e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, April 7. 2005

April 7, 2005

Dear friends,

Its that time of the year to wish each and every one of you a Happy Khmer New Years. It seems strange to celebrate three New Years each year - Jan 1, Chinese New Years and Khmer New Years. The celebrations have started although the actual New Years days are April 13-15th - each evening our neighborhood rocks with the laughter of children and adults as they play games in the early evening. Hearing Miriam's laughter amongst them is very good. Khmer New Years also brings out the occasional electricity problems - not sure why, whether its because the country shuts down as everyone goes to their home villages, including those who do electricity or its because the weather is always at its hottest and the electricity use is at its peak. Whatever the reason, my home was without electricity for 2 days and nights - an experience that tests me to the core of my being and results in a schizophrenic personality that swings from utter despair to elation and unusual bonhomie to one and all when restored.

This week I had a site visit that brought tears to my eyes. Srei, Tharry, Pon, Pow and Cheiring asked me to visit this village in Kirivon. The trip is long and hard and has several roads that defy description. We had received our first rainfall since November in Phnom Penh and felt refreshed - the farther we drove - the less the elation as the drought in the countryside left us feeling bereft for the people we saw.

We arrived in Kirivon and were met by several hundred people. They were gathered around the only well in the area - all kinds of containers were lined in a row - people were bickering with each other over whose turn it was - many had been waiting for several hours to get their water.

The water was only good for washing - it was unsafe to drink - it causes severe cramps when drunk - I asked, where then do you get your drinking water - from another well - 3 kilometers away - how many families does that well serve, I asked - 489, I was told. We must use this well for water for washing and cleaning and we must use the other well for drinking water. Most of us spend up to 5 hours per day, just getting water. That is why we asked you to come.

They led me to the back of the village and there they showed me what they had in mind. In front of me was a reservoir that they had dug - 226 families in this village and every night after work 201 families sent a member of their family to help dig. The reservoir had been dug over 60 years ago by their great grandparents - then came the Khmer rouge years and everyone was forced away - many were executed - most of the families had returned over the years since then but the reservoir had filled with dirt and only a small pond remained. The drought each year had caused much grief for these families. They had heard about the other 2 reservoirs that we had helped with - they only knew that we expected them to do their fair share of work before we would help - they had not seen the other reservoirs because these were 50 kilometers away. So they had begun to dig where the top step was visible - and as they dug, the steps, kept going down. They dug 3 meters and still the steps went down.

Our staff, Pow and Cheiring had taken the leader to the other reservoir to see what we had done. The leader came back to the village and shared the news - we must provide the stone, he said, and then Tabitha will help with the cement and sand to make the walls. This was good, the villagers said, because that is what we do, break stones into gravel and we sell the gravel to others.

Now, they not only divided into teams to dig, but also divided teams into going into the surrounding hills to collect stones for the walls - even the children were part of the teams - doing an adult portion of digging and carrying. The children refused to stop doing their share while I stood with the elders and we talked. I asked the children why they worked so hard - they giggled and shyly hid their faces - a tiny ten year old finally spoke - we have no water and our parents work so hard - we can do this to help all of us and we can see how much we have done - next year, we will not be thirsty and our parents will not be so tired.

The elders, staff and I talked about how big this would be - the elders said we want to dig another 2 meters, making it 8 meters deep - and we heard that you wanted us to make it square so it will be 18 meters long and 15 meters wide - that way, we will have water all year round. Will the water be good, I asked. They replied that the water would come from the hills around us during the rainy season and it was very good water for drinking. The cost would be $600.00 to make the wall all around - the wall would be one meter high. It would keep the reservoir clean. How long would it take to finish, said I. By June, we will have it done.

I thought about the days of no electricity and water that I just had - the heat and the inability to do anything about it. Here was a village of people who were doing something about it - they are doing so with sacrifice and hard work, they are doing so together - from the youngest to the eldest - and they were doing so with joy. Can we start this week - before Khmer New years with the wall? Yes, you can. The staff and elders remained behind to purchase the cement and sand - the children returned to collecting stones and I returned home - thinking that this is what it is all about.

You, our friends and our partners, say to us at Tabitha, yes, you can and we in turn say to the villagers, yes, you can. I am humbled by my God, who said, yes, you can - together, each of us, in our own way - change so much of what we thought we could not - but together we can.

On behalf of all the staff, villagers and families, we wish each of you, Happy Khmer New Years.

