The Lao Ka Church Orphan Home is in the remote eastern province of Mondolkiri. It is a beautiful and tranquil setting.This area was best accessed through Vietnam, until 2002 when a new highway was built which enabled vehicles to access this mountainous area, strewn with rubber plantations. There is not much rice production here because several diverse hill tribes still dwell in the area and are traditional Cambodian “hunter-gatherers”. There are not any major cities in the province and the total population is only 32,000 people.

Mondolkiri is sparsely populated with almost half of its inhabitants comprised mostly of minority tribal groups. The lack of people gives this area a “wild east” atmosphere where there are certainly a lot of wild animals, including tigers, elephants, bears and leopards.

Since this area is so remote and the infrastructure so weak, the inhabitants still have little access to education or health care. Many of the orphans have come to the home due to preventable deaths such as malaria, diarrhea and childbirth complications.

The children in this home typically begin their day with devotions before eating breakfast.Those of school age either attend classes in the morning or in the late afternoon. After lunch, most of the orphans take naps, play, study, and attend languages classes in the home. Later, they eat a dinner consisting mostly of rice, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the church grounds. The family finishes each day, gathering for church devotions, setting up their mosquito nets and going to sleep.