The title of my blog post, is that famous quote that we all know! "Everything happens for a reason." For me, the events that I have experienced on Days 8 and 9 here in Cambodia were at times difficult to understand but remembering this quote I knew it would be okay.
As many of you know I volunteered my time along with the rest of my group last year at an orphanage called CHA. Children's Hope Association Orphanage. This orphanage will always have and hold a special place in my heart because it made a profound impact on my life. The children there have scarred my life for the better and when I say that there is not a day that does not go by with out thinking about them it is the truth. Your first experience volunteering and connecting with children who are less fortunate then you allows you to create a bond that is at times hard to re-create again. I will forever and always be grateful for the opportunity I had to share my time and love with the children at CHA!
As many of you do not know, this year as a mentor with the new group of students, we did not go back to CHA. The orphanage went from 75 children to only about 20 children. This is due to an intense amount of people being untrustworthy. Very! I will never regret one moment, not one, that I spent at CHA last year and the impact that they had on me or the impact that I had on them. That is the truth! However, the people surrounding the orphanage being untrustworthy with the resources that people give them is so frustrating. I could go into a lot more detail about the current situation at CHA but there is a great deal of positivity that occurred at the orphanage and to me rather than the great amount of negativity happening now. To tell you as well, I was asked if I would like to travel to the orphanage this year and I chose not to based on focusing on positivity rather than the negativity happening now.
Yes. I do not know where all the children who I worked with last year are located however a little hope here in there will do me good. That is what is great about creating relationships that will last you a lifetime in life alone. Nalin has been this to everyone in our group from last year. She is also no longer at the orphanage but in the best way she can she takes care of all the children from CHA. She is always checking in on them and making sure she knows where they are. Nalin is not with them but she is with them in spirit and support. She is not only with her kids from CHA but she has started a new journey with a new organization.
This organization is called Auscam. It is for all girls ages 15 and older and it is heaven compared to any other orphanage/organization I have visited. The organization was founded by a couple from Australia who I had the opportunity to meet at CHA last year - Julie and her husband. Very generous people with the want to give girls the opportunity, the choice, and the freedom. The motto of the organization itself! Nalin is there and Lisa-Marie took me there to see her. The best out of it all however, is Noit and Srey Lan two of the girls from CHA are living there. So good!!!! The even better news is that Noit little sister Mi Mi was in town from the provinces to visit and Visal Nalin's "little boy"were all there to visit. Now that is hope right there! Four special children all looking healthier than before, and for the time being happy and safe in there environments. I know, I know only four children. This is however a sense of hope for me!
Everything happens for a reason! I seem to find myself believing this day in and day out here. Thank you Lisa-Marie for giving me this opportunity!
Love
Anna
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