October Twenty Twenty Update

I’m here in New Zealand over 6 months already – and what a roller coaster!

There have been many great days and some not so great…but always reasons to be hopeful and buoyant in these uncertain times.

On a personal level I’ve been moving around seeing family and working when I can to earn my keep. Between Wellington with my daughter and SIL helping renovate their home and then to Opunake to my son and his beautiful young family to selling gin at the market on Otaki for batch10. I studied and got my liquor license during the lockdown so that’s kept me in some employment and now I have started a short contract with my previous employer LifePlus - I’m so very blessed.

Through all this change, anxiousness and uncertainty, the thing that has been constant is my passion and desire to still be able to make a difference to the lives of those I love and care for in Cambodia.

Aroha Project

The boys have been a bit confused and disheartened at times with the length of time I’ve been away. The uncertain timeline that we are all wrestling with seems to be the dominant feeling. There is a physical distance now but not a heart one.

They have continued in their studies online and two have almost now completed their thesis. What a year. So many Zoom calls and video chats to get them to this point. Celebrating the wins!

Football

It’s new season and new sponsor!

Thanks to Barak Investments Limited for their commitment to the sponsorship of the team – the boys are more than excited. Photos in the next update...

Dinner

Our fundraising dinner will go ahead on the 15th October. $75 a ticket At Kawau Bay Orewa 6 30pm. Booking is essential for a set menu, so please let me know by the 12th of October.

Hoodies

Our focus for any profit made is to feed the community families living in the slum behind our church - one hoodie feeds a family for a month! There are now two colors - $90 each (inc. postage).

Monthly Sponsorship

Thank you so very much to all those who have sponsored the Aroha Project – especially with the uncertaintity of this year. What is most helpful is to have a regular budget and to do that I need regular contributions. If I know what’s coming in, I can plan a little better and I’m sure it would be less stress for the ongoing payments like rent etc. Now that payments can be made through Edge for the tax benefit would anybody be in a position to offer an amount monthly? Every little bit makes a big difference. Again, it is incredible that we can continue to support the project together, even from here in NZ.

Scholarships

As I said, the boys have continued diligently in their studies and a couple have managed to get close to the end of their thesis. I am needing some help to offer some scholarships for the next academic year, starting next month. We have had a few things change for people this year financially and some students are left without any cover. One is for engineering and the other business study – both in their second year.

Well, keeping it brief as I know everyone is busy. Hopefully this update finds you all well and healthy? Miss you all and hoping the world calms down a little so we can all feel a whole lot better about life…only a few months till Christmas:0

Arohanui,

Annie