How YOU can Partner With Me

If you would like to receive monthly updates please let me know via email orphan2apostle@gmail.com

If at any time you would like to partner financially you may do so through one of the following ways:

• Contact me via email with your mailing address and I will make sure you get the paperwork you need for funds to be directly withdrawn from your account on a monthly basis. orphan2apostle@gmail.com 
• Go to my blog and click on the Donate button on the right side bar. This allows you to give via your debit/credit card or PayPal account.  Funds will go directly into my account with International Outreach Ministries (I.O.M.)
• Send a check including a slip of paper with my name on it made payable to I.O.M. to:

Yvonne Stiles c/o I.O.M.

P.O. Box 2140

McComb, MS 39649

Here is what my monthly budget in Cambodia looks like:

$150-monthly salary for one of our Khmer staff members who is at Kids Club everyday, translates for us, teaches English to adult males who work in massage parlors (questionable places...) and teaches me Khmer.

$300-rent (2 bedroom apartment with real beds, an oven and a tv) and utilities (Internet, cell phone, electricity, water, trash)

$200-food (this includes being able to buy a good iced coffee/smoothie once a week a.k.a.- a bit of sanity!)

$200-transportation-this cost has gone down some as I am more confident to ride around on motos which are much more economical!

$75-ministry expenses-this includes things such as buying snacks for Kids Club, buying art supplies as needed, treating our Khmer staff to a meal every now and then...etc.

$75-Miscellaneous (laundry detergent, toiletries, visa expenses, savings for airfare back to the States...etc.)

Total-$1,000

15 Days and Some Final Needs Before Heading Back to Cambodia!

15 days from now I'll be in the midst of my 29 hour journey to Cambodia....

All of a sudden, that does not seem very far away at all! I'm so excited to begin this new season of life there though, I can't wait to see all that God has planned!

There are 2 specific areas of financial need that I'm hoping to have filled before I leave.  I'd like to give you the opportunity to pray and see if the Lord might ask you to be involved in either of them.

• I still need $200 in partnership each month.  This can happen through as many as 20 people choosing to partner with $10/month or as little as 2 people at $100/month.  Please remember, no amount is too small (or too large...)-it all adds up together!
• In order to be able to move into the apartment my roommate and I have been looking at I will need $600 as a security deposit.

If you would like to take part in seeing these needs fulfilled you may do one of the following:

• Contact me via email with your mailing address and I will make sure you get the paperwork you need for funds to be directly withdrawn from your account on a monthly basis.
• Go to my blog and click on the Donate button on the right side of the home page. This allows you to give via your debit/credit card or PayPal account.  Funds will go directly into my account with International Outreach Ministries (I.O.M.) www.orphan2apostle.blogspot.com 
• Send a check including a slip of paper with my name on it made payable to I.O.M. to:

Yvonne Stiles c/o I.O.M.

P.O. Box 2140

McComb, MS 39649

Please continue to pray that I would end this season well and transition into the new one in Cambodia with complete peace and confidence (as I have right now) in what God is up to.

As always, thank you, thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

5 Years Later...Still Missing Jenn

Jenn and I just a few weeks before she met Jesus face to face :-) We'd just enjoyed a long day filled with laughter!

Today marks 5 years since my dear friend, Jennifer Leghorn, went home to be with Jesus. She was 21 and celebrated her 22nd birthday, May 10, in Heaven.  I think parties in Heaven are going to 
be the most fun things EVER!


I find myself thinking about Jenn so much lately.  When we were in college she was going to be a missionary and I was going to teach 2nd grade....Now, I'm a missionary....I don't think any of us would've ever seen that one coming :-)  I still miss my friend, a lot.  During the past few months I've re-discovered the adventurous side (a story for a whole other blog!) and gosh I miss her as I do things like ride motos through Cambodian streets, go rock climbing and dream about para-gliding and mountain biking on a tandem bike :-)  Can't wait til eternity when we can do these things together!!


The rest of this blog is 2 posts I've written in previous years to honor who Jenn is....not was but is.  She is very much alive and well at this very moment because of the gift she chose to receive from our wonderful Savior Who gave her eternal life...Thank You Jesus for eternity and for my friend Jenn. 


