Pictures!

We arrived safely in Thailand at about 2:00 Friday afternoon (3am Ohio time.) It was an eventful and smooth trip. The team is cut to 10 members as 6 flew back to Ohio - including Cristen. They are probably in the air as we speak. 

As promised, here are some more pictures. I will start with the last ones from Thailand last week that we weren't able to post...and then add the Cambodia ones.

This is the 2nd orphanage home in Doi Saket, Thailand. It just began 4 weeks ago and most of the children are early elementary or younger. They are also from the Hill Tribes. Below are some of those children.

Below is the church in Hot Springs, Thailand. I wish the picture could convey what the area is like...in the mountain and lots of trees. This is the Asia's Hope orphanage in which the pastor of the church just started taking in orphans to live at the church. You will also see a picture of those kids and the pastor.

If you recall, we went to the farm north of Chiangmai in Thailand - where widows are offered work and shelter and food is grown to feed the orphans. We began painting the house.

Below, Sherrod is explaining how to use the medicine that Cristen and I brought to one of the widows at the farm. Thanks Vista - the medicine we purchased was given to 11 different places - including 8 orphanages.

 

And now...some from Cambodia. We discussed our visit to Toul Sleng - the former Khmer Rouge prison where Cambodians were tortured and killed by the thousands. It is now a museum. Many black and white photos document the men, women, and children that were killed.

On the first night in Cambodia, we got to see some of the students at the university student center that Asia's Hope sponsors. I have know these students since 2005, and it was exciting to see them again.

There are 5 orphanages in Cambodia...3 are in Prek Eng about a 30 minute drive from the guest house in Phnom Penh (including the one sponsored by Vista). 2 are up north in Battambang.

Here are some shots from all of them.

Prek Eng 1

(me painting fingernails...one of their favorite things to do!)

Prek Eng 2

Prek Eng 3 (sponsored by Vista!)

Battambang 1

I held this little boy most of the night. It was hard to let him go! 

The kids performed traditional Khmer dances for us!

Battambang 2 (just started 3 weeks ago)

The children lined up to greet us.

Our last night in Cambodia was a special time. Tonight, I will try to write about it and add pictures. Right now in Thailand, we are going out to the orphanage and then have a slumber party with the older girls. It should be a lot of fun.