Items Needed before I leave: Help the Kids in Svay Pak, Cambodia!

Out of the kindness of your heart, many have asked about supplies for the school in Cambodia. Here is a list of items needed straight from the director. Many of these items are NOT available in Cambodia. 

My goal is to take 100 pounds on my trip this summer.


 I will need all items by June 15, 2012. 


**My Email is misswv@hotmail.com, please email me if you would like to donate! 







Items needed:

*Old magazines (appropriate for small children)

* Clip-art books

* Coloring books (christian with simple English) 

* File Folders, manilla or different colors (for making file folder games)

* Felt Bible characters

* Face paint

* Fabric pens

* Stickers

* Snack size, sandwich size, gallon size, and 2 gallon size ziplock baggies

* Magnetic tape

* Sticky tack

* Colored Duct tape

* Velcro (strips or dots) – we need lots!

* Plastic containers: Ziploc, Gladware, or any other brand; variety of sizes especially larger ones

* Sentence strips

* Sentence strip pocket charts

* Monthly calendar pocket charts

* Hundreds pocket charts

* Alphabet cards (Cheap at target-1.00)

* Magnets

* Counters: teddy bears, animals, bugs, circles, two-sided, etc.

* Pattern blocks


* Legos and other building blocks (new or gently used)

* Wooden puzzles (new or gently used) 

* Playground balls (inflatable) 

New or gently used books from the following authors:

* Eric Carle

* Bill Martin Jr.

* Dr. Seuss

* Eric Hill

* Wordless picture books

* Alphabet books

* Counting books

* Color books

* Picture books based on familiar kids’ songs or ryhmes (Old McDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus, Deep and Wide, Six Little Ducks, etc.)

* Board books for preschool

* Non-fiction science books:

o weather, animals, foods, plants, nature, water cycle, five senses, habitats, matter, night/day, magnetism/electricity, forces, simple machines, life cycles, etc.* Bible story books

Mark 10:14 "Let the little children come unto me...for such is the Kingdom of God."

A Walk Down Memory Lane...

Here is a few  highlights from my year in Cambodia in 2008-2009. 

Teaching my first ESL class...oh the learning curve.

First Cambodian friends: Sokea, Voleak and Dara.  Can't wait for the reunion! 

The "Shake Lady" as I nicknamed her. Everyday, on my way home from work I'd have her make me a smoothie for 30 cents. Until I got violently ill from one...that romance was over. 

Spending time with my students outside the classroom...priceless. 

Visiting the world famous Angkor Wat

Bringing food to children, which live in one of the largest garbage dumps in the world.  I think about them almost daily. 

Saturday's at Asia's Hope Orphanage....your heart swells to a place you never thought it could go...

So many great days with my students!

Perspective...

This was the Facebook status update of Agape International Mission (the organization I'll be working with this summer which, oversees the school in Svay Pak):

"Finally after a long, hot, sweaty, windy ride thru dusty Phenom Penh I arrive back in Sweat Park. Jump in the shower keeping my eye on the rather large spider in the ceiling corner and that frisky darting gecko. Shower, water, this is...the water AND the lights go out, I am plunged into total darkness. ARE YOU KIDDING? I start to get agitated then a whisper in my ear....imagine how all your girls felt, naked, no control, in darkness or bright light...suddenly my situation wasn't so bad at all. Please God be a light of hope to those still in slavery and send in the cavalry in Jesus name."

First, I laughed and empathized as I could completely relate. I remember an entire week  in April when I was living in Phenom Penh,  it was in the 100's with NO electricity, NO water, No reprieve. I was on the edge of what I felt like was a break down. I remember Geckos, (which I'm terrified of) snuggling in for the night in my bed and jumping out to play from my dresser drawer. I remember rats of which I have never seen the likes of in America, the size of small cats wandering the streets outside my apartment.

However, as I comb this complaint scenario though the perspective of the children living in Cambodia, I am embarrassed at my self-centered, mercenary thoughts. Through their eyes I live a lavish, blessed, beautiful life… and I do.

Over the next six weeks, please pray my journey will be productive. Pray as a spoiled-rotten American, I have a heart of gratitude, perspective and passion for Cambodia. Most importantly, pray for these little ones that they will find hope, safety and redemption for the future of their country.

With 3 year old Kimhula in April 2009. My heart grew so much that day I forgot about the heat :)

And so it begins...

Thanks for stopping by! I can't believe in just a few weeks I will board a giant steel tube and make that long journey across the Pacific. My heart smiles thinking about reconnecting with friends, students and old teammates as I return to a place, which was my home from 2008-2009.

My official journey begins June 18th. My destination: Svay Pak, Cambodia. A place once known as one of the darkest, desolate places on earth, now irrigated with the hope of Christ. During my  two months there I hope to give everything I can and more. I hope Christ is honored though my service. I hope I have in some small way been a part of the building of His kingdom in Cambodia....

Let's go!