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BLESSINGS
This morning as I awakened, I said a little prayer, Dear Father up in Heaven, Please show me that You care.
I dressed to the sound of chirping birds, Smelt Jasmine in the air, And as I walked to breakfast, There were flowers everywhere.
Wayne Dale Matthysse |
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Okay… so I am not the greatest poet in the World, but if some of you others, like Elaine, would send me some of your stuff, I wouldn’t have to keep trying to come up with something that will give this website some class. We are Blessed here at the Wat Opot Community and these past few weeks have been extraordinary. Here are just some of the highlights that I would like to share with you.
Every year, for the past five years, we have had the honor of being the recipients of Alms on the birthday of Mr. Hong Huet, a Phnom Penh Business man from Thailand. His staff bring with them a whole truckload of rice and individual gifts for all of our staff and residents, but most importantly, a $15.00 personal cash gift to me, to use any way I please. |
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We were also very happy to have Bonnie Woolley back with us for a few days before she returned to France. For those of you who are not aware of her accident you can read about it on her Blog or on her mother’s Blog. Everyone encouraged her to return to France immediately but she felt the need to show the kids that she was okay, before leaving them, and we are so glad that she did, because it gave us a chance to hold a Special Blessing Service for her. |
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For those unfamiliar with the Buddhist Blessing Service, it is much like a Catholic Service where the Priest Blesses someone with Holy Water. Instead of salt water however, the Buddhist Monks use a Floral scented water and a small branch to fling the water at the recipient. You will notice that the children are all huddled around Bonnie’s wheelchair in the last picture... that is because they hope some of the water lands on them and they will be Blessed as well. The service was opened by some of our children doing Kum Bi Yah My Lord on the hand chimes that Bonnie brought with her on her first visit a year ago. |
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We have many volunteers come through our gates but seldom are they young people the same age as our older children. I was reluctant at first when I was asked to host 15 International students from a Christian school in Hong Kong for five days but decided to take a chance anyway. Now that it is over, I can say it was well worth it. It was a great experience for our children… but even more so for me. |
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I don’t meet many Western Young People anymore and so it was good to see that there are still some who are willing to commit themselves to a project such as coming out to work with our HIV Positive children. Not only did they have to raise their own funds for the journey but they also had to be willing to put themselves into an unknown and potentially uncomfortable environment, and that takes courage. Their openness and willingness to accept new ideas was admirable and best exemplified by their participation in a Buddhist Worship service with our children. |
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Fear and Hatred are the products of Ignorance, Love and Compassion the results of Understanding. If ever you doubted this, Check out the Testimonials of these outstanding young people, On the Wat Opot Guestbook
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