Prayer is a Weapon...And a Choice.

Yesterday morning I read that great article on prayer and posted it here.  I was so encouraged! I was reminded of how very powerful prayer truly is and was inspired to begin to wield this weapon I've been so freely given and yet use so rarely.

And, I did pray more yesterday than I have on other days.  I found myself praying about all kinds of things throughout my day.  I prayed for my roomate's car as she took it to the shop, I found myself praying for the staff of the church I attend, I prayed for a friend who is a sophomore in college and just beginning to realize how very big the world is and was feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all, I prayed for grace and favor to be with another friend who is trying to manage his finances well to be able to do all the things God's put on his heart to do (like return to Cambodia this summer!)....Okay, so I prayed more yesterday than I have on other days (mind you, all these prayers were quite sporadic during the day-each one lasting anywhere from about 4-7 minutes....don't think I was like spending hours upon hours with God...which would have been great but, maybe that'll happen another day).

Then, last night at about 8:00 which is 9:00am in Cambodia my mind drifted to Phnom Penh and Svay Pak.  This is very common, I often wonder about what my friends are doing on the other side of the world.  And, thanks to technology, one of my American teammates in Cambodia was online and we began chatting on Facebook.  I really enjoy being able to connect with her so frequently, it helps me to stay in the loop with what's happening there and it's a great outlet for the both of us as we struggle with things that only those who've been there and experienced firsthand can relate to.

Earlier that morning I'd read an email update from another teammate.  Because it was sent out en mass the details of some stories were vague.  I began to ask questions about a situation that was described in the update.  My friend proceeded to confirm the truth of a situation we'd all been desperately hoping was not reality. Turns out that two of our youngest kids from the Wat Phnom ministry are indeed being sold nightly.  They are both boys, a 6-year old and a 4-year old.

A 4-year old boy who, even when we do have enough evidence and can catch the bad guy, HAS NO PLACE TO GO.  There is not a safe place for boys in Phnom Penh, let alone one where the eternal hope and healing of Jesus is offered.  Yet....

There is not a safe place for boys in Cambodia yet.  There will be because God has given us (the Hard Places Community) His dream for a place of refuge for little ones like this boy and the many others whose stories are very similar to his.  TraffickJam2011 has a mighty purpose in fulfilling this dream....And, I'm excited to see how He will provide!

But, last night and this morning I find myself with a truly broken heart (again).  I wept so hard last night, my stomach hurt and I was so angry at the evil of this fallen world.  Then I remembered about the weapon I've been given....and I was faced with such a clear choice: would I choose to believe that prayer was no match for this horrid situation that is only one of millions and be overcome by despair and hopelessness? Or, would I choose to bravely use what I've been given, knowing that it is prayer that ultimately moves heaven and earth?...not simply my words but my words being added to the power of the One who hears my pleas, the One whose heart is broken so much more than mine will ever be?  Would I belive that if I pray, if I choose to let my prayers rise to His throne with the countless other prayers that surely flood that place on behalf of the same issue, that He would hear and that things will change?

Yikes.  Big decision.  I chose to pray....I prayed through my tears, I cried, I yelled, I was angry, I was hurting. But, I went to my King, the One who has true power and authority in this world. And, I believe that He heard me and I trust that He knows best. His word tells me so; "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."-Isaiah 55:8-9.

Sometimes I want to stop feeling, I want to pretend that the little ones He's allowed to know and love in Cambodia are just fine, to not read the updates from teamates....But, my God promises to honor the sacrifice of a broken heart...so I'll continue to seek His heart and walk with Him...Psalm 51:15-17 "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. You don't delight in sacrifice or I'd bring it; You don't delight in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you won't despise."

Today, I'll choose to pray.....because it's what I can do right here, right now.

YOU Have an Important Role to Fulfill!

I came across this article written by Benjamin Nolot who has served in Cambodia and wrote this for an organization called ExodusCry whose mission is to see modern day slavery come to an end. They advocate prayer as the powerful weapon it truly is! I hope that this article spurs you to pray....simply to pray.  Not only for those in Cambodia I've been telling you about but, for people in any place around the world who are oppressed.  Prayer is our most powerful weapon regardless of the shape the enemy takes on.

"After first becoming exposed to the realities of modern-day slavery, people’s common reaction is, “What can I do?” Instantly, people imagine that they have to raid a brothel in Cambodia or witness to a prostitute in Vegas in order to have a real impact. Yet, what is often forgotten in the abolition equation is the very real and integral component of prayer.

Prayer is not just a means for abolition. It is the central means.

In Luke 18 Jesus gives us a key insight into abolition. Through parable, He tells us how God brings justice into unjust situations. As the wisest, most knowledgeable man ever to walk the earth, He could have said many things about this subject. He could have offered us some wisdom in lawmaking or a ‘how-to’ on building judicial systems. He could have given us strategies on outreach or on how to feed the poor. But instead, He highlighted just one simple thing: prayer. Jesus taught that “speedy justice” would come in response to “day and night” prayer (Lk. 18:7-8).

Prayer connects us to the heart of God, defeats the spiritual forces of darkness behind slavery, and releases God’s healing presence in the hearts of those who have been traumatized and exploited––all things we could never do in our own strength.

Past abolitionists have proven the effect of prayer. Four men, in particular, come to mind when thinking about abolitionists through history: Moses, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, and William Wilberforce. If there’s one defining characteristic that each of these men possessed, it was a life of prayer.

It was through prayer that Moses released the plagues in Egypt that brought about the great exodus of the enslaved Jews.

Jesus routinely spent entire nights in prayer before performing great miracles that set people free.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient.”

William Wilberforce warned, “Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.”

These men were completely dependent on God to bring about the abolition they all so deeply longed for. If we want to be the abolitionists that these men were, we must embrace the God-ordained means of abolition. Prayer wasn’t just a precursor to their abolition. It was their abolition.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom in suburban America or a full-time practitioner in Southeast Asia, everyone can be an active abolitionist through prayer." -Benjamin Nolot

February Update

I've been back from Cambodia for one month. Hard to believe it's really been that long, it still feels as if it just yesterday I was meeting my friend Veasna at 8:00 in the morning when we would ride on his moto to Wat Phnom.  It has been a bit easier to keep my mind here in the States, although I still think about everyone there at least once a day! I've also been known to speak Khmer to people here and quite frequently have a desire to ride on a moto....which usually goes away pretty quickly when I realize how cold it is outside!


