Visiting The Newsong Centre

Each year when I visit Cambodia on behalf of Ratanak, I always make it a point to visit the Newsong centre. Ratanak has had the privilege of supporting this ministry right from the beginning when it first opened its doors in 2006. Don & Bridget Brewster our partners from AIM have lived on site until this past week when they finally moved into their new 'home'---an apartment and office that was added as the top floor in The Sanctuary.

Some of the Newsong Staff Singing during our games

The Brewsters have done an amazing job in recruiting staff at Newsong who demonstrate Christ love to the girls. Two of the staff who oversee and manage the centre are 'Samol' who is lovingly known by the girls as 'Pa-ol' for 'father' and Sisarat. They along with the house mums , counselors, cooks, drivers and security guards all work long hours and are literally on the front lines investing their time and energy serving the girls and literally being the hands, voice and feet of Christ as they minister to these young ones. They are the unsung heroes that often go unnoticed as they labor behind the scenes, doing all the hard work. It's not easy at times as the girls can be violent, say hurtful things to them and treat them harshly, after all---the girls who live here have only known that kind of treatment themselves and so the staff are daily challenged to live out the words from 1 Corinthians 13 --- love is patient, love is kind, love never keeps a record of wrong, love always protects, love always trusts---through their examples, God has melted the hearts of the girls as they seek to reflect the unconditional love of Christ to those who are so broken and battered. So on behalf of Ratanak, the staff were each presented with a gift certificate to go for a massage and steam bath. This is something they enjoy and I trust that this small gift, will be a reminder to them, that God sees all that they do and their service does not go unnoticed by Him. Pray for the staff --- that Jesus would fill them each day with His Spirit and that they will never grow weary in doing good. May they may know that they are not laboring in vain.

In previous years, I have had the luxury of bringing teams to Newsong so that we could teach them a craft and have a party but this year as I'm flying solo, I recruited a good friend Cathy who works at World Hope International. World Hope is a short term assessment centre where girls first go when they are rescued from the brothels or from raids. Eventually the girls are then transferred to Newsong which is a long term after care facility where the girls will begin their journey of healing as they go through intensive counselling, have their first taste of a 'normal' life, begin their first experiences of going to school, and learning to cope with all the trauma they have endured. Since my voice is not fully recuperated from my recent bout with laryngitis, I am so thankful for Cathy who was able to join me. We first started out with lunch---and yes as promised on my previous blog, below is a picture of the roast pigs that Sisarat ordered for us.

Samol & Sisrat with our Roast Pigs!

The girls were each presented with a red t-shirt with the scripture verse 1 Corinthians 13:8 'Love never fails' written on the back in Khmer courtesy of one of my Toronto Ratanak core group members Larry Dearlove who raises funds for the Newsong centre by running marathons. Everyone enjoyed the roast pork, in addition to the hamburgers, french fries, coke and waffle ice cream cones. They were all quite full but we gave the girls a 15 minute break before we started the games.

Hamburgers & French Fries

Our first game was a 'water' relay where basins were placed on opposite ends and with four rows of girls lined up, their objective was to soak a wash cloth with as much water as possible from one basin, run with it to the opposite end of the path, squeeze our the water in the wash cloth into another basin and run to their team and pass it on to the next person. The team with the most water in the second basin would win a prize. It was hilarious watching them all compete and laughing hard as they encouraged their team members to run. The team that won were given Ratanak green wristbands. The second game was an old favorite called 'the hot potato' but we used two volleyballs and had the girls form two large circles as they passed the ball around with the objective of not holding onto it otherwise they would be out of the game. It was evident that some of them have mastered the volleyball skills from their weekly Friday sports day as they literally began using their finger tips pushing it forward to avoid holding onto the balls. The staff would sing different Christian tunes as the balls were passed around and of course when they stopped singing who ever held the ball was out of the game. Competition was alive and well and it became quickly apparent as to who were the leaders in the group with A-type personalities. They began to order the other ones out if they had lost.

The Winning Team of Game 3

Then the third game was back to working as a team as Cathy had them in groups of 4's. One girl was chosen to draw a house, trees and animals, it all sounds simple except she had to do it blindfolded while her team members described and guided her on what they wanted her to draw and where. I then had to determine which team did the best drawing and they received a prize.