"Hope and Courage Offered Through friendship-written May 8, 2008


May 9th 2006 was a Tuesday. I remember waking up that morning at Shalom retreat center. I spent the morning sitting with friends as we all participated in our very last session of something we called "The God Story". We had all been on a journey together during the past nine months-a journey of discovering how alive God's word is, a journey of discovering what it means to live in community (and what it doesn't mean as well) and particularly for me a journey of learning to trust God's love in my life.

We all listened intently as images of heaven filled the room, we were going through the book of Revelation paying special attention to the hope presented in the book. We talked about eternity, the joy of being with Jesus always. We talked about victory, the joy of overcoming death and pain. We talked about worship, the joy of praising Jesus without ever ceasing.

As soon as we had finished our last worship song a strange feeling of urgency came over me. I knew I needed to get to my phone. Everyone knew I was on a retreat in the-middle-of-nowhere-Kansas and so I wouldn't be able to get to my phone yet there was a new voicemail. It was my friend simply telling me to call as soon as I could.

I knew immediately what she was going to tell me. Our good friend Jenn had been fighting cancer for the past four years and this was the end. I called her back anyway and she only confirmed what I already knew in my heart. I stood there shakily holding the phone and could do nothing except melt into a puddle of tears. A few of my close friends surrounded me and prayed. The next few days were a blur as I tried to focus on the task at hand-bringing closure to this chapter in my life called Transit. I didn't let the grief come, I swallowed it so that I could be present during our graduation ceremonies and then I left for a month overseas.

I miss Jenn often. Last Sunday a worship song at church brought back memories of her after chemo treatments and I felt the sadness as if it were a punch in the stomach. So sudden and so real. Sometimes when I share ice cream with friends I remember the last time she and I had ice cream-it was the fourth of July and she wasn't well enough to go to a concert at Jones Beach as we'd planned so instead we had ice cream :-) During Transit she would send me "care packages" (her way of making sure that everyone in Kansas City knew that I was loved by people in New York) and I recently found a sticky note she'd attached to a card, it says, "Pray for me, I need it to beat this stupid cancer."

And we did pray. My friends and I prayed hard...in the beginning. Then, it sort of became commonplace that Jenn just had cancer. It didn't stop her from doing the things that she was passionate about-she still volunteered as a youth leader, she still worked at the campus library, she still got A grades in Professor Poston's classes. Although she had cancer it was never what defined her, at least not to those of us who really knew her.

I know that this has gotten rather lengthly and I really could just keep writing about all that Jenn was. I am just so very grateful that the Lord blessed me with the privilege of calling her friend and even sister. Last November I was on a retreat and Jesus prompted me to write her a letter, this is part of what it said,
"I think about how well I was loved by you even though we never talked about 'that stuff'. I think about your will to live life to the fullest. Jenn, you knew that life was rough and unfair but still you enjoyed it. You chose to trust Jesus despite so many things. You have given me so much hope and so much courage. Thank you for your example in choosing to follow and trust Him."

If you knew Jenn may you be reminded of her courage and hope, celebrate her this week-that is what she would want. If you did not know Jenn please think of those whose lives show you hope and give you courage-thank them and thank God for His blessings in your life."


