Tia Sang | Asian Hope

Age: 19
Birthday: June 9
11th Grade
School: Logos International School

To me, life before coming to Asian Hope was hopeless. My family was the poorest of the families in our town, it wasn’t a big town. It was the people in that town that made our family survived because the town people were very friendly. My house was the smallest. It was made out of planks of woods and the roof was made out of straws. My mom had asthma. My mom really loved us a lot. I never actually appreciated it at all. I have a couple of friends that really cared about me and my family; they would always give us food and rice.

Sometimes we would have to go through the whole day without breakfast, lunch and dinner. Almost everyday we ate plain rice and salt for food. Sometimes we even have to steal to eat. My brother and I always fought for the food to eat. Well my brother always won but he usually gave me some. Sometimes because we fought to loud; my mom would got mad at us and whipped us but we did not care as long as we have that crust of rice to eat.

I skipped school everyday without my mom knowing it. I was not a grateful child at all, very day I would complain to my mom for giving me a 500 riel a day. I was embarrassed to go to school with dirty clothes on and with only 500 riel a day, while other students have like 2 or 3 dollars a day to spend. My mom got really sick around this time and was very weak. Her asthma got real worst and there were nothing we could do to help her. One thing that we did to help her was trying not to be noisy.

I didn’t cry during that moment, I don’t know why, but I couldn’t cry at all. So we have a ceremony for her and started crying when they about to burn up her body. So about a couple weeks later my older brother came and picked us up to live with him in another province with his wife and son. Life there was worst than ever. We were forced to work and go even go through the whole day without having the time to shower at all. He would also beat us up if we made this son cry. We lived with him for about a year.

This is the first miracle that happened in my life. It was a miracle from God. We were just living our daily life when one day a missionary woman name Mary, came to our town and talked to our grandpa about taking us to Asian Hope! So a couple weeks later we came to Asian Hope! Life in Asian Hope was way different compared to life before. It was easier. I for the second time feel loved! The first time was a love from my brother Ehud. People in Asian Hope were friendly! That was what makes me really happy!

I was then got baptized in 2001. God really blessed my life when I came to Asian Hope. He shows me great things about Himself. Right now in Asian Hope I have great education and a great school to go to and great friends that is helping to grow closer to Christ. I need to mention some people because they really shaped my life a lot. They are: Mr. Steve, Mr. Dedert, Miss. Harris, Miss. Roberts, Mr. Hein, Mr. Beck, Mr. BJ, The Sassers, Tim Roberts, Joe Roberts, Ehud, Jean, and Lee Anne.

These are the main people that really shaped my life. I am thankful that they are in my life. Now I learned to be grateful and learn not to be selfish. And last of all I like to say “thank you” to all the people in the states that is always praying for us here in Asian Hope and for donating us with money. Thanks a lot!

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