One of the winners of Game 4

Our Final game was a dance game, where the girls were paired together. Next to them was a piece of newspaper and they would dance but whenever the music stopped, their entire feet had to be on the newspaper. Now this seems easy in theory except the newspaper is folded each time the music stops so you are now standing on smaller pieces of paper. It takes creativity to win this game and those who had the younger ones devised a plan to have them on their backs. I think I just about lost my voice at this point laughing so hard as once again, they were all policing one another, pointing out who had cheated while those who were bigger attempted to balance each other on their backs. It was so good to see them having fun---after all---this is what a 'normal' child should enjoy.

There are quite a few young ones under the age of 10 at Newsong and yet it never fails how they so willingly come and want to be hugged or held despite the abuse they have experienced. God has somehow able to preserve their ability to give love despite the fact that they have experienced such little of it. Today I saw little 'Sparky'---I have blogged about her. You may recall she is the one that used to live with Lim & Paulie's family who sadly mistreated her and would sell her whenever they needed money. She was treated like an animal having to scramble for food before the dogs got to it. Last year when I saw her she had short hair and today, she has beautiful long hair but her smile is as charming as ever and very warm and loving. Then there was little 'TV' another little girl from Svay Pak who my Ratanak colleague Beth had blogged about and had helped immensely in March. "TV" was badly brutalized and raped by a 45 year old Cham Muslim man for 2 hours. The man threaten to kill her if she told her family and so for several days she literally suffered and bled in silence until a neighbor noticed her blood soaked pants. It would take 5 different hospitals before Beth & Pastor Chantha could get help for this little girl and even then the hospital needed 3 more days before they could even do anything for her injuries were so severe on top of the fact that she needed blood transfusions. When I saw little 'TV" today, she was one of the girls at Newsong who celebrated her birthday. It was a joy to see her smiling as she along with others were blowing out the candles on their cake. The staff commented that she has been doing remarkably well despite all that she has endured. To look at her, she is all of 30 lbs, skinny as a stick and so fragile looking that if there was a huge gust of wind she would not be able to stand. The man who brutally assaulted her was about 170 to 180 lbs (thankfully he is in jail awaiting his trial). I am amazed that she even survived this ordeal but I am thankful to the Lord that He has rescued her from death's doors and that she not only is in a place where He can rebuild and restore the broken gates of her life, but one day, she will be able to proclaim and tell of all the things the Lord has done for her as she fulfill her God given destiny.

While 'TV" is here in Newsong, her 3 little sisters comes to the Kids club in Svay Pak daily. Each day pastor Chantha's students will pick them up as the parents go to work and leave them home by themselves. The oldest is 7 years old and looks just like her older sister "TV" and the other two are fraternal twins who are 5 years old but in Cambodia, these kids are so small that they are really the size of a 5 and 3 year old North American kid. When I first met them they were very withdrawn and would hardly smile, nor say a word, but now over the past month, as they too have experienced God's love through His people, they are just like the other kids, playful, poking us and smiling. Each day some of Pastor Chantha's students take them to a little room by the kitchen and spend time feeding them. If they were left at home, who knows what would happen to them but here in The Sanctuary, they like many of the other kids are experiencing God's love and care and He is putting a new song in their heart.

As I think of the girls at Newsong and of these little sisters of "TV", I can't help but think of Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9), the cripple son of Jonathan who when he was discovered, was invited to join King David and sit at the banquet table of the king for the rest of His days. In many ways, the girls at Newsong and those like 'TV's little sisters, are the modern day Mephibosheths----they have come from homes and environments where they were abandoned or treated worst than animals, where they have been crippled and crushed in their spirits, broken both physically and mentally but like Mephibosheth, they have been ushered into a whole new world, a world where they are known as daughters of the most high God, sitting at the Lord's table, enjoying His banquet, a world where they discover that their true value is based not on how much they are sold for or how poor they are, but based on the King of Kings, who has decreed that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image, the apple of His eye, chosen as His beloved.

