A lot of people ask me why I wrote this book. During my visit to Cambodia in 2013, I made a friend named Lumbro, who lives at the Kampong Cham children’s home. When we first got to the home, I couldn’t believe that they could be so happy living in their conditions. It was July, and it was hot. There was no air conditioning and I was sweaty and uncomfortable. There were no plugs to charge any electronic devices- “How could they play video games?” It was a foreign world to me, not having the comforts of an air conditioned home.
At the Kampong Cham home, as I stepped out of the van, I immediately noticed a boy in a pink Gangnam Style shirt. I learned to make balloon animals for the kids there, and that boy kept coming back for more. After giving him the balloon, I prayed for him, and I felt a connection with him. We spent the rest of the morning playing together, and although we didn’t speak the same language, this was not a problem for us. During my time there, I had a lot of fun playing with him, and when it was time to go, I didn’t want to leave. When I left, he gave me an origami heart. To most people, that heart would look like a scrap sheet of paper, but to me it is not only an origami heart, but it is a real heart- expressing the friendship that we created during our short time together.
When I came back to Canada, I was thinking about ways to help Lumbro and his family. While it took over a year to get a story written, and another year for my little brother to draw the pictures, we got it done eventually. The book is being published, and I am glad that I finally got the chance to help my friend. Please buy the book, “Nathaniel vs. The Evil Monsters.” All the money from your purchase goes to helping my friend Lumbro and his family at the Kampong Cham children’s home get a new and safer home.
Christopher Tsai
