Pictures of the Asia's Hope Kids! :)

Here are some pictures of the kiddos at the 4 orphanages in Phnom Penh. To see the before pictures and the after pictures are astounding! The directors take care of these kids like they were their own. They all are well-fed, doing well in school, and just have a joy that cannot be explains. They are thankful for EVERYTHING!!

Silly Sreylin loving the candy that Pastor Bob passed out to all the kids!
The kids loved Pastor Bob!!


So beautiful!

Little Yohan- full of energy and loves to be around people!!

They love to touch my white skin and enjoy comparing themselves to me. HA! Yes, I know.. I am an extremely pale white girl.....

The kids all dressed up. They performed traditional Khmer dances for us. What a treat! The green costumes symbolized the "peacock dance."

City Dump in Phnom Penh

Well I have quite the update for you!!

(side note: Pastor Bob is also keeping a blog of our events- he's going into better detail of our trip if you would like to read his writings- http://woostercar.blogspot.com/)

Last night on the way to get pizza, Pastor Bob, Dr. John, and I witnessed an elephant crossing the highway!! I wish I had a picture to show you that event! But it was fun!
In Cambodia, pizza is quite the deal. They have a thing called "Happy Pizza." We obviously ordered our pizza without the "happy" because "happy" refers to putting marijuana on pizza! Yes, it's legal here and most people like it that way with the "spice." But we declined.

This morning we went to the city dump where over 6,000 people live. There was miles upon miles of trash, sewage. As soon as I got out of the van, I gagged at the smell. It was so overwhelming. I've never smelled anything like it. There was no where to protect yourself from the stifling hot sun unlike in the city where the buildings cast shadows and keep it relatively cooler (well... 90-ish degrees). I felt like I was in a bad dream... this was the worst poverty I have ever witnessed in the world. I've heard stories about bulldozers moving the trash and running over the children looking for things to re-sell. That is these peoples means of income and source of food. I can't even imagine the diseases in that place.


Miles upon miles of trash.





That water was pitch black- the darkest water I have ever seen!! Full of sewage.

There was hope after the horrible sites.. we went to an organization called "PSE" which is the french abbreviation that means "For the smiling children." It was founded in 1996 by a frenchman and his wife. Over 6,000 kids from the city dump or who live close to receive schooling, a place to play, food, shelter for some, and a vocational school for the older kids. This incredible/enormous compound gives the kids/ the mothers of the children a way to make a decent income without going back to the dump.

Hundreds of bikes that most of the kids use to get to school.

One of the signs posted all around the school complex.

One of the gorgeous flowers at the school.

I have so much to be thankful for.....

Safe in Cambodia

I am safe in Cambodia!! My flights went very smoothly and I met some neat people from the states along the way.
I've already been to the orphanages today with Pastor Bob and Dr. John and I loved hugging those precious kids! I just can't get enough of those smiles!! :)
I am sitting in an internet cafe right now and do not have much time... will update more later.

Tomorrow: tourist sites with Pastor Bob and Dr. John
Friday: drive to Battambang to see our Grace Place Orphanage that Wooster Grace Brethren Church sponsors and also to see the Kanes. The inauguration ceremony for Grace Place will take place Sat. evening. All 5 orphanages in Battambang will join together... that's about 150 kids! I'm pumped for that!
If Lord willing, on Sunday, at my church, we will have live feed from Cambodia! I can't wait for my church family to see the kiddos! :)

Now it's time to catch up on some much needed sleep!
Good Night all.

It's here!!

I am finally leaving the U.S. today! I'm so thankful for my friends and family who are so supportive and have been praying for me!! I love you guys very much!!!!

I can't believe today has come. There have been lots of laughs and tears the past few days because it's always hard to say goodbye. But I can't wait to see those kiddos!!

I will post when I arrive safely in Cambodia!

Love, 

Kaillie Allison

9 days... 9 days.. 9 days!!!

Hi friends! :)

Okay, so here is the plan for people that are curious. I am leaving the states in 9 days! Yes ladies and gentleman-- 9 days!!! 

It was quite an adventure trying to find a decently priced plane ticket.. and a drive to NYC/ JFK airport almost happened. BUT, we found a great ticket through Pittsburgh! I will leave Sunday the 26th and arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Tuesday the 28th. It will be about 30-35 hours of flying time. Please pray that all the lay-overs go smoothly and that I will arrive safely in Cambodia so I can jump off that plane and go hug all those precious kids, my Khmer friends, and my dear friend from the states (who is serving over in Cambodia presently) Jen!!

Thanks so much!