Indeed the Lord has brought them to His home whether it be at the Newsong centre or at The Sanctuary, to delight in them, to overwhelm them with His love, His hope and His joy and most of all to give them a new life, a life where their hands will no longer hang limp, but one in which He rejoices over them with singing. Where He bestows on them beauty for ashes, a garment of praise for the spirit of despair, the oil of gladness for mourning, so that they will become oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

A New Chicken, The Gospel & Break Dancing

Talking to a New Chicken

Today in Svay Pak it was once again a busy day. This place is really never dull but then one can say that for Cambodia in general. As I was about to sit in on the final 'Trauma' class this morning Ratanak mentioned that a new 'chicken' was in town. Being curious, I skipped the first part of the class as I wanted to check out the 'chicken'. Siny one of student leaders and I, along with my posse of 4 boys---these are the ones who used to traffic the girls, went for a walk along one of the alleyways. The 'boys' took the photos as Siny and I decided to go and have a little chat with the new 'chicken'. When he first saw me, he offered me a beer---its 9am in the morning I said, its too early to drink and besides I don't drink beer. Where are you from? I asked. He replied, 'Switzerland but I live in Phnom Penh. How long have you been living in Cambodia?I asked. For the last year, he replied. So what do you do in Phnom Penh, I inquired? I teach computers was his comment. And what brings you to this village at such an early hour I asked. He said, 'oh my tuk tuk driver thought it would be a nice place to visit.' I said, Really. He then asked, 'so what's the name of this village'---(yes like you don't know, I thought to myself). So I said 'Svay Pak! You know you should be careful coming here. It's not a good place for foreigners, especially single white males'. He said 'but you are a foreigner as well.' Well yes but i'm Asian and I'm here visiting my sister (as I pointed to Siny) and I speak Khmer. We are here to help the little kids in this community and protect them from anyone who wants to hurt them.' He says 'oh but I don't want to cause any trouble. I just come to visit this place for the first time.' My response 'oh well, maybe you should leave because its not safe for you here. You might get in trouble if the police arrest you.' So he got up and left!

The boys got a really good frontal photo of our new chicken which I have forwarded on to those who might find it useful. Most of the times when I encounter or see a chicken I am typically filled with disgust and distaste for them. But today, in conversation with this particular 'chicken' God gave me a different perspective, His perspective---one that I knew in my head but perhaps really wasn't open to accepting before in my heart. The Lord was enlightening my heart with the fact that this 'chicken' is a human being like anyone of us, he is no different, he like all of us are sinners in need of a Savior. While I have known that in my head, I think today, in a strange kind of way, that realization became apparent in my heart. I actually had pity for this 'chicken'. He after all is as much enslaved in bondage as the very girls he is seeking to hurt. For the first time, I had no feelings of hostility towards this 'chicken,' like the others. Now does this mean, I'm turning 'soft' on these pedophiles? NO! I think if I saw him with a little girl, I would have a very different reaction. While there are groups here who are seeking to reach out to the male sex tourists and pedophiles, I can emphatically say at this point, I am definetly not called to that ministry. That requires a level of grace that I can honestly say I am not willing or sure I could entertain. That is a work of progress that God still has to do in me. My heart is for the little ones who are abused or at risk.

Speaking of grace its interesting that my attitude towards the young men who pimp the girls in this community is so different than my attitude towards the 'chickens.' Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I believe the 'chickens' ought to know better while the young men in Svay Pak sell the girls because they are desperate to earn a living. Or maybe its simply because God has given me a heart for the people in Svay Pak that I view them through a different lens. Yet, the reality is that whether it is the foreign pedophile or the traffickers, they are all blinded by the lies of the enemy who is simply using them as his tools of destruction.

The closing ceremonies of the Strongest Man in Svay Pak Contest

Today the gospel was shared to these very young men--young pimps who all week long have been competing in the strongest man in Svay Pak contest. This afternoon in what was like an 'open air' evangelistic meeting, Gilbert the youth pastor from the Bayside team shared the gospel using a cool demonstration of a bottle of water and began to describe that we are all sinners as he poured some red iodine into the water, causing the water to turn red to identify how sin has tainted us and made us impure.

The 'red' water symbolizing our sin

He then went on to tell all those who were in attendance that Jesus is the only one who can purify our sins and cleanse us of all the bad things we have done and give us new life. With that he poured some bleach into this bottle filled with red water and it turned white again.

The water turning white after bleach was poured into it

Gilbert then asked any in the crowd that if they wanted to receive forgiveness for all their sins and receive Christ into their hearts to raise their hands. Several hands went up in the crowd and once again today we heard people saying the sinners prayers.

Gilbert (bottom row, 3rd from the left) with the guys who participated in the contest

He challenged the young men that strong men are those who love Jesus, follow Him and live out His values. Strong men are those who protect the vulnerable and the little ones in the community. Strong men set an example for others by serving and seeking to do the right thing, to use their strength to help those who are weak. He went on to quote from Jeremiah 29:11 and began to speak to each of the young men he had bonded with over these past two weeks, giving them individual words of exhortation. It was evident that each of these young men, were taking in all the words that he was speaking. I couldn't help but think that these words were perhaps the only words of encouragement they may have ever heard in their lives and so I prayed under my breadth that God would engrave the truths He was speaking into their hearts, that they would indeed be the strong men in Svay Pak who would make a difference for Christ in this community.

Breakdancing in the Sanctuary

Later on some of them joined us in the ground floor of The Sanctuary for some break dancing. They really are incredibly talented doing so many acrobatic moves, twisting and turning their bodies in all shapes and forms to the hip hop music that was blaring. It was a neat end to what was such a special day as the team from Bayside wrapped up their time in Svay Pak. All this to say, God continues to amaze me with the incredible work that He is doing in this community and the way He is breaking down the ancient gates and walls of Svay Pak so that He the King of Glory can fully enter in and take residence in the hearts of all who will receive Him!

Burden Bearing, Receiving Christ and The Strongest Man In Svay Pak

Today is one of those days filled with tears and laughter. There was a lot of stuff going on in Svay Pak. This morning I again sat in on the Trauma class as I wanted to hear the stories of the students. This particular group has been sharing a lot more personal stuff than the first group last week. Some of their comments they made were for the first time ever, so it is such a privilege to be here and to see how God is opening their hearts, making them vulnerable as they share their hurts and pains. Both male and female, one after the other, crying, some sobbing as they shared about the brokenness within their families. Their parents who have all grown up during the Khmer Rouge Era demonstrate the classic symptoms of a post traumatized society. Story after story we heard this morning of domestic violence, of alchoholism, of divorce, of abandonment and rejection---these are the common threads. It became quite clear that this

generation of Cambodians---these youth are the burden bearers. At very young ages, they were given burdens way beyond their years to bear. Each of them struggling with guilt that they didn't do enough to help their mothers in the midst of the violence or feeling they were to blame for the divorces and the abandonment and rejection they felt. Each of these youth, have carried guilt and blame, feeling that they had not done enough in their family situation. Unknowingly, they have been held in bondage to the lies of Satan that they are responsible for all their family problems. Sadly these lies taken to the extreme, cause many kids today to believe that its okay and acceptable if their parents sell their virginity. This is the ultimate lie that Satan has laid in this Asian culture that treasures the family over the individual. This is the part of the culture that is in need of Christ's redemptive power. Nonetheless, the students were reminded today that God never intended nor designed children to take care of their parents; it was and always is the parents responsibilities to take care of their children. They were reminded in each of their situations that they did the best they could and that it was not their fault what had happened. I came away from this class realizing the deep need for prayer ministry and inner healing for each of these students. There is such a need for them to walk in greater freedom in Christ and they have begun that journey as they have started to share the sorrows within their hearts. After all, Jesus was the man of sorrows well acquainted with grief and by His stripes we are healed. It is no wonder they are drawn to Jesus and drawn to the 'family' environment that Pastor Chantha and Bunthan are cultivating here at The Sanctuary. Indeed as they serve here, they are discovering the Sanctuary of Christ, they are discovering and tasting His unconditional love for them, they are discovering His peace which passes all understanding, they are discovering hope in Him, they are discovering His joy in the midst of sorrow, they are experiencing His healing balm washing over them, but most of all they are learning and discovering that they can cast all their cares and all their burdens on their Heavenly Father.

One of the saddest story I heard today was a story of 'B'. Her father remarried and she was the child of the second mother but unfortunately all of her life she had felt unloved, rejected andabandoned by her father who gave all he had to his first family and none to her and her mother. One day she came home from school scoring at the top of her class but her father dismissed her accusing her of paying the teacher (a common occurrence here) in order to get the high marks and told her she would never be clever. I couldn't help but think of the verse in Proverbs 'reckless words pierce the soul but the words of the wise bring healing.' Reckless words have pierced 'B's soul so deeply leaving wounds of rejection and abandonment, but this week, God has began a journey to heal her heart, a journey that no doubt has taken her to the cross but one that will ultimately lead to a resurrected heart that will have new hope in the One who loves her with an everlasting love and who has promised that He will never leave her nor forsake her. As I sat and listen to her story, the verse that God laid on my heart for her was fromIsaiah 49:15-16 --- 'can a mother (or father) forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne, though she may forget you, I (God) will not forget you, see I have engraved you on the palm of My hands and your walls are ever before me. Pray for 'B' that she will discover afresh that God loves her and has fearfully and wonderfully made her and chosen her to be His treasured possession. The wounds are deep, but God's love is deeper still!

Well that was the morning and this afternoon at the Kids club the Bayside team continued their program of teaching the kids all sorts of songs. One of the theme songs that the kids have learned in English is one that says 'Jesus' love is bubbling over in my heart'---the kids really love this tune and even as they run into the kids club, they will be singing it.

Kids Club Bible Lesson - Saying the Sinners Prayer

Today during the bible lesson time, the kids heard the sinners prayer and were asked 'if they wanted to

receive Jesus in their hearts'. They were asked to raise their hands while they eyes were closed if this was the first time they had ever prayed this prayer. Many of them lifted their hands up in the air and several of the team members came over to pray for them. To what extent they really understand what they have prayed, God is the only one who really knows but it was a touching sight to see so many asking to receive Jesus into their hearts.

Kids Raising Their Hands after Saying the Sinners prayer

Indeed, the harvest is plentiful here in Svay Pak as God is planting His seeds in this garden--a place that was once a desert is now

becoming a place where little buds are blossoming. Thank you Lord that you never forget where You plant the seeds. May You water the seeds that have been sown during the Kids club as you touch the little hearts in Svay Pak and build Your kingdom in them!

Strongest Man in Svay Pak Contest

By late afternoon another event was happening, in fact it has been going on all week long. It's called the Strongest Man in Svay Pak Contest. The purpose is to encourage the men who are the strongest to build and invest in their community. 13 participants have joined since the beginning of this week and each day they have been doing different bench pressing events at the Lord's Gym and participating in activities on the main street in Svay Pak with the spectator crowd growing as the days go by.

Today there was a tire lifting relay. Yes there is all sorts of crazy antics going on in Svay Pak but you have to remember the boys who are participating in these events are pimps and gang members so this is more than just a contest. God is at work in some subversive ways to reach the criminal element in this community and to transform their hearts!

The Winner of Today's Tire Lifting Event

A Quiet Day - Time for Reflection

Well each day you are used to me talking about my day in Svay Pak so today's blog is a bit different since I did not go to Svay Pak but decided to take a day to rest. Part of the reason for doing this is that this past Saturday, my voice began to fade---too much talking and perhaps too much singing from playing the guitar among other things. As a result, my voice went hoarse and in the mornings it is a whisper but recovers partially as the evening progressed. It appears that I may have laryngitis. I have been whispering in my conversations both with friends in Singapore and in Svay Pak but I was told that puts a further strain on the larynx. I didn't realize that. All this to say, a friend here suggested I stop talking for 24 hours---now I'm an extrovert--how is that possible? This is like telling a fish they have to live outside of water for 24 hours. So today was my attempt at doing this. I put out my 'Do Not Disturb' sign outside my hotel door and blissfully enjoyed the silence, reading and praying except for the odd text message from friends here checking in to see how I am doing. Thank God for text messages---no talking required! All this to say, I would value your prayers as I believe this is really a spiritual attack. I say this because Pastor Chantha has also come down with a sore throat and he is feeling quite exhausted. It is not a coincidence that all this is happening now. Yet God's plans and purposes will not be thwarted. We simply have to push through and keep standing. That is the word I received in a devotional I was reading the other day. God is fighting for us. We are simply to stand, do nothing but watch and see Him intervene.

