Skip to main content

Perspective

Sitting down in front of the computer and listening to 'All The Earth' for the 10th time. Its Anais's off day and we have been trying to upload our pictures onto Facebook. I've got my Day 1 up but poor Ana, still trying to get hers up!

Have been in Cambodia for 5 days and returning to Singapore on thursday. Previously, time seem to snail by but as I browsed through the pictures taken of the past few days, I realised that its not that slow after all.


Coming to Cambodia this time was different. Was supposed to lead a team to LIA but ended
up not because of lack of preparation time and inadequate response. Anyhow, I just felt I should make a personal trip up to see for myself the work at LIA and sense what God is doing in this land. Prior to the trip, I've been reading about Cambodia's news and they just appear everyday in the papers. Well it can't be more clear than this so I went.

Followed Anais as she goes to and fro the b
oys' & girls' home to teach English and Bible classes. Admired her perseverance given the heat and tiring job of managing kids of a wide range of age (toddler to teenagers!). Had no problems interacting with the kids especially the boys, whom were more forthcoming than the girls and definitely more teachable.

Though my time here is rather short, I still feel a sense of satisfaction as I play, carry and interact with the kids. Many times my heart really aches when I learnt of the kids' background and its really God's love that brought Mummy Ruth here to set up LIA, without which these kids would probably still be homeless or left to die of hunger of
illnesses. Many of their parents are victims of AIDS and mostly poverty as well and I cannot imagine the pain of separation for both the parents and kids. Some kids are old enough to know that their parents do not want them and when they enter the home, they just could not stop crying and calling out for their mummy. I was speechless.

Seeing these kids and the staff at work, I realised I am blesse
d with much and shame on me for the times I have been complaining about minor things, which are often considered a luxury here. This is not an unfamiliar insight but as it hits me again, I need to be in perspective once again.



Mother and Daughter : Wee & Srey Nit
Wee is a staff at LIA and staying at the Boy's home. Very motherly and always there to learn with the boys. So mild manner and has a never say die attitide.


These little kids are considered blessed to be able to have the chance to attend school. However, many of them are already 10 but learning what a 5 year old is learning.


With Joshua & Boon Tong


What beckons these kids as they go through each day? What holds for them in the future? Only Our Heavenly Father knows. At the least now, they know that they are loved by many and most importantly, they are not orphans. Their inheritance is awaiting them. Press on kids. Many are cheering you on in this race.


Comments

Unknown said…
whoar... so touching. Sounds like a really good trip already.
YoNg quAn said…
Good job Grace! i thought it's a touristy tour you're on but it's NOT! : )
YoNg quAn said…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOO!! hee...just in case you didnt get my sms! - your teammate

Popular posts from this blog

Universal Studio

Thanks to YOG I got to enter Universal Studios @ Resorts World Sentosa ytd for free! Yes...rides were free and I had a $10 food & beverage voucher. Ok....sometimes I'm grateful that I'm a teacher because we are really one of the few professions who will enjoy such privileges :) Introducing the bevy of gorgeous ladies of Pei Hwa Sec : Miss Grace Tan, Miss Sophia Tan, Miss Shirley Tan and Miss Roslinda ! Don't you love the donkey ears???!!! WE WERE SERIOUSLY AMUSING OURSELVES IN THE SOUVENIR SHOP! Alright...this is the first but not my last time visiting U.S.S because I'll be going there again in Nov for my dept's learning journey. Don't ask me how we are going to think up PE lessons from visiting the theme park but miracles do happen! So after loosening the leash around the 51 kids whom we accompanied yesterday evening, the 6 female teachers (where are all the men??? tsk tsk...) went about to have a wild time of feasting on 20" pizzas, running after cart...

SHAKING OFF THE DUST

Its been a long hiatus :) So many things have taken place and so many reflections to document but the inertia to do it was just to great to resist. Anyhow, decided to take some time during this break to start the 'blogging engine' going again. Hopefully, it revives my hope and wish to keep this site alive.  Just had the annual ODAC camp @ Ubin and while trekking around the island with the kiddies yesterday, I chanced upon this little grasshopper at the Sensory Trail. I managed to get up close and personal for this shot, which was taken with my new iPhone 7 ahem. Image was sharp and it looked great!  And the verse that came to mind was: "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?....Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6: 26-34 In my rest...

Count your blessings

I bought this set of keychain for my gramps. So cute right? They both love it to bits man! Haha..I'm proud of myself. A wise person said this to me this morning: "when you count your blessings, you will find many things to be thankful for...". True true. Been rather short fused these days and especially with family members. My grandma bore the brunt of it on monday when she suddenly appeared at NCC with my grandpa. I wasn't expecting her and so when I saw her, I was quite mean to ask why she was there when I actually know her intentions. I felt the way I felt because firstly I was already bothered about how to take care of grandpop when he sighs and worries about his discomfort and blah and then grandmop comes along and be herself (complain complain and ask same questions 1001 times etc). Double whammy! Anyway in a nutshell, the wise person told me early in the morning that grandmop upset that I brushed her aside that day, which I know was baddie bad bad :( ok i will...