The Pimps are finding Jesus

Something is different at kid's club this year...the pimps are coming. Yes you're reading this right. Right alongside the little children are their pimps. And not only are they coming to kid's club but they're coming to church too. And as they are hearing about Jesus they're changing. In the last few weeks, 3 pimps have stopped trafficking. The Pastor at Rahab's house found one of these young men a construction job that pays him $50 a month, a great reduction in pay for what he made transporting young girls.

Another set of twin boy pimps (young teens) used to be very bad boys, but recently they've begun to change...they're no longer selling drugs to the children, or running the girls.

Its amazing, first to see these teen boys singing, listening, coloring and enjoying kid's club alongside the little girls. But then to hear what God is beginning to change in them, how they're beginning to recognize that what they're doing is wrong and wanting to do what's right. That's what the love of Jesus does...loves the evil right out of us!

Every day is like that here...amazing stories of what God is doing. So grateful to be here and witness the miracles!

Barb

Miracles happening in Cambodia

It's day 5 here in Cambodia for our team, and the end of the third day working out at Svay Pak. But it seems as if we've been here so much longer. Our team is amazing, and working so well together. And God has been faithful to bless us and use us already in small and great ways.

As a bigger team, we've been able to split up our efforts and accomplish so much more. The previous post has details on the various tasks of our team. And as the leader, I have so much more responsibility and details to take care of, and that takes up a lot of my free time, which is why I haven't blogged yet this time.

But the most amazing thing is seeing what God has been doing in just one year since I've been here. Rahab's house in Svay Pak has not only grown,but moved. Just a few doors down from last year's location, this new building is 5 stories high. It will house an apartment for the director's on the top, school rooms, a large church, computer lab, and a large area for a medical clinic downstairs, which is also the Pastor's family quarters.

Last year we had 50 kids coming to kid's club, this year they're getting 200-300 kids every day. In addition to kids club, they come for school, computer training, church and medicine. Rahab's house is now the central hub of Svay Pak bringing Jesus, love, hope, joy and peace to a place that was once only full of evil, pain and violence.

There is still sex-trafficking, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, neglect and poverty...but Jesus is changing Svay Pak from the inside out, starting with the children, then the adults, and last but not least, the pimps.

Been up for over 36 hours!

Well we made it, and its been a long, tiring, exciting day. Its so amazing for me to be back in Cambodia. I really love it here! We arrived to rain...which was awesome! The rain cools things down immensely. After unpacking, we had an orientation session with Don Brewster as he talked to us about what we'll be doing.

He's very excited to have us here to build relationships, show the love of Jesus, and offer people basic kindnesses and needs. He shared a story of a young girl who was being raped every day by her pimp brother. In addition, she was being sold at night for sex. The girl came into Rahab's house for a couple of aspirin for a headache. Because the people there showed her love and kindness she came back the next day. Then she came to church. Then she came to know Jesus. And then, in time she shared with the Pastor here what was happening to her, and now she's living at AIM's restoration center. And as Don said, "It started with 2 aspirin." That's how amazing God is!

And that is just one story of countless others describing the miracles God is performing here every day. One is that last year we had approximately 40-50 kids every day. Now 160-200 come! Last year, the church had approximately 160 in attendance, today that number is over 500.

But there is darkness and evil too. Don estimates that there are more pre-pubescent girls being held in brothels than before, and although several attempts have been made, none of these girls have been rescued. Corrupt police succeed in hiding the girls before IJM can get in the house to recover them. In addition, the girls who do want to go free, often go back to their pimps because he's all they have in this world. Also disapointing is that although last year we had free reign to travel into the alleyways and homes in Svay Pak, this year, the sex maffia stop Rahab's staff from going into these places.

Even more disturbing is the picture of two young boys, both of whom had come to kid's club last year...one may have been 10 the other 8. These boys at this young age raped a 9 year old girl in Svay Pak just 2 weeks ago. From one generation to the next, impacting with unspeakable evil younger and younger children.

But the most amazing news is that God is working! And His work continues to multiply and grow and expand and make a difference in the lives of so many...in the life of a whole community and soon to change a country.

Its just so wonderful to be invited to partner with God in this great work of rescue and redemption. "For if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed..." God is setting children free, parents free, a whole community free...and it all started with one Roseville, Ca couple being willing to say, "here we are Lord, Use us." I dare you to pray that prayer...your life will never be the same!

til tomorrow...got more stories to tell:)! Goodnight...I'm falling asleep at the keyboard!


Barb

Heading Back to Cambodia

It's been exactly a year since I was in Cambodia, yet Cambodia has never once been out of my mind. Many mornings as I get up to begin my day, my heart, thoughts and prayers turn to the young girls in Svay Pak. While I'm beginning my day, they're ending theirs and should be heading to bed...instead they're beginning their work...their sex work.

Most of the young girls (5 and up) who live in Svay Pak are sold by their parents at night for sex. They have no choice, they know no other life. And yet, Agape International Mission,(aim4asia.org) is a ministry committed to helping rescue and restore these helpless, victimized children, and they are making a difference. In addition to the home that houses 60 girls who've been rescued and are being loved and restored to wholeness, AIM is also right in the middle of Svay Pak, reaching out to the young girls who've yet to be rescued.