Janne

e-mail from Cambodia : Wednesday, March 16. 2005

Dear friends,

Every so often we get to share good news with those with whom we work. This month is a bit special. When we started Tabitha in 1994 - none of us could imagine what changes there would be - how life would impact each of us. Today I want to share the story of Pisette - our very first sewer.

Pisette's life has been difficult. She was raised in the country side by her mom - her dad left after the sixth child was born. Pisette, being the oldest girl, was responsible for the younger children. Her schooling was a bit here and a bit there - she managed to finish Grade 5. When she was fifteen, her mother sent her away to be with her father in Phnom Penh. For the first few years, Pisette helped out vendors at different market stalls. Her father married her off at 18 to her first husband.

With the money raised at the wedding combined with her husband's selling of his motorbike, they bought a small plot of land in Kilometer 6 - 3 meters by 10 meters. Their house was made of pieces of wood and cardboard, their floor was dirt, their possessions were 2 sets of clothes each and a sleeping mat.

Pisette was a good sewer and she was able to purchase her sewing machine quickly - this meant they had to buy a chair. Their next big purchase was a sleeping mat and net for their new baby - and so it went. Slowly they were able to purchase bits and pieces - the biggest purchase was to buy wood to replace the cardboard and tin for a roof to keep out the rain.

7 years ago, Pisette's husband came home complaining of a headache - he laid down to sleep and never woke up again. He died of cerebral malaria - Pisette was a widow with a young child at the age of 23.

3 years ago, Pisette was promoted to staff - she is part of our sales team - her primary responsibility is to quality control. At the same time she got married to her second husband - he is a good man - his work is to cook for weddings - so she eats well. Their first purchase was a refrigerator.

Pisette saved all of her salary for the past three years. In February, she gave birth to her second son and with his birth it was time to visit her home. They celebrated the advent of this child by rebuilding their home. What a joy it was to come and see what she has done.

Their home is now made of cement - not large - 3 meters by 10 meters - 1 and a half floors - but it is complete with kitchen, modern bathroom, bedroom and living room. The roof is ready to add an other floor when they have saved enough to build it. They are out of debt - their children are healthy, they both have work.

Pisette remains a quiet, conscientious worker - but her smile as she showed me her home and her growing family spoke volumes. I never believed that I would have such a wonderful life - I never believed I would have a home to be proud of, I never believed that I would have a job as good as mine is. I have no education, I had no future - I thank God for Tabitha, I thank God for my life.

These past 2 months have been very busy with teams building houses for people we work with. The staff spend many long, hard hours standing with others as they rebuild their lives. How good it is to see the staff themselves rebuild their lives from the ashes. Pisette is one of many, Mari and Kol and Pat and his family, join so many of our staff this year in rebuilding their homes, rebuilding their future.

Without each of you, this is not possible - I praise God for each of our staff, I praise my God for each of you. Alongside Pisette, I thank my God for Tabitha; I thank my God for my life.

In His service,

Janne

e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, November 4. 2004

November, 2004

Dear friends and partners,

It has been a very busy few weeks. October was our tenth anniversary month and so we celebrated. Of course, we didn't do it the normal way by having a big party - instead we decided to build as many houses as we could for as many families as we could. The result was 9 volunteer teams came with 183 people and they built 62 houses. This averages to 2 houses per day - what a month! The teams brought their own brand of excitement and of grace which was infectious and so we were all excited and were surrounded with grace. What a way to celebrate!

Our orders and sales were also phenomenal - in fact - we were able to hire more workers. 2 of these workers are young ladies - sisters actually - one 17 and the other 19. Their home situation is one of extreme poverty - mom had been ill for several months and the medical bills were paid through borrowing funds from money lenders - they were not too happy that these could not be repaid. The family of 8 was down to 1 meal of just rice per day - their home nothing but a simple hut made of grass - it was rainy season and so all members fell ill from being wet and unable to sleep through the night as the rain fell inside as well as outside their hut.

Neither one of the girls had any sewing skills but what they had and still have is determination. Their first few weeks were a trial for everyone - it was hard to sew even a straight line - they earned a few riels - but not much. And then I let it be known that if their skills did not improve dramatically - they would be out of a job. Several of the workers live together and invited the girls to share their home. Each night they worked with the girls. As the orders increased, the pressure was on to work hard. Then one Friday, there was a lot of chatter and laughter. I walked through the building and both girls were standing in the hallway looking very distressed. I asked Nari what was going on. The girls were struggling with their pay - in their minds they had been radically over-paid - they had never seen so much money in their lives - they wanted to give some back. Everyone was enjoying their disbelief - we were all deeply touched with their thankfulness and joy when they realized the money was all theirs - what a way to celebrate!

