Baray Santuk Referral Hospital

We were also able to meet with one of the doctors at the Baray Santuk Referral Hospital. The Oerational District Chief Dr Meas Chem was away that day.

Meeting with the Baray Administrator (District Officer)

We had the privilege during this last trip to meet with Mr Hak Movseng, the Administrator of Baray District. It was a good meeting and we were able to discuss with him some of our ongoing projects in Boeung Rial (Fishing Village) and Andaut, as well as the proposed cataract surgery project in 2011.

The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority Receive the Stockholm Water Supply Award

An amazing achievement given the very low base they started off from because of the Khmer Rouge and civil wars. The bigger challenge will be how to route the water supply to the rural regions.

"Phnom Penh is located at the intersection of four rivers arms that serve as an endless water source. But because the country had suffered from chronic civil war for decades, the water supply system became obsolete, and the supply of water did not start to improve before the 1990ies.

“In 1993, Mr. Ek Sonn Chan was appointed by the government as the General Director of the Phnom Penh Water Supply Department, and his team led officials and employees to do some basic work, like to totally repair the water supply system. He also initiated the creation of a new highly effective administrative system to issue invoices and receipts for payments. He also initiated international standard procedures to supply clean water to all residents of Phnom Penh. The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority is successful in fighting corruption and has shown the world that the fight against corruption can be successful in a developing country through the use of simple but effective leadership, based on policies and commercial strategies that are recognized worldwide. At present, as an autonomous unit, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority is supplying water 24 hours a day to 90% of Phnom Penh, which has about 1.3 million citizens, and effectively controls its revenue and expenses. In the meantime, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority continues to further develop the clean water supply system and to strengthens the internal control of the unit.

“Since 1998, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority has set up a totally new supply system. The quantity of water lost as the result of broken and leaking pipes dropped from 72% in 1993 to only 6% in 2008, which is a very small quantity compared to that of other modern countries in the world. Nowadays, the collection of water bills recovers over 98% of the invoiced charges, which allows the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority to get the necessary money back to cover its operational costs. The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority reaches world standards due to its leading water supply system." Reported in The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 668

The following videos produced by the ADB is worth watching:

Saran

Since November 2009, when Saran's father passed away, he and his siblings had to be separated because of their financial situation. We have been supporting him with a small allowance while he stayed with Esther and helped out at the SOLAR ministry. See here.

I have been keeping track of his progress and thank God for how he has been transformed in this short span of time, from an bereaved adolescent without any hope, to a confident, responsible and outgoing young man.

We are trying to find support for his younger brother Saron, to go for technical training. If you know of anyone able to 'adopt' Saron for his educational needs, please let me know. Total expected cost of US$835.... but partial support is also welcome because we can try and top up the shortfall.

Andaut (An Dot)

Approximately 30kms due East of Kampong Thmor, at the junction of Highway 6 and 31, is a pair of large villages called Upper and Lower Andaut respectively. Lower Andaut, where we are focusing on consists about 400 huts with 700 families (go figure the maths... ). The picture above show the approximate position of the village relative to Kpg Thmor and Baray (circled extreme left). But if you Google Earth 'An Dot + Baray', you can see the pair of villages in a bit more detail. The red marker is placed a bit southeast of the 2 villages.

Socka and her husband are moving into Andaut as local missionaries. They are from Somrong (a local CMS church led by Ps Kia) Church, but salaried by Esther's SOLAR Ministry. A church is being started in Lower Andaut through some seed money (USD5000) from the US based Cornerstone Church. Through Socka's pioneering work, the village has already 29 believers who meet regularly in a wooden hut (see above).

Socka's testimony, which we were fortunate to make an unplanned recording can be found here:

Socka's testimony

Socka sharing about her work in Andaut

The village is quite inaccessible except through poorly maintained dirt tracks, and the children have no school. The nearest school is in Upper Andaut, a few kilometers away.

I feel the burden very much to place a school here. I believe this will complement the developing church activities in this village, especially since Socka and her husband are already moving in as missionaries. It will also be very opportune time for a church to step in and 'adopt' this fledgling missionary work.

Milk supplements

Factory worker and single mum Sreilod was abandoned by her lover in Phnom Penh. Already in late pregnancy, she felt so hopeless, she contemplated taking her own life. She was rescued by her brother who brought her back to Baray.

She eventually had her baby Sreimau, but was so malnourished she could not produce any milk. We are providing milk support for her.