BOBist_TChean

llingImages.class name="imgscroll" width=675 height=110 align="absmiddle" id="imgscroll"> value=1> value="Loading sponsor advertisements ..."> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/nike_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.nike.com"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/keyknife_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.keyknife.com"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/westernunion_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.westernunion.com/"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/tsaicomms_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.tsaicomms.com"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/caco_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.cacoregon.org"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/innersound_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.inner-sound.com"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/KCcharity_add01.jpg"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/projects/cambodia/KCCharity/KCCharity.html"> value="http://www.khmerdreams.org/images/sponsors/licadho.jpg"> value="http://www.licadho.org"> value="_blank">

Dear Friends.

Thank you kindly for contributing to the tune of $400.00 which was donated to poor Cambodians in our homeland.

For three weeks in December of 2005, My family and I was lucky enough to return to Cambodia. It was my wife first return trip and my son's first time to the land we all call home. As for me, it was my second time. It wasn't like the first but I still loved every minute in our homeland. Like most of you, my love for Cambodia is strong and deep. I love the people, I love the land, and especially I love the sense of belonging I felt while I'm there (for those of us who's been there know the feelings). Due to the short vacation, I visited the usual town and cities (Phnom Penh, Kampong Som, Seam Reap, and Thmal Ghol). I showed my wife and son where I was born and do the usual meet and greeting of families.

Our country is beautiful in so many ways. There are the people, the land, the scenery, the beach, the blue sky, and the bright bright stars at night that seem so close that makes you feel like you are in heaven. My son Ritchia who is 4 loves being in Cambodia. He had so much fun playing with his distance cousins even though he speaks very little Khmer. He love the motorcycle rides, the weather, and the warn ocean water. During our last week, he spent the entire week begging us to let him stay while we return to pick up is brother Brandon.

For all the fun we had the most enjoyable experience was being a part Beyond Ordinary Border's program . My family was very fortunate to have been able to take this vacation. Like most of you, we are a family that live from pay check to pay check with both my wife and me working. We don't have much money but because of our deep love for our fellow Khmer, we were able to contribute $800.00 toward buying 50 lbs of bags rice, fish souse, soy souse, one sarong couple with $5.00 cash (value to $15), and $200.00 of US medicine to 60 poor families. My wife and me selected the families ourselves. We drove the streets of our home towns and give the donation to the poorest home along the roadside. We donated 40 shares in Thmal Ghol and 20 shares at Ghuh Dihg ( Stranded Island) near Phnom Penh. The people that was lucky enough to have received these donation were very thankful toward my family. Some cry, some were speechless and many gave us heartfelt blessing. The feeling I have after this experience is the feeling of easiness, worry free, hopeful, humbled, blessed, it is kind of hard to described. It like everything good added into one. Sort of like a peaceful feeling at the same time a sense of empowerment knowing that you are doing the right thing. I am humbled from this event and I feel blessed to have what we have, no matter how small.

My wife Sophon, my son Rithchia and myself would like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed in the fund raising porker tournament ($ 275.00 raise ), Chanly for hosting the party, Sophat for $25.00, Saron $30, Joel $20, and Pooh Kha $30, Buun $20. I hope I am not forgetting anyone. From the bottom of our hearts Thank You CACOregon.

Sincerely

The Chean Family