Well, I didn't quite last a full 24 hours without talking though as Sisarat who oversees the counselling at the Newsong centre came over. She had text me wanting to know if she could bring over some honey and lemons for me. I actually had bought the honey yesterday and Bunthan had given me some lime so I was covered. Nonetheless, it was very sweet and thoughtful of her and just another example in which God has been showering His love upon me through His people here. Sisarat and I had other business to attend to as she is helping me plan a party that I am hosting on behalf of The Ratanak Foundation for the girls at Newsong this Saturday. I'm suppose to play the guitar and sing and my friend Cathy De La Cruz, an OMF missionary is joining me to help with the games. We have ordered a 'roast pig'---yes a pig for the meal---I told you I love meat and so do the girls at Newsong. I'll definitly get a picture of this for you all. It should be a lot of fun but being the planner, I am making some contingency plans---writing my words out in case I still don't have my voice back to speak! Shortly after Sisarat left, Sotheary our Ratanak staff person came by. I had enlisted her help to get some crosses and necklaces in preparation for next week's baptisms of Pastor Chantha's students. More on that next week as we are closing The Sanctuary and are all heading down to the beach to baptize Pastor Chantha's 26 students in the ocean. So you see, we need our voices and its not surprising that both Pastor Chantha and I are feeling a bit attacked.

All this to say, while I can't talk, God has been faithful in providing people who can help me organize and gather things for different events that we are doing here. Some may call it 'delegation' but I see it as God's provision. :-) He knows what we need when we need it and who can get the job done. I am so thankful for the Khmer staff who are so helpful and so willing to serve whatever the need. They know where to get all the good deals and to make our dollars stretch here!

So while I haven't fully been silent for 24 hours, I was thinking about what it means to have no voice as I live through this current experience. The voiceless are totally dependent on others obviously to be a voice for them. Their world requires a deeper activation of their 4 remaining senses of touch, sight, hear and smell. They are mocked and laughed at, as I have encountered recently although the teasing has been done in jest---yet I can't imagine those like Lim who I blogged about who live in a world where they cannot express what is going on in their heart and who are forced to live in a world that mocks them and turns a deaf ear to their groans and their cries for help. It is easy for them to be overlooked, after all, if you have no voice, people can't hear you and so you are easily ignored. Your views, your opinions, your thoughts, your feelings are not heard nor do they matter. It's easy to feel more marginalized. It is easy to feel frustrated. It is easy to fall in to resignation. How much more so for girls who are held as sex slaves, whose voices are silenced in what must seem to them as an endless hell, an endless hopelessness, an endless resignation. My small experience with laryngitis is nothing compared to the daily hell they are forced to live in, where shame, guilt and fear rule their day. Where their daily screams for help and their cries for deliverance go unheard. But thank God, we have a God who hears us and knows our thoughts even before one word is uttered from our lips. This has been my prayer these past few days as I have been voiceless. 'Lord you know my thoughts, my prayers even before I pray them out to you.' Thank God, He sees and hears the cries of the oppressed and that His arm is not to short to save. 1 John 3:2o says 'God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.' Thank God that He knows their hearts, their feelings and can speak to them in ways that will cause hope to rise up. Thank God that He has not forgotten them, even if the world has forsaken them. Thank God, He does not remain silent as His word in Isaiah 62:1 says 'because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. Thank God that He continues to intercede for them and for us 24/7 even if we are silenced, He will not remain silent!

Singapore and Cambodia

Singapore

I arrived back in Cambodia last night after my flight from Singapore got delayed. I have always thought of Singapore as my second 'home' only because I lived there for 1 year way back in 1994-95 when I was serving with OMF and was surrounding by some amazing spiritual giants. Singapore is like the Asian version of Toronto---very multicultural, very clean, full of skyscrapers and of course lots of great eating places. In Singapore, every thing is organized, the trees that lined the boulevards look like Japanese Bonsai trees and you feel you are in the midst of a rain forest despite the hot temperatures. But for me the most enjoyable time is hanging out with old friends. There is something to be said about Singaporean hospitality ---they are warm, generous and will not let you pay for anything.

Now as I am spending this extended time in Cambodia, it is strange how I have become accustomed to the dirt, the dusty roads, the pollution, the crazy driving and the smells. I actually missed being in this chaotic environment while I was a way on this short trip. Just as Singaporeans are known for their hospitality, Cambodians to me are known for their warmth. You could be sitting in your tuk-tuk and someone catches your eye and if you smile, they simply smile back at you. Others will wave at you. Two very different countries at different stages of development and yet in both places, it is the people who grow on you whether it is through their hospitality or their warm and welcoming smiles.

