Cambodia

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I am sitting in South Korea on my way home. It is very hard to leave Cambodia, I love it though there is very little to love. (Have you ever just loved something but there is no reason why? Its a strange experience.) But I miss my sweet and wild kids and incredible husband. I can't wait to show him all the pictures and tell him what God is doing.

It is such a blessing to be married to a man who loves the Lord with everything He is and is willing to loose His life in Christ. To marry a man who knows how to live submitted to God is the best dating advice anyone can ever give. And to walk in the strenth of the Holy Spirit is the best marriage advice anyone could ever give. And right behind that would be using the communication wheel under the Life on Mission tab. 
I believe Cambodia may be the darkest, most evil place on earth, where 90% of the foreign men are there for sex (mostly with minors) Yet, in the pitch black of evil God's brightness shines the brightest. I have reveled more in God as the Rescuer and Redeemer more than I ever thought possible. In the midst of FEAR, the place where just a few years ago 90% of mothers sold their pre-pubescent daughters for sex any given night, I saw hope. I saw peace. I saw joy. I saw God rescuing, teaching, saving. That statistic is now down to about 50%. In Savy Pak, 22 brothel owners and 3 traffickers (who kidnap girls to sell them for sex) have come to Christ. 

Awe 
"they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me." Psalm 129:2

It all started with a couple asprin

Here's one miracle story out of many.
A very young girl was being sold by her parents for sex. The authorities found out and she was taken to a center for 6 months. (This particular center only let girls stay 6 months.) She was let out and had nowhere to go so went back to her parents. Her parents were gone. Her dad worked in a brick factory and had a debt. So to pay his debt he sold himself, his wife and 3 other kids to the brick factory owner to pay his debt.

They became slaves.

The girls stayed with her grandmother. She didn't sell her but when she was not with her, the girl would be taken and sold and then returned. One day the grandmother had a headache and went to Rahab's medical outreach (which they have on tuesdays and thursdays). She was given asprin and the grandmother was so grateful and asked how she could repay. They invited her to church and when she went she heard Jesus cared about the children and didn't want their parents to sell them for sex. So she approached the church staff and asked if they could help her granddaughter. She was taken to Agape Restoration Center.

The dad snuck out of the brick factory, went back home leaving the wife and kids as slaves. He was a good worker and the brick factory owner told the wife to go get him and bring him back. He told her that he would not feed her kids until she returned. She left and never went back.

A sweet Cambodian girl who we taught with this week heard about it and snuck into the factory to gather evidence of the slavery. She got pictures, interviews and fed the kids. This evidence was taken to the ministry of affairs and the 3 kids got released. One of the boys was talking to the police and through his testimony they had enough evidence to go in and rescue the other 50 slaves and the brick factory was shut down and brick owner prosecuted

Just through the ministry of Agape International giving a couple of asprin, slaves were set free and lives were restored. The girl gave her life to Christ (and I imagine others have as well.)
Faith as a mustard seed.
Giving out a couple asprin in faith, and look what God can do with it.
God multiplies our little offerings into eternal fragrances.

Want to hear other stories from our trip? Check out the posts below.
Even Here
Honored
'Freedom for the Captives
Greater is He
What Can I Do?
 


Comments

07/22/2011 02:04

Wow, what a brave girl. I trust that God will use all that he has shown you on this trip to help bring light to rescue those hidden in the darkness.

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07/22/2011 06:29

Thank you, Laura, for opening our eyes to these great, great needs in Cambodia. It has not been easy to read of them, but we need to know, and we need to be praying.

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07/22/2011 06:43

Oh, Laura! What an incredible story! How horrible what mankind finds to do to each other - but how great our God that in our depravity He rescues and renews to His original purposes - mankind living pure, holy, a glory to God! Your praise for your husband blessed me - I, too, am married to a Godly man who's greatest passion is God's Word and teaching His Word to children. He is a storyteller and makes the Word come alive with props, costumes, and characterizations. We are well matched. God is good! Your Cambodia trip will be a great book!
Joy!
Miss Kathy

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07/22/2011 07:35

Wow, what an awesome story! I love to hear stories about how God is working, even in the darkest of places.

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07/22/2011 11:44

It is so wonderful to hear stories of how God is bringing people out of bondage and learn of the people God uses to do that! I'm sorry but I was having trouble linking up and my post linked up 3x!

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07/22/2011 11:55

I cried all the way through this post. My heart just breaks hearing about the suffering of children. I know God is working there, shining His light in the darkness...using you and other people to bring hope, and freedom through Jesus. I feel too comfortable sitting here in my safe home contemplating the simple tasks of the day, knowing that others just seek to survive. What can I do to help?

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07/22/2011 19:42

Laura,
I would say I've enjoyed following you on your trip, but as Charlotte said, it has been heart breaking. This last post was encouraging in showing what God is doing. Praying for a safe trip home for you and your group.

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07/23/2011 15:47

It is so heartbreaking to hear about all the horrors taking place in Cambodia. How wonderful you are able to serve God in this way. God bless you and your team and family.

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07/23/2011 15:54

I had no idea of the heartbreaking lives in Cambodia. My heart just seems to engage when I read you posts of the the sinfulness happening there. It certainly has brought me to my knees to pray for Cambodia.

Blessings,
Pamela

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07/23/2011 20:08

Awesome, awesome story!!

Blessings,
Judy

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07/24/2011 07:21

Wow! What an incredible life you lead. I love your marriage advice...to marry a man wholly committed to Christ. I am happily a new follower!

www.lorialexander.blogspot.com

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07/24/2011 18:49

Thank you for sharing this story with us. We have some good friends who went to Cambodia on a short mission trip a couple of years ago. We enjoyed seeing all the pictures they took while they were there. The sex/slave conditions there and in other parts of the world are just horrendous.
Hope you have a good week.
Blessings,
Charlotte

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