Peace home complete and blessed

Fortunately for us mouse of the peace home was already completed when we arrived. So once the floors were nailed down and the walls up there was not much more to be done.
These are the two boys who's home it will now be. They are so cute. When we arrived each day they quickly ran up to welcome us and sompiahed as did their parents.



Their mum was always smiling at us. She is aware we were her sponsors but at the same time we felt so humbled to be a part of their community and their home.

Once the house is complete the family do not live in it until it has been blessed by the Buddhist monks. We also paid for a sack of rice, some other cooking stuff, Mosquito nets, some floor matting and blankets and cushions and a bicycle(the monks may have paid for the bike )to be blessed and given to the family. All these items except the bike are placed in front of the monks and the family sit beyond it for the blessing.



Sue and I were invited to take an josh stick each and spend a minute of two in silence reflecting on the good we had done, had done for our ancestors and for others. How we have made good for ourselves and so on. Everyone else sat in silence. There are many people behind and to the side of us.
The blessing then began with the monks reminding the family that in receiving this they are to follow the five rules.
No gambling
No drinking
No smoking
The children must go to school
There will be no domestic violence.
I believe that was what he explained to us. They will continue to receive support from the monks as long as the family is good.
After the talking the monks went into musical prayer that went for some time. Lovely to be a part of and both Sue and I got emotional. Only problem was we had to be seated with our feet not pointed at the monks and in a deep sompai for the duration. Not a position I can easily do and the sweat poured off. Much to the amusement of the girls to my left. They took great delight in watching it drip from my nose.
We were then invited to place all the items in the arms of the family and I tied a piece of blessed string around the fathers wrist.



Here we are after the blessing with the extended family.



And here is the direct family. I really hope they enjoy the new home. By the way the monk in this photo plans to be a boxer once he finishes being a monk.



Here is there old one. Looks like a shelter from survivor.
After this we visited the children again and went to look at a few homes already built with the family growing crops. Any extra is taken to market.



If I have inspired anyone to do this I can put you in touch with Y Nol. There are many other projects too. We visited PAGE which is a centre for girls as well as an extensive sewing school set up in Siem Reap. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to know you are really helping someone, actually meeting them not just sending money so some CEO can get rich. We plan to return and maybe do a spell in the language school teaching English.
Next blog, quad bikes through the rice fields.

uke complete me!

Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia