MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Summer 2026
Hang Tran, Cambodia
Peu and Bong playing with a yoga ball and hula hoop.
A friend guides Peu on a walk in his wheelchair.
Peu has been living with blindness and deafness since childhood, and was abandoned by his family. Bong lives with developmental challenges and lost his parents when he was young, with no other relatives to care for him.
These names are used for privacy protection of the two young men. They met while sheltering at other NGOs that supported people living with disabilities, until those organizations closed. Peu and Bong were then referred to the Home of Hope a few years ago.
At first glance people thought they were brothers, as Bong is very attentive to Peu, walking him up and down the stairs and washing his clothes. Bong also does daily chores around the house, such as mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom.
Touched by Bong’s dedication, I asked him: “Why do you care for Peu?”
Bong explained: “Koat meul ot kheuinh, sdab ot luu nang niyay ot ban, doijneh khnhom jong chuoy koat.” (He cannot see, cannot hear and cannot speak, so I want to help him.)
“Who is Peu to you?” I inquired.
Bong answered with a gentle smile: “Peu jia b’onbro khnhom nang khnhom jia bongbro koat.” (Peu is my younger brother and I am his elder brother.)
Peu usually lay in bed or sat hugging his knees. One day I asked Bong to bring Peu to join other youth. I introduced various objects to Peu. Bong guided Peu’s hands on the bouncy surface of a yoga ball, or around the firm curvature of a hula hoop. The two brothers played together like little children.
Nowadays, Peu is busy figuring out new toys alongside a staff member’s child, or goes on walks led by a youth who can maneuver his own wheelchair. Exploring a variety of materials, shapes, and textures through touch, as well as getting to know a variety of people, seems to be changing something within Peu. His face shows curiosity, and smiles.
Bong is the primary caregiver of Peu. Peu is the family of Bong. One person’s lack was the key for the other to connect with him, and vice versa. In the process, both Bong and Peu unlocked their respective potential and became more whole. The other differently abled youth and I are learning to adjust our pace in keeping up with their progress.
Indeed, Psalm 139 affirms the beauty, quirks, and gifts in Peu, in Bong, and in each one of us.
“For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.”
Please consider supporting my mission work with a donation through the link below.
I invite you to walk with me as a “COMPANION IN MISSION.” Companions in Mission are friends and generous donors who give financial gifts on a regular (usually monthly) basis. For more information, visit Become a Companion in Mission. Thank you so much for your generosity!
MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Summer 2026
Hang Tran, Cambodia
Peu and Bong playing with a yoga ball and hula hoop.
Peu has been living with blindness and deafness since childhood, and was abandoned by his family. Bong lives with developmental challenges and lost his parents when he was young, with no other relatives to care for him.
These names are used for privacy protection of the two young men. They met while sheltering at other NGOs that supported people living with disabilities, until those organizations closed. Peu and Bong were then referred to the Home of Hope a few years ago.
At first glance people thought they were brothers, as Bong is very attentive to Peu, walking him up and down the stairs and washing his clothes. Bong also does daily chores around the house, such as mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom.
Touched by Bong’s dedication, I asked him: “Why do you care for Peu?”
Bong explained: “Koat meul ot kheuinh, sdab ot luu nang niyay ot ban, doijneh khnhom jong chuoy koat.” (He cannot see, cannot hear and cannot speak, so I want to help him.)
“Who is Peu to you?” I inquired.
Bong answered with a gentle smile: “Peu jia b’onbro khnhom nang khnhom jia bongbro koat.” (Peu is my younger brother and I am his elder brother.)
Peu usually lay in bed or sat hugging his knees. One day I asked Bong to bring Peu to join other youth. I introduced various objects to Peu. Bong guided Peu’s hands on the bouncy surface of a yoga ball, or around the firm curvature of a hula hoop. The two brothers played together like little children.
A friend guides Peu on a walk in his wheelchair.
Nowadays, Peu is busy figuring out new toys alongside a staff member’s child, or goes on walks led by a youth who can maneuver his own wheelchair. Exploring a variety of materials, shapes, and textures through touch, as well as getting to know a variety of people, seems to be changing something within Peu. His face shows curiosity, and smiles.
Bong is the primary caregiver of Peu. Peu is the family of Bong. One person’s lack was the key for the other to connect with him, and vice versa. In the process, both Bong and Peu unlocked their respective potential and became more whole. The other differently abled youth and I are learning to adjust our pace in keeping up with their progress.
Indeed, Psalm 139 affirms the beauty, quirks, and gifts in Peu, in Bong, and in each one of us.
“For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.”
Please consider supporting my mission work with a donation through the link below.
I invite you to walk with me as a “COMPANION IN MISSION.” Companions in Mission are friends and generous donors who give financial gifts on a regular (usually monthly) basis. For more information, visit Become a Companion in Mission. Thank you so much for your generosity!
MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Summer 2026
Hang Tran, Cambodia
Peu and Bong playing with a yoga ball and hula hoop.
Peu has been living with blindness and deafness since childhood, and was abandoned by his family. Bong lives with developmental challenges and lost his parents when he was young, with no other relatives to care for him.
These names are used for privacy protection of the two young men. They met while sheltering at other NGOs that supported people living with disabilities, until those organizations closed. Peu and Bong were then referred to the Home of Hope a few years ago.
At first glance people thought they were brothers, as Bong is very attentive to Peu, walking him up and down the stairs and washing his clothes. Bong also does daily chores around the house, such as mopping the floor and cleaning the bathroom.
Touched by Bong’s dedication, I asked him: “Why do you care for Peu?”
Bong explained: “Koat meul ot kheuinh, sdab ot luu nang niyay ot ban, doijneh khnhom jong chuoy koat.” (He cannot see, cannot hear and cannot speak, so I want to help him.)
“Who is Peu to you?” I inquired.
Bong answered with a gentle smile: “Peu jia b’onbro khnhom nang khnhom jia bongbro koat.” (Peu is my younger brother and I am his elder brother.)
Peu usually lay in bed or sat hugging his knees. One day I asked Bong to bring Peu to join other youth. I introduced various objects to Peu. Bong guided Peu’s hands on the bouncy surface of a yoga ball, or around the firm curvature of a hula hoop. The two brothers played together like little children.
A friend guides Peu on a walk in his wheelchair.
Nowadays, Peu is busy figuring out new toys alongside a staff member’s child, or goes on walks led by a youth who can maneuver his own wheelchair. Exploring a variety of materials, shapes, and textures through touch, as well as getting to know a variety of people, seems to be changing something within Peu. His face shows curiosity, and smiles.
Bong is the primary caregiver of Peu. Peu is the family of Bong. One person’s lack was the key for the other to connect with him, and vice versa. In the process, both Bong and Peu unlocked their respective potential and became more whole. The other differently abled youth and I are learning to adjust our pace in keeping up with their progress.
Indeed, Psalm 139 affirms the beauty, quirks, and gifts in Peu, in Bong, and in each one of us.
“For it was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother’s womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being, for the wonders of all your creation.”
Please consider supporting my mission work with a donation through the link below.
I invite you to walk with me as a “COMPANION IN MISSION.” Companions in Mission are friends and generous donors who give financial gifts on a regular (usually monthly) basis. For more information, visit Become a Companion in Mission. Thank you so much for your generosity!
A Maryknoll lay missioner since 2013, Hang Tran works with young people living with disabilities at the Home of Hope in Chom Chao, Cambodia.
