Baby Mark: Some of you may remember baby Mark from last September. He was rescued from the Cambodia border in great respiratory distress. We got him medical care and past the initial medical crisis here in Thailand, and then
into a home in Phnom Penh. I had the privilege of seeing Mark again on this trip to PP. He is being treated for both TB and HIV. He still has respiratory issues, but is growing and looking good, and is being well cared for.
Community development has begun in SPL! Two micro-enterprise loans were given to two families to purchase one piglet for each family. The community is meeting together regularly and discussing changes they want to see in their community. Income generation is a major issue they identified, and raising pigs was one of their solutions.
Pastor Sophan has started gardening projects in SPL. He has planted vegetables and fruits and the plots are being looked after by different families in the community.
This is the Hap family house we built a couple months ago. They have now planted some flowers by their house and are looking after one of the plots of garden.
The first two wells have been dug in SPL this month. The pump will be added and it will be in operation in a few days, Lord willing. The villagers were very excited about the water.
Some of the children watching the well-digging.
A single mom and her two children. This is one of the families we are giving relief to and hope to get set up with a job in the market.
We had the priviledge of attending the new Sunday gatherings. There were nearly 100 children for Sunday School - which is held under some trees in the community.
While the children had Sunday School, Pastor Sophan met with the adults for a Bible study. There were 9 attending the day we were there, and there are up to 12 that sometimes come.
The adult Bible study group.
At 5PM the youth ( ages 14-20) met together to study God's Word and play games together. There were 20 attending on this day with up to 25 attending at times. About half of the group were young people that have been involved with the Saturday program in the market the past few years, but the other half are totally new to the Gospel.
One of our students and his mom - in front of their home.
Micah helped put on some guttering at the hospital in SPL.
Back on the Thai side of the border, some of the students at our little school are playing hopscotch in the street.
The playgroup is meeting in an open unused block next to the classrooms in the market. One day we scrubbed the area down as it was very very dirty. Next month we hope to paint it and have it looking better for the little ones.
This is the end of my first blog entry. I wanted you to have a chance to see some of these photos from my trip - and there were too many to put into a newsletter. Lord willing, I can keep this updated from time to time.
Blessings,
Gayle
