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Anthills, Art, and Jewelry

 

“Despite the slowdown in funds we are learning to work together for the benefit of our community... and that is a good thing.”

 

ART PROJECT

 

“...after about four weeks of hard teamwork they had accomplished something that no one, except for their teacher, believed they could do.”

 

BABY MAI

 

“It didn’t take long for Baby Mai to win her way into the hearts of everyone here and despite her being HIV Positive she developed rapidly into a sweet young girl, throwing her kisses to everyone as they passed by.”

 

BLESSINGS

 

“We are Blessed here at the Wat Opot Community and these past few weeks have been extraordinary.”

 

CINDY MCCAIN VISIT

 

“People have been very interested in what my perception of Cindy was and have asked me if I thought she was genuine or just another celebrity looking for a photo opportunity with our HIV Children.”

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

 

“Silence is always nice when you are raising 60 children but when you are sitting in a roomful of those same children and not a sound is heard for a full ten minutes it becomes a beautiful experience.”

 

FULFILLMENT OF PAST AMBITIONS

 

“It wasn’t a big deal I suppose, to most of the people in attendance, and yet, for me, it was the fulfillment of a childhood dream…”

 

“I’M HAPPY” ART FESTIVAL

 

“...they were not only proud of it but also finally realized the rewards for working hard and doing a good job.”

 

KO SO YOUNG And THE  VIDEO TEAM

 

 

“...in South Korea and other parts of Asia,  Ko So Young is immediately recognized as a famous Movie Star... at our Community she was just another visitor”

 

NEW DAY IN APRIL

 

“In the past few weeks we have had guest staying with us from Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, USA and Viet Nam. That is not including the 50 Dhammayietra Buddhist Monks and Religious leaders who stayed overnight at Wat Opot to hold memorial services for the Victims of AIDS recently.

 

REDCROSS NURSING CLASS FROM JAPAN

 

“They were forty–six of them all together and they came from Japan to learn more about HIV and AIDS in Cambodia.”

 

REMEMBER THE THUMB

 

“Could it really be that there are Spirit Orbs floating around and playing along with us in this life…and that on occasion one will even whisper, into the ear of someone tuned in, an invitation for a visit or a message of comfort and encouragement?”

 

REOPENING OF THE HOSPICE

 

“I was reluctant to get back into it... but we had the space and so I gave my permission for them to deliver her to us.”

 

REWARDS

 

“How much greater is the Wisdom of those who have suffered a lifetime and yet manage to smile... and more genuine the laughter of an orphaned child.”

 

ROCKHOUSE BROTHERS

 

“It was a great night of entertainment at the Birdland Nightclub in Hamburg, Germany and everyone who attended had a rocking good time as the Rockhouse Brothers presented their Annual End of the year Charity Gig.” 

 

THE BIG EVENT

 

“I didn't think it would happen, but the big guys liked the idea and all of a sudden we had a lot of work to do.”

 

THE BRANG CHHANG STORY

 

“With candle and incense lit we sat there quietly waiting for what none of us wanted but all of us knew would come... and it did…”

 

THEN and NOW

 

“Then he kissed her gently on the forehead. There was a long moment of silence as tears rolled down her cheeks and then her eyes gently closed as she let go of her physical existence.”

 

THE NEWCOMERS

 

“These are just a few of the newer faces you will see in our Community. Our children now number 70 and we have more on the way.”

 

THE NEW DORM

 

“Nearly 60 Taiwanese business men and their wives came out for the Opening Ceremony of our new Dormitory on the Second of June, 2009”

 

THE PLANTING OF RICE

 

“The work is hard but the benefits are well worth it. Food for another year and a sense of working together for the betterment of  the community.”

 

The Things I Could Tell You

 

“I could tell you a lot of things, in the hopes of getting to your soft spot, but I don’t, because the truth is our kids live a fairly normal life. Our campus is nice, our buildings are comfortable, and we eat 3 good meals a day. Our children are in fact quite normal.”

 

 THE WELL KNOWN STRANGER

 

“I wish for death for nobody but would not be telling the truth if I didn’t add that I long to have a good night sleep and I know that will not come until the children laugh and sing again... and the dogs are silent in the night... and the stranger we know so well, leaves us alone for a time.”

 

TIME FOR CRYING

 

“Cheap had come to us as a new born baby, her mother died a few weeks later and so we knew that she would very likely be adopted out... but none of us was expecting it to happen so fast.”

 

TOON HANG

 

“To my surprise however, she took hold of my hands and held them very tightly... then with tears in her eyes she whispered "Please take good care of my son."

 

WAT OPOT CHRISTMAS

 

“Since everyone seemed content with the one they chose, there was only one Right thing to do…”

 

WATOPOTIA 2007

 

“Say I Love you with a hug each day, Give more than what you take, Speak kindly of each other, And enemies do not make.”

 

WATOPOTIAN PROGRESS

 

“We now have 74 children with more on the way and we still operate in the black each month thanks to you.”

 

YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK

 

“We have a few “bugs” to work out of the system but once we do, we hope to create a gardening system that families can use to produce vegetables for their tables year round.”

 

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