Last Christmas, the Eastmont Ward raised $3100.00 for help feed our brothers and sisters in Cambodia.  This money was donated by many different members of our ward, from small amounts to very large.  Once the funds were collected, we deposited it in a local account, so that 3 trusted members there could take portions out to help members in 4 different areas. A total of 120 families were helped with this project.  Each family got 50 pounds of rice, a box of noodles, Sugar, case of Soy Sauce, case of Fish Sauce, and Salt.  These are the main staples of a family diet, and would feed a family for about a month.
Tevy and I have donated money before, but this was a much larger amount, and keeping the funds safe, and the logistics of distributing 6000 pounds of rice was huge!  We had 3 people help us.

Sieha Kong
Sieha is a 2nd Counselor in the Elders Quorum in his branch.  He is a returned missionary, serving in Cambodia. For employment, he does many things.  He will travel to other countries and bring back goods for business to sell.  He helps film crews on location making ads.  He also works as a tour guide, and knows the area very well.  We hired him to oversee the entire project, and he worked for us for a month.

Sithet Kay
Sithet lives in Battambang.  She is a primary president there.  She works at a Korean Charity NGO, and has just finished school.  She is currently getting ready to go on a mission.

Sokunthear Chheoun
Sokuntear lives in Takhmou suburb of Phnom Penh.  He is a counselor in the branch presidency there.  He works as a security guard for the Mission Home.  He is also still going to school.  He is a returned missionary, and served in Cambodia.

We distributed food to 4 areas in Cambodia.
They are:

The Takmau Area

The Battambang Area

The Siem Riep Area

The Phnom Penh SenSok Area

Each of these areas has a page with stories and some of the pictures from the people we were able to help.  The pictures are scattered randomly through the page, because we were not able to get the names and pictures attached to each other.  Many people were blessed by your efforts, and it was truly a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful outpouring of Christ-like love.

 

These are some of the ways we were able to get the rice to the people.  All of the food was bought in bulk directly from distributors, for about half the cost of buying in the store.   In each area the food was procured and staged at a central place, and then divided and distributed to the families in that area.

A Little Help from the Elders

2 bags at a time!

At the distribution center

Seiha Buying the Noodles and Soy Sauce

This is Sokunthear's Mom.

She has 9 kids, one of her daughters served in the Everett WA Mission

Sokunthear buying more food

Looks like fun!

We stored the food in Sokunthear's house until it was all distributed to the Takmau Branch.

Battambang Branches

 

Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia.  This is where I was born.  The land is rich in farming, (this is where rice grow 90%) fishing and factories.   Many people in this area are farmers, but life is not easy even today.   The rich in Cambodia bought all the good and sell to the nearby country.     The church just finishes the building a beautiful branch which is now has grown from 1 branch to 3 branches.   When I was there in 2012 I feel that Heavenly Father has watch over his children, as I sat down at Sacrament meeting I can feel the love of the Savior wrap around my people it was a very noise sacrament meeting that I never been to, but I can feel the joy that the people have in the room.   Life is very difficult for members here, during my last few days I took food to many members there all I can say is I am very lucky to come here to America, but I will never forget my people who are starving, with tears in my eyes I walked the alley looking for those who need food.  It was most humble experience to be able to bring Chenda along to do the charity work with me.  Chenda wants to go back someday to do the charity work again; I am waiting for the government to settle down before I go back.

 

 

 

 

 

The Members here are from branch 1,2

 

 Click Here To See All the Pictures!

 

 

 

Sister Sokhom has 1 daughter no husband, making $1 a day selling sweet at the market (sometime no money). She is very happy with food donation at this time of need.  She would like to thank God for sending her food to feed her kid.

 

 

 

Brother Chan Sombath has 7 people in his family, working for $3.50 in a day.  He would like to thank all members in the US for food donation at this time of need.

 

 

 

Sister Sean Sok Chan  has 4 kids, she made $2 a day, she would like to thank members in the US for helping her family at this time of need.