While I was only out of country for only 3 days, it was nice to be back in Svay Pak. As soon as I arrived this morning at the Sanctuary, some of Pastor Chantha's students came up and said 'I'm so glad you are back, I miss you, you've been a way too long.' I am not looking forward to the end of this month when I have to leave. I'm trying not to think about it but to live and enjoy each moment that God gives me in this special place and with these special students who are like my young brothers and sisters. As I have had the privilege of sitting in the 'Trauma' class that Barb Wilson from the Bayside team is teaching them and as I have heard their stories and testimonies of how Jesus has touched their lives---how He has has given them hope when they felt hopeless and wanted to die, how He has healed their hearts or their bodies or their family members, how He has given them courage to share some painful family stories where they have felt rejected, abandoned, ignored, I am blessed beyond measure by how He has literally lifted them up from the miry pit and how He has infused in them such passion, love and intensity to live for Him so fully. Despite some of their challenging backgrounds, each day as I watch them interact with the little ones at the kids club, it is a real joy to see the bonding and love that naturally exists between these teenagers and the little ones. Christ indeed is knitting hearts together as this generation of students are naturally mentoring the lives of these young ones. More and more, I am realizing what a special community Svay Pak is. Despite the perversity of lust that it is notorious for, Christ love is being formed and shaped in the hearts of both big and small. His acts of love are evident daily through the smallest, the weakest and the broken. Just today in the kids club as I sat, three little friends came over to my side. They just wanted to be held and hugged. No words spoken, just a little smile, one showing me her 'boo boo' on her knee, the other just wanting me to put my arms around her as she stood next to me. There is such a hunger for true love in these little ones. It is pure joy to receive Christ love through them and to also be His instrument of love to them. As 1 Corinthians 13:8 says 'love never fails'---even in Svay Pak, where Satan has sought to destroy pure and holy love, God continues to demonstrate that His love is higher, His love is deeper, His love is wider, His love is greater, His love is stronger because He is love and nothing can separate us from His love!

Brick Factory Bonded Labor

Brick Factory

Just before lunch some of us went to a brick factory. There are several around the Svay Pak area and Pastor Chantha has been trying to share the gospel with some of the workers at these different brick factories and to minister to the families who work there. He first heard about them when someone told him a 13 year old girl was being raped over a 4 year period in one of these brick factories. The parents of the girl didn't really look after her and it seemed she was passed around the commune. Praise God, she was rescued and is now at the Newsong centre.

Many of these laborers who work at the brick factory are not from Svay Pak but come from other provinces. Unfortunately, the conditions in which they work in are appalling. The place is extremely hot and dusty. The owner of the brick factory is really a slave master who keeps these workers in bonded labor so that they will forever be indebted to the owner. If they get sick, they incur medical debts and have to borrow money from the brick owner who is able to keep them working over a longer period of time to pay of their debts. Girls are also sold in this environment and you can understand why that occurs. Many families are desperate to get out of this debt bondage and will do whatever it takes to earn their freedom.

We were given about 20 minutes with the laborers as in this particular brick factory it seems that they have a limited lunch period and then its back to work. It's the only break they will get for the entire day as they work 7 days a week.

Steve & Allie from Bayside explaining the use of masks

Our team went there today as two of the Bayside medics were passing out masks to the workers and explaining to them how to use the masks as they work in the brick kilns. They also helped any who had open wounds and gave out some basic medicines. When I look at the 50 families who live in such squalor conditions and are caught in 'modern day slavery' I found myself asking the question 'Lord why are these people born here' and 'why was I born and raised in a place that has so much.' There is no easy answer to such a question but it was another reminder again that we in the West are blessed to be a blessing.

The Brick families

I have seen much poverty in Cambodia, but this is another level of poverty that gives new meaning and depth to the word oppressed. It really strips away all human freedom, dignity and hope. These people are literally trapped and yet it is in these environments that God is giving a small open door for His light to shine and His hope to enter in. Pastor Chantha has been able to share the gospel with another brick factory owner and invited him to come to church. He gave him a bible and had some good conversations with him and while the owner is yet to come to church, he did appreciate the simple medical treatment that Chantha's team had done and encourages them to come by to help his workers. In addition, the workers of that brick factory now get a day off so that they can go to church. That was totally unheard of but here again, we see God making a way, where there really seems to be no way. Some of the workers have started attending church at The Sanctuary. The brick factory we went today is not as 'open' or 'friendly' but again we pray and trust that these encounters are not just one off events, but will lead to further opportunities to not only speak of the hope we have in Christ but to provide a way for the brick laborers to discover the Hope of Glory!

