CICFO Orphanage Visit

Almost twenty-two months ago, shortly after we arrived in Cambodia we went with the other Senior Missionaries to CICFO (Cambodian International Children Friend Outreach). It is an orphanage run by a member, Bothevy Keo, that lives in the Phnom Penh North Stake. The interesting thing about orphanages here in Cambodia approximately 85% of the children who live in orphanages have at least one parent that is still alive. The parents are often so poor that they cannot take care of their children so they send them to an orphanage to live. Bothevy is a Khmer Rouge survivor that loves children and wants to help those that are in need. We have been to the orphanage three or four times and each time they put on a show with traditional Khmer dances. Also each time as we arrive and as we leave each one of them has to come and give hugs to everybody. What a great Family Home Evening opportunity for the Christmas season.

This morning we had to make some FaceTime calls with our children who we did not get to talk to last Saturday morning, their Friday night. We spoke to four of our children, two son-in-laws and six of our grandchildren. What a great way to start the week. That meant we were late getting to our office and holding our early morning planning meeting. We not only came late, but we left early to go to the orphanage visit. Elder and Sister Curtis, who serve in Kampong Cham, came down to go to the orphanage as well. One of the missionaries serving in Kampong Cham grew up at the CICFO orphanage so they had a very personal reason why they wanted to go. Since they do not know Phnom Penh very well we invited them to ride with us.

As we look ahead at this week it is already stacking up to be very busy. In fact tomorrow night is the only night that we plan on eating at our apartment, we have something every other day. We feel like we are sprinting as fast as we can to the finish line with a lot to be done before we get on that plane and fly home.