It’s a new year and a new chapter.

A new year often brings a reflective spirit with the passing of the old and bringing in of the new.  Work of Your Hand had another strong year in 2017.   Darren and I are ever so grateful for the board, the staff, the volunteers and so many others that have encouraged, prayed, given wise council, walked along side us and supported us to be effective in the work of serving the poor overseas in Jesus’ name.  Support like yours gives the hurting and forgotten greater opportunities for dignified work and hope through Jesus. 


However, often as with a new year, there are also many changes.  Unfortunately Jacquie Rempel, our Director of Operations will be resigning as of the end of January, and Kara Boda Harvey, our marketing and communications coordinator has understandably decided to be a stay at home mom and take care of her little one full time. 

We are grateful to God for Rowena Sellers who has come onboard as the new operations manager.  Rowena has a passion to help those who are in need and enjoys rallying people to meet those needs. Rowena loves to see people empowered to sacrificially serve others in the name of Jesus.  

God has also brought Irene Huisman as the financial manager.  Irene has been part of many non-profit organizations in the past and brings decades of experience to this position.  She is great with numbers and is so willing to go the extra mile, especially when it comes to helping those in need.  

Both Rowena and Irene love ministry and have a passion to help the needy and want to use their talents and abilities to make a difference in the lives of the hurting.

There are many hurting in Cambodia. Did you know that many of the ladies that assemble the Work of Your Hand greeting cards in the village cannot read or write?  Often that means that they sign legal documents with an inked thumb print.   They do this trusting that the person has told them the correct information.

Just recently they all had to sign documents in order to continue picking garbage at the dump site.  We shudder to think about how they may unknowingly borrow from loan sharks not realizing that interest rates are so high that it may enslave their whole family for generations to come.
 
It is important to know how to read. One of our ladies, Moun, has never had the opportunity to go to school as she had to be a house worker.  Lin has only grade 2 education.  Thea says that she learned but it didn’t ‘enter.’ Those of us who are literate recognize the vulnerability that those ladies and their families face on a regular basis. Therefore, one of our dreams is to give something to those families that no one can ever take away: education.  We would love to teach them how to read in their own language.  So thank you for the donations from some of you in order to do just that! We are in the beginning stages of planning this journey. 


We are now in the beginning stages of planning how to run Alpha in that community.  Please pray with us that many in this village will receive hope through Christ, along with opportunity through literacy, dignified work and vocational training.

Blessings,

Darren & Minako Polischuk
Founders, Work of Your Hand

P.S. 

• By January, many kids need a few new supplies to get them through the school year, consider using this toiletry bag as a pencil case.  This bag will survive any kid.  
• Click here to order yours.