(continued story from http://cameroncary.theworldrace.org/?filename=dismantlerepair)
Saturday morning, our team decided to have a “girls’ day” by having lunch and pedicures at a local NGO called Daughters of Cambodia. One of our other World Race teams is working with Daughters, which seeks to train and empower victims of sex-trafficking by providing counseling, education, and career-training (daughtersofcambodia.org). As we ordered our lunch in the cafe and read the back of the menu, reading about all of the opportunities Daughters offers and the statistic that “98% of women who come to work at Daughters never return to work in the sex industry,” Katie suddenly exclaimed, “Why doesn’t Huynh work HERE?!?!” Immediately all five of us began discussing and praying that God would indeed open the door to allow Huynh to work at Daughters! A fair wage. Free childcare. Free counseling. Free medical services. A life with her daughter by her side.
After a weekend of praying for Huynh, we returned to our organization on Monday morning and Kristen and Katie met with Huynh. They told her about Daughters and the opportunity to live and work and support Sat Long. Immediately, Huynh’s face was full of hope and joy at the possibility! They learned that on Saturday afternoon, around the same time the 5 of us sat in a cafe praying, the adoption papers were set to be completed for Sat Long, requiring only her mother’s signature. But upon looking at the papers, Huynh felt she could not sign her daughter away and bear with living without her for the rest of her life. How good is God that He prevented her from putting Sat Long up for adoption, because HE KNEW there were greater things in store for her?!
Only a few hours after presenting this new opportunity to Huynh, she sat in an office at the Daughters headquarters, interviewing with the social worker and then being presented with an official job! (read Katie’s account of the day here: http://katiebenson.theworldrace.org/?filename=sat-long). My team spent all day Tuesday with Hyunh – finding a safe apartment for her to live in that is close to work and has a community of other coworkers; searching the local market for food, furniture, and home essentials to complete her new abode; and seeking out all possible options to care for this woman and her precious baby. We are also currently creating a budget for Huynh to to be able to get on her feet, and stay on her feet.
On Monday, Huynh shared with Kristen, “I had a dream that I had a little house where my baby and I lived, and I had a job that I had no shame in. Today, you made my dreams come true. I am so thankful.”
Today, Kristen and Katie went to check on mother and child. Huynh is working in the sewing room and is making friends with some of the women in her building. Sat Long is as joyful ever, and is quickly becoming a favorite in the nursery at Daughters. And I can’t get enough of how God pursues, protects, and provides. He restores. We were merely the connection between a woman and a way out, but God is the One who makes dreams come true.
Today, Kristen and Katie went to check on mother and child. Huynh is working in the sewing room and is making friends with some of the women in her building. Sat Long is as joyful ever, and is quickly becoming a favorite in the nursery at Daughters. And I can’t get enough of how God pursues, protects, and provides. He restores. We were merely the connection between a woman and a way out, but God is the One who makes dreams come true.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you with His love;
We will exult over you with loud singing.
-Zephaniah 3:17
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you with His love;
We will exult over you with loud singing.
-Zephaniah 3:17
