Pov Keo | Asian Hope

Age: 20
Birthday: January 1
12th Grade
School: Logos International School

My first memories are of living in poverty. We didn’t have enough food every day so we begged from the neighbors. Our hut had thatched palm leaf roof with a dirt floor. There were no doors and when it rained water came in through the walls. We slept on bamboo mats on the floor. We collected rain water to clean ourselves with. I didn’t have shoes or sandals. The only clothes I owned were shorts. I don’t remember if I had more than one pair but I do not remember changing them. It felt normal.

My mother died when I was three. I lived with my father and brothers until my father brought us to an orphanage because of extreme poverty when I was five. The orphanage was run by a Khmer man. My beliefs were based on Buddhism and this is where I heard about God for the first time. About a year later Asian Hope assumed responsibility for the orphanage. We hoped that because it was run by Americans it would be better. It was cleaner, more space, more clothes, and more LOVE.

I was not a good kid. I stole and lied. I began to see the example of the older guys. I wanted to know what they had that I didn’t. After a few years into my stay I noticed something. I would see the older boys in the morning with their bibles having a quiet time. I started following their example. A few months after that, in one specific devotional, I was convicted about the wrong things I had done. I knew I needed God. So I prayed to God and confessed all my sins to him. After that I talked with my guardian and was baptized.

I would like to attend college to study information technology or computer science and work in one of those fields. I would like to have a family of my own someday. Since coming to Asian hope I have more friends, more people that care, a good education, believe in God and have a relationship with Christ. I feel that I have more opportunities now. Asian Hope is more than just a house; it is where people come to glorify God by being a family and loving one another. I really look forward to a family reunion!

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