We celebrated the coronation of a new king - my little princess was dismayed - her own birthday coincided with the former king's birthday. She believed that her birthday was very special because of the fireworks held in honor of the King. With the rest of the country we were delighted with the new king and my princess was even more excited that the fireworks lasted for 4 nights. What a way to celebrate!

I have taken time this month to reflect over the past ten years. One of the greatest miracles is how each of you has become involved and is an integral part of all that has happened. I thank my God for each of you - for each of our staff - our miracle workers - but most of all - for the grace of being able to be a part of each of our families. What a way to celebrate!

Janne

TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh

www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com

e-mail from Cambodia : Tuesday, September 21. 2004

September 2004

Dear friends and partners,

It has been a very hectic month since I last wrote to you. We found a new building - its in a better location - as a friend of mine said - "its fun to go through the store - every room is another room of treasures" - a fine compliment and explains our joy and thanksgiving. The actual act of moving was not so much joy - we were horrified at how much stuff we have accumulated so it became an opportunity to clean house. Our old landlord was horrified that we would leave - our new landlord was delighted - he agreed to do all the repairs and additions that we wanted. We had customers before the displays were ready - a steady flow each day - so different from our old location. And all of this was accomplished in three short but very long weeks.

As soon as we settled into our new location, we began work on our plans and budgets for this New Year which begins in October. It's a plan of dreams and visions - it speaks of dedication of our staff to the people they serve - it speaks of the assurance you give us to go out and do. We desire to reach out to 20,130 families affecting 152,550 people. What is so amazing is that the cost of helping each family to achieve 4-6 dreams this year is only $10.00 US per family. We are so thankful for that gift. Now, we ask that each of you help us to find 20,130 families that would partner with a family here at $10 per year - for Singaporeans, Canadians and Australians it means $18.00 per family. Can you help us achieve these dreams?

We are blessed with new opportunities to sell our products. Tabitha USA is in process of opening an on-line store with all our products. The Friends of Tabitha in Singapore has held another Silk Fair and plans several more; individuals like Margret are promoting our goods to large corporations, Living Silk in Australia has begun to sell. All of these as well as our regular customers enable us to pay for many of our administrative costs - leaving the costs of development to a minimum.

Tabitha Foundation Singapore has become a registered charity in Singapore. Their new web - address is on the signature below. This makes five foundations - all volunteers who give so freely of their time and skills - it makes so much more possible.

Now we are busy with teams and expansion areas - next month we hope to produce a 10th Anniversary report on all that we have achieved - all the dreams the people have created and done - all the work which would not have happened without the support of each of you. I ask you to come and see what you and we have done together.

All of this, of course. takes time - sometimes another 10 hours a day would suit me just fine. But it is the staff that amaze me most - they are working very long hours and not a word of complaint. I suggested that maybe we should slow down accepting new teams for house building - their response was quick and loud - we can do more. I suggested that perhaps we don't need new customers - their response was to bring in 4 young ladies whose choice was to work for us or to work in brothels. Big grins as I just laughed. I suggested maybe we should be content with the families we had - their response was to tell me to come and see and to tell these families that are waiting myself that we will not come. I suggested to make sure that our dreams are one - their response was to show me that we are only just beginning our quest.

So it has become a time of rejoicing - a time of renewal - a time of continuation of what is started - a time of reaching out to more. It is a time of thankfulness to our God and His Grace - a time of thankfulness for each of you. I don't think life can get much better except for a bit more time for Miriam - even she, in her young age - says its okay mom, there are many people to help.

Janne

TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh

www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com
www.tabithasingapore.com

e-mail from Cambodia : Wednesday, June 2. 2004

Dear friends and partners,

One of the best parts of my job is the privilege of visiting the project sites. These visits are about having time to talk one on one with all the development staff and seeing what they have done. Nari often accompanies me on these visits so that we are both up to date on what is happening. On our first site visit we went with Srei, Tharry, Pon and Heng to our new project in Kampot province. There was lots of time to talk with each of them and time to talk with all of us and even some time to meditate for the roads to Kampot vary in degrees of horribleness - on a scale of 1-10 - with 10 being the best - we started on a 6 and rapidly decreased to a 2 - I am a seasoned traveler - but this time, even I was beginning to fade with the bouncing and jouncing and the terrible snail's pace we kept up for hours at a time.

