my pack and was enthralled.
(image 3) Who are you they wonder?

With a lack of mirrors, they are a lways fascinated by their faces in the car. 
I pass out bubble gum...a first for this home.And Barb instructs...first they just hold it in their hand, then they eat it, second
round they are all chewing! I tried to teach blowing bubbles, but this isn't for beginners. :)  George has gum!

                       Another favorite image.                 

  The caregivers recieve their presents and we get to watch this cute little boy.

The next home is not too far off, The Lvea home...a happy cheerful crew who greets us at their gate with bowed heads and
clasped hands.

Believe it or not this little girl is 5 years old. Severe malnutrition has stunted her growth. She is
not responsive like the other kids....a face that makes your heart melt.

The kids are facinated by the camera...Katie gives  them a little lesson

The next home this day is Ta Lam , they have practiced songs to sing for us...handmotions
and everything.  This is the wife of the pastor at the Lvea home. What a radiant woman--so friendly and  gracious.
 

I am in my element. :)             Time to say goodbye
The little girl in the flowered shirt was completely blind until a recent operation which has allowed her to see--She still needs
glasses as many of the kids do. God truly answers the prayers of these fervent little ones! I am amazed at their faith...when
they pray, and they pray all the time...things happen!

Next we are off for lunch and then to see another home before returning to the Battambang                                                                         Province.

After Ta Lam, we have lunch at this roadside restaurant. We are leary of this food for sure. Here we are outside of the
restaurant at the entrance of a buddhist temple--the kids think we look funny. 

 Here  are a couple of scenes of villagers we pass on the way to the next Home.

After lunch we stop by Daniels place, he is our driver and pastor who is good at planting  churches. We visit the site where
new building is taking place...looks good.

The construction worker wear flip flops! It's going to be a large building.

This is how and where they mix concrete.

Here is Katie and I in front of these really cool topiary like trees...she wanted to take one home.

I decide to take a walk down the road. It was just about to rain and the air had that heavy sweet smell, the sky is a pale gray
and the lighting made everything look a rich green. Then see an ox cart drive by--moments to remember.

After Daniel's site we visit Serei Saophoan Home. Here again I help the ladies with their  presents. So fun. Good picture of
Katie and Barb with care givers

They too have songs prepared for us...I love the pearl necklace! So cute!

Day 4 Sunday May 26 First we stop for church in Poipet. This home, Toul Pongro awaits
their building which they should be able to move into in two weeks. Right now the orphans
live in this shack. Humble abode no doubt.

This building is the kitchen and to the right is what it looks like on the inside...yikes. 

This first image represents the community involvment with this church.  It was packed this Sunday morning. The next image
shows the actual

This building is the kitchen and to the right is what it looks like on the inside...yikes.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                

Next we travel about a half a mile down the road and here is where Toul Pongro is moving...what a
contrast..Katie gets tears in her eyes as she sees where they now get to live.  I think it hit Katie and I
like a ton of bricks..this is why we work for Warm Blankets..this is orphan rescue in action.
 

Inside: this will be the sanctuary.

You have to know what these bathrooms look like. It works.

Barb surveying the landscape. This home might have enough land for a fishpond. This is another fund that desperately needs to
be raised. The home can run self-suffiently with major food supply such as this

Sunya, Barb, and Sou.

Next we move a few miles down the road to Palelai Home.

This is Barb with the pastor of Palelai. He is such a nice man.

Here we are outside of Phnom Thom Home later on Sunday. Some of the Ta Lam kids came over to this home for a visit,
so you might see a couple familar faces. They are so much fun!!!

Next we are off for lunch and then to see another home before returning to the Battambang Province.

Chomka Somraong Home

This home is truly spectacular. The pastor of this home is a retired school superintendant. He was personally involved with the design and completion of this home. It is very well maintained and manicured. It is what one hopes to see when visiting an orphanage. Above are some shots of the grounds I thought you might like to see.
(First image) It looks like some lessons are conducted in this space..again it is immaculate. (Second image) This is the lawn to the right of the home.  (Third image) This is the cafeteria and kitchen. Impressive.

As we walk into this home one can hear a pin drop...the kids sit silently in their tidy rows and wait for the pastors direction.
We listen and watch the kids sing their little hearts out for us. They are so cute.