The Lord is always so very gracious to me and He surprises me at every turn that my life takes! Recently, I've been so blessed at how rich and deep my times with Him have been.  I truly love His word and am taking in every moment I can to get to know Him more through it.  I've been reading a lot about David-oh how I hope that when faced with situations where I'd have the opportunity to take God at His word that I would respond with the kind of faith and courage David had!


I've also been working on putting together a video that will be used as presentations are done for TraffickJam.  And....I FINISHED IT LAST NIGHT!!! WOOHOO :-) 


I leave tomorrow for South Carolina where I will do a few presentations at Southern Wesleyan University.  I'm extremely excited about this for 2 reasons: 1-I'll get to help people get pumped up and signed to participate in the TraffickJam walk their school is hosting! and, 2-I'll get to spend a few days with some amazing brothers whom I got to serve with while they were in Cambodia this past summer!!!  It's so great to be able to reconnect with people who've actually been there.


I'm still planning in my heart to return to Cambodia in June. However, I'll need another $500/month in funds to live there.  Please join me in praying for His provision concerning this. And, of course, let me know if you and your family would like to partner with me financially!


If you haven't already read this story on Facebook, then please read Ratanak's story-it's a story of a young man I've known since July and it speaks so clearly of why a boys center is needed in Cambodia.

Ratanak came to the city when he was fourteen like many teenagers do. He came in search of work. He came to live with “Ohm.” Ohm was a distant relative who had been living in the city for several years. She had been selling noodle soup out of her mobile kitchen—two baskets balanced on the ends of a wooden pole she carries on her shoulder. When Ratanak showed up in the city, she told him he could sleep on the straw mat on her floor as long as he was able to bring some income into the household. This would be in addition to what he was expected to send back to his family in the countryside. Within a couple days Ratanak had set himself up with a basket containing bags of shrimp-flavored crackers and air-puffed packets of sandwich cookies in an area where people regularly “dar layng,” or hang out.

 As Ratanak squatted on the sidewalk each
afternoon hawking his goods, he noticed a couple of young men who showed up each afternoon with balls and jump ropes. One day one of the young men approached him and invited him to join in a game of soccer. He eagerly agreed after asking another nearby seller to watch his wares. From then on every afternoon, Ratanak would find his way to the soccer game. He enjoyed playing. He invited other younger children to participate. He began to think of these young men as his older brothers. They really seemed to care about him and his life. He shared with them about living with Ohm. He shared about how he had come from the countryside and about his younger siblings who were still there. He shared about how Ohm had told him that he would not be able to stay with her much longer because she did not have enough money to care for him. He would have to go back to the countryside. Squatting next to his new brother in the shade alongside the road, he shared about his fear.

The truth is that Ratanak had not come to the city to help his family as much as he had to escape them. He shared about his father spending all of the family’s earnings on alcohol. He shared about his father beating him. He shared about the relief he would feel when his father passed out from drinking too much alcohol because that meant he would be safe that night. He shared about his father threatening to kill him. And, though his heart raced with fear, he shared about the night his father took him into the rice field near their home and began to unzip his pants. He shared about how he wriggled free of his father’s grip and ran and ran. He shared about how when he returned to his house in the morning his father told him if he ever came back without pockets full of cash, his father would beat him to death.

Ratanak had been diligently saving money for the day he would see his father again, but no amount of money could alleviate his fear. What if next time he couldn’t escape? What if next time there was nowhere to run? What if next time there was no one to tell?

But, what if next time there was a place of refuge, of safety, of love, of help? That place is coming soon. Hope is not lost for Ratanak and others who know his story as their own.

*Names and details of this story have been changed in order to protect the identity and dignity of those mentioned.

Learning of the Pain That Comes With Love

Oh gosh.....I just don't really know where to even begin....

At the bottom of this post is a video of a the song, "I Saw What I Saw" by Sara Groves.  Her lyrics seem to meet my emotions quite perfectly these days.  Once again, I'm reminded of what a wonderful gift music is and am so grateful for skilled writers!

I want to be able to share stories with you about my recent trip to Cambodia.  The problem is, right now, all I can think of  are the stories that are not so fun to tell :-(

I mean, I can still share them with you. And, maybe they will even lead you to greater times of prayer for the people I know and love or maybe they will give you the courage to share some of your own "not so fun to tell" stories.  That would be a good thing, right?

While in Phnom Penh I was able to see many of the people I'd hoped to reconnect with.  There was one big difference in being there this time though.  It was like I was  able to feel all the emotions that were alive around me for the first time.  I think that while I was living there for nearly 6 months I simply let every part of my life become routine and in doing so was able to stop myself from feeling the raw emotions that could have easily accompanied any given day.

Returning to Kids Club at Wat Phnom was so great....for the first ten minutes. Then, I just found myself sitting in the middle (quite literally, they were ALL OVER ME) of a group of 20 kids who I've spent countless hours with.  But, this time I felt pain.  It was painful to watch as my 4 year old friend so easily went up to any stranger and asked for....wel, anything he could get really.  This is how he and his 6 year old sister spend their days-begging for food, money, water.  All of a sudden the reality that this is NOT right came crashing down on top of me as never before.  It was painful to think about what happens each night (drug deals, transvestites selling themselves, currupt police officers adding to the chaos, children wandering aimlessly and unsupervised....oh, the list could go on....) in the very park where we have club each day.  THIS IS WHERE THESE SWEET ONES ARE GROWING UP.  And, it hurt, a lot. 