The seven of us were delighted to finally arrive and meet our new staff, Sokha. He is a gentle and unassuming man and took all of us in stride. The people kept finding us and pulling us to come and see what they had done. Within 6 weeks of beginning, 320 families had joined our program. The poverty was ameliorated by the enthusiasm of the people. We went to a number of homes - our driving finally ended as we ended up in rice paddies in mud up to the axels. We left the boys to free the van - us girls went off to see the wonders of the wells. We met a group of 5 families - they had plowed several hectares of land and had planted cucumbers (about 6 cm high) and lettuce. There was such excitement as they showed me scrub land that had been like theirs before - and then they showed me more hectares that other families were tilling to plant their vegetables. "We have water, we can do so many things,"-they all said. I was a bit dubious about it all - and asked - did you not plant before - no, they chorused - no one ever came and talked with us - no one ever shared ideas with us - we couldn't think anymore - but now we can think of so much that we can do."

A few days later, we went off to Prey Veng to visit with Pat, Ponluck and Choeun. We arrived at our office and I was delighted to see how Pat had fixed his house into an office for Tabitha. Our travels brought us to new areas - once again I was appalled by the poverty and touched by the eagerness of the families to show us what they had done. In one small village of 30 families stood a well donated by Pat, Ponluck and Choeun in memory of my mother - there were 8 new houses built by a team of volunteers. The people had so little yet they were full of enthusiasm for all they could now do - once again, I heard the refrain - we couldn't think anymore, we had no ideas - until Tabitha came - now, come see what we can do.

We went off to see 70 families in another village - they had just completed their first cycle of savings - each and everyone had bought water jars - we stopped at the a house where a well was being dug - it was fascinating to watch the drill as it hit water and it came up the spout - Chouen's desire was that we see each and every water jar for it was the first time that the 860 families in this village had their own well. There is only so much one can say about water jars.

At the end of the day I asked the staff if they wanted to ask anything or say anything. Pat spoke, its so good to have you come - you tell us our mistakes without us feeling bad and in a way that is easy for us to do - you show us all the good things we do and it makes us want to do more. It is good that you come - you must come more often.

A few days later, we were off to Kompong Som to visit with Vonn, Peu and Seyha. Seyha and Peu were anxious to show us their new communities - the car could only go so far and then we started to walk. I asked how far - they said, just till the end of the village - the end was a long ways away. It was good to be in the countryside - it was good to share and it was good to see what all they had done.

We all went off to see the new communities Vonn wanted to expand to - another new province. The trip was wonderful - along the roadside we stopped to buy fruit - the staff went crazy - 50 kilos of rambuttans - I said, can't you buy these in Phnom Penh - they all laughed and said, Cambodian fruit is the best - there is no medicine used and its fresh. I started to laugh - it had taken so many years to hear them say that Cambodia was number 1 in something.

Nari and Srei went for a week to see our work in Banteay Meanchay and Siem Reap - Kameak is doing well but oh the poverty, Janne. They saw Mari and Sarouen's new communities - and the same report - they are doing well but oh, the poverty.

In between the site visits, we were very busy with finishing the orders from our second Silk Show in Singapore and preparing our first set of products to be sold in Australia. There was and still is silk everywhere - the office is full of colour and chatter and laughter - many of the workers actually slept in the office for several nights - trying to put it all together. The weavers are weaving in a season that is traditionally slow - there is no hunger for our workers this year.

Its been a month of miracles, a month of grace - so many people - so much accomplished - so much more to do. No matter where we went or whom was talking - there was thankfulness and excitement - a deep awareness of how God has surrounded us with His grace and how each of you have been a part of that grace. Thank you all.

Janne

TABITHA-CAMBODIA
#22, Street 400, P.O. Box 2361,
Phnom Pehn, Kingdom of Cambodia
Tel/Fax: (855) 23 - 721038
E-mail: tabitha@forum.org.kh

www.tabitha.ca
www.tabithafoundationaustralia.com
www.tabithausa.org
www.tabithauk.com

E-mail from Cambodia: Wednesday April 28. 2004

Dear friends and partners,
Happy Khmer New Years to each and every one of you. Its been an = extra-ordinary month but it seems that each new month, each new day is extra-ordinary. This month we closed all our shops and all our work down in order to celebrate the holiday - it is the first time that we have been able to do so since we opened Tabitha in 1994. It was a gift given to us by all of you - our support base is becoming strong enough to bear the closure for a few days - giving all of us a much needed break.

