The Cambodian public schools are conducted
on a half-day schedule. Children who go to the House of Love (in
Prek Thei) or the House of Joy (located on Garcholiah Island)
receive a light breakfast, are tutored in their school subjects,
learn and sing about Jesus, play, do some chores and have a hot
lunch before they depart to their school for their half-day session.
The children who have been in morning session of school come to
the house in the afternoon, begin with a hot lunch, and follow
the same program, having a snack before they leave.
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Seng's
Story
by Ann Van Valin
 Preschool
is no time for your mother to die. His three older siblings helped raise
him, but by the time he had finished third grade, his father also died.
His name is Seng, and he lives in the country of Cambodia.
After his father's death, Seng's two older brothers were taken to a far-away
village to stay with their mother's relatives. His older sister worked
in a factory and got married at a very young age, while his youngest sister
lived with their grandmother.
His father's relatives decided Seng should be offered to the temple and
become a Buddhist monk. One day, they shaved his head and eyebrows and
took him to the temple to live. There the monks, in orange robes and bare
feet, file in and sit at the front of the hall. Incense burns, filling
the temple with smoke that spirals up to the heavens. The golden Buddha
dominates the scene with his serene smile.
Changes for Seng
He had little chance to study in school as was the custom of other children.
(When he was 15 years old, he was only educated to third grade level!)
One day he heard that his brothers were doing well, going to school and
being cared for at the House of Love in Prek Thei. Seng decided to run
away from the temple and join his brothers.
When he was taken in as one of the children in the House of Love, Seng's
countenance changed! He quickly asked Jesus to be His Father. Now, he
is very healthy and happy. He plays the guitar and the keyboard for church.
He says there is a huge difference in his life between when he was in
the temple and now, with Christians. He knows that he has hope in Christ
and that hope will not disappoint him.
Snakebite!!!
One day Seng came to the House of Love writhing in pain and with his hand
severely swollen. He had been in the field, searching for a pond to catch
fish. A snake had bitten him. The village called the medicine man to come
take care of Seng. Since he was a House of Love child and an orphan, our
coordinator, Paula Guazon, took responsibility for Seng. The village people,
who are not Christians, were very angry with Paula when she sent the spiritist
doctor away. Paula took Seng to the capital, Phnom Penh. They went to
the largest hospital but were told the hospital didn't have the needed
anti-venom serum. Paula quickly drove on to the second hospital and then
the third — still no serum. Finally, the staff at the fourth hospital
was able to treat the snakebite. The doctor said if another hour had elapsed,
Seng would have permanently lost the use of his hand and arm. Seng is
once again able to play the guitar for the worship services at the House
of Love and the Prek Thei FMC.
Religious Choice
In the village of Prek Thei, there are two religious choices a person
can make. You can be Buddhist or Free Methodist! We're thankful 100 children
have made the choice to be Free Methodist, call Jesus their Lord and Savior
and are winning the adults in their village to Christ.
If you would like to be one of those who make a difference for Seng and
other children, you may do so by sponsoring a child through International
Child Care Ministries, the child sponsorship ministry of the Free Methodist
Church.
You may send for a child today by choosing one from our Web site at www.childcareministries.org.
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