Life Stories
Chan Navy
Chan Navy is 18 years old and in the 9th grade. She came to live with Pastor Vanny when she was 13. She had been living with a pastor in her hometown after both of her parents died. She likes school and her favorite subject is Geography. Her job at the orphanage is cleaning the house and bathroom and washing the dishes. She is waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead her to whatever works he wants her to do in the future. Her favorite passage in the Bible is the third chapter of Samuel.
Nean Chen
Nean Chen is 18 years old and in the 8th grade. He has been living in the orphanage since 2007. Chen had a hard time making a living after both of his parents died and was working for his neighbors so that he could eat. He wanted to come to the orphanage and learn about God. His favorite subject is Math and Khmer-there language. His job is cleaning the area where the boys sleep and watering the garden. When he leaves he wants to serve the Lord. His favorite Bible story is in Exodus and he hopes to be like Moses and lead his people.
Chaen Rachana
Chaen Rachana is 14 years old and in 5th grade. She moved into the orphanage in 2004. Her mother was very poor and she had no father. Her job in the orphanage is to wash the dishes in the morning. In her free time she likes to draw pictures and illustrate the stories they learn in the Bible. Her favorite Bible verse is Samuel 3:10.
Houn Vena
Houn Vena came to live in the orphanage in 2007 after his father passed away and his mother left him to live with a neighbor. He is 11 years old and in the 4th grade. His favorite subjects are Math and Language. His jobs are looking after the chickens, helping pump the water, and taking care of the other animals. He likes to play ball in his free time. His favorite Bible verse is John 1:1.
Roo Saoeuon
Roo Saoeuon is 13 years old and in the 5th grade. His favorite subject in school is Math. He came to live in the orphanage in 2008 after the older brother he lived with could not afford to feed him. His parents passed away years ago. His job in the morning is to wash the chicken house and feed and water the chickens. He likes to play volleyball in his free time. His favorite book in the Bible is Revelations.
Sok Soka
Sok Soka came to live in the orphanage when he was 11 in 2003. He is now 16 years old and in the 6th grade. His favorite subject is Math. His job is planting different trees on the property and cleaning the house and kitchen. He has a passion for music. He has learned to play the guitar for the other children while they sing. The orphanage only has one guitar that they all share and take turns playing. His dream is to have a bass guitar. He prays that some day he can have a music team and play concerts in the surrounding villages to let the people know about Jesus. His favorite Bible verse is John 16:1.
Sey Souen
Sey Souen is 19 years old and in the 8th grade. He came to live in the orphanage in 2004. He loves music and Math is his favorite subject in school. His job is planting in the garden and carrying baskets of water from the pond to the bathroom holding tank. In his free time he loves to study his English lessons. Pastor Vanny teaches the older children and his wife teaches the younger children. Souen is the worship leader for the children and he plays the guitar. His favorite person in the bible is Paul and he likes to read about how he was converted and came to serve the Lord.
Sok Leak
Sok Leak is 21 years old and has dropped out of school she is one of the helpers for Pastor Vanny and his family. She and her brother and sister came to live with them in 2002. Their parents passed away and they had no family. She was trying to take care of her siblings by doing laundry for people in the village. A pastor heard about her struggle to take care of her siblings and brought them to the orphanage. In her free time she likes to sing and read the Bible. Her favorite book of the Bible is Daniel. Her favorite colors are pink, black, and white. She is learning cosmetology from Pastor Vanny’s sister and is learning to apply makeup and style hair. These skills are helpful in the Cambodian custom in weddings where the bride gets her hair and makeup done beautifully.
Kob Kang
Kob Kang is 12 years old and in the 3rd grade. He enjoys school and his favorite subject is Khmer language. He likes to write it and take dictation. He and his younger brother came to live in the orphanage in 2002. His father was killed in a fishing boat after he moved to Thailand to work to support his family. His mother was in an accident on the road when she traveled to Thailand to find work. Her leg was broken and she still cannot walk well enough to take care of the boys. She tries to visit them once a year. His job at the orphanage is exercising the cow, walking it, and taking it to eat grass. In his free time he likes to play basketball and carve things from wood. He makes cars or things he can pull. His favorite Bible verse is Genesis 1:1.
Chen Vany
Chen Vany is 11 years old and in the 4th grade. She was very small when she came to live in the orphanage in 2002. Her family was very poor and after her father passed away they could not take care of her. She likes school and her favorite subject is Social Studies. She likes music and her favorite color is green.
Youn Hark
Youn Hark is 13 years hold. He enjoys school and his favorite subject is Math. His job is to help the older boys and they mentor him. His favorite book in the Bible is Ephesians.
Houn Sreymoa
Houn Sreymoa is 10 years old and in the 3rd grade. Her parents passed away and she was living with her grandma who was very poor. A neighbor told her about the orphanage and she moved in because she wanted to learn about Jesus. Her job is to pick up the trash and keep the grounds clean. Her favorite subject in school is Language. She likes music and songs about the love of God. Her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 1:6.
Paat Pak
Paat Pak is 13 years old and in the 7th grade. He loves music and plays the drums for the worship team. He came to live here in 2002. His parents passed away and a pastor from his village brought him here because he had no way to make a living for himself. His favorite color is yellow and his favorite Bible verse is John 3:16.
Leab Leat
Leab Leat is 10 years old and in the 3rd grade. Her favorite subject in school is Math and she enjoys learning. She speaks some English and is being taught in the orphanage. A few months ago she had a growth inside her mouth that had been increasing in size for 5 months. The doctor said she needed to have it cut out because she could not eat. Pastor Vanny did not have the money (around $200) for the surgery. He sent an email to Lydia and a very generous donor gave the money for the surgery. She is very grateful. Her job is picking up trash around the orphanage. She likes music and her favorite passage in the Bible is Exodus 20.
Cheoub Leavy
Cheoub Leavy is the youngest child living at the orphanage. He is 7 years old and is in the 1st grade. He came to live in the orphanage in 2004 when he was 2 years old. A neighbor found him and his sister. His mother was very poor, had a problem with alcohol, could not take care of them, and they had no father. His chore at the orphanage is picking up trash. He likes toy cars and often makes them from dirt while making car noises. He does not have a favorite Bible verse, but listens and looks on when the older kids read to him. His favorite animal in the story of Noah is the monkey. He is learning English and could say hello and how are you.