Let me take you back to the beginning…
Moam’s wandering ended when she was taken to our safe haven. A place where women’s lives are being changed and children roam about with full bellies and infectious smiles. Teen Challenge took in Moam when no one else would. And I was there as a witness to the aftermath.
We heard a woman crying in the night. No, rather howling in the night. As we began our nightly prayer time with the beautiful children and women, a green, metal door was open. We were welcomed in with no prior knowledge as to what we would be witnessing.
Naked. Cold. Alone. Dirty. CHAINED and abandoned. Moam. There was Moam standing in a corner clutching the small bit of clothing she was allowed. Scared, we left with horror in our eyes only to return an hour later.
Prayerfully, we knew what to do. In the same room we had just fled from, we prayed over Moam. Repeatedly, the profound words “you are loved” continued to increase in volume; each of us professing it’s truth. Would it pierce her heart? With eyes wide open, our prayers stemmed from the depths of our soul. Louder and louder they filled this dark, dingy place with a light. I could feel the light burning brighter and brighter. But our uneasiness kept us at bay.
I believed everything would look different when the morning light came but our restlessness was almost too much to handle. Loading into the van for church that Sunday morning with the sweet little ones caught us in a whirlwind. But God blessed us. We were able