Some of the homes of the Brick Families

As I reflect on these brick laborers, my mind wanders back to the time in Exodus 3 when the Lord said to Moses 'I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt, I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes I am aware of their suffering. So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out into their own good and spacious land. Lord, our eyes are on you, may you indeed see Your people, hear their cries and rescue them as you use your servants to demonstrate that you have not forgotten these people, you have engraved them on the palm of Your hands and their walls are ever before you! May you lead them out for your namesake! May you make a way in this wilderness, a way of hope, a way of freedom to the One who is The Way, The Truth and The Life! May it be so, may it be so Lord Jesus!

Well, just a brief note, I will be heading to Singapore tomorrow (Sat) as my one month visa is about to expire and I need to renew it. How time flies---I can't believe that one month is already ended! It was way too quick! At any rate, I will be taking a mini break and visiting friends in Singapore and will be back in Cambodia next Monday evening July 5th so for now, I'll be taking a blogging break and will resume when I am back in town! Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging words.

Organizing the medicines

The medical clinic is operating daily for these next two weeks as the team from Bayside Church continues to provide the medicines and the medical care needed to minister to the people in this community. Word is getting out about this medical clinic and we are seeing people that are coming not just from the local village area but others have heard about it and are commuting longer distances ie: 2 hours to come to the Svay Pak Medical clinic. Today alone we saw 20 people in the morning session and then the numbers tripled to over 60 in the afternoon. I've taken on the role of 'pharmacist' helping the two medical personnel from the Bayside team as I spent the last couple of days organizing the medical cabinets so that we had all the medicines in the proper sections. It was quite a tedious task sorting through medicines that have been from different countries and labeling what they are to be used for. Some of the instructions are in Vietnamese, others in French and of course others in English. Thankfully my limited French is coming in handy---God does not waste any of the things He gives to us. The main thing is that we all know where the medicines are and what they are to be used for and so its made all of our jobs much easier to be able to determine whether we can treat the patients or not with the medicines we have available.

For the most part we get a lot of elderly people or women with young kids but I was surprised to learn women who were prostitutes also come to get help. Many of them have STDs but are too embarrassed to say so and so we probe a bit. The other day one woman claimed to have a rash around her stomach and when we asked to see the rash, it wasn't exactly around her stomach. It turned out she had some kind of STD. Some of them we give creams and special medications to take and today we gave out a few condoms to one prostitute so that she would use it to prevent the spread of her STD to her customers.

Each day as we see so many coming for medical treatment it is easy to just see the numbers and not see them as individuals. But as I reflect on the gospels, Jesus always looked for the one in the masses. Our role here is to do the same. To reach out to each person and give them the best care and medical advice possible. While we really are only providing basic medical care, the people here are grateful and appreciative that they can get help. They are grateful for what advice we can give them even if we can't help them. Today, one woman came who had an extremely high blood sugar level. Unfortunately we don't give out diabetes medicines and we could only advise her to change her diet and exercise more, yet this simple piece of information seemed to provide hope and reassurance to her. In many ways, the clinic is more than just dispensing medicine, it is about offering hope to the hopeless, it is about loving the forgotten, the broken and the marginalized, it is about seeing Jesus in the least of these and it is simply about being His hands, voice and feet by providing a loving touch and offering words of encouragement.

In all these different ministry activities, Jesus is reminding me that there is more that is going on besides the ministry that we are offering. Indeed, He is working in the hidden places---in the hearts and minds and planting His special touch in each person that walks through the doors of The Sanctuary, whether it be the kids who are attending the summer school or kids club, whether it be the people who come to the medical clinic, whether it be in us who are serving in the Sanctuary---in each one of us---young and old, He is building His kingdom, He is transforming our hearts, touching our lives and ministering to us in ways that we may not even be fully aware of as yet, but in His timing He will reveal the treasures He has deposited.