Today is the beginning of the election campaign for the national parties and the city is noisy with the sounds of promises and challenges. The favourite methodology adopted by one and all is to load party members and sympathizers on trucks and roar down the city streets - yelling and singing.

There are 23 parties vying for seats in the National Assembly - so often campaigns cross each other in the highways and byways - then the noise trebles - mostly, it's good fun. Those on the trucks are given free t-shirts and 10,000 riels for their day of yelling. It's a good way to earn a few dollars. Many switch between parties - one party in the morning and another in the afternoon - so that they can recieve double the pay.

For many in Cambodia, elections are a time of stress and worry - the past has shown that it is often the time for violence and recriminations. What makes this year different is that there are no longer private armies attached to private campaigns - the army is now one and the threat of violence has been decreased dramatically.

For the past three months, we have been severely affected by the SARS scare - no tourism and many housebuilding teams did not come. Now the elections pose another hurdle - in several of our projects it is difficult to get to our communities as all the parties come and line up to give their speeches. The families are bewildered for it is only at election time that these people come. Most make promises of money, free t-shirts and caps - the people are not adverse to taking all - problem is how to hide what they have received - how not to miss out on all the gifts yet to be given.

What is also clear is that each one will vote the way they want - elections is about speaking their minds - it is done in the ballot box where there is privacy and very few will divulge who they will vote for. It is power and it is a power they take seriously. We do like elections for it also the time that many roads are fixed. We have expanded to Kirivon, a project near the Vietnam border in Takeo province. The trip becomes a test of endurance - the first 100 kilometers is relatively good road - it is the last 38 kilometers that takes three hours to traverse. The people have come out in throngs to meet us - our program is well received and within a month 160 families have enrolled.

Then came the election campaining and the party members' stamina rejected the "road from hell" and repairs have begun. Unfortunately, we now must take detours through rice paddies on patches being fixed. We hope that it will be completed before the elections take place.

We visited Bati, a project where six wells were dug for 30 families. They are too busy to be concerned about elections. Each family has a 1/4 hectare plot for vegetables. A year ago, the annual income for these families was a little over USD100 per annum. The wells were dug in January of this year. Since then, each family has grown and harvested three crops of various vegetables - bringing in an average income of USD100 per harvest - or USD300.00; they all bought 2 two pigs - for water is very necessary during the hot, dry months. These pigs were bought for USD25.00 a pair - they were sold two weeks ago for an average of USD250.00 a pair.

The families like it when we come - there is so much to show. Last year when we came, the men, women and children all gathered around; this year, only a few women and small children came. The men were in the vegetable patches working; the women were harvesting and getting things ready for the market; the children - well, the children are in school - for the first time. There is money for school fees and savings has bought bicycles. One family had bought a water pump - they were not only growing vegetables and raising pigs, they were growing a second crop of rice. There is no hunger for them this year.

Keep us in your prayers over this month as the election fever grows. Pray for safety for our staff and our families, pray that peace may reign - pray that the people speak loudly and clearly for those they want in power. Thank you for enabling us to be here in times of stress as well as the good times.

Janne