The Orphanage!

23 Jan 2016

The Sr. Couples try to have a Family Home Evening together once a month.  This month we went to Botevy's orphange.  It has a real long name that I cannot remember. Botevy and her husband run the orphanage. Botevy is the woman in the purple shirt. She and her daughter were getting things organized for the program. 

 Botevy and her husband are members of one of the Branches in Phnom Penh's North Stake.  They have always been up front with the parents that leave their children there.  They are told that they children will have a christian influence in their lives.  They have near to 30 orphans that live there.  I hate to refer to them as orphans because that gives you the feeling that no one wants them or loves them.  That could not be further from the truth.
As soon as we arrived these loving children swarmed the van.

They had a dinner and a program all prepared for us.   They were so cute in makeup and costumes.

They really made it look beautiful.   See the fancy folded clothe napkins.

It was a frenzy of activity.  We had the most wonderful welcome into their home.

Elder Le Nguyen and Elder Monson were there too.  They are fine missionaries. 

The dinner was just like the children... unassuming and lovely.   They made a traditional Khmer curry with rice and lots of fruit.  Then the program began with all the children singing some Primary songs.  The Spirit was overwhelmingly present.

The program continued with traditional Khmer dances.

 The girls are so beautiful and graceful while the boys did their "monkey" dance.

Before we left Botevy showed me her garden that is one of Elder and Sister Meinzer's LDSC projects.   She was very proud of it. 

It was a wonderful evening.  I hope to go there again just to see the children.  One of our sister missionaries, Sister Soem, grew up in that orphanage.   She is a welcome addition to our missionary force.