David Vern | Asian Hope

Age: 16
Birthday: July 8
9th Grade
School: Logos International School

I have three older brothers and two older sisters. I am the youngest in my family. My sister the oldest is married now and my brother as well. Vanny, my other brother is in college and Jonathan and I are in middle school. My mother lives in the province with my sister and my father I do not know much about him because he left my mother a long time ago but when we visit we see him once in awhile. My life before Asian Hope was not so good because of the poverty in Cambodia.

There wasn’t a lot of food and time was hard to earn a lot of money so I didn’t go to school. During that time I was living with someone else and not my family. The person I was living with was one of my relative. I can remember the times I went out late at night to go and get alcohol for the husband. He would usually drink and smoke plenty. Then one day my cousin Bourin who was working in Phnom Penh with a orphanage came and asked if I could live there as well.

At first it was really scary because I didn’t know that my two other brothers are in that home as well. I do not remember much at the CCO. I do remember when everyone moved out CCO to another home called Asian Hope and there was a family that was taking care of us. The family was the Fisk’s they were such a blessing and we all called them parents and their kids our family. We were a big family because there was more than of us including there kids.

Then something happened and the Fisk family had to leave it was sad for us but the only thing I can do is move on. What Asian Hope means to me is too much for me just to write it down words can’t explain it. Asian Hope had given me a home, food, a school to go to, and things to enjoy. It is as if my life had totally changed and it has in many ways. It is also a Christian home and everyone here knows of Christ and believes in him. Life here is not perfect or great but I am doing my best to live the best I can and for Christ.

I have to be honest and did take life in Asian Hope as granted at some point but I do know that my life here is short. I thank the Lord for giving me a home and people that are really encouraging to me. I was a nobody and God has helped me in so many great ways. My plans for the future is being in the military and doing a business. I do have plans of helping the children in Cambodia and hopefully it would succeed. I want to change Cambodia in so many ways but right now I should be focusing in school.

For the plans that I make are not as important as the one God have set for me. Changing Cambodia is something I have always dream of doing but do not think I could. It would be a dream come true when we all find barely any kids in the streets starving and so much poverty in Cambodia. Having homes for those who can’t afford to have one and giving them an education. I am very thankful for being here and to God who have chosen me for being here.

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