My little family celebrated in true Khmer fashion - with our friends we went to the country side to throw water and baby powder - we got as good as we gave - my Miriam forgot to open her window several times and so I received more than I should have. She was delighted and so was I.   click  Miriam  for more news.

Its also been a month of trauma. This past Sunday night at 2:30 in the morning, I was woken to find a man standing by my bed shining a flashlight in my eyes. God has promised to take care of us in such times and He did so this time. Without a murmur, I closed my eyes while I registered the fact that this was not good. I did not cry out, nor did I move. In the 30 seconds it took to think about the situation I received the wisdom to turn on my bed light near my hand and to stand quickly - easier to fight while standing, I say. The bed light is dim but gave enough light for me to see that my bathroom door was slightly open. I walked quickly to push it just a little, enough to know that it was not my imagination as the window glass was gone.

I was not frightened - my thoughts were clear - make sure Miriam and Tuit were safe and so I left my room with the door open and went to theirs. I told Tuit there was someone in the house and to call the security man next door. Tuit, in a confused state, said "don't worry, I will kill the cockroach" - I grabbed her and said again, "a man, not a roach, call the security next door". I stood in the living room with a flashlight ready to take on the intruder should he come out of my room  while Tuit opened the backdoor - she did not call out - she slammed it and came back breathless and badly shaken, a second man was standing near by.

We went into Miriam's room - she did not cry out, she did not say a word, she just held her arms out to be held. I had bought Tuit a hand phone for Christmas and she grabbed it - "call Nari," I said. Another miracle, Nari answered after the first ring: she said, "don't leave the room, don't make a sound - I will call the police." Meng Wan, our second nanny was sleeping in the outside guest room - we phoned her and she, too stayed quiet.

15 minutes later the police and Nari arrived - Meng Wan walked across  the yard in slow motion, deeply traumatized by what was happening. As the police entered the yard, I held my door shut while Tuit opened the main doors to the house. At first, the police thought I was just a crazy  foreigner until I took them to the side to show them the empty window. It was only then that things happened quickly - guns and more guns and a thorough, professional search of every inch and every nook and cranny of the house, the garden and the roof. One of the intruders had left his shorts behind, a fact that left Miriam wondering why.

There were so many police and so professional - it was so very comforting. I started to shake and then they asked me what happened - we told them everything - the police were astonished - "why do you think he did not hurt you?" they asked me. They always hurt people if they know  you are awake. I was still a bit numbed and my mouth opened before I  thought: "I think they were after one of the pretty girls and when they saw I was an old lady, they decided it was too much." The laughter eased the tension but all of us were beginning to tremble from the fright.

In the morning light the police returned to take the fingerprints, the chief of our commune came to make sure all was well, the landlord sent  workers to fix the windows - iron bars - and to install razor wire and spotlights. Nari and I decided that this was a message to make sure we were safe and so we hired a night guard - something I had resisted for so long. At the end of the day, all of the staff and workers came - about 90 people - to touch me and make sure all was fine. We shared, we  hugged and we laughed - so much comedy in the midst of it all. We thanked our God for keeping us safe. Tuit's prayer touched my soul - she prayed that God had kept me safe because He had sent me to be a tree - covering all of them with cooling shade in their times of sorrow - I was a cooling steam of water in their hard lives - and she prayed that He would keep me safe in the years to come. My tears flowed freely.

I returned to work on Tuesday morning - my body feeling so very heavy - it was hard to lift my feet - I was so desperately tired. And then I opened the e-mails and there were 140 orders from our second Silk show  that was held in Singapore a short week before. Nari, the staff and I looked at each other and we began to laugh, my weariness disappeared  and today, there is colour everywhere - silks are on the floor, on the desks and people chatting and laughing making beautiful house wares. Sharon, one of the mainstays of the Singapore show, phoned to discuss the orders and I shared what happened.

