KOK TA CHAN VILLAGE PIGS - KIDS' POWER

JULY 30 - The couple proudly led us to the pig pen where I saw 4 pigs. Typically we place 2 piglets to a pigpen, but one pigpen is not completed. Four beautiful pigs! It's mid day...hot. Mostly they are lying in the shade of the roof and rouse for a picture only when my sound and movement around them provokes them.

I ask about the health of the pigs, if they had any sickness or any or any problem to take care of. No problems...no sickness at all. They are fed and watered three times a day...and showered from time to time to cool them off. This is not hard because the pigpen is built at one side of the well for near access to the water.

We usually place 8 pigs each year, but this year 10 pigs have been sponsored. On April 19 I went to speak about the Cambodia Project to Brodhead UMC and was surprised by the amazing Sunday School children with a check for more than $350 and the story of their months of saving their money to buy a pig. What fun they had "building" pig after pig piece by piece as their money accumulated and anticipation mounted. I heard there were pigs on the walls everywhere to watch how the project was going and to help everyone remember the project. Their big and successful efforts buys 7 pigs!

7 precious pigs for 7 families...a life changing event for Khmer family. The family can raise the 2-3 month old piglet on rice hulls and vegetables for about 9 months, then sell at market for $600-$900 (depending on the market season). This gives the family enough money to buy a piglet or two more and money for food, medicine, school fees for children, clothes for family.

Thank you, amazing Brodhead UMC Sunday School, for your generous hearts and long efforts to raise money for 7 pigs for Khmer families...changing lives in a big way for poor people.