 

 

 

Brother Saka Ley has 5 people in his family; he makes $2.50 a day to support the family, at this time he would like to thank all members in the US for helping his family with food donation at this time.

 

 

 

Brother Peou, has 5 members in his family, making $3.0 a day.  He is very happy today for the food donation and wishes all members in the US happy and healthy life.

 

 

 

Brother Learn is handicapped, and has 9 people in his family, his son work to feed everyone making only $ 4 for every 3 or 4 days to support all his family.  At this time he would like to thank those who help with the food donation,

 

 

 

Sister Sokha  has 4 people in her family. She makes $1   a day.  At this time she would like to thank all who help her family.

 

 

 

Sister Sareoun has 5 people in her family making $1 a day, She would like to thank those who help at this time of need, may God bless members in the US.

 

 

 

 Sister Pourn has 8 people in her family, making $1 a day, she would like to thank those who help her at this time.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister  Chan Roe has 8 people in her family making .50 cents a day, would like to thank all who help at this time to feed her hungry children for few weeks.  May God bless all of you.

 

 

 

Brother Sok Same has 7 people in his family making .50 cents a day, would like to thank those who help feed his family at this time of need. Thank you everyone

 

 

Sister Purm, and husband have 4 kids making .50 cents a day, would like to thank those who helping her family at this time.

 

 

 

Brother Ourb Neourn has 5 people in his family, making .75cents a day, would like to thank all members in the US for helping feeding his family at this time.  May God bless you all

 

 

 

Sary has 4 people in the family making .50 a day, would like to thank those who help feeding his children at this time of need.

 

 

 

Brother Roum has 9 people in his family making.50 cents a day, at this time he is very happy for the food donation that will help his family for few weeks.  Many thanks to all members in the US.

 

 

 

Bro, Ny has 8 people in his family making $1 day, they are very happy with the food donation and wishing every wishing everyone the best of luck.

 

 

 

Sister Vireak has 5 people in her family no job at the moment, she is very excited for the food donation at this time of need, May God bless all the members in the US

 

 

 

Grandma Pengou has 3 people in her family, kids making $80 to support her and one kid going to school, She is very happy with food donation from members in the US, May the Lord bless each and everyone who help at this time.

 

  

 

 

 

 

Sister Phut San has 12 people in her family, her husband bagging for food and money on the street to feed the family, children go out look for can, bottle, water lilies to sell for money to buy food.  They need help desperately to survive.

 

 

Sister Youk Num has 6 people in her family making .25 cent a day by selling water lily and snail.  She is very thankful for the food donation from the members in the US, pray that the Lord will continue to bless the people here.

 

 

 

Sister Da has 3 people in her family, no  place to live husband is old and no job survive by asking members and people for food and donation from day to day, She and her husband is very thankful for the food donation that giving by members in the USA.  May God bless each and everyone who help her family at this time of need.

 

 

 

Brother Bun That has 8 people in his family he makes .50 cent in a day to support his family, at this time he is very excited for the food donation that will last his family for one month, May God bless all the members in the US.

 

 

 

Brother Bunseak has 7 people in his family, making .50 cents a day to support his family, at this time he would like to thank all the members in the US and May God bless everyone, the food donation will help him for few weeks.

 

 

 

Brother Bang Roath has 6 people in his family, making $80 a month sending all his children to school, sometime no money they have to stay home.   At this time he would like to thank all members in the US for the food donation that will help him for this month.

 

 

 

 

 

Sister Pheur Mou has 5 people in her family making $1 a day to feed her family and want to send kids to school.  She would like to thank all members for the food donation at this time of need, May God bless each and every one of you.

 

 

 

Brother Rith has 3 people in his family each making .25 a day, at this time he is very excited for the food donation and would like to thank all members in the US for helping him.

 

 

 

Brother Nat 70 years old has no family all died during the war, at this time he is so very excited for the food donation that will help him to live for few more weeks.  He survive by bagging food at the market and live wherever is possible.

