Open Arms Cambodia

Salon Reopening

The salon had reopened, thank you for you love support and prayers.

It has been so good to get back to a little bit of normality, I spent the day at Alabaster yesterday the first time in two weeks , it never ceases to disturb me but the team are doing an amazing job. I went upstairs to see how the girls were going and here they were all smuggled up on the pillows sound asleep all fresh and cosy  . Deakson had put on a Christian tape and the room was feeling so peaceful .

A young man who owns some grocery stores here in Phnom Penh is donation fresh milk for the children on Wednesdays the team said there wasn’t a drop left in fact they ran heir fingers around the glass to get the last drop out. The needs for the children are a little overwhelming but we will walk toward them.

We start new programs next week firstly  on Tuesday morning we will  have a morning tea for the ladies it will be very fancy and lovely then we will start a bible study .

Suzy is going to do some cooking training and the young ones are going to teach the ladies how to make flowers the idea is to make them and take them  to Open Arms to sell them. Any money made will be reinvested to anybody who wants to start this as a little business making flowers.

It is becoming  increasingly hard to keep  up with the demand for training in the beauty school as the premises is very small we may have to look for a larger building nearby , so that means more staff which are very hard to come by .

Chiva and Jenna finish their grade twelve exams on Tuesday next week , for the first time in twelve years we won’t have any children a t school amazing isn’t it they have both done very well and as they both have good jobs with Open Arms they will enjoy a gap year before  going to university.

Jenna has sat for an exam that if she was successful she would receive  a four year scholarship to study in Singapore its a wonderful opportunity lets  just see what happens

The most exciting part of the week was finding a  university for Lita to go to,  we found one we are all  happy with she will be going for a Masters in Accountancy it is an internationally accredited course and if you think I am bragging you better believe this girl had walked a walk not many of us could survive so we are very excited for her.

Open Arms team have done it again worked alongside of pop and I to get the job done I really can’t imagine how they  must bless Jesus because they bless the  sox off us with their lovely cheerful attitudes, their faithfulness to serve and learn and give to all and really how they put up with us when we are doing a project and get a little mmmm dare I say hot under the collar all I can say is WELL WELL DONE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE.

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June Newsletter

What a wonderful week Open Arms has had. The pictures are the girls own work.

Alabaster Missions Outreach

Sixteen women have been showered some slept all day some shampooed some manicured some pedicured and some ate.

ALL were loved and treated with dignity

ALL were assured of Jesus unconditional love for them.

ALL left with a little bit of hope in their hearts.

And its very exciting two women are interested in training as they want a change of lifestyle.

Kids club as usual was full on and so much fun but it exhausts Open Arms team hahaha.

Prayer Point: There is a great need for a night shelter for young boys that live on the streets.

Pray for great wisdom for Open Arms as to who we network with in Village 10.

Salon Community Developement:

The trainers are very busy with late enrollments for this year’s course the course is a week on now but we always have stragglers. We will stop at thirty as we feel it’s a good amount of girls to train well.

The trainers have been doing some training themselves mainly to keep up with modern trends and stay sharp.

The business side is always good it is so busy we have hired two more staff they are mainly tea and tidy girls but they will grow into hairdressers as time goes by.

Prayer point. Can you pray for the trainers they are all suffering sickness at the moment.

Tea Room Community Developement.

The cafe has had its busiest week ever the girls have been as excited as it seems the catering side of Open Arms is really starting to take off with almost a weekly party to cater for.

The training is going well six young people are leaning these skills.

The girls had two Mock Tail parties this week one Monday and one Wednesday both for fifty people. They had only assisted me with one before and I was a little apprehensive as to how they would go on their own but with a few written instructions we are told they did a wonderful job well done girls.

Prayer Point. We would love some cooks to come to Cambodia on a short term basis to teach the girls some skills, they have the potential to do very well but I just don’t know any more to teach them .

Grahame and I are back in Phnom Penh on Wednesday after our lovely break and we are very excited to see what God will do in this next chapter.

Bless you all and thank you for your love, prayers and support.

Grahame , Sandra and Open Arms Team.

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Gradaution Night

Hi folks well the graduation was last night and once again the team did beyond the call of duty they are truly wonderful young people.

Eighteen girls graduated and by the end of the day only one girl was not employed and that was by choice.

This was probably the nicest night we have ever had, the girls were stunning the dresses only cost around $20 amazing isn’t it.

The three girls danced to Alabaster box and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.

The guests had a wonderful time and jumped in and helped us clean up. It is a mammoth task and every year we say we wont do it again but we do.

Thank you for your love prayers and support it wouldn’t happen without you all.

Above are a few pictures.

Grahame Sandra and the team

Graduation

Graduation tomorrow night, excited, overwhelmed , tired , come on team we can do it . 

Food cooked or almost ,menu, 

Marinated  chicken wings and drum sticks.

Slow roasted pork with mushroom gravy

Cheesy pasta with bacon and corm ( mmmm yummy )

Pasta with feta and spinach leaves and cherry tomatoes.

Salad

Bread rolls and butter.

Fruit platters and mini cakes and pastries. 

And I absolutely love doing it all, I had a lady tell me that I go over the top with every thing I do , I thought about it worried a little and then thought I do and I absolutely love it so does pop and the kids , my Ozzie kids and Khmer kids (missing them so much at the moment)we totally enjoy every over the top thing we do. 

I would just love to have some family and friends here for some  of our occasions but this is the way it is. 

God richly bless you all my dear friends .

Jenna

Jenna came to live in our Cambodian family in 2002, yesterday jenna turned eighteen.

She is an amazingly wonderful,clever, caring young woman.

to you all who have loved and contributed to Jennas life God bless you. she will do great things in her life.