Barb and the caregivers pose for a shot--as you can see there are
several cameras vying for their attention! :)

Here the women try to figure out their products...Moni translates.

This is their bedroom. The girls sleep on the right and the boys on the left. Even though this
home has windows, mosquito netting is still a must. It is the wish of the pastor to build a
partition in the middle--he says a "solid wall", to seperate the boys from the girls.

 Here i am on the balcony--beautiful night, but the air is heavy. Katie
 snaps a shot with night vision--you can see the slide in the upper left
corner--it sits there as a symbol of childhood innocence.
 

.
And here is the whole Chomka Somraong gang. These kids are the epitomy of well behaved
children!

Now we are off to Our Kcheay.Home .just down the road in the Battambang province.

We arrive at night and the older boys hear the cars pull up...someone is supposed to be sleeping!
So I sneak into the boys room first..ssshhhhh. Not to worry at this point they are only pretending to be asleep. Look at them
all tucked away under their mosquito netting. This home has seperate boys and girls rooms.  Some of them may be a little
tired, but they soon perk up.
 

As you can see their are holes in the mosquito netting, as the nets get tattered fresh ones are needed. If you'd like to
give toward this  fund please contact our office. With malaria season starting it is imperative these children be
protected.

What hams!!!

Now the little ones are up...they try to trick me by making snorring sounds--but I'm on to                                                                         their games!!!

And now, probably one of my very fondest memories--a slumber party. At least that's what it  felt like. We are now in the
girls room...i just love little girls, and these girls are precious!  There's lots of giggles coming from this room. Oh, it is so much
fun!

They have questions in English prepared and they soon run to get their school books so they  can talk to us. Here they ask me
how old I am--would you believe they guessed 30!! They refused to believe 23.  Soon the boys want in on the action...but
the girls say keep out!  Darling!

I wondered how this could be...so many kids and not a lot of adults..do they get enough attention? are their needs being met?
---And yet God provides. I think of how strong He is for these kids to make up for their weakness, and I rejoice with them.
These kids are such family to each other. I used to think of the word orphanage and scarry, dark, opressive
connotations came to mind...but where their is love there is freedom. AMEN !

It did my heart so much good and gave this trip such purpose to visit this home. With God as their Father these kids flourish.
It could not have been a better end to this day. I will never forget the time I spent here. This day was grueling and exhausting
We went to five orphan homes, and if you knew how treacherous the roads are here, you would understand this feat. It was
hot, smelly, sad, we had only warm water to drink. I saw places that made my heart sad God created the world if that was
how people had to live. And then I visit, for only a half an hour with these kids and I am reminded of the scripture, "Christ in
us is the hope of glory." And He is, praise Jesus He is enough!  My faith in God and His sovereighty, and power and purpose
was renewed this night.

These children are more than happy, words cannot explain the sweet sweet spirit that dwells in this home. They exude life and
love and joy. I want to know how they grow and forever be connected to their lives.

Here is Barb with the caregivers of this group. Only five women taking care of all these kids.

Day 5: Monday May 27 The boat ride from Battambang Province to Siem Reap Province.

Katie is hanging tough..she's turned into a real survivor. I wondered how we were going to get out of this lovely situation. We
are at this junction, it is several miles through swampy marshes untill we reach Siem Reap...do we walk lugging all our
supplies? The boat was supposed to take us all the way in, but the inlet waters are so low the boat might get stuck and so
our boat driver bails...ugh. He drops us off in what looks like the middle of nowhere...We then get on another boat which is
docked at this seedy port....we walk on planks--on either side of which is putrescent muck...the place reaks of urine. It
seems to be a scam--we are unsure of where to go, and our taxi drivers are misinformed as to where to meet us, since we
didn't make it all the way in to Siem Reap. Now we are quickly surrounded by shady mottodop drivers whose livelihood
depends on unsuspecting tourists. Yikes! After a five hour boat ride down the Tonile Sap--I have had it. Sunburnt, thirsty,
dirty (the understatment), and tired...I scope out the scene.

(secong image)These are the planks we walked down. (third image) Barb is thrilled. :)

(image1) The women rode in the only taxi that was available...we drove through the marsh (I think the path was cleared just
 the day before :). (image 2) These are the homes we pass--squalid living conditions to say the least..
 