I visited my friends in Svay Pak, the village where I'd spent every morning, the very same village that was written about in Gary Haugen's book, Terrify No More. From June through October I would arrive each morning with any of my various teamates and we would be blown away at the joy with which we were met!  Our students were eager to learn, the  younger kids were LOUDLY singing whatever the newest Bible song was that they'd been taught the afternoon before and the young women along with the Pastor's wife were all chatting and laughing in the kitchen as they prepared for lunch later that day....always lots of fun! This time though, I was met by my dear friends who are still grieving the loss of their son, Daniel, earlier this year.  The reality of such strong leadership mourning was thick and heavy (as mourning usually is).  One of my brothers there told me about his 30 year old sister-in-law who had just been diagnosed with stomach cancer and sent home to die.  We prayed-he prayed for my eyes and I prayed for his family. This morning I got an email telling me that his sister-in-law, Pov, has gone to be with Jesus. I cried...and will probably cry some more.  

My mind is too tired to keep making sense of the things I felt during my short visit.  Maybe in a few days I'll have the energy for more.....

For now, please join with me in prayer in whatever way you feel led.  Thank you for coming along for the journey...it's certainly not over yet.

And, it certainly does not end in despair.  My God is a Redeemer and He is already redeeming in Cambodia.  I will continue to look for the hope in each story. And I also promise that I won't be afraid to share some of pain as well....I believe that He allows us to feel the pain so that we will be able to experience joy in all of its fullness. 


Yes, Lord, I will live with the pain for a time because I KNOW the joy of Your glory in every circumstance is more than worth it!

Just 10 Days

Well, my flight back to Cambodia leaves at 6:25am tomorrow! I will stay there for about 10 days and arrive back in Kansas City on Tuesday, January 25th.  Although I'm not headed back for an indefinite amount of time as originally planned I am still very excited about this trip.  I just spent some time with Jesus asking Him about what He has for me during this seemingly very short stay in Phnom Penh.  These are some of the things He shared with me and they really encouraged me so I thought I'd share them with you.


I will spend my time doing a number of things, most of which are directly related to connecting with people who I've grown to know and love through various means; some are children I have the privilege of spending time with as I help to lead Kids Club at Wat Phnom, some are young adults who I've been honored to get to know through teaching English and some are simply friends and colleagues who I'm so blessed to get to live life alongside while I'm there.


I will be able to have a direct hand in transitioning Kids Club to a group of American women who all have made 2 year commitments to Cambodia.  I'm very grateful to be able to pass the baton of this program to people who I know will be able to see it through for a while as opposed to a short term group who would then leave and cause the kids to go through even more changes.  I have been allowed to get to know these kids, to visit some of their homes, to take them on outings, to watch their attitudes towards us as leaders transform  from one of indifference into one where they all eagerly line the street each day waiting for us to show up!  They've all secured themselves in my heart in a very special way and I can't wait to be back in Cambodia this summer with a long term goal of helping to get the Boys Center running!


I will have the opportunity to meet with some of the teens and young adults who I taught English.  I will be able to tell them in person why I am not coming back right now.  My prayer is that through this they will not just see another person who came into their world for a moment and then pulled out because they had things to get back to somewhere else.  When I shared my testimony with them in Svay Pak I told them that I was sharing my story so that we could become friends.  I had no intentions of challenging them to offer their lives to Jesus and then leaving them to wonder at what that really meant.  I told them that I'd be available, that I WANTED, to walk out the journey with them.  And, that is still what I feel the Lord has for me in some of those relationships.  So, it will be very good for me to be able to keep true to my word and to not give them any reason to think that I have chosen to run away from their questions.  It is by our love that the world will know we are His....


Hopefully, I will be able to get some video footage of some of my Hard Places teammates speaking about the issues facing young boys in Cambodia.  I'd also like to get on video a testimony of one of the young men I've met who has given his life to Jesus and is now standing fiercely and firmly against the powers of deception and darkness that once ruled his life.  The powers that still have a strong grip on the lives of so many in Cambodia....but, that WILL change one day, one day soon.  Jesus is raising up a generation of people in Cambodia who are standing up for the Truth, speaking out on behalf of the oppressed and fighting for justice to reign.


I will also be able to share with those I value dearly as brothers and sisters in the Kingdom, both Americans as well as Khmer, the very personal way that the Lord has asked me to follow Him in seeking out His best for my eyesight.  This is not going to be an easy thing for me to give attention to during the next few months and I know that I will not be able to do it alone.  My tendancy will be to push it aside and spend all of my energy in other places.  I do see it as a gigantic, gracious, blessing from the Lord that He is providing me with an outlet to continue to pour into the Boys Center as I travel to promote TraffickJam. But, I am fully aware that this opportunity presented itself only after I chose to yield when He asked me to fight for my eyesight.  I value very highly and covet the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Cambodia along with all of yours as well.


Yes, just 10 days.  10 days that when completed will allow me to come back to the States with a feeling of peace, a knowledge that I did my part in honoring the people I've met and love.  I pray that I will come back feeling settled, settled into this new part of the adventure.  Not only settled but, even anticipating that He is going to meet me in every step, that He has something so specific and so important for the rest of my journey here on this earth, that I MUST be here in order to live out the rest in a way that will bring only more glory to Him.  I'm expecting to learn so much more about who He is and how He cares for people as I submit to Him in what He asks of me concerning my eyesight.  And, I'm excited about all of the things I'll experience, all of the people I'll meet and all of the stories I'll have to share as I promote TraffickJam!


I can't wait...... :-)

Out of my hands

Tonight as I type this I am trying so very hard to cling to sanity....


I had it all planned out. I would come back to the States for 2 months to raise awareness about the Boys Center in Cambodia and to let people here know that I would be going back there for an indefinite amount of time to help get the Center up and running.  Then I was presented with the choice to stay in the States and take of care of my own eyesight or ignore it and go back to Cambodia.  I heard the Lord tell me where He wanted me for now.  Then I thought I'd go back to Cambodia for 2 weeks on the end of my round trip ticket and buy a one way back to the States.  Now, the numbers of a ticket price are higher than the numbers in my bank account.  So again I'm asking Him what He has for me in this....


