April report

Well, it is now April and we have been back for over 6 weeks now. Just re adjusting and getting caught up on everything takes a lot of time. We did visit many of the families with the new wells and I was able to take pictures and send them to the donors. If I have missed anyone please email me at cknab1@yahoo.com. Tin has opened a banking account so now I will not have to pay the large charges that Western Union adds. It is $17.00 per hundred, that adds up quick. My wife Nancy wrote a story of our trip and if you like you can read it at her blog. http://www.crowncenter.blogspot.com/ Just go to the right side, click on March, then click on the link Cambodia. She did a great job and I hope you will find it interesting. The inflation rate in Cambodia is now approaching 60%. I really feel for the people as it was hard enough for them to survive before prices started to rise. Rice was .50 /Kilo and is now 1.25 /Kilo. I hope the government there will try and help but we all know that will not happen. Tin was hopping to build the village well in his hometown, but with the price increase it would be over $1800.00 So we have decided to add the village well in a town about 45 Kilometers east of Siem Reap. There are over 20 families that will benefit from this well. He is going to get started after they celebrate the Cambodian New Year which you can read more about here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_New_Year
Also the single family wells have gone from $200 to $250. Once we get the village well built, I am going to have some other fundraisers to help more families. I will probably look into starting an NGO (non-governmental Organization) so that people can get a tax deduction when they contribute. I’m not sure what that will involve but if I want to continue this endeavor, that would be the way to go. Tin had wanted to start one there but the cost was over $3500.00. He said he could use an international NGO if I got one started. For him, it is more for his personal safety then anything else. He does have to try and keep a low profile and not be noticed. I will post pictures of the village well as soon as I can.