Monthly Archives: June 2009

The Kangaroo Dinosaur

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A few months ago the Art Class started this wall painting but got stuck on how they wanted to finish it. Time went by and then the funds ran out and the mural became an eye sore. I asked what they needed to finish it and they said a new design and some paint. I told them I would get them the paint but the design was up to them.

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They came up with the idea of a Kangaroo Dinosaur and I said I didn’t think any thing like that ever existed.

“But how do you know?” they asked, disappointed by my lack of enthusiasm, and I had to admit that I really had nothing to base my response on. I suppose I was more concerned with how I would explain it to visitors.

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The little ones liked it a lot and gave their vote of approval to it right away. They liked the baby Dinosaurs peering out from the mother’s pouch.

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And in the end the Artist all agreed to the design as well, disregarding my negative input, and decided to get right at it.

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They first made the sketch over the old painting and then prepared their paints. If I have learned anything from Mr. Hoeut, their teacher, it is this: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or changing your mind on the design. You can always paint over what was done in the past.

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They spent most of the afternoon repainting the area to be changed, first with white and then with color.

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Today the wall had a fresh new character and the Kangaroo Dinosaur was beginning to take shape.

We’ll keep you posted on our progress right here on this web-site so please check back with us in a few days to see how we are doing.

Ko So Young

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9 June, 2009

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She came for a day of filming, for a Promotional Video and although in South Korea and other parts of Asia, Ko So Young is immediately recognized as a famous Movie Star… at our Community she was just another visitor and she had to prove herself worthy of acceptance just like everyone else who visits here. That is not an easy thing to do, when there are several cameras recording your every word and move for nearly eight straight hours.

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She joined the children in the classroom, And she helped prepare their meal,

And whenever there was an opportunity, she posed with some of the children.
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In the afternoon she honored us by attending and participating in a Special Wat Opot Family Worship Service led by Lok Phos our Spiritual Leader.
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And when the day was over, she posed with all of us for this group picture.
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CONCLUSION

Even with the cameras flashing, Ko So Young was able to demonstrate a genuineness of character that was soon picked up on by our children. We are very grateful to her and her accompaniment and to the UNICEF team that brought her to us, for the filming of this video. The children were treated Royally and the following day the UNICEF Team sent out Pizza and Fried Chicken for everyone, which was a real unexpected treat.

In the picture above you will notice the Banner displaying the sum of Korean Won 30,000,000. I would like to clarify that this was not their donation to us but to UNICEF. In actuality, we received no money for the day of filming nor have we ever received any UNICEF funds for the operation of the Wat Opot Children’s Community, although UNICEF does fund some of the other community programs that are operated by Partners in Compassion / Cambodia.

There are some who have questioned my decision in allowing these videos to be done when they do not directly benefit our program, but for me the answer is clear; We are not in this for the money! In the past couple of years, our Community has starred in several major advertisement videos for UNICEF, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, and THE GLOBAL FUND, none of which have ever given any direct funds to our Community. Why then do I allow them to use our Community for their videos? The answer is simple; because I believe we have a message to bring to the World.

It is not a message about Christianity, Buddhism, or even the Universal Path I now find myself walking down. It is also not about Orphans or Children infected with HIV. The message we have is simply about COMMUNITY… Working and Living together in Harmony, and we are very grateful to the Organizations listed above and to people like Ko So Young, Lauren Bush, Cindy McCain, Rupert Everett, Prince Ali Al Futtaim, and many, many others who have visited here and carried our message out to their part of the World. They have done what we alone cannot do… and for that we are deeply indebted to them.

Wayne Dale Matthysse