Final from Beth and Stephen

Years ago when my children were little (they are now 28, 24 and 19), I decided that children should be “unfolded not molded”. I wasn’t confident then, nor am I now, that I had the right or the capability of molding another person. To mold is to conform something to a shape. To mold requires a rigid adherence to a certain form. The form may be wholesome or dreadfully unwholesome. Unfolding on the other hand is layer by layer, exposing the sacred gift within…God’s imprint and His idea.

We have been privileged to meet and be with girls who, from a very young age, had been bought and sold and moved through the country and over borders – much like animals, for market. Today some of these children (but not enough) are safe and secure and “at home” living in clean, wholesome Ratanak locations with our partner Hagar. Thousands more children are still out there waiting on a miracle.

The other day when we visited one of the foster homes I just didn’t expect to meet God there in the way I did. I met Him through a slight, frisky little girl in white cotton PJ’s. “S”, aged 9, looked me square in the eyes and then on her own terms, took my hand. She had in those dark brown eyes wisdom and experience far beyond her years – and upon her head was a halo of peace and promise. It wasn’t just the physical touch - her flexible, little hand in mine that dissolved me - it was the sacred in that little hand. I felt the confidence she had grown to know – her settled, straight up manner – her gentleness and clarity. Her eyes smiled, her feet skipped – she locked eyes with me and then said “Boo”! There was no cloud around her. Her self esteem eclipsed my own. She glowed with a holy fire and it was beautiful. It danced upon her head as she twirled and giggled. Another one of God’s little girls!

Ironically, the hot pink Barbie-colored tuk tuk (a motorcycle taxi custom built for $2,000 to seat about twelve girls) glowed with a halo of light around it too. It could have been the light bouncing off the hot pink but I believe the halo of light was present because of its precious and most valuable cargo – some of the older girls coming home from school. This tuk tuk was a statement that valuable treasure was being transported to school, market, celebrations, health clinics and shopping so “world….be aware – drive carefully and don’t mess with this chariot or there will be serious consequences and this time you will not win”. Contrast that against the fathers, mothers and grandparents who sold these very girls to the highest bidder to be desecrated, used and abused so that the adults could buy smokes, a few lottery tickets, feed their other addictions and satisfy their greed.

Ratanak funds have provided places, tools and personnel for emotional, physical, spiritual and mental health for these girls. In foster homes, Khmer Mom’s and Dad’s who are vetted for spiritual maturity, police checked, monitored, evaluated and held accountable - love and care for these children within the Khmer context. No longer product to be bought and sold, punched, poked, tied down, photographed in degrading poses and tortured, these children are now given a chance at a lifetime of healing and wholeness. As the lotus flower relaxes its petals – so these young lives are given a place to unfold. In the protection and safety of these homes they don’t need to fear the terror of night or the stalker by day. They no longer have to take the bullet for the rest of the family by being the money-making commodity at the expense of their personhood. At last…these children, created in the image of God, can be unfolded in tender, loving hands; not pressed into a mold by powerful, cruel, manipulative adults. Expert therapeutic staged care and the gift of new beginnings and secure moorings - protection, and unconditional love - this is the work of Ratanak. I saw God in the transformation yesterday - reflected in Sopha, beautifully.

One evening this past week, we visited a flesh market - (not like dirty Svay Pak) - but a “luxury” hotel with cool marble floors, a neon sign, and the veneer of class and opulence. Once inside the marbled foyer, we took the stairs at the back to the second floor. There we walked right into the market place of beautiful, well groomed young women. Just like an aquarium – the girls sat behind glass in groups, like pods of fish. There were girls in purple shirts (Chinese); probably 60 girls in gold (Khmer) – and then others in blue (Vietnamese). Each girl was numbered. This was no game show – it was a market. $6.00 for this activity - $8.00 for that and $10.00…the sky’s the limit. Sitting on chairs looking back at us, some girls were disinterested, dead to this charade – some looked back with calculating eyes…what would they want with me? What would the outcome be? Would I be black and blue afterwards? Would I be on a pornographic website with those two? Will they ruin me or will they be kind? Other girls looked back with eyes that said “Don’t pick me – I am not someone you want – overlook me – it’s ok if you don’t pick me”. And some girls held hands – like protective best friends would do on the playground facing a bully. That was the thing that hurt me the most. They reminded me of my daughters. It disturbed me terribly. In fact, the entire experience in that place made me feel, for the first time in my life, like a freaky predator. I felt fear and loathing from the girls. And, I felt a total guttural disgust towards the arrogant men lounging on soft, leather sofas, drinking their drinks, shopping for a warm body to master. To study the trade in human flesh I had to know this side of things.