And now I share this with you all because life is not always easy. But mainly I wanted to share about all the miracles - no one was hurt; we could fix all the problems without worrying about funds; we have the relationships to ensure that when we need help from the local authorities they do respond and with expertise. God's grace surrounds us even in moments of distress - we are surrounded by each other and by  all of you. As I said earlier, it is an extra-ordinary month but then each day is that way - and each of you are a part of it. Thank you for that gift.  Janne

e-mail from Cambodia : Thursday, March 25. 2004

Dear friends and partners,

It has been an unusually busy time since I last wrote to all of you. Let me begin by saying that the hot season has arrived earlier than usual. This brings its own unique set of problems. It is in this time that so many of our staff and workers become ill. Last Friday, we were rejoicing over opening our first real shop in Siem Reap - as we were talking, Ani, our manager, received a phone call. One of our long time workers in Cottage Industry had passed away suddenly. Meng Sarouen was only thirty;  she had come that morning to our devotions, she seemed to be fine, smiling and chatting with all of us. As is the norm on Fridays, she received her pay, picked up her work for this week and went home. When she arrived, she sat down on her mat and passed away. Meng had suffered from tuberculosis for many years - the hot season exacerbates the illness. She died without complaint - her 3 year old adopted daughter was taken home by her neighbours - orphaned yet again.

In many parts of our projects, the hot season leaves the land looking barren and dusty. We visited a new commune -Trapeang Sap  - a community of 800 families whose main source of income is the making of brown sugar from palm trees.It was already hot when we arrived - as we entered the volunteer's home - the heat increased dramatically - over several open fires were large vats with  sap bubbling merrily away. A young lady of 14 was stirring the sap and continually adding wood to the fire. Different families kept bringing more sap, all contained in PVC tubes, and the sap was poured to begin the process of changing sap into sugar.

I told them how we made maple syrup in Canada where the heat was welcomed as it was often very cold. There was a bit of misinterpretation as one of the women put a blanket around my shoulders. No, no more heat thank you. It took a day and a half to render a vat full of sap down to 5 kilos of excellent tasting sugar. Cambodian cooking usually requires a pinch or 2 of this sugar to make the dish just right. Nary, Srei, Tharry and I all delighted in putting our fingers into the freshly made sugar -it was very sweet and made us all giggle.

I marvelled at how hard these families worked - their land is small as children grownup and get married and receive their own parcel of precious land as a wedding gift from their parents. Most families only had a quarter of a hectare ( a bit more than 1/2 acre) left to grow their main staple, rice. It is too small to feed the family for a year. The palm sugar was their only other source of income - for three months the sap runs and each day every member of the family is involved. The men, both young and old, tap the trees and then carry 30 tubes of sap to the cooking fires - some as far as 2 kilometres - each tube of sap weighing several kilos. Their backs are bent and their muscles are strained as they walked through the fields. The women tend the fires and constantly stir the sap until only the sugar is left - a hot and tiring task. The elderly and the very young spend their days scavenging for materials to feed the fires. The sap is sold for 1000 riels (10 cents) a kilo - unbelievably cheap for so much labour - we all bought several kilos - my share given to our staff at the office.

These families renew our desire to reach out to so many more. There is so much to do. All of you have made this month so wonderful. Tabitha Singapore sent us joyful news - they had been accepted by Singaporean authorities to officially start Tabitha Singapore. The Friends of  Tabitha arrived to select products for our next Silk Show to be held in Singapore, in April.

Tabitha Australia worked with us in designing an innovative way of selling our products in Australia.We hope to begin this process in April.
Tabitha USA, Canada and UK all came forth with the funds needed to work freely - without worry. Many individuals visited us and still many more contacted us through email, regular mail and phone calls. How good that is.

We reached another milestone with our volunteer house builders - more than 200 volunteers arrived to build a record 37 houses in one month - the majority were students from various International schools in Asia.
It is always very good to inter-act with these young people.
see also  Volunteer Housebuilding Program and visit :PHOTO GALLERY OF HOUSEBUILDING,

To keep it all in perspective - to remind me that I have a family, Tuit, who is Miriam's nanny, developed lumps in her breast - they are benign.
Miriam got to play with a cycle while I was up country - breaking her arm and getting an overnight trip to Bangkok with mom. click  Miriam  for more news.
But the worst was myself - I developed a little blister on my big toe from having my nails cut - it was embarrassing as I greeted visitors and friends with a lemon tied around my toe - Cambodian herbal medicine - and pain that brought tears to my eyes. How could such a little thing hurt so much.

Thank you to each of you - you are enabling us to do so very much. I am humbled and amazed by my God who has brought each of you into our lives. Life couldn't get any better. Janne

Dear friends and partners,

Starting in new provinces always involves a lot of work - staff spend days travelling through-out the province - meeting with the local chiefs and talking with the people. Discussions are held with me and other staff - more questions - more travelling - more answers until we think we should begin.

