What an amazing opportunity I have been given! My life is changed forever and I am not even half way done or in Africa for that matter. I went on the race because of Africa. Holy Spirit spoke the words, “Choose the route that ends in Africa because you will never want to leave and part of you never will”. This helped make Cambodia a blind spot on my radar. Jesus has broken my heart for Cambodia. I have never experienced anything like this. With every word of information about the atrocities being committed, my heart breaks even more. This would have scared me away not too long ago and yet I am hungry to know more. I have been a mess of recent. Emotions flaring up one after the other after the other. There is one little girl that continually comes to mind. I was sitting at a corner restaurant at the main market in Siem Reap, Cambodia. She was one of the most beautiful little girls that I had ever seen. She was sitting there with her mom, eating rice with a spoon too big to fit into her mouth. It was pretty comical and made me laugh. My mood quickly changed from laughter and joy to sadness and the question, “How could anyone do anything, but love this child with all their heart.” This turned into anger on the border of rage for those who “mistreat” the children of Cambodia. Then she would make me laugh again. It was a revolving door roller coaster.
I want to share some info on what has changed me so thoroughly. It is not pretty, but it’s real and happening not just in Cambodia, although Cambodia is the capital of child slavery in the world. Girls are actually sold by their parents into slavery as young as the age of five. Business men will pay a high price (around $300 or $400) at the brothel for young virgins for a week. Then the girl is considered damaged goods and is sold for close to nothing. I was sitting in a nice restaurant when I was told some of this. Next, I was told that it was more than likely that we were sitting above a dungeon where women and children were chained up during the day only to be used at night. This wrecked me. I felt like the world was spinning and I felt sick to my stomach. Suddenly and without warning, I had been thrown into a reality of darkness and a sorrow that hadn’t been real before. I used to disregard much of what was going on around the world because it didn’t feel that real and because I didn’t think there was anything I could do to make a difference. I was partnering with lies that the enemy has used for centuries to oppress those the Lord has made to make a difference. I was one of them, but not anymore! The atrocities are real and I can and will make a difference. Before we started ministry, the Lord was speaking to me about the Khmer men. They are a huge part of the problem. They, for the most part, don’t care about their women. For generations, it has been accepted as norm. Another “norm” that has been passed down throughout their generations, is child molestation. It is very common for parents to molest their children. These things need to change and it has to start somewhere. We are working with men and boys at Teen Challenge Cambodia in Takeo Province, which is where Cambodia originated and where a lot of sexual idol worshipping still exists. Along with sacrifices and sexual rituals to these spirits. It seems bad, and it is, but there is good and it’s going to spread like a wild fire! We have seen people healed and come to Jesus. One woman’s family had been making funeral preparations and basically waiting for her to die. She was completely non responsive and stared off into space. We talked with the family and shared that we felt it was demonic oppression and that Jesus has given us the power to get rid of it. Even though they did not believe, they were basically willing to try anything. It wasn’t like I was expecting, where she starts struggling and manifesting. I have even seen this happen. What we experienced was actually very calm and controlled. We prayed and commanded a spirit of confusion and a spirit of infirmity to leave. When Sam, our translator and fellow prayer warrior, asked her how she was feeling, she said she felt good. This not only surprised us, but her family was shocked. She then sat up and accepted the Lord. Afterwards, she started laughing. It went even further. She then asked Holy Spirit to come and fill her. When we left, she was all smiles and laughter. Her family was a mix of jaws dropped and laughter. God has plans for Cambodia! Revival is coming! The boys we are working with have an opportunity to be a generation that loves like Christ and treats women with respect. God is so good!
This is what the evening looks like every night @ Teen Challenge! Cambodia is a beautiful
place with beautiful people that are beginning to walk in truth!