"Loss=written May 12, 2006


I lost a part of my life last Tuesday. For the past five years I knew someone who was an amazing woman. Her name was Jennifer, but everyone called her Jenn. She was one of a kind. She had the most beautiful eyes. They were always filled with joy and hope because more than anything she knew that her Jesus was real and everpresent.
She had a zeal for life that was unmatched. She loved to camp, mountain-bike, kayak...anything that had a hint of adventure to it was meant for her!
She possessed such real tenacity and dilligence. I could always count on her courseload consisting of the maximum number of credits allowable each taught by the most challenging professors. She never earned less than a B in any class.
Jenn was a fighter. She battled abandonment from a young age and came out of it with a desire for all to belong. She battled parents who never really knew her and her last words to them were that she loved them and wanted them to know that she is alive and well with Jesus.
Her greatest battle was a three and half year all out war against a cancer that she so unaffectionately named Jezebel. She endured three rounds of Chemo, each one sending her into a short lived remission.
Jenn was one of my best friends. During the past five years we have laughed together countless times! We cried together, fought with God together, shared sarcasm....sometimes a bit too much :) Two weeks ago, I had the honor of being in her company one last time.
Last Tuesday, May 9th, Jenn went to be with Jesus. She told me not to be sad, she will be in heaven and it will be truly amazing. She will have new mountains and streams to explore everyday...and for that I am grateful, I am so glad to think about her spending her 23rd birthday on May 10 with Jesus....alive and well......But, I am so sad for the loss of my friend. My heart hurts more than I thought possible. We will never have another moment together in this life, the ones we've had will have to suffice until we meet again. The tears are coming now.......again........I feel the ache of a friend lost."

Missionary Moses and me

I've been thinking a lot about Moses lately. His story is really a great one. Born during a time when he should have been killed-just for being born!-he had a mom who let the Holy Spirit lead her to risk everything in order to save his life. She hid him for 3 months then sent him in a basket adrift on the Nile. 


God really did have BIG plans for this boy. 


Not only was he found, he was found by none other than Pharaoh's daughter! AND, (I love this part!) she offers to pay Moses' own mother to care for him as a young child! 

When he gets a bit older he is sent back to the Pharaoh's daughter and grows up as an Egyptian. Oh, wait, not just any Egyptian but royalty. 


So, this little boy was born and should have died. Not only is his life spared but his mother gets to watch him grow then he is given the honor of being treated as royalty-God's big picture is much more grand than we ever imagine.

One day, God speaks to Moses and his life is never the same....sound familiar to anyone else?

God allows Moses the privilege of fighting on behalf of an oppressed people. And, not only fighting for their freedom but, fighting for their freedom so that they can enter into relationship with the one true God (yep, missionary).

Sounds kinda great doesn't it? Fighting for justice. Fighting on behalf of people who need someone to fight for them. Fighting to see people enter into relationship with God....I like the sound of those kinds of things!

But, were I Moses, would I have liked it?

Moses had to go before the King...and demand that he stop oppressing the Hebrews. Moses didn't know the Hebrews, they were a foreign people to him but he was moved with fierce passion to see them treated justly (did I mention, I think Moses was a missionary?). In order for this to happen he went to Pharaoh and told him that if he wouldn't let the Hebrews go awful things would happen to the Egyptians.

This is where I'm not sure I would've been able to do what Moses did...when Pharaoh didn't let the people go it was Moses' job to initiate all kinds of awful plagues on the Egyptians (frogs, boils, locusts, darkness...eventually the death of every firstborn son). 
For the sake of justice for one group of people he watched as destruction came upon another group. Pharaoh was the one making the decisions and the plagues came upon ALL of the Egyptians.

I just don't know that I would have had the strength to watch hardship come upon an entire group of people based on their King's hardheaded decision. I'm certain that the only thing that would've kept me going would have been the knowledge that God told me to....

But, then again....

If today I had the opportunity to

free orphans... 

or child prostitutes... 

or homeless people.... 

or widows....

 from oppression 

and lead them into relationship with God 

BUT the condition 

was that I had to initiate and watch destruction come upon an entire people group associated with their oppressors.....what would I do then?

I don't know......other than to say that I'd follow God with all of who I am....His plan is so much bigger than the small, momentary glimpses we get during our time on this earth. Yeah, I'd follow Him.

(I really do not know why the font is different sizes and can't figure out how to change it....sorry!)