I do know that He does have a way for me to still be connected to the thing that was drawing me back to Cambodia in the first place and for this I'm so grateful.....
The Boys Center is something that I am passionate about maybe even beyond what words can tell you.  After living in Phnom Penh for almost six months and establishing relationships with over 30 kids who have been coming to Kids Club that I, along with Khmer and other westerners, lead each afternoon,


I have seen the faces, learned the names, heard the stories, visited the homes and shared meals with a group of people who have found their way into my heart like no others.  At the core of this group of people are some boys who have a need and Jesus has asked me to partner with Him so it can be met.


The numbers tell us that 1 out of every 6 boys, worldwide, is sexually molested before the age of 16.  In Cambodia, where human trafficking is not just a cause to be talked about but, a reality that happens to people with faces to be seen and stories to be told, young boys are being sold into lives of torture.  Jesus is not okay with this and neither am I.  A 24/7 Boys Center will be started in Phnom Penh-a place where can receive nutritious meals, learn life skills that will afford them wonderful job opportunities and, as time goes on, they will learn that they are safe and will be able to begin not only a process of healing but the process of redemption over their lives.....


I could type all day about the dreams I have for this place....And, maybe sometime soon I'll do just that.


But, for now, I'm trying to keep my eyes on Him.  As the things I thought were certain to happen are being shifted more and more each day (especially during the past 2 weeks) I want to be able to continue to trust Him.


Instead of magnifying the problems in Cambodia I want my life to magnify Him and His dreams for their future.


Rather than exalting the schemes and deceptions of darkness in the lives of the Khmer people I want my life to exalt His glory in their country and the ways He miraculously provides for their every need.


As it seems like my plans have changed (and are still changing) I will remind myself that He never changes.  His plan has always been for me to be right here, right now, typing this sentence.


When I don't understand things happening around me I often turn to music.  The words and emotions that others have experienced remind me that I am not alone, that it is okay to not know and most of all that it is good to be honest because that is how others are encouraged to honesy.


Maybe this song will encourage you today, maybe something you've just read will encourage you and maybe you'll be able to encourage someone else by sharing with them....

An Ache for Cambodia that Leads to Something More....

I know, it's the beginning of a new year and instead of writing about a resolution or the expectation of all the amazing things God has in store for me I'm writing about aches. 

But, just give this post a chance because I think it will end up being a realization of something much grander than just the pain of the moment that it is inspired by....

Since I've been back from Cambodia for the past 2 months some intense things have taken place there in the lives of those I know and love.  My friends and brothers, Panha and Veasna, had their Dad's tuk-tuk stolen less than a week after I'd arrived in Kansas City. I found myself shocked at the news-this happens to other people but, not ones I know!  There was a sick feeling in my stomach all day. The only thing that I thought could console me would be to be there with them, to be able to speak words of comfort, to be able to sit in silence with them as we all wonder about what this will mean for their family. But that wasn't His perfect plan, it was my teeny, tiny idea of what I could do.

His plan was SO MUCH BIGGER. I sent out an email telling friends of what had happened. An email with very little expectation of any real response. The response was overwhelming and two days later I found myself in a bank wiring over $1,500 to my friends so that their family could purchase a new tuk-tuk! And, it doesn't stop there; not only did they get an awesome tuk-tuk but, their Dad who was the only member of their  immediate family to still be a Buddhist, gave his life to Jesus after seeing the power of God's Kingdom to truly change things!

A few weeks later my friend Coen, who has been to Cambodia with me, and I were standing in our Pastor's office reading a news article on CNN about a tragic stampede that took place just hours before during the annual Water Festival in Cambodia.  The report stated that over 300 were dead.  Again, shock filled me followed by fear and even worry-were all of my friends alright? What had caused this? How were people responding? There were so many questions. I began frantically sending text messages to everyone in Cambodia whose phone number I had and, even though it was the middle of the night there, I got speedy replies.  Yes, everyone I knew was indeed safe.  However, some of their family members were not.  Many people I know personally were affected by the stampede through the loss of loved ones. I found myself mourning with people I love, weeping over their pain and at a loss for words as I thought about the spiritual darkness that hovered over a country so lost and desperate for hope. As I took communion that next Sunday I wept and wept over the goodness of our God.  I wept because for the first time I truly understood what it meant that His life was a worthy sacrifice for my sins.  Cambodia is a 95% Buddhist country and following the stampede people were putting out literal material things as sacrifices to appease the spirits in hopes of holding any other catastrophe at bay.  Their sacrifices are empty and worthless....I wept over a country so blinded by deception.

Yesterday as church was ending I received a text message from a colleague in Cambodia informing me that our dear friend lost her baby after he only lived for a day and a half. This is never news that can be taken in easily. This time though, it brought me to almost immediate tears.  My dear friends, Pastor Chantha and his wife Bunthan, live in Svay Pak. They pastor a church that is found in a building that used to be a notorious brothel where young children were sold for sex nightly.  They also mentor and care for 26 young adults who have chosen to follow Jesus despite the attempts of Satan to steal each of their lives through gangs, lucrative money making opportunities as pimps, horrid abuse and many other awful tricks. And (yes, this church is truly a light in one of the darkest places!) they even run a free medical clinic two days a week, have a school and offer English classes to the community.

These dear warriors in the Kingdom of heaven lost their second son yesterday.  My heart aches with grief for their loss.  But, there was also something fierce that rose up in me. A cry declaring that the enemy DOES NOT have any victory in this situation!  I will alert Satan as long as it takes for him to know that this will not be a foothold for him in that community. The faith of my brothers and sisters may be shaken for a moment but God will prevail, His faithfulness will outweigh any question or doubt!

So, yes, my heart aches today. My heart aches again for people I love in Cambodia, brothers and sisters who have changed my life with the way they worship our King, with their kindness, with their love.  A year ago I had not idea how my life would be changed because of some Khmer people who would quickly work their way into my heart.  And, today I find myself so grateful.  Even grateful for the ache.  The ache leads me to a place of intercession that has been dormant for quite a while.  The ache causes me to recall His faithfulness in my own life so that i can continue to claim it over Cambodia.....over those I've grown to love.

