What a day it has been in Cambodia!

To start out, we did most of the craft’s for the week all at the same time this morning with the kids (hair feathers, trinket boxes, and beaded bracelets).  The kids were so excited, and it was incredible to see how creative they are.

While the kids worked on crafts, the team went to the New Life Church, where we prayed over the growth of the church and their outreach to the neighboring community of Battambang.  When we got back to the orphanage, it looked like a nuclear craft bomb had gone off….beads, sticks, and feathers were everywhere, but the kids also had their finished crafts eagerly displayed in their hair, on their arms, and had beautiful boxes of all shapes and sizes on the floor, glue still drying.

After the crafts, we finished up our lesson plan encouraging the kids to live confidently, knowing that “If God is for us, then who could be against us?”  The afternoon was an awesome experience of walking around the neighborhood near the New Life Church giving out burlap bags of rice to the people, along with note cards that the kids made as part of the Church’s outreach.  It was awesome to see how the people here were so accepting and appreciative.

Later, back at the orphanage we handed out blankets to all of the kids . The blankets were donated and some handmade by a friend in Atlanta.  The kids went crazy over them!  Even in 80-90 degree heat at night, the kids still get cold here.

Then it started to rain.  Chaos started as the kids (mostly the adults) started attacking each other with ice cold water from the cooler and sprayed water guns.  It was extremely entertaining to watch.

For dinner, we took the kids to eat BBQ.  I have never seen kids get so excited about going to their favorite restaurant and drinking 2-4 cokes/energy drinks a piece.  We all had a blast!

Tomorrow we say goodbye to these amazing kids and head out to pick up the Banteay Meanchey team on our way to Siem Reap.  I can’t believe that it is almost time to go home.  This has been one of the best experiences of my life.  I have fallen in love with these kids, but am happy that they have such a great place to rest their heads at night, in a home with people who love and care deeply about them, the way that God loves all of us.

-Laura Day