"Hagar has helped me the most by providing sewing skills."

-Chenda-

Chenda's marriage was never peaceful.  Her husband, a farmer, frequently drank and gambled.  Often he would become violent towards her.  Chenda remembers breaking down into tears everyday, but staying with her husband for the sake of their six children.

But one night her life changed forever.  Chenda's husband came home drunk and violent. He started hitting and kicking her - so forcefully he broke her arm. When he threatened to kill her if she didn't leave, Chenda fled, leaving her children in the house.

In the middle of the night and she found safety at her neighbour's house. He was a policeman and helped her make her way to Phnom Penh and to Hagar's Shelter.    

At Hagar, Chenda received immediate medical care for her broken arm.  She also started literacy classes and began life-skills training. She was 37 years old, but had never had many opportunities to go to school. She soaked up every chance she had to learn; literacy classes, sewing and jewelry making.

Chenda continued to worry about her six children back in the province with their violent father. Hagar and another human rights organization were eventually able to bring all of Chenda's children to Hagar's shelter to be with her. 

"Hagar has helped me the most by providing sewing skills," she said. 

"My life is so much better than before. Before, I felt like I was living in a deep, dark well with no light.  I cannot believe how good my life is now. I have a place to stay, I have enough food, I live in peace with my children and I have learned to sew bags."

Chenda dreams that one day she will have a job and her own house to live in with her children.  She wants all of her children go to school.

"I prayed to the Lord that I wanted to live with all my children and He answered my prayers. He has brought all my children back to live with me.  My arm is healed and I now have full use of it.  Now, I keep praying to the Lord to show me the way to live and to work."