Differences

As I've been beginning to prepare for going back to Cambodia I've been putting some serious thought into how I spend money differently there as opposed to here in America.  Some of the difference are really big ones and quite sobering while with others, I'm able to just kind of shake my head at and laugh... As I considered monetary difference I began to remember others and I thought you might like to share in some of my findings:

• In America one 12oz. latte will cost me either $3.50 at Starbucks or $1.10 at QuikTrip.
• In Cambodia, I can get a 20oz. iced coffee with sweet milk for $0.70 or an entire 20oz. french press of coffee for $1.00 (I will admit though that a smoothie or frappuccino type drink does cost anywhere from $3-$5)
• In America a fast food lunch (sandwich, side and a drink) will run you anywhere from $3.50-$8
• In Cambodia I can buy numerous lunch combinations from local vendors for no more than $1.50 (fried rice, a filled pork bun, lettuce wraps, dragonfruit...). However, fast food such as KFC or Pizza Company/Pizza World costs you anywhere from $4-$10 :-)
• Milk. A half gallon of "fresh" a.k.a. "cold" milk will cost about $4.50. 
• It's okay though, because you can buy a cardboard box of "milk" that has been sitting on a shelf for a while for about $2.00 :-)
• Cereal. This one is a big one for me. So, first, I have about 100+ options to choose from here in America. And they cost anywhere from $2-$4.50
• Not so in Cambodia. At the western grocery store I can find 3-5 options during a good week. The prices? Anywhere from $6-$13! (Lucky Charms was once $13.50, no joke)
• Strawberries!!! I am currently enjoying all the wonderfully flavorful fruits I can while I'm in America and saw strawberries on sale today for $0.96/lb.  I know, they can cost as much as $3.50/lb here. 
• But, would you pay $9.60/lb if you were in Cambodia, where, there is not even a word in the Khmer language for strawberry (talk about a delicacy!)? I haven't...yet...I'll let you know if I cave and buy them sometime :-)
• Snacks. When asked to bring a snack to share for a party here in America people bring things like potato chips, popcorn, cookies....
• My Khmer friends bring things such as bags of fried crickets, durian fruit (also called the "smelly fruit") or cans of bright, almost glowing, Fanta.
• Water. When I first got back to America last November I was asked to pay $1.75 for a 20oz bottle of water! No thank you, I'll just go turn on the tap and run it through a filtering pitcher (maybe, if I'm being really picky)
• In Cambodia I would NEVER drink water from the tap and there are no filtering pitchers. BUT, it's all good because I can get a 20oz. bottle for $0.25 or a 5 gallon jug delivered to my apartment for $1 :-)
• In America it will cost you on your electric bill when you do laundry with your washing machine and dryer.
• In Cambodia you'll be charged a minimal amount for the water used while you wash your clothes but the real cost is the TIME you'll spend! And then, please, oh please, don't rain as soon as I've hung my clean-smelling-of-laundry-soap clothes on the line to dry....
• If you were to go into a store here in America without shoes on your feet you'd more than likely be denied service, at the least.
• Go into a store in Cambodia with your shoes ON and you're likely to be scolded and shooed out the door to remove your flip-flops.

These are some of the things I've missed while being in America. Not necessarily missed them because they are all so wonderful but, rather, because each of these differences was discovered for me during some kind of memorable experience with lots of people who I'm so glad to know and have be part of my story :-)

I'm looking forward to going back, to continuing to discover the differences and embrace the memories that will come from each day there.

Awkward Love

Lately, I've been reading A LOT.  I know, some of you are thinking, "Yvonne, you read A LOT all the time..." and, you're probably right. But, I've been reading specifically about love and how men and women have such different experiences with it. So, I guess the correct sentence should be, lately, I've been reading A LOT about love. I'm doing some specific research for the opening of the Boys Center in Camboida.
Lots of people out there have many more years of experience than I do so, for a while, I may just share with you the wisdom from others that stands out to me.

Here's another excerpt from John Eldredge and as for the parts that relate to women, I think I fully agree.  It is not easy for anyone, male or female, to love others and to open ourselves up to the vulnerabilities that come with it.
But, I'm sure gonna keep on tryin' cause it is so worth it for the relationships that grow and mature...

"Honest communication in love is the only way to live and grow in friendships including marriages. There are ebbs and flows. There may be real hurt and disappointment. But with the grace of God firmly holding us, it is possible to nurture and sustain deep friendships. We are designed to live in relationship and share in the lives of others. We need one another. God knows that. We have only to ask and surrender, to wait, to hope, and, in faith, to love. We must also repent.