Motos, Marshmallows and So Much More :-)

        As September comes to a close I’m missing the change of seasons that I love so much!  Here in Phnom Penh, there’s absolutely no change, the days are still in the 90’s with lots of humidity.  If you live in part of the U.S. that is blessed with autumn please enjoy for me too!  This has been my fourth month in Cambodia and I really feel like it has simply been living life.  The things of daily life here have become normal for me and for that I’m glad.  For example, of course we’re going to eat rice and pork in the tuk-tuk for breakfast and, without any hesitation, our tuk-tuk will make 3 U-turns on the same road as he gets lost looking for a specific store, oh, and (my favorite) there will be a very loud, very crowded wedding right outside our house on a random Thursday morning beginning at 5:30 that won’t end until 10pm Friday.  All just part of normal life in Cambodia J

            The past month has been full of Jesus helping me to overcome fears of all kinds!  For example, after riding a moto once during the day time at a speed of about 2mph I was fairly convinced that I didn’t want to do that again.  One night I was out with some Khmer friends, we’d walked from my house to where we were eating and as it was time to go home Panha (who knew exactly how I felt about motos!) told me I was going to ride on his moto to get home! It was nighttime, I was unprepared and he did not drive slowly at all!  Needless to say, I prayed, held on and made it home! 

             Another fear arose as I was asked to give my testimony in Svay Pak. As I told my story to Veasna a few days before we were to speak in Svay Pak I found myself feeling peaceful and I was speaking with a sense of authority that could have only come from my King.  I know the stories of the people of Svay Pak very well because they are so parallel to my own life and as I stood in front of 50 people, holding a microphone and speaking of the goodness of God in my own life I knew that the Holy Spirit was up to something.  It is a rare thing for an American to share a story like mine, a story that lets the people here know that they are not alone, that America is not a utopia and that God has plans to give all people hope and a future!

            During the past month Jesus has been reminding me of how well He knows me and that He longs to see my heart full of joy.  I got to visit two Christian orphanages!  Now, you might be wondering how I find life and joy at an orphanage….On a daily basis I work with kids who do not know the reality of being loved.  They do not spend their days being carefree as children should, they don’t have dreams for their futures and their lives are built on fear, insecurity and a mind bent on survival.  Spending time at an orphanage where children are loved, can recognize love, know the difference that love has made in their lives and where they play games with each other, care for one another and worship Jesus together has truly been a breath of fresh air for my heart!

            I have also been honored to do some amazing things with the students in my English class.  We had a party because it is the end of their break from school and they will begin going to classes again in October as well as continuing to study English.  During the party we ate Oreos (they cost twice as much here as they do in the States and are a treat that Khmer people don’t normally get to enjoy), spoke lots of English and played a version of Chubby Bunny where we put marshmallows in our mouths and tried to say the word “marshmallow”, they had a such a good time!  

             Also, I went with Veasna to buy English-Khmer dictionaries for each of our students. He helped me pick out the best version that would be most helpful for them.  When we gave them out the students were so grateful! Veasna had to show them how to use them and once they understood there was so much excitement in the room, you could feel it!

            I want to thank each of you because the things you’ve just read about would not be possible without your encouragement, prayers and financial giving.  I am honored to be part of what is happening in this country and do not take a single day here for granted.

            I hope that you enjoy reading these updates as much as I enjoy writing them!  Each time I finish writing one I’m filled with a renewed sense of anticipation about what He has in store for my life, your lives and the lives of the people of Cambodia!

The Fun Things I Get to do in Cambodia!

Another month in Cambodia has gone by!  Some days it feels as if time is going very slowly and other days, like today, it seems as if time just flies by.  This past month has been one of gaining solid ground, building new friendships and saying goodbye to 4 wonderful people who have lived with me for 8 out of the 11 weeks I’ve been here.  I have been posting photos on my Facebook page as I can.  Please be aware that I cannot post many pictures of the children I’m working with since they are highly at risk of being exploited or trafficked.

            Daily life for me in Cambodia is busy and plenty rewarding!  Each day I am accompanied by 2 of the H.P.C. interns and our 2 translators all day as we partner with what God is doing in this city.  I need to tell you about our translators.  They are brothers, Panha and Veasna, they have just finished high school and have also just signed contracts to work full time with the H.P.C. Veasna is 18, Panha 17, they have lived in the city their entire lives with 2 younger brothers and both parents.  They grew up Buddhist in belief but not holding to many of the traditional practices.  Their family believes in all kinds of traditional Khmer and Buddhist rituals for luck, health, prosperity, etc.  Veasna was the first in his family to accept the truth of the Gospel, Panha followed and now they are praying for their father, the last member of the family who has yet to see the Truth.  These boys have a passion and zeal for the Lord and for the broken people of their country that is extremely rare in anyone here let alone young men.  Pray that He would continue to reveal more of His heart for His people to these brothers of mine so that they may step even more fully into the Kingdom destinies He has for them!

My mornings are spent teaching English in Svay Pak.  I have grown to really enjoy and love my students.  I have been so blessed to be able to keep the same group of 8 students that I have had since June when the team from Metro was here and 4 more students were added to my class in July.  My class is made up of students between the ages of 14-21 which allows us to have some great conversations and to really get to know one another.  This month, Veasna, (who, by this point, has become a very good friend as well), is teaching with me each day. Having him in the classroom is really helps all of us!  Please pray that Veasna and I would continue to find opportunities to share Jesus with these students, that I would be able to come up with new and creative ideas to teach this curriculum that is geared for European students to my Khmer students and pray for blessings upon Rahab’s House as they have opened up their doors to allow these classes to be held there.  

Each afternoon I go to Wat Phnom (one of the biggest Buddhist temples in Phnom Penh) and we do Kids club there in the afternoons. Things at Wat Phnom are really beginning to shape up well!  During the past 3 weeks we have been doing Kids Club (a Bible story/skit, craft, games, songs and snack) 3 days per week leaving the other 2 days as time to continue to build relationships through simply hanging out with the people there.  As we told the story of creation God sent tangible reminders that He is with us-the elephant and the monkeys who reside at the Wat all started coming towards the pavilion where we hold our meetings right as we talked about God creating the animals!  There is also a hospital near the Wat.  This hospital is free for needy families and as a result many will travel from the provinces outside the city to receive treatment.  This gives us many opportunities to pray for little ones and their families.

