Open Arms Cambodia

Open Arms Cambodia

More encouragement for our trainers in the Tea Room, the lady that hired one of the graduates is so impressed with her that she told a friend and that friend is willing to wait for another girl to graduate how good is that, Thank you jesus.

The older ladies are still going well and really they delight me, it seems like every day are on a discovery tour and they are giving the young ones a run for their money .

Today they started to learn how to do an English breakfast so we got this photo. Enjoy thnaks so much for your love , encouragement and prayers

Vanda

Vanda the second girl that graduated on Friday is now employed and on top money can this get more exciting for me yes, we have been here for ten years and have helped many young people but I have had this secret desire to help some older people guess what we started two new students in the Tea Room and they are both 51.  Well I don’t know who was more excited them or me they love that I am fat and Older and kept hugging me, they said they thought that they would never learn anything new at their age and now they are learning to cook western food.   This culture is very different and I was a little concerned that they wouldn’t like eighteen and twenty year old young people teaching them but they are getting on like a house on fire the giggling and talking has been so loud that I actually had to tell them to settle down.   Must admit that I am feeling the most blessed woman in the world but on a personal note my blood pressure is not good so some prayer would be appreciated.   Bless you all and thanks so much for your love and support.   Sandra x

What a great week / weekend Open arms has had , we decided on Monday that after moving house ( exhausting, frustrating )and the kids going back to school the following Monday that we would have a few days at the beach so off we went.  Well it rained and blew but it didnt stop us we swam in the rain and found shelter when the wind got too strong and of course we ate . Its so nice now that all the k ids work they are so generous with their money and shouted dinner one night they did a great job, whole fish , prawn and lots of salad for me they also brought all the staff presents. It was the first time we have all gone away and left the center the girls and boys did a wonderful job well done team.   We arrived back Friday afternoon after a six hour bus trip to have a send off party for the first two girls to graduate from Open arms Housekeeping and Cooking Course . I was sitting there watching the girls as they giggled and chatted and I was remembering when they first came and the difference now there is a confidence in them they dont hang their heads and they look you in the face.   Again I am reminded of the beautiful grace of God and I know that God wants us to fiercely protect that which He has entrusted to us and that to the best of our ability Oen Arms is to be a safe place and a place of integrity and truth for these innocent kids that have been so hurt and again I am just absolutely blown away that He chose us to work along side of Him.   Open Arms is having a great great time of discovering that God perfect love really does cast out all of our fears so thank you all for your love prayers and support and we hope you enjoy the journey with us.

July Newsletter

Hi folks well Grahame and I have been back in Cambodia for a week now and as always we can’t say how proud we are of the young people here they do an excellent job of running Open Arms.

We want to take this opportunity to thank Del Strong and Karen Johns for coming to Cambodia and overseeing the work it enabled Grahame and me to relax a little more in Australia..

We have had to move again and hopefully this will be the last time for Grahame and me at least. The house we were living in proved to be unsafe with many attempted break-ins and as Grahame and I plan to be in Australia more now we all agreed to move back into the  training center as there is would be plenty  room with a reshuffle.

Whilst this is not ideal for us older folks ( the stairs not to mention 30 odd students in and out all day) but it is ideal for the kids as this is how Cambodians live when they operate businesses.

We had a three day leadership seminar last week and it was wonderful to be with Open arms staff and to be able to hopefully impute some good leadership principles into them, we had a great time with Karen Johns a volunteer sharing from  Bill Hybels book ax.i.om Karen shared it in such a practical way she really blessed them all.   Grahame and I spent our time encouraging them with our vision for the future and their part in serving in the Kingdom of God we also shared on their quiet time with God and the importance of it to keep strong and not burn out they are all so very young ( a lesson I have just learn the hard way mmm).

I had the privilege to talk to them about the Exodus and how it really was the same as when Pol Pot was victimizing their country and how Jesus has now set them free it was an honor to share it them.

Village.

At the moment it is impossible for us to get to the village we are in rainy season and the roads are cut to cars but our leader out there managed to come in to help us move, he says the children are still enjoying the English classes but numbers have dropped off.

He says that there has been less sickness since the clean water has been operating so we will plan to put another one in the next month or so. The toilet have been a problem as the people aren’t really understanding the cleaning process so more training is called for.

Tailor shop and Training .

Mon is making more clothes for Pathways an organization in Australia and can you believe it he has just finished making a convict costume stripes and all for a couple that are going to a fancy dress party dress night very cute indeed. He was approached by a security firm but we don’t know if we have won the contract yet. The training is going slow one of the boys ran away from home which is very sad he was going towards a good future so Mon is only training two boys but we will get onto that next week . Mon is one of the nicest boys and is always so rewarding to see a young one come into their destiny and to be so happy and enthusiastic .

Tea Room and Training.

Suzy the Tea Room leader is so excited not only did the Tea Room have the busiest month in June but tomorrow the first students will graduate, the girls will receive a reference and a send off party but the certificates come in February when Open Arms has its graduation party. Open Arms will send out an advertisement to let the community know that they are fully trained in housekeeping and cooking for a family could you pray for favor for the girls they need to be employed now.

We will take in more students on Monday one organization is sending us all their house parents to be train, I love that it’s so encouraging so please pray for these young but very good trainers they just amaze me their diligence and faithfulness for ones so young.

Salon and Training.

As always the salon business side is doing very well , Sreyna is putting a lot of time  into training the staff on Fridays it has been a great benefit to all as we can see their skill growing which of course is good for business. There are presently 32 girls being trained and we will take more in on Monday but we have nearly reached our limit I have to put a ceiling on it a Sreyna would say yes to everybody.

Volunteers. Open arms is in need of volunteers for the Salon and the Tea Room if you think that you would like to come short term and train these wonderful leaders please contact Grahame and I we would love to discuss it with you. Email.  world_wades@hotmail.com

Donations.

Open Arms is in  need of monthly sponsors , the money that comes into the business goes directly to the training and as we don’t charge the other NGOs a training fee our expenses , wages and rents are very high would you prayfully consider coming on our small but very effective team.

Blessings and Lots of Love Open arms Family. Grahame, Sandra and Open Arms family.

The haven Tea Room

The Haven Tea Room

As most of you will know the Tea Room has been going now for approximately four years.

It has been a great success in training Naroth a young rescued girl, Naroth and her team are now able to manage the Tea Room while we are in Australia  they are also training girls in a new course called Housekeeping for Westerners.

The business side of the Tea Room has been a struggle but as Open arms main focus is on training we havnt really worried too much about this but I am happy to say that the girls have had a record week.

Open Arms has had a request from an organization to train seven of its girls while this is very exciting for us we are only equipped to train the five we have at the present.

With these extra girls we would have to buy another stove and the equipment that the girls will need.

We have set up another kitchen above the Tea Room and its been relatively successful but we would have to extend again.

I guess by now you all know that we need funds for this so if any of you would like to donate to this worthy project could you please email me we are hoping to raise $2500. I appreciate you all so much and sometimes I think you must think oh no here she is again but guys I cant do it without you.

The $2500 would allow us to buy another stove and a kit each for each girl which would include all the equipment that they would need, also some benches as we don’t have any benches in the training kitchen only a table. The organizations pay us $150 each girl that is for the cooking needs and then the girls can take the food they cook home.

Well dear friends thank you so much for your love prayers and support…

Grahame, Sandra and Open Arms Family.