Christianity, as it currently exists, has done some terrible things to men. When all is said and done, I think most men in the church believe that God put them on the earth to be a good boy. The problem with men, we are told, is that they don't know how to keep their promises, be spiritual leaders, talk to their wives, or raise their children. But, if they will try real hard they can reach the lofty summit of becoming . . . a nice guy. That's what we hold up as models of Christian maturity: Really Nice Guys. We don't smoke, drink, or swear; that's what makes us men. Now let me ask my male readers: In all your boyhood dreams growing up, did you ever dream of becoming a Nice Guy? (Ladies, was the Prince of your dreams dashing . . . or merely nice?)

Really now-do I overstate my case? Walk into most churches in America, have a look around, and ask yourself this question: What is a Christian man? Don't listen to what is said, look at what you find there. There is no doubt about it. You'd have to admit a Christian man is . . . bored. At a recent church retreat I was talking with a guy in his fifties, listening really, about his own journey as a man. "I've pretty much tried for the last twenty years to be a good man as the church defines it." Intrigued, I asked him to say what he thought that was. He paused for a long moment. "Dutiful," he said. "And separated from his heart." A perfect description, I thought. Sadly right on the mark.

Men enjoy relationships in which we are challenged, relationships that require more from us than the church expects. As men we long to protectors, we were made to stand up for truth, justice, righteousness.  The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that our voice is not needed-this is a lie.  The enemy wants us to bellieve that our passion in life is evil-this is a lie.

For a woman to enjoy relationship, she must repent of her need to control and her insistence that people fill her. Fallen Eve demands that people "come through" for her. Redeemed Eve is being met in the depths of her soul by Christ and is free to offer to others, free to desire, and willing to be disappointed. Fallen Eve has been wounded by others and withdraws in order to protect herself from further harm. Redeemed Eve knows that she has something of value to offer; that she is made for relationship. Therefore, being safe and secure in her relationship with her Lord, she can risk being vulnerable with others and offer her true self.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable . . . The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers . . . of love is Hell. (C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves)"

(Wild at Heart, 7-8, The Sacred Romance, 44, Captivating, 181-82)

TraffickJam2011-The Need for a Boys Center in Cambodia

Some of you already know this but, I lived in Cambodia for 6 months last year and am planning on returning long term this coming June.

One of the major projects I worked on while there was to begin a program that provides a safe place for young boys in Phnom Penh who are at risk of being sold for sex or who are already being sold.  I got to meet and build relationships with 26 boys between the ages of 4 and 14.  Each of these boys would come to the Kids Club program I helped to begin.  The program was held Monday-Friday for 2 hours.  We would play games, sing songs, make crafts, share a Bible story, eat snack together and simply get to know each other! These were always my FAVORITE 2 hours of the day!!!

The next step for this project is for the Hard Places Community to open our own center for these boys! In order to do this we need quite a bit of funding.

Will you consider taking part in a nationwide Walk-A-Thon to raise funds for us to be able to open our Boys Center this summer?

This event is open to ANYONE IN ANY STATE in the U.S. 

All you need to do is 

1. Sign up on the TraffickJam Website or email the coordinator listed for your State

2.  Have a group of friends (your colleagues at work, your church, your friends on campus....whoever you want!) who want to participate with you 

3.  Choose a 10 mile route in your area (if you are the coordinator for your area)

4.  Ask at least 10.people to sponsor you $10!

You will receive all kinds of support along the way, flyers to give out to people and sponsor envelopes. Each member of your team will  also get a t-shirt :-) 

If you are interested or have questions please let me know or go straight to the TraffickJam Website. You can also "like" us on our Facebook page.

This blog, the website and the Facebook page all have stories about boys who we are currently working with, so please feel free to read them and pass them on!

We are hoping to get at least one group of walkers from EVERY STATE so, even if you can't participate, please spread the word! Pass this email along, post it to your Facebook/Twitter page...help get the word out.

Thank you so much for considering how you can help bring an end to modern day slavery by partnering with TraffickJam!