 

 

 

Sister Roath has 3 people in her family, making 1.50 a day to feed her kids; she is very excited for the food donation at this time of need.  May God Bless everyone

 

 

 

 

Sister Rena has 3 people in her family, husband ran to work in Thailand making $60 a month to send to his family, at this time she is very thankful for the food donation and pray that God will bless everyone who help her family.

 

 

 

Sister Kosoal living with her handicap sister making $1 a day, at this time she would like to thank everyone for the food donation to help her for this month.

 

 

 

Sister Veurn has 8 people in her family making.50 a day at this time she would like to thank all members in the US for the food donation that will help her family for 1 month

 

 

 

Sister Seoun Pok has 10 people in her family making $1.25 a day to feed her family, she is very excited for the food donation, May God blesses all members in the US.

 

 

 

Brother Vatha has 4 people in his family, making $2 a day to feed his kids and sending them to school at this time he would like to thank all members in the US for the food donation to help him this month.

 

 

 

Brother Sourng 80 years old taking of grandkids so his kids can work. He has 8 people in his family.  His Children make $80 a month to support the family.  At this time he would like to thank all members in the US for the food donation.

 

 

 

Sister Lin has 9 people in her family husband work making $60 a month living in the city never seen each other much.  She is very grateful at this time for the food donation.

 

 

 

Sister Kim Geour has 6 people in her family making $ 1 a day to feed her kids, at this time she is very excited for the food donation May God blesses all members in the US.

 

 

Sister Sokha has 8 people in her family, husband making $2 a day as motor bike driver,  sending kids to school making barely enough to put food on the table.   She is so grateful for the food donation that members in the US gave to her, she wish everyone a happy life.

 

 

 

These two brothers work while going to college making so very little and want very much to finish school, but only time will tell.  Both make $40 a month and school cost $500 a year for college each kid.  It is very difficult so the oldest brother decide to quit school and let his younger continue while he works to support his brother.

 

 

 

Brother Yim Don has 8 people in his family he works in the restaurant (kill chicken or duck) for $1 a day to support his family.  At this time he is very happy for the food donation and he pray that God will help the people.

 

 

 

 

Brother Somnang has 8 people in his family he and his kids making flower laces to sell at the market for $1 a day (if you go to Cambodia you will see all the children standing on the market running to your car when you stop selling beautiful set of lace flower for only .05 or so each set and you can tell that they are very hungry, I met many that came to my car instead of giving them .05 cents I hand out few $1 bill instead) He would like to thank all members in the US at this time for the food donation to help his family in time of need.

 

 

 

Brother Run making $1.25 at the cement factory has 5 people in his family all are small children.  At this time he likes to thank all members in the US for the food donation and May God blesses everyone.

 

 

 

Sister Sari has 4 people in her family washing dishes at the restaurant making $1 a day to feed her children.  At this time she would like to thank all members in the US for helping her with food donation.

 

 

 

Siste r Sombath has 4 people in her family no job at this time no money, She said that God knows when there is no food in the house and often someone came by and gave her some to feed her children.  With tears in her eyes she pray that God will continue to bless people in the US that America will always has more food and never what hungry is all above. She would like to thank all members in the US that help her with food donation at this time of need.   The food will last her family for one month.

 

 

 

Brother and sister Samat  working for church yard taking care of the garden and lawn, making $60 a month to feed and send the children to school.  At this time they would like to thanks all members in the US for helping them with food donation and May God blesses each and every member.

 

 

 

Sister Kourn has 8 people in the family, making few cents a day by collection bottle, can and paper to sell.  Sometimes they have no food all day long,  Today they are very excited to receive such great gift from members in the US by getting 100 lbs bag of rice, 1 box of noodle, 1 kilo of sugar, salt, oil, fish sauce, and soy sauce that will help them for few weeks.   May God bless the members in the USA.

