Aji children

We live next to an Aji Depo ( a recycling depo ). The Aji of the neighbourhood - those who collect cardboard, cans and bottles, push their finds in wooden carts to the depot and exchange their lot for money to buy food.

Small children are often involved in the process, either collecting items themselves, or tagging along with a parent - usually a mother. While the parent sorts and sells their items we end up, invariably, with an array of small children playing on the 'car park'size space outside our door. This could be at any time of the day. Sometimes the parents wash their children under our front tap ( in their own home they may not have running water).

Inevitably their depo visit coincides with us being home. Then beautiful little scruffy children push their nose up to the glass in our door, gaze inside and call hello. We have come to recognise a faithful band of about 6 children who accompany a parent and then play outside our door. We see them about once a fortnight, usually not together, but sometimes they all happen to be visiting the depo at the same time. One of us might then rummage through the panty for some crackers and head outside and join the children. Giving them a treat, chatting and then pop back inside.

Yesterday I gave these two little girls (the younger able to stand, but not walk) a Vietnamese pancake each (part of our dinner). A more significant treat than usual, and most welcome.

Although I do not usually see the parents, I have come to recognise some of them. At such times we have given them a treat too.

I was hesitant when we first gave a treat here or there, presuming we would end up with a steady stream of children at our door. But this has not happened.

These children would be amongst the poorest of the poor in Phnom Penh. There would be days that they go without food. I don't know what impact we are having in their lives, But God does know, and will continue to work out His Will through us, in such seemingly small acts of kindness.

Please pray for these children. Pray that God will have touched them through our care and that this might be the catalyst for seeking Him in the future.

Fiona