I remember a vivid dream I had just before coming here - of sitting around a big table and actually counting how many were seated around it. There were 12. So, the hunt was on for a 12-seater.
I answered an ad and got to meet this great couple - Bill and Heather Forbes from USA. They have been here 7-8 years with World Vision and are about to return to the States - hence the table sale.
Heather asked me what Sue and I had come out here for - and in the conversation I said how we were keen to open our home to a couple of Khmers, especially students. She got quietly excited and said that she had two great people for us - Lina (mum) and Sopheak (son - 15). Darra, the daughter/sister had been living with them this last year. She is 23 and in year 10 at school. Bill and Heather had come to know the family when visiting the beach at Sihanoukville, 230km away.
Lina made fruit, bangles, bracelets ... and Darra and Sopheak would sell the stuff on the beach. Another long story including sickness and going backwards - Darra had opportunity to move to Phnom Penh and finish school and Lina wants to keep her family together. I will tell Lina's story of a mother's devotion to her children through huge hardships in the next blog.
Heather, Sopheak and Darra - around the table
Sopheak moved in with us yesterday. He is a great young guy - very open personality, capable and good initiative. He is taking a computer class during school holidays (July-Sept; restart Oct)and extra studies to jump him into Year 8. Lina arrives Sunday - she is just getting her stuff stored with a rellie. Bill and Heather made arrangements for Darra before we were on the scene. In a city of 1.4 million, her place is same street as us, throw-the-tennis-ball-distance away! She and Sopheak are real close - and she is so happy that he is close by that she says she wants to cry. No doubt she'll be around our table lots, too.
Oh, and at a squeeze, and pulling out the extension part - the table will do 12!
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