 

 

 

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Siem Reap

Siem Reap is where Angkor Wat and millions of tourists attraction, but as you walk away from the City of Siem Reap you will see the life of the people living in jungle some are starvation picking water lily, Snell  potato to sell at the market to support the family.   The Branch President here told me that some survive because of the tourist give them few dollars here and there.   Angkor Wat is one of the most tourists attraction in Cambodia million of dollars go in , but none is for the country, the Cambodian government took and spend on themselves, with villa, land and business.

Sister Cheav, has 7 kids no husband, some of her kids are gone now only 2 left with her, but she has to take care of her grandkids while the parents at work.  She would like to thank those who help her at this time with food donation, may God bless the members in the US.

 

Sister Jom Srey Prak, 65 years old, all her children are gone at this time, she collects bottle, can ect.. to survive.  She has no place to live sometime she sleep at the church when someone there she get out. She would like to thank members in the US for the food donation at this time of need.

 

Sister kim Noeun  28 and husband 26 has 2 kids, husband work odd and end job making little or no money sometime.  They would like to thank the members in the US for the food donation at this time of need, may God bless everyone.

 

Brother Jak and his wife have been working overtime to support his family they have 3 kids and want them to go to school so they work overtime so the kids can go to school.  They would like to thank members in the US for helping them with food donation at this time of need.

 

Brother Ham has 7 kids , one of his kid work for cement factory for $40 a month.   They would like to thank those who help at this time of need.

 

Sister Phan has 5 kids she raise chicken and duck to make a living.  She lives with her son who is member of the church.   She would like to thank all members in the US for the food donation at this time of need.

 

Sister Lorm has 6 kids 4 of her kids are gone now, she dig potato to sell at the market to make a living, sometime no money to buy food for her kids.  Sometime she only made .25 cents a day.   She would like to thank members in the US who can help her at this time of need.

Phnom Penh SenSok Area

This is one of the hardest areas in Cambodia where most of the poverty is and many die from disease and starvation.   This is right in the Capital City of Phom Penh where the government took over their land and sold the land to the foreigner for lot of $$$$.   People are everywhere with no place to live, children have no food even today the government doesn’t care.  Many American missionaries who serve in this area often try to feed the members there without letting the mission President know.   Few even brought back with them sweet beautiful brides to seal for time and eternity in the US.

 Click Here to See All the Pictures

Sister Chhon Ny has 6 children, she has no job get food from collecting from the dump station.  Her children are everywhere at this point some out looking for job, One of her son is in jail by robbing people to feed his kids, now he left 2 kids with her to feed.

 

Sister Maun Vannak has 5 kids husband left her.  She has no food no job try to survive by begging food and donation from people.  She is very grateful for the food donation today. She lives by the dump station looking for food to survive from day to day. 

Mrs. Rin has 10 people in her family including her parents. She sells food at the market to support her family. At this time she would like to thank those who helped her.   Her children wants to go to school but are unable to do so with no money to pay the teacher.

 

Mrs. Jin Sarin has 7 kids with her parents living with her all 9 people. Her husband works as a construction worker for only $60 a month barely enough to feed the family, the children try to go to school but sometime it is impossible to go with no money and not enough food.  She would like to thank God for sending her family food at this time of need.

 

Mrs. Hem Sok Than work as a tailor making $50 a month, she lives on someone property now the landlord wants her to move out.  She doesn’t know where to go next.  She would like to thank those who help her at this time with food donation.

 

Mrs. Touch has 2 kids no husband, work for odd and end job someday no money and no food, today she is very happy with the food donation that will help her for one month.  She would like to thank those who help her at this time.

 

Mr. Sophat has 6 kids no job at this time, his wife work clean house for people and sometime no job.  She cleans houses for $40 a month, not enough to feed her family.  At this time she would like to thank all members in the US.

 

Mr and Mrs. Krisna  have 2 kids selling snail, water lily, and flower from the pond they collect making $1 or so a day to survive.  They are very happy at this time for the food donation that will last them for a month.  May God bless the people in America.

 

Mrs. Jab Ry has 1 kid left after the war (the older kids died in the war) She lives and work as a maid taking care of people kid for $30 a month.  At this time she would like to thank those who help with the food donation.