(image1) Sunya, Katie, and Barb. We make it to the hotel! (image 2) We are so happy to be here...what a long morning!!!
Though it was rough getting here and the days up until this point have been as full as can be  from sun up till sundown, we
slow down a bit and the pace of our trip changes from here out. (image 3)  My first ride in a "Took Took"
 

Day 6 May 28, ANGKOR WATT and Siem Reap Orphan Home

This place is amazing, I wondered how it look when it was first built.

There is an incredible view from the top of this temple.

The climb was so much fun, we were warned not to look down once we started--but I did anyways.

And now to Siem Reap Orphan Church Home

We arrived at meal time.This Orphan Church Home is blessed to have this covered outdoor patio. Again, this is above and
beyond the cost of building a normal home. Yet you can see the benefit, most homes didn't even have tables for the kids, and
they end up eating on the floor.

This is one of the pastor's daughter's...isn't she the cutest!

I think one of the most profound encounters was the fervent prayer at this dinner. These kids
prayed for a solid 5 minutes before eating...silently, out loud, no one told them to start
praying, they are just generally grateful.

What a wonderful photographic subject. A muslim neighbor, a little boy who just loves to hang out with  these kids. This
church is really doing a great job of reaching out into the community. It truly is a beacon..a light on a hill. Vibrant, bright,
authentic are words that come to mind to describe this community.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes me; And  whoever welcomes Me does not welcome
Me but the One who sent Me." Mark 9:37

Here is the pastor with his son...and i was surprised to find they don't use diapers, that's the Cambodian way! And yet all the
kids are so attentive to any "potty trainers" they are quick to respond to spills and everyone is willing to clean the child and
the mess. Whoa, i was impressed!  What a face!
 

Here is  the pastors other daughter--she is preparing to do a traditional Khmer dance. What a beauty  with a gentle spirit to match.

After dinner the kids quickly move into the sanctuary where the special service begins.  It starts with traditional dancing, then
a short message and on to worship. Another one of my profound moments for this trip--this worship service was absolutely
amazing-the energy and authenticity of this crowd was so moving, so inspiring. I am standing in this service video taping it, of
all things and thought to myself, I am half way around the world worshipping with these orphans, and there is no place I'd
rather be. I felt so priviledged, the prescence of the Lord was overwhelming, this is where He dwells... "A Father to the
fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5

Barb conducts an interview with the caregivers from this home. Ley Heng translates for her. The women share their lives and
histories. They tell Barb and Kate how they came to be at this home and share their testimony of faith.

Mean while Randy and I teach the kids how to play "Duck Duck Goose". This was so much fun. Duck is "Sock Muon" and
goose is "Sock Men"...picture me trying to play duck duck goose using these crazy words--the kids thought it was great.
 

Day 7: Wednesday May 29 Phnom Penh, Toul Kouk Orphan Church Home

The next and final day of out stay in Cambodia is a flight back to Phnom Penh and a final visit to Pastor Peter's church, Toul
Kouk . I was so happy to go back and see these kids...the one in the front here is just so smilely!!! She reminded me of a
little chipmunk.  

It Timothy and he is healing quickly. And of course, he remembers Barb.

This home is suffering with the chicken pox right now.. :(

The girls and guys put on a show for us. What great costumes. These kids are really talented. Maybe they can travel to the
states and perform their dances. A major criticism of any missions organiztion is that they would come in and dictact their
culture on those they're helping. So I appreciated watching this show, the kids perform to Christian Kmer music.

Barb and Sopa.

Madia, Sunya, Selena

These two tried to teach me how to fold my hands back like they do when they dance...I must say they takes practice!!! 

It's always hard to say goodbye...

I had a great trip. I had only worked for Warm Blankets for four months prior to this trip and even though I had seen many
videos and heard stories from the field, nothing can prepare you for the first hand experience of going to a third world country.
I am grateful for this awakening. Much of the world has need like Cambodia, I think it is imperative that one knows this. I am
thankful to have visited these places. I return to my job here at Warm Blankets refreshed and excited about the work I do
here.

If you would like to respond to this report by giving for some of specific needs mentioned, please contact Craig Muller, Katie Helt, or Sunya Woodward at 1-877-33-BLANKETS. Thank you for being a part of the work