Here is a video that presents our vision....

Let me know what you think and please contact me with any questions at all!

Not Little Boys Anymore

I have 2 younger brothers who live in New York City. Glen is 19 and Kyle just turned 18 on March 7th. Gosh, I love those boys! Well, I guess they're not so much "boys" anymore, huh?

That doesn't really matter to me because I have the memories of when they were....and those memories will always make me smile:

• When Kyle was learning to read he once pronounced the word "pineapple" as pin-opp-ahlee.
• When Glen was in first grade, his class did a performance of the Macarena.
• While eating a popsicle, Kyle was famous for the amazing slurping sounds he could make...any old Popice sounded like it was the best thing in the world!
• Glen's favorite movie of ALL TIME was The Land Before Time, we watched it over and over and over and....over.
• We had a rabbit (don't ask how we had a rabbit living in Queens, New York City...) and Kyle loved to hide Thumper (that really was the rabbit's name). We'd find him in a wooden box we used to keep potatoes in, we'd find him in drawers and once....we even found him in the dryer (he was okay though!)
• When Glen was learning to talk he couldn't say "sister" so he would call me his 2-year old version of the word, "dita" and he still calls me that...and I love it.
• We used to go to arcades (do those even exist anymore?) on the weekends and they would both use portions of their prize tokens to get little rings, bracelets and what not for my mom and I :-)
• The first meal Glen learned to cook: scrambled eggs in the microwave.
• While doing laundry in the laundromat one time Kyle was intrigued at all the quarters and knew that we needed them for the arcade as well. He looked up at me with huge eyes and a big grin and triumphantly said, "Sister, I'm gonna ask for a million quarters!"'
• We got a dalmatian puppy and were trying to decide what to name him. Kyle suggested, "'Dice, because he looks like dice!", what a creative 4-year old he was! 

These probably don't mean very much to you and that's okay with me.  Just know that to me, these few memories of my brothers are cherished dearly.  It takes quite a bit of effort for me to dig these ones up.  They are buried deep underneath the rubble of the chaos, violence, fear... that the three of us survived together.

And, it's true, Glen and Kyle are not little boys anymore.  Really, they haven't been for a very long time..... They are men and as one of them turned 18 this week he has begun to look at his life and evaluate.  He told me that he had goals for himself, goals that for many 18-year olds would've been quite simple to accomplish (have a driver's license, have a legit job and be nearing high school graduation) but, he hasn't yet.  He has got to figure out how to live a fulfilling life, a life where love matters, a life where it's okay to dream for the future..  He's got to figure these things out without the support system of men to show him what that looks like.

He'll get there....I believe in him, I believe in both of them....I believe in the plan that God has for their lives and for that reason alone I have hope for their futures.

I needed to say that.

May You Be Blessed....

Today is the first day of Lent-the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday when many take the time to reflect on Jesus' days on earth, especially His time of being tempted in the wilderness.  It is not so much about the fact that Jesus was tempted that means a lot to me, it's much more about how He responded that matters.  Jesus responded in perfection.  He responded in perfection because I cannot, you cannot.  We need His response.  We need what He alone was able to accomplish, it is the only way to be able to have a relationship with the Father, the Holy One. I'm so grateful for His sacrifice so that I can stand before God not only on my own behalf but on behalf of the many people I love in this world.  Through my relationship with the Father I am able to experience true joy, peace, fulfillment....I am made whole because of my relationship with Him. And this only by the sacrifices of Jesus.

This year I am taking part in an online devotional series during Lent (I signed up for ReLENTless Acts of Justice with WorldVision Act:S. All you have to do is enter your name and email address with a name of a church/school and you can get emails during Lent too).

This particular series will focus on learning to emulate Christ in light of six injustices that happen throughout the world today.  It will provide an opportunity for me to look at the things that are commonly seen as normal in everyday life for an American but are luxuries for those in many other parts of the world.

Today's email included this Franciscan blessing.  I think it is great and will be writing it out in my journal....May you be blessed...

"May God b that was compiled less you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen

May God bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen

May God bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen

May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen

And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen."

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.....