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Brief Highlights

I was born in Portland, Oregon, the city of the many bridges, in the year of the famous 57' Chevy! I grew up as a young boy in a quiet neighborhood, climbing trees, building a treehouse, and playing in the dirt. I remember the beautiful Mount Hood, the vast, dense evergreen forests, and the beautiful ocean beaches.

For 30 years, I lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Then, in 1987, I made my journey to the land of earthquakes!! Ever since I was very young, I remember people talking about California sliding off into the Pacific Ocean!! Would that really happen? I survived the big quake of 89' and California is still on the map.

California must be my destiny. It was here that I met my wife, and began my lifelong work a Cambodian bilingual educator. I have been working with children for 18 years now in Oregon, Washington state, and California. Children are such a joy to work with, and everyday brings new experiences, challenges, and rewards.

For the past 19 years I have been involved with the Khmer people in the United States. My first contacts began with the Khmer Christians in Oregon. As a new Christian I began working with the Cambodians in the Khmer church fellowship groups in Oregon and Washington state. My wife and I have been serving the Lord together for the eight years we have been married. Both my wife and I have been singing in church. I have played numerous musical instruments for the worship services and also Sunday School for the children.

Musical talent is one of God's gifts to me. My newest musical instrument, which is my most favorite of all, is a hammer dulcimer, with 47 strings!! It is very time consuming to tune all of the strings properly, but also very rewarding to play, with the heavenly sound.

Important & Strange Events

M ay 18 is a very significant day in my life!!! Not only is May 18 my birthday, but also Mount St. Helens blew up on my birthday, May 18, 1980!!!! Wow!! What a birthday present!!!! Also, I was married on my birthday, May 18!!!

Involvement With Khmer

I n April of 1980, when I was 23 years old, I met several Cambodians for the first time in my life. We met on a college campus in Oregon, and quickly made friends. Soon, I was visiting with the Cambodian people in their homes, and began attending Christian worship services together with the Cambodians. This was the beginning of a lifelong involvement with the Khmer here in the United States.

Since my first encounter with the Khmer people in Oregon, I have lived in Washington state, and now in California, and have been actively involved with many Cambodians in all three states. Presently, I am studying for my Cambodian Bilingual Teaching Credentials for teaching elementary school children.

For interesting photographs of Mount St. Helens, click here: < Mount Saint Helens >

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