This year our team of fourteen, (5 guys and 9 gals) will be assisting AIM in a variety of the ministries they've begun in Svay Pak. In the mornings I'll be teaching newer staff about the impact of trauma and how to help love and support the young children currently in the middle of their trauma. In the afternoons, I'll be assisting our computer team in teaching local people the basics of computers.

Another part of our team will be working with the children of Svay Pak (many of whom are trafficked at night), in the mornings and afternoons putting on a kid's club. This is what we did last year...and so we get to be with those children again. Except, last year we had 50-60 kids, this year there's 200!

One of our guys will be working in the Lord's Gym that AIM runs to reach out to the pimps and men of Svay Pak. To work in the gym they have to attend the bible study, and so many are hearing about Jesus and turning their lives to Him.

Our medical couple will be running a medical clinic in the mornings and afternoons in Svay Pak. And then on their lunch break, they'll be going to 5 local brick factories that house and work adults and children. They'll be putting on health clinics for them, teaching them personal and dental hygiene and first aid.

We are so excited about all that God has for us in Cambodia. I'll blogging again and so I encourage you to send the link to all your friends so that we can make as many people aware of what's going on in Cambodia. God is doing amazing work here and around the world to fight against the injustice and evil of human trafficking and sex trafficking. It's such an awesome privilege and honor to be here and see what God is doing, and in a small way be a part of the miracles He's doing here!

Thank you for your prayers. Please pray that God will strengthen and prepare us spiritually, emotionally and physically for the work He's provided for us to do.

Blessings, Barb

Thank you for sharing!

I want to thank those of you who've left comments on my blog. I'm so excited to hear what God is doing in people's lives in healing them from their pasts! I praise God for His love and grace and freedom that He pours out on us! I would love it if you'd feel led to go to amazon and copy your comment here as a book review for Invisible Bond. What God has done in your life will encourage others to trust Him with their past as well.
May God continue to bless you as you pass on what He's done for you to others!
Blessings,
Barb

Day Four at the United Nations--the Best Day There!

Thursday March 11th was my last day in New York at the United Nations. I really didn't have any plans for today. My team had a meeting that morning along with other NGO's (non-governmental organizations) to meet the United States Mission--the advisory board to the US Delegates. The Delegates are the ones who write the policy for our country, and other countries around the world in regards to women's issues, like abortion, women's rights, etc. Our team was only allowed to bring 15 women to the meeting and the names had to be submitted 24 hours in advance. I was not on that list.

The meeting was to be at 11:30am, and knowing I was excluded from the meeting, I headed on to the UN to go to a Delegates meeting in the conference room on violence against women. Here's where some interesting events took place! I ran into the woman who heads up the NGO our team came with. Her name is Babette Francis, a wonderful woman from Australia. I mentioned to her that the rest of the team was in the special NGO meeting and she told me that she was in that meeting too, but in fact they had the time wrong. Instead of 11:30am, the meeting was at 1:30pm.

Babette told me that she wouldn't be able to go to the meeting now as she was heading to the airport, and she gave me her spot in the meeting! So I headed up the street across from the UN to go to the meeting. When I arrived upstairs at security, my name wasn't on the list. I shouldn't have been allowed in. But when I explained that our team had gotten the time wrong, and now there was a spot open, she remembered Babette, and put my name down on the list.

So here I was, sitting in a meeting that I wasn't supposed to be at. Isn't God amazing!! I shouldn't have been surprised, because He opened many doors this week that I wouldn't have imagined. But this one was very impressive.

As several other women gathered, it was evident that our group outnumbered others by volume, and we were the only pro-life group present it appeared. Then in walked the Ambassador to the US Delegates, along with some of the Delegates. They opened the floor for NGO women to share the concerns on their hearts.

Two of our women shared important information on maternal mortality rates, and how it relates to legalized abortion. For interest, the highest rate of maternal mortality in the United States is homicide--women being killed because they refuse to get an abortion. Yet in countries where abortion is not legal, the maternal mortality rate is much lower. Even though I didn't get a chance to speak, I had prepared a very bright green sheet with information on sexual bonding and the impact on relationships, women and marriage. I was able to hand this to the assistant to the Ambassador with the promise that it would get into the hands of the Delegates making the policy.

But then something amazing happened. I didn't know it, but our team had arranged a private meeting with the Ambassador after the organized meeting. She had the fifteen of us put our chairs in a circle and go around and give our names, etc. This was the meeting God had me come to speak in. Again I handed her one of my green sheets, and speaking from the perspective of sexual health education, I discussed the need to inform our young women how sex bonds and attaches us in relationships, leading to destructive choices, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and multiple relationship failures, including divorce. And she listened!! It was so amazing...and so powerful.

I left there on a high, knowing that God had orchestrated this divine appointment for such a time as this, with someone who had influence, and who also seemed to care for women. I'm praying that my little green sheet will find its way to people who can make a difference for our youth, and for women in general.

And then I had to run to find a cab to get me back to the hotel to catch my shuttle to the airport...with such seconds to spare I made it.

It was an amazing week...I felt your prayers. Thank you so much!

Barb

Day Four at the United Nations