When you are transported to a place surrounded by children who's situation couldn't be farther from your own it helps if you understand their history. When you can empathize and respect what challenges they have faced you are put in a place where your problems simply disappear. Cambodia has fought to rebuild over the last 32 years from a regime that cut their population in half...by millions. Today I took the group to the S-21 genocide museum where hundreds of thousands of Cambodian men, women and children were tortured and killed. This massacre ended only 31 years ago but it is responsible for the devastating poverty and 200,000 orphans that exist in the country today. Rithy, the director of the orphanage, had his entire family brutally killed and was orphaned himself during this time. The orphans don't have Grandparents or any family lineage for that matter because they were killed ruthlessly by the Khmer Rouge. Having their faces to correlate with such a devastating history makes quite an impact on you. This orphanage is their only hope.

After the museum we headed back to the farm with a heightened sense of appreciation for what the orphaned children and their families have endured and overcome. There we stood, side by side, assembling a chicken coop roof in 100 degree heat, accidentally hammering our thumbs and having chicken peck our feet from time to time... not one complaint. We finished the coop and we have the farmer's tans to prove it! After the coop was finished we shoveled some fresh soil that had been delivered to fill a giant gaping hole in the back of the property. This required the kids to first pick out all the trash in the delivered soil, which is how it comes, they were shocked. Everyone pitched in and we had it done really fast. After we hosed off and hung up our boots (yes, we have them) we headed back to the orphanage. This was a really proud moment for me, the students continue to become more comfortable and impress me every day. They also have become very comfortable with discussing some strange bodily functions that typically occur in a third world country...it's progress!

After having the day off yesterday and visiting the National Museum and the Killing fields we are preparing for a full day at the orphanage. It's funny how you miss them after not being there for a day. It was also weird not coming home covered in dirt and Barbie stickers. Today I am going to do some research on a few new little ones that have arrived at the orphanage within the last six months. We will also be distributing some more donated supplies and clothes. Thank you all so much for all the effort that went in to collecting and sorting through them all, it was worth it. Also, thank you for all the encouragement and virtual high-faves, we couldn't do it without them. Make today great.

Love,
LM