sense of connection with those two boys during my time in the school .
Before we knew it , our three days were up . All of us struggled to hold back tears as we waved our final goodbyes to the children . As a parting gift , I gave them a polaroid film of myself and the two Grade 4 boys . In return , they gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received , a warm farewell hug . That hug was special , a moment that I will forever remember .
As I stood at the gate seeing them leave for the last time , I had a hope within me . A hope which I am confident all 30 of us Josephians shared ; a hope that these young , bright students will not only study hard but also continue spreading their unwavering positivity wherever life may take them .
These young children have taught us that we often become self-absorbed and perhaps even indulgent in our own lives , to the point that we take our comfortable lives for granted . While we have more , objectively speaking , we are not always content , and we tend to grumble or complain . The majority of the children we met only have a fraction of what we have . These children have less , but they are content . Going to school in stained uniforms and muddy slippers , these children never fail to show up with a smile on their faces as they eagerly look forward to a new school day .
In those three days at La Salle Pouthum , we were not Singaporeans and Cambodians , nor were we seniors and juniors . We were friends , Lasallians , who truly enjoyed being in the company of one another and living each moment to the fullest .
Looking back , new friendships were forged and existing friendships were strengthened . Despite entering a place that had seemingly less , we Josephians left with so much more . By the end of the trip , we discovered our own meaning of ‘ help ’. For me , help comes in the form of being the reason why a child has a smile on his or her face that day .”
Josephians and teachers-in-charge with Brother Joseph , the Principal of La Salle Pouthum
Josephians teaching English to the children of La Salle Pouthum
Mr . Jude Tan with one of the Brothers of the school
Jun Han with his newfound friends
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LUMEN NEW FRIENDS AND LASTING MEMORIES IN CAMBODIA