            Last Friday was the most fun Kids Club meeting yet! We all dressed up as superheroes to demonstrate that Jesus is far more powerful than any of us, the kids had a blast and then were thrilled when we gave them each a coloring book we’d made and some crayons to keep. We also had marshmallows for snack that day which is a huge treat (we usually bring fruit in hopes of helping keep the kids as nourished as possible).

            We could use prayer in the area of creativity and energy.  We must be creative as we figure out what kinds of resources we can find to work with here.  Doing Kids Club in a public area limits the parameters we can set as far as controlling the environment so please for wisdom as we deal with the children as well as all the other onlookers.  Kids Club takes place from 3-4:30 and the team plans from 1-2:30….we can all use some supernatural energy and strength during these hot afternoons!

             During July I had the honor of visiting a few brick factories not far from Svay Pak.  I was able to join with a team from California who were working with the church in Svay Pak (the church is called Rahab’s House) giving out rice, shoes and oral hygiene products. There are many of these factories all around Phnom Penh.  They are mostly staffed by women and their children.  These people work in sweltering heat then go into a room where the bricks are baked.  The room has no ventilation system and reaches temperatures well above 100 degrees.  Due to the poor ventilation many are diagnosed with pneumonia and eventually die. They work long days for less than $1/hour.  Many Khmer people don’t understand the concept of being compelled to give because of love; they think we are only giving so that we can receive good Karma in return.  As a result, we spend lots of time in prayer before and after we go out to the factories.  Please pray with us that the Truth would shine through us…..

            There are so many stories I could tell, I might just have to write a book someday J

            Thank you, friends, for taking the time to read this, for your prayers, for your encouragement through emails and Facebook….thank you! I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me.....

Friday the 13th in Cambodia ;-)

Friday the 13th in Cambodia was a good day:

-7am-maintenance workers banging on our door so they can tear apart our bathroom to fix a leak/flood (at least we're all wide awake now)

 -7:45am-walk outside to find that the construction workers who tore up our sidewalk last week are now laying wet cement in a 4 foot span directly in front of our front door (to see last weeks' adventure look at my In Cambodia Photos album)
-10am-during English class I taught my friend, Veasna, the word "hoodie" (because he wears them all the time) and at one point there were 4 languages being spoken at once: Khmer, English, Vietanamese and Spanish
-11:30am-lunch with Veasna and Panha at KFC (very fun-drank green soda, attempted to eat cheese wedges-not so good...)
-12:30-2:30pm-at our apartment (along with all the maintanence guys) making costumes for Kids Club
-3:30pm-we're all dressed up like superheroes (I'm Superman with a blue cape/poncho and can fly!) to tell the kids about how powerful Jesus is!
-5:00pm-I'm reminded about how much value I place on going to church....and how much I miss church
-5:30pm-I'm right!!! It DID rain!!! (supposedly, only Khmer people can tell when it is REALLY going to rain, but tonight, I was right),
-6:00pm-great salad for dinner with Shannon
-7:30pm-an unexpected phone conversation with one of the students in my English class
-9:00pm-very encouraged about Svay Pak from reading Coen's note about it (shared it with Shannon and we both started laughing about the joy we are honored to experience in that place every day). It was a good day :-)

Just wanted to share with everyone some of the fun times I'm having here!

Thanks everyone for your prayers and constant encouragement, it means so much to me!!

Lots of Newness

            Another month in Cambodia has gone by!  Some days it feels as if time is going very slowly and other days, like today, it seems as if time just flies by.  This past month has been one of gaining solid ground, building new friendships and saying goodbye to 4 wonderful people who have lived with me for 8 out of the 11 weeks I’ve been here.  I have been posting photos on my Facebook page as I can.  Please be aware that I cannot post many pictures of the children I’m working with since they are highly at risk.  If you’d like to see photos, even if you don’t have a Facebook account, you can see my In Cambodia Photos. 

            Daily life for me in Cambodia is busy and plenty rewarding!  Each day I am accompanied by 2 of the H.P.C. interns and our 2 translators all day as we partner with what God is doing in this city.  I need to tell you about our translators.  They are brothers, Panha and Veasna, they have just finished high school and have also just signed contracts to work full time with the H.P.C.  Veasna is 18, Panha 17, they have lived in the city their entire lives with 2 younger brothers and both parents.  They grew up Buddhist in belief but not holding to many of the traditional practices.  Their family believes in all kinds of traditional Khmer and Buddhist rituals for luck, health, prosperity, etc.  Veasna was the first in his family to accept the truth of the Gospel, Panha followed and now they are praying for their father, the last member of the family who has yet to see the Truth.  These boys have a passion and zeal for the Lord and for the broken people of their country that is extremely rare in anyone here let alone young men.  Pray that He would continue to reveal more of His heart for His people to these brothers of mine so that they may step even more fully into the Kingdom destinies He has for them!

My mornings are spent teaching English in Svay Pak.  I have grown to really enjoy and love my students.  I have been so blessed to be able to keep the same group of 8 students that I have had since June when the team from Metro was here and 4 more students were added to my class in July.  My class is made up of students between the ages of 14-21 which allows us to have some great conversations and to really get to know one another.  This month, Veasna, (who, by this point, has become a very good friend as well), is teaching with me each day.  Having him in the classroom is really helps all of us!  Please pray that Veasna and I would continue to find opportunities to share Jesus with these students, that I would be able to come up with new and creative ideas to teach this curriculum that is geared for European students to my Khmer students and pray for blessings upon Rahab’s House as they have opened up their doors to allow these classes to be held there.  

Each afternoon I go to Wat Phnom (one of the biggest Buddhist temples in Phnom Penh) and we do Kids club there in the afternoons. Things at Wat Phnom are really beginning to shape up well!  During the past 3 weeks we have been doing Kids Club (a Bible story/skit, craft, games, songs and snack) 3 days per week leaving the other 2 days as time to continue to build relationships through simply hanging out with the people there.  As we told the story of creation God sent tangible reminders that He is with us-the elephant and the monkeys who reside at the Wat all started coming towards the pavilion where we hold our meetings right as we talked about God creating the animals!  There is also a hospital near the Wat.  This hospital is free for needy families and as a result many will travel from the provinces outside the city to receive treatment.  This gives us many opportunities to pray for little ones and their families.

