House Building

Early start again today, the bus driver forgot to stop for us to buy our lunch, welcome to Cambodia, Have a nice day! Got to work for our second day at the house buiding, stripping the bamboo and nailing the wall frames together. The monks are very happy and friendly people and were fun to work with. There were a lot of injuries including hammers on thumbs and toes, next the wall fell on the monk from bad karma as he had previously accidently hammered Zoe's foot and cracked up laughing. We experienced fun and laughter with the little Cambodian kids, many of which were running around with no clothes on! We took lots of photos and videos as we taught them "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi" and "G'day Mate" and 'thumbs up' and 'high fives.' We had the privelidge to sit in and listen to the Monks prayers as they mourned the terrible loss of the many Cambodian's in the stampede. Then the dierector of the 'Life and Hope Association' talked to us and informed us of the philosophy of Buddhism and the values and ideas of this way of life. This included the belief of karma and reincarnation. After lunch it was back to work in the humid and hot weather, trying to get finished before tonight. When we finished we presented the houses to the chosen families, along with rice, pillows and mats. They were very thankful and so greatful of the gift of life that had been given to them. It was very rewarding and heart warming to be able to change the lives of these families who were once very unfortunate. These people had life, we gave them hope and now they have change.
Zoe T, Ashlee T, Justin R, Squid (Dylan M)