Today we were back concentrating on the little children at Sway Pak. We heard that the intelligence on Svay Pak (a community in the countryside outside of Phnom Penh) indicates that 40 little girls are removed from Sway Pak after 6:00 pm and taken to brothels in Phnom Penh – returning at 3:00 am each day. It is estimated that 80% of the girls from this town are trafficked. These are the same little girls that attend the kid’s club at Rahab’s House. Sitting on the floor today with probably 60 kids, drawing and coloring pictures, I dreaded the end of our time together. As, a Mom it made me wretch to think that following this fun time together they had to rush home to get dolled up, and be sent out to service the devil. Organized crime, corruption, collaborating families and customers keep the child-flesh trade alive and its killing children. God’s masterpiece – his little children - being forced into a mold He never, ever intended for them.

So, the hot pink Barbie tuk tuk is a pleasant thought right now filled with lovely, clean girls dressed in school uniforms - white collared shirts and navy blue skirts; girls who want to be teachers, nurses, counselors, stewardesses; girls with aspirations, hopes and dreams and the belief that with God all things are possible! And little “S” in her white cotton PJ’s, her shiny hair, bright eyes and halos? She and many little ones like her are being unfolded in the safety and security of the sacred…in the palm of His hand.

Today Stephen and I go home to Canada. This may be the end of the physical journey in Cambodia at this time, but without a doubt God will be unfolding His perfect will in our lives as we surrender ourselves to Him in the work of Ratanak.

Thank you Brian for sharing your dream with us. It will not be in vain.
Beth.

------------------------------------
What I Don’t Know for Sure

In Oprah’s monthly magazine she writes a column in the very back entitled, “What I Know for Sure”. In one page she shares without reservation what she has experienced and then what she is totally clear about regarding ideas and feelings.

This is my last night in Cambodia. I have been away for three weeks- two weeks here and one week in Thailand. It sees hard to believe that I will be returning to my home. I feel that I am just starting to adjust to being here. And now it is time to go.

So I can not share about what I know about Cambodia because I really don’t know much at all.

So tonight all I can write is what I don’t know for sure but what I must and will ponder about in the future days and months to come…


The Countryside

From above, whether flying in a plane way above or driving along a muddy and bumpy road, the countryside is absolutely beautiful- lush, diversified, and fragrant? Will God’s creation here be sustained in the next few decades? Will it be plundered for profit by the huge superpowers on the rise- China and India?


The Cities

I love the feel, the architecture, and the scale. The buildings are wonderful and the streetscapes are vibrant.

In their recent past, these cities were empted of all their human residents - left for the rats and cockroaches. Will this dark act have a lasting negative legacy on these urban areas? Can the cities be regenerated?

The Culture

The customs, the buildings, the special buildings, the food, and the artisans are all unique. To date Cambodia has not been destroyed by rich tourists experiencing cultural tourism. As Cambodia gets better known on the tourist radar, will cultural tourism be a benefit or a bane to the people of Cambodia?


The Economy

Will the new super highway going right through northern Cambodia -connecting China and India- be an economic stimulus, increasing the prosperity of many people or will this link to the emerging super powers lead to more national pain through increased sex trafficking, HIV and AIDS and drugs?


The Children

Within families, will the children of Cambodia be elevated as a precious resource to be protected and respected as children of God? Or will children simply be viewed as meal ticket to provide more goods for their parents?

The West

Will western countries wake up and realize their obligations to the people of Cambodia? Will Western countries help to put a stop to sex tourism where so called men- who are nothing but vultures- come over here to victimize and destroy little girls and boys for their perverse pleasure? Will the Canadian government re-open its embassy here in Cambodia and become a global leader in stopping trafficking of children? I guess our government is not interested in helping a nation which does not import much of our goods.

The Chruch

I have seen the church here- both Cambodian and foreign Christians- getting down and dirty and responding people who are the desperate- the malnourished poor, the trapped ten year old sold into slavery for men’s perverted sexual desires , and the abused prisoner rotting in an overcrowded jail cell. I have seen Christians and other people of good will get out of their safe places and situations to make a difference.

So what do I know for sure? I know the God is building His Kingdom here in Cambodia and that He will transform families, communities and the nation in a mighty way.

Stephen Lauer