Community Develop....

One child's journey from                                       desperation to joy....

   Staff found Sothy on the street, sick and weak. He was about ten years old.

   At the Unacas orphanage, he quickly learned how to read and write and entered grade one. Over the years. he really enjoyed activities outside the classroom--especially working in the gardens. His garden always produced more and better vegetables than all the other gardens. He studied English, mainly so he could read English-language books about agriculture.

   He also loved to sing and learn about Jesus. Ever since he accepted Jesus as his Savior, Sothy has dreamed about the day when he could "really serve Jesus and tell people about him."

   Today, 18-year-old Sothy serves with a small team in the village of Sobhan. He and his supervisor, Sun Mao (coordinator of the community development activities), will start gardens, plant fruit trees and implement other agriculture activities on land next to the new orphanage.

   Sothy has already developed great relationships with people in the village, especially with all the children. At lunchtime and in the early evening, groups gather around Sothy to learn English. In the process, they also hear about Jesus.

   Sothy's hard work, enthusiasm, care for other people, love of Jesus, and pure joy are infectious, despite his very young age.

   "I'm so thankful that God chose me to live at the Beik Chan orphanage where I had plenty of food and where I got to learn so many things," Sothy said. "Now I want to tell more people about Jesus. I hope I can help them learn about agriculture in order to improve their life. In fact, this makes me very happy."

   During our five-year partnership with Unacas (1997-2002), some 100 children made the Beik Chan orphanage their home. A few have entered adulthood and are now on their own. Most remain at the Unacas orphanage which continues to be directed by Mrs. Sar Sakkada.

   Children continue to attend government schools, help in a variety of agriculture activities, mature in their relationships with Jesus, and prepare for life as adults.

   Unacas, a Cambodian non-government organization, also continues to develop, now without a single, primary partner.

Contact information:

Tim and Darlene Ratzloff
Christian Care For Cambodia
PO Box 830
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

fishpond@online.com.kh

Support information:

Mt. View Community Church
Project Cambodia
12033 Seattle Hill Road
Snohomish, WA 98295

mountainview@bigfoot.com