Battambang Self Reliance Successes

After going to the fields and farms yesterday, our visit to Battambang continued this morning as we went out first thing to visit three business. These were all participants from the Starting and Growing My Business Self Reliance Group.  It was exciting to see how they had applied the Self Reliance principles to their business. We learned from their stories how quickly they improved and increased their successes in their businesses.

The first stop was a small shop in the city, but down a little alley. They were surrounded by beautiful children, several of whom were their grandchildren, who quickly came to greet us and give "fives" and hugs. With using the principles they had learned in the group, they were now keeping their business money and personal money separate. As they used this principle they could see they were able to increase their inventory and variety of products they sell.

The second shop was another shop which had been set up in a typical home in Battambang. They had created a tented lean-to in front to display inventory goods. They also had chickens they raise and sell, which of course means fresh eggs. This home included several children and teen-age youth. Two young men there have received mission calls and will both report soon to serve in the California Oakland Mission. A third young man is working on his papers for his mission.

We boarded the van for one more stop. This was the home of the facilitator of the Self Reliance group. This young man who is 25 learned the Self Reliance principles and facilitated the group, teaching them to the other. He has been married for almost a year, and has set up a successful business raising pigs, ducks and chickens. He used his first earnings to pay for his wedding. Since then he has been saving money, planning for a trip to be sealed in the temple. He was such a great facilitator he has been asked to lead the new group that will start soon.

Chad Furness, the Asia Area Self Reliance Manager, was so excited with the things he saw in the lives blessed and changed with the Self Reliance program in Cambodia, but especially in Battambang. There are several leaders scheduled to come to Asia very soon and Chad plans to share the Cambodia successes with them, hoping to model what others do to the successes we have seen in Cambodia. We have seen the Lord's hand in this work and are humbled to realize how we have been blessed to be a part of it.