But before we begin in a big way, I am requested to come and see for myself - to give my final stamp of approval. This week was one of those final approval weeks. I approved the opening of Banteay Meanchay province - a province whose location is contiguous to Siem Reap and is a natural choice for expansion. Let me share my 2 days that I spent with Ani, our manager in Siem Reap and Tim Kameak who is our new manager in Banteay Meanchay.

Kameak joined our staff in 2000 - he was a close friend of Dara. Dara, I suspect, knew that he was dying, and so he quietly trained Kameak in the work. After Dara's death, it was natural to hire him as staff and to take over Dara's work. Kameak is just 30, single and women are a bane in his life. He is the youngest of 5 children; his parents killed by the Khmer Rouge, his oldest brother as well - leaving his 4 sisters and himself. He is another quiet one, putting up with the constant teasing of the female staff in Siem Reap and the hugs and kisses from me, his boss. But he likes it - if we don't do all these things, he thinks he has done something wrong.

Monday morning started early, I left Phnom Penh at 7 a.m.and arrived in Siem Reap 45 minutes later. Ani and Kameak had the car ready and off we went. Kameak was the driver and he took his vengeance out on us. The road is tarmac for 30 kilometres - on this section he drove no faster than 30 kilometres an hour - my patience was tested but I said nothing- and then we hit the dirt roads - speed crept up to 120 kph and both Ani and I were white faced and perspiring - slow down I would say as we hit another crater - he smiled and just went that much faster - I smacked him on the arm and I got the grin - by this time, Ani had her arms around my neck - her breathing came in gasps and groans - I smacked him harder - then we saw a bridge - and he slowed down to 10 kph - a breather except the bridge was in horrible shape - gaps in the girders - spikes all over the road - but we made it - it was the first of 77 bridges - I came to love them and hate them at the same time.

In an hour we entered Banteay Meanchay province - at first it looked like Siem Reap and then became flatter and flatter - huge expanses of seemingly endless plain - dotted occasionally by communities. We arrived in Banteay Meanchay at 10:30 and Kameak proudly drove us to the office he and the staff had chosen. I was horrified. It is a shack of broken wood with mud floors - Ani saw my face and quickly assured me there was nothing better for $20.00 a month - I said, we can afford more; but then she said, we looked - $100 ones are the same and she then showed me one on the outside it was done nicely - coloured tiles but inside it was wood and mud. "This will not do," said I,  "you must fix it - cement floors and new walls, a bedroom and a kitchen and a toilet" - Ani laughed - she said: "I knew you would say this when you saw it" Kameak gave his grin again and I gave him a hug.

Then we went off to see the potential families - we met several families, representing 650 families - all of whom broke rocks into small stones for a living. It was hard to imagine breaking rocks for a living - the morning had gotten hot and women, men and children all sat in makeshift shades breaking rocks, - none stopped as we talked - they worked 7 days a week to crush one truck-load of rocks - their homes were mere shells of bits and pieces of grass and plastic, mud floors, little else - a life time of misery for so very little. Yet none complained; for then Kameak showed me the ones with no homes and no work - hundreds of them and I was appalled. Breaking rocks, the people said, is much better than having no work and no food. Poverty is a hard task master. I am humbled by the quiet strength of those who work so hard for so little and even more humbled by those who desire to work but cannot find any. Their will to live is so very strong.

At 2 p.m. we left for Poipet - the border town with Thailand. Here my culture shock re-asserted itself - we stayed in a Casino with a 5 star Hotel - price was $30.00 which included 2 meals and a $10 chit to gamble with. I was horrified, but Ani said, you need to see this. As we stood at the top of the hotel we saw horrendous poverty - next to the wall of the hotel, 850 families lived in shacks - no water, no toilets, no anything. Then we drove around the town - behind the front row of respectable businesses were thousands of families living in poverty. On the outskirts of the town were entire suburbs of families living in poverty. Everywhere we went - there was more - each place had its own unique mark - dirt, filth, limited space - suburbs had space but showed just how terrible the living really was. "Oh Kameak," I kept saying, "lots of work, lots of work." I kept getting the grin. With such poverty, security is often an issue - we discussed all our options and decisions were made.
 

The next morning we stood at the border and watched people streaming across the border to find what work they could. Kameak was mesmerized and forgot he was driving - people were honking and screaming at us to move our car off the road, but he just couldn't absorb it all.

Finally we were off again, this time to find the silk weavers. 3 hours later - we were on a dirt road without gas; but a wizened man showed up with 10 cokes bottles of gas and we were ready to go. In the silk weavers villages - the poverty was much less - they were growing the silk worms and showed us the process - it was fascinating. Most of it is bought by our weavers in Takeo and other places. Very good.

We arrived back in Siem Reap to meet with the other staff - we were looking for a real showroom for our Cottage Industry Crafts to display to the tourists who visit the temples of Angkor Wat. Kameak still drove and he very kindly stopped in the middle of the road whenever we saw a place. We think we found one - decisions were made of who will do what and how, as this process moves on.

At 4 p.m.we were at the airport - Ani, Apo, Sarouen, Mari, Chrisom, Vath all said good bye - Kameak stood before me with his grin - both of us were hot and dirty and smelly - he gave me a big hug. I held him close for a minute and then said, well done, son, well done. Our 2 days together will never be forgotten - I am so grateful that God has given him to us as a part of Tabitha. I am so grateful that God gave us each of you to stand with us. It is so very good. Janne

Dear friends and partners,

It is the beginning of a new year and like all new beginnings - there is an air of anticipation and excitement for what the future will bring. For me personally, the year 2003 ended in sadness and celebration. My mother passed away in mid December - she lived to a good age - her life was one of faith and anticipation and excitement - she saw much and did even more.
My daughter, Miriam and I travelled home to Canada to grieve with our family and to celebrate my mother's life and the life she had given to all of us. It was a time of excitement as Miriam discovered snow and all its joys; she discovered what cold is and all its trauma; she learned about grief and that it is okay to be sad; she learned that family is a source of renewal and hope

On our return we were met by our Cambodian family - there were hugs and tears - there was joy and excitement - above all there was a sense of relief - we had come back.

click  Miriam  for more news.

Sok Som is our handyman, our security here in Phnom Penh. He is 46 years old and is married with 5 children. Som never says much - never did and probably never will. He watches all of us and helps where is needed. My return brought a big smile to his face - a gentle hug - and a welcome home coffee. Som, my quiet one, spoke -"It is so good to have you back." We grinned and I wished him and his family the best of 2004.

Som began to reminisce - "You know Janne, before I met you and Tabitha  in 1995 - my life was very hard. I had a very poor house; only 2 of my  children could go to school. My wife was very unhappy - she had no work and she would sit all day and think of bad thoughts. These thoughts would make her ill and then she would cry - she grieved because the children were jealous of each other - only 2 could go to school each year - the other 3 had to stay home. Our children would be angry and ask us why they couldn't go to school. My wife and I were both so very sad and we had no hope. I could only provide for 20% of my family's needs. It was too hard.

Then I met you and you hired me as a guard. Tabitha was so different - you made all of us take care of our own needs but also the needs of the people we work with. You made us all equal and it made me feel like I was a somebody - that I was just like everyone else. You made me save and think of what I could do - not about what I didn't have. You kept telling me that a good home was possible, that my children could all go to school, that my wife and I could laugh again.

Then in 1999, we built our house together with you. Later that year I dug a fish pond and my wife had work to take care of the fish. She doesn't cry anymore, she no longer thinks about sad things, every morning she sings as she gets the children ready for school. Then she takes care of the fish; she feeds them and makes sure the pond is strong. Every day she brings fish to people in our community who don't have enough to eat. The fish we sell every month, helps pay for 30% of all our needs and she is proud of that.

Then you helped me buy my motorbike and I can be with my family each week-end. Before that, it was hard to go home because everyone was unhappy and I couldn't do anything to make it better - now I enjoy going home.

You know the best thing I like about Tabitha is the house building - I get to go all over the country and meet people who were just like me - a nobody - and now, just like me, they are somebody. I am so very proud that I can help myself and my family but I am even prouder that I can help others to be just like myself. I know that God blesses you and that He blesses me but I want you to know that I bless you as well and all those who help us. I and my family are so happy to be a part of Tabitha and all the people that we help. My blessings are not just for this year but for all the years that lie ahead."

Thank you my friend - I and Som and all of us at Tabitha wish each and every one of you the blessings you have given, to be returned ten fold - not just this year but all the years that lie ahead. Janne

For a picture of Sok Som see Staff of the Month