Today we visited the two villages again. Mr. Savet, chief of Village #1 (Khnar Ptol), took us to the future site of a new well, which we will drill the first week of March. This is where the 40 families that live there have no access to water during the dry season, which is now. They must buy their water, and all are extremely poor. They don't even have enough water to wash their clothes.

Mr. Savet introduced us to the families that live very close to the well site. We stood in the hot sun, explaining that God loves them very much and wants them to have good water and healthy lives. Everyone was very interested and listened carefully as our driver translated for us. Mr. Savet is excited that he will be able to provide them with water filters in their homes after the well is ready, so that they will all feel better.

We are still working out the details for the well site in village #2 (Trapaing Krasang). Hopefully it will be at the school, so that all the families in the area will have the use of the well, and especially the 350+ children that attend every day. It is obvious that the economy has suffered in this area and even the school seems to have suffered. The children and teachers don't seem as healthy as last year, so we are praying that the well and filtered water will make a big difference in their lives.

Had an interesting and successful trip to our villages in northern Siem Reap province on Saturday, February 13. We traveled with 3 of our Cambodian staff from Cup of Hope: Doun, his wife Khuem, and Chan Leap, our Administrator.

Mr. Savet, Village Chief of Khnar Toul, has made and sold 38 filters, and is excited to make this his primary business. He needs more training materials on how to use and maintain the filters, so the villagers will understand their operation. The filter at his house is working well, and he reports that he has been free of illness for the past three months. He told us that he often would be so sick he couldn't work, and he now believes the filtered water is the answer to his health!

Our visit to the second village of Trapeng Krasang was more disappointing. The leaders are not very interested in promoting the filters to their people, and have lots of excuses why they are too hard to use. However, the chief of the first village is willing to try to sell the filters to the second village, and will help promote and train anyone who is wants to try one of them.

We were saddened to see how much smoke was filling the air during our time here. The jungle and forest is being methodically burned off, to make room for fields, and the many 200-ft. trees lay smoldering on the ground. The acrid air gave us all sore thoats.

We took a side trip to the Thai border about 20 kilometers away, and visited the area where the Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot and his generals lived their last days. Eerie to be at the site of the actual border crossing where Thai soldiers took Cambodians from the refugee camps in Thailand back across the border and shot them. Now the little town is back to normal, and people seem to be happy and going about their daily tasks. It is a beautiful mountainous area, similar to the foothills of Colorado.

Cup of Hope will be drilling two additional wells in the villages, since there is little access to water at all during the dry season. The well-drilling rig in Phnom Penh, is still being repaired, and may not be ready while we are here. We assured the chiefs in the villages that they would have the wells soon, and they are patiently waiting.

Donating these wells, through the generosity of Cup of Hope supporters, has been a wonderful tool to build trust and relationship with the chiefs and the villages.

We were very well received, and enjoyed our reunion with the leaders that we met in 2009.

Mike and Barb spoke at Bora's Bible study last night at 9:00 pm. Then Mike shared on Discipleship and Relationships at Bora's church service. Worship like Vineyard!
Barb will do a worship training this afternoon.

Tomorrow we meet Mr. Sopheak at Shanti Volunteer Association and plan our strategy for getting wells put in the villages. We must report on our progress toward this goal, and we don't have much definite to tell them yet.

Hope to go to Siem Reap later this week.

Arrived very late Wednesday night. Dr. Lee and Dr. Kim waiting for us. Very happy to get 2 big 50-lb. bags.

We have plans to go to Hebron Hospital Monday and to take the doctors to dinner Monday evening.

Having much difficulty with internet, so be patient with us.

Well-drilling rig still not ready. Plans very unsure. Helped all day yesterday at Foursquare facility.

Lots is still up in the air - PRAY!!!