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My Promise
Last year around this time, I was in Cambodia teaching. I am not a teacher by profession, but in my heart I wanted to go and teach in Cambodia. And off I went to go and teach. After volunteering my time teaching at a non-profit school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I visited Battambang province to give out care packages to poor children using the money my friend helped raised and through personal donations.
I am not rich nor am I smart enough to come up with solutions to help make Cambodia better. But I do have the strong desire to be a positive influence in life and to those that I meet. And I am committed to keeping my promises.
Teaching in Cambodia taught me a great deal about myself and my goals. My Christian faith has a lot to do with it also. I want to leave behind a legacy of serving, giving of myself and to share in someone else's story of love and hope. What I do is not much, but I am inspired by others that served before me. I have to continue in my pursuit to be the change that I want to see around me. My desire is to impart what some of my teachers taught me, "You can do anything you want as long as you commit to putting in the hardwork and time to make it happen. And when you get there, give back and serve others in need."
Below was one of my promises.
Flashback to September 1, 2015:
I stood in front of them scanning left to right, their faces with big bright round eyes looking back at me patiently. Most of them were small and thin. They stood smiling and giggling with curiosity waiting to hear me speak. The warm, hazy air surrounded us, while the Sun hid behind the clouds. I could feel drops of sweat slowly trickling down the side of my face. In that brief moment of daze, I caught a glimpse of myself in the crowd of children. It's as if my younger self is standing there staring back.
In those few seconds, I pictured my life as one of them, the many poor children living on the outskirts of Battambang province, Cambodia.
And then, with a little struggle came these words:
"Poun Poun thung uhos knea nung ban thuh ah-whuy moi pee-sas. Pen-tal, thruy kom prung rean soat huy salanh knea. nowpel namuoy nak nung klaycha aschar!
Translation: Little brothers and sisters, you will do something very special. But for now you must continue to study-hard and learn, and love one another. Someday you will be amazing!
Those were some of the words that I said to the children in Khmer, that of an older brother to his younger siblings, encouraging them.
Words matter, but action is more important because it demonstrate the truthfullness of the words. I told them that I will be back, and I intend to keep my promise.
My goal is to raise $7,000 by December 3, 2016. I know it's alot of money, which is why I need your help to keep that promise and to share Christmas with them. 100% of it will go toward creating packages to hand out to the poor children in Battambang and elsewhere in Cambodia.
Please consider donating any amount (no amount is too small) in helping me reach this goal and fulfill my promise.
I want you to be a part of this project and help make this happen. I would also appreciate you sharing this so that it can reach more people. Thank you !
-Ratha
***100% of the money raised will be for purchasing items to be included in the care package.
***Target locations: Villages and schools outside of Battambang, and Villages and schools outside of Phnom Penh.
***Working with local leaders in Cambodia to help with the care packages and come up a mini-program along with handing out gifts.
***My travel expenses will be paid out of my own pocket (flights, transporations, food, lodging).
(vid link - highlights of my Mission trips 2015)
https://youtu.be/N00jHFKQGWw
Last year around this time, I was in Cambodia teaching. I am not a teacher by profession, but in my heart I wanted to go and teach in Cambodia. And off I went to go and teach. After volunteering my time teaching at a non-profit school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I visited Battambang province to give out care packages to poor children using the money my friend helped raised and through personal donations.
I am not rich nor am I smart enough to come up with solutions to help make Cambodia better. But I do have the strong desire to be a positive influence in life and to those that I meet. And I am committed to keeping my promises.
Teaching in Cambodia taught me a great deal about myself and my goals. My Christian faith has a lot to do with it also. I want to leave behind a legacy of serving, giving of myself and to share in someone else's story of love and hope. What I do is not much, but I am inspired by others that served before me. I have to continue in my pursuit to be the change that I want to see around me. My desire is to impart what some of my teachers taught me, "You can do anything you want as long as you commit to putting in the hardwork and time to make it happen. And when you get there, give back and serve others in need."
Below was one of my promises.
Flashback to September 1, 2015:
I stood in front of them scanning left to right, their faces with big bright round eyes looking back at me patiently. Most of them were small and thin. They stood smiling and giggling with curiosity waiting to hear me speak. The warm, hazy air surrounded us, while the Sun hid behind the clouds. I could feel drops of sweat slowly trickling down the side of my face. In that brief moment of daze, I caught a glimpse of myself in the crowd of children. It's as if my younger self is standing there staring back.
In those few seconds, I pictured my life as one of them, the many poor children living on the outskirts of Battambang province, Cambodia.
And then, with a little struggle came these words:
"Poun Poun thung uhos knea nung ban thuh ah-whuy moi pee-sas. Pen-tal, thruy kom prung rean soat huy salanh knea. nowpel namuoy nak nung klaycha aschar!
Translation: Little brothers and sisters, you will do something very special. But for now you must continue to study-hard and learn, and love one another. Someday you will be amazing!
Those were some of the words that I said to the children in Khmer, that of an older brother to his younger siblings, encouraging them.
Words matter, but action is more important because it demonstrate the truthfullness of the words. I told them that I will be back, and I intend to keep my promise.
My goal is to raise $7,000 by December 3, 2016. I know it's alot of money, which is why I need your help to keep that promise and to share Christmas with them. 100% of it will go toward creating packages to hand out to the poor children in Battambang and elsewhere in Cambodia.
Please consider donating any amount (no amount is too small) in helping me reach this goal and fulfill my promise.
I want you to be a part of this project and help make this happen. I would also appreciate you sharing this so that it can reach more people. Thank you !
-Ratha
***100% of the money raised will be for purchasing items to be included in the care package.
***Target locations: Villages and schools outside of Battambang, and Villages and schools outside of Phnom Penh.
***Working with local leaders in Cambodia to help with the care packages and come up a mini-program along with handing out gifts.
***My travel expenses will be paid out of my own pocket (flights, transporations, food, lodging).
(vid link - highlights of my Mission trips 2015)
https://youtu.be/N00jHFKQGWw