            Last Friday was the most fun Kids Club meeting yet! We all dressed up as superheroes to demonstrate that Jesus is far more powerful than any of us, the kids had a blast and then were thrilled when we gave them each a coloring book we’d made and some crayons to keep. We also had marshmallows for snack that day which is a huge treat (we usually bring fruit in hopes of helping keep the kids as nourished as possible).

            We could use prayer in the area of creativity and energy.  We must be creative as we figure out what kinds of resources we can find to work with here.  Doing Kids Club in a public area limits the parameters we can set as far as controlling the environment so please for wisdom as we deal with the children as well as all the other onlookers.  Kids Club takes place from 3-4:30 and the team plans from 1-2:30….we can all use some supernatural energy and strength during these hot afternoons!

             During July I had the honor of visiting a few brick factories not far from Svay Pak.  I was able to join with a team from California who were working with the church in Svay Pak (the church is called Rahab’s House) giving out rice, shoes and oral hygiene products.  There are many of these factories all around Phnom Penh.  They are mostly staffed by women and their children.  These people work in sweltering heat then go into a room where the bricks are baked.  The room has no ventilation system and reaches temperatures well above 100 degrees.  Due to the poor ventilation many are diagnosed with pneumonia and eventually die.  They work long days for less than $1/hour.  Many Khmer people don’t understand the concept of being compelled to give because of love; they think we are only giving so that we can receive good Karma in return.  As a result, we spend lots of time in prayer before and after we go out to the factories.  Please pray with us that the Truth would shine through us…..

            There are so many stories I could tell, I might just have to write a book someday J

            I am so grateful and humbled by all who are praying for me and those who give financially. 

            Thank you, friends, for taking the time to read this, for your prayers, for your encouragement through emails and Facebook….thank you!

July in Cambodia

            I have been in Cambodia for almost 6 weeks now and I am really enjoying what He has planned for me here as well as learning so much about so many things.

            HA! That was a very vague sentence, huh?

            Okay, the first month was spent leading an absolutely outstanding team of 4 from my church in Kansas City.  We taught English for 3 weeks in a village called Svay Pak.  This is a village that has been and still is very notorious for taking part in the selling of very young children for sex.  Giving these kids as well as the pimps and brothel owners the skill of speaking English has the potential to transform their lives.  When the people are empowered with English a huge number of employment opportunities become available to them.  Many of the people involved in trafficking in Svay Pak are involved because of pure poverty.  Speaking English affords them the chance to choose a better means of employment.

            Svay Pak is about a 50 minute ride by tuk-tuk from where I live in Phnom Penh and it is where I will be spending my mornings for the next month.  My team did such a great job with English classes that we have decided to continue them!  The classes are taught in a 6 story building that was intended to be a nightclub and brothel.  But, God’s name WILL be glorified in the dark places of this world…a partner ministry that HPC works with here purchased the building and it is now home to a thriving church!

This church is simply amazing…it reminds me so much of the church I came to know Jesus in.  The doors are almost always open, there is a clinic two afternoons a week, a kindergarten program, Kids Club (similar to VBS) takes place for 2 hours TWICE A DAY, an official school will be opening this fall…and now, English classes as well!  The Pastor and his wife have taken in many of the teens who have decided to follow Jesus and they call them “disciples”.  These teens and young adults (about 20 of them) spend most ot their day at the church doing anything that needs doing and studying the Bible together.

            My afternoons will be spent in Phnom Penh helping to start a ground-breaking ministry.  I will be part of a team that will organize Kids Club in an area that has never been exposed to such a thing before.  It is an area within the city where young boys (as young as 8) and teenage girls sell themselves not only to tourists but to locals as well.  I am so excited about this opportunity.  I cannot wait to see what Jesus has planned for this ministry.

            Please pray for strength and energy…the heat of the days here really drains one’s energy quickly, especially as we’ll be doing our afternoon ministry outside.  Pray that angels would go before me in every step I take.  Pray for hearts and minds to be softened even as you read this.

          

            Thank you all so much for any support you give be it prayer or financial.  I have my budget pretty well figured out on a monthly basis.

            Rent/Utilities-$200

            Phone/Internet-$40

            Transportaion-$300

            Food-$150

            Language-$240

            Misc.-$70

            Total-$1,000

Currently I have $450/month pledged.  If you would like to know how you can give financially, please contact me :-) 

Thank you all so much for your participation in what is going on in Cambodia.

From Cambodia!

I can't believe that I am sitting in a coffee shop in Cambodia typing this, isn't that crazy??

So much has gone on during the past 2 and a half weeks since the team and I got here that I don't know where to begin....

Arrival was a bit rough since one of the boys on my team lost his passport en route from America to Taiwan.  Talk about being thrown in the deep end, no small introduction to leading overseas here!!

God's grace has been THE thing that keeps me going thus far.....

I have been homesick.  I never really understood that word before, I always kind of thought that people just used it to mean that they really missed people.  Now, I think I understand it a bit more.  I've never left a place and missed the people there...until now.  It was not easy especially for a few days last week.

I'm so busy thinking about the team that I find it hard to focus on what's going in me.  Once a week I let myself stop being a leader (when I say once a week I mean for about 3 hours) and attempt to process some of my own stuff.

The team leaves in a week and a half and so now I'm attempting to begin to transition them into the leaving stage but it is really hard since I don't even want to think about them leaving....

I need sustained energy, I need to be able to process everything that's changed since I LIVE here now....I still need His grace.....

Thank you all for your prayers and love, I'll write soon (should be getting Internet at my apartment so that will help with communicating....I hope....)

Anticipating Adventure! Feb. 22, 2010

Dear Friends,

           

I have been thoroughly enjoying the oddly cold and SNOWY winter that has hit Kansas City this year!  I am looking at it as a special blessing from the Lord since next winter I won’t be getting any snow….unless there’s a miracle in Cambodia J  I have also been taking full advantage when my friends have off of work because of weather…lots of play days that will make great memories!

           

I am getting to know the people who are part of the Hard Places Community (H.P.C.) a bit better.  There are sixteen of us in all.  Six are overseas in either Cambodia or Thailand and the other ten of us are still in the States.  We all communicate through Skype and e-mail mostly (God bless the Internet!).  It’s lots of fun being able to connect with others whose hearts share the same passion and vision for His love to overcome the dark places of this world!

           

My team and I have spent countless hours on fundraising during the past few weeks. While we won’t leave until May, each of my four team members need to raise the $1,500 for their plane tickets by the middle of March.  We have been doing bake sales, Parent’s Days Out, going door-to-door and some of the boys have even gone to extremes and cracked eggs over their heads on a college campus!  We have also been doing some intense learning about the human trafficking crisis in Cambodia-watching documentaries together, reading excerpts from books and studying the Bible to find out how God feels about all of it.  This has led to some great times of prayer together.

           

As for my own journey to Cambodia, aside from my team that will only be with me for one month…..I have spent some time learning about the tortured history of Cambodia and its people.  My heart breaks for all that this county has endured.  At the same time though, the people are making immense strides at recovering their dignity and that excites me!  My friend Ruthie (a member of the H.P.C.) who is in Cambodia now is starting a school for children who are or have been victims of the sex slave trade.  The school is scheduled to open in the fall of this year! God is certainly on the move in Cambodia and I can’t wait to get there and join what He’s already doing!

           

I have received $150/month in support. That is 1/10 of what I will need monthly for living and ministry expenses.  Having monthly support is a gift of stability that I value more than you can know.  If you are able to give tax-deductable gifts on a monthly basis please follow the enclosed instructions.  One time gifts are also immensely appreciated!

           

Thank you so much for all of your continued support and encouragement.  I’m so glad to be able to share this journey with you!  As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

November 13, 2009

Dear Friends,

            As the holiday season is getting closer I am finding myself completely overwhelmed with gratitude for the great things that God has done in my life during this past year, it has not been without hardships but the goodness is God is so much bigger than those temporary things.  I don’t have a steady job but, I am thankful because I am busier than I’ve ever been because of His timing in my life!  I don’t have health insurance but, I am thankful for generous friends and an eye specialist who discounts her prices by 50% for me because of His favor on my life!  My mom and younger brothers are not yet following the Lord but, I am thankful for each day He gives them new life and a new opportunity to trust Him because of His love for them! I’d love to hear about some of the ways you and your families have seen His goodness this year!

            One of the biggest things I’m thankful for right now is that I have officially become a missionary!  I will be leaving in May for Phnom Penh, Cambodia!  The first month of my time there will be spent leading a team of high school seniors on their first overseas trip.  Then I will spend 6 months to a year in Cambodia after they leave.  I will be working alongside an organization called the Hard Places Community who has been in Cambodia for almost a year now.  I will be working with women and children who are involved in the human trafficking crisis there as well as helping to lead summer interns and begin  new ministry to boys who live and work on the city streets.

            I NEED your prayers so desperately!  Please pray for wisdom as I lead and train this team even now.  Pray that I am able to make as smooth a transition as possible from Kansas City to Phnom Penh!  Please pray for financial provision for myself and the team.

            I have decided to use International Outreach Ministries, inc. (I.O.M.) as my financial organization.  They will receive any financial gifts that people make (and provide tax-deductible receipts) and they will put those funds into my account on a monthly basis.  As many of you are aware, having stable income is a gift and blessing from the Lord and I’ve been given an estimated monthly living expense to make things simple as I ask for support.

            If you are able to give financially you may want to consider helping out with one of the following options:

·       10 people who can give $50/month

·       20 people who can give $35/month

·       30 people who can give $20/month

·       Of course, one time gifts are also greatly appreciated!!

Every little bit is helpful.  If you are only able to give $5.00 on a monthly basis right now that is such a gift to me and I will be so encouraged by your willingness, please don’t feel like you have to give big in order to give!  If you would like to help out with any of these needs please follow the enclosed instructions. 

            I’m so grateful for all of your continued prayers, support and encouragement!  This has been an amazing journey with the Lord thus far and I’m confident that He’s only just begun! Please let me know how you are doing and how I can pray for you!

Lots of Love & Happy Holidays!

September 22, 2009

Dear Friends,

As I write this letter I am sitting in the church office, a place where I have found myself spending lots of time these days.  It is a cool 63 degrees outside making me long for northeastern autumn!  As the season changes outside I am sure that many of you are also going through transitional phases as well.  Some are getting back into the routine of schoolwork while some of you are sending children back to school (or, even bigger, to school for the first time!).  Still others are starting new jobs, welcoming new additions to the family or becoming acquainted with new living environments. And, a few are probably enjoying the blessing of stability as you continue on the path that is familiar!  I'd love to know where this season finds you!

I am writing to tell you about some new things concerning my future.

Many of you knew about my plan to go to Swaziland and I'm so grateful for all of your encouragement as I moved forward with that!  However, the Lord has closed that door and opened a new one.....

This coming May I will be leading a team of high school seniors to Cambodia to work with 2 of my friends who live there and are missionaries from our church.  The teens will stay in the country for one month.  We will be working with children and women who are victims of the human trafficking crisis in Cambodia.

At the end of the month the teens will go home and I will stay as a missionary with a group called the Hard Places Community.

I value your prayers more than you could ever know!  Please join me in prayer for wisdom as I lead this team and courage as I step out into what His plan is for me.  Pray for me as I begin to settle into the reality of moving to Cambodia in a few months! Please pray for His provision of all financial need as well. 

Thank you all so much for your support, encouragement and prayers throughout this journey! Please feel free to ask any questions or pass along anything He may tell you as you pray. I'd love to hear from you!

Lots of love,

Yvonne

Orphan2apostle@gmail.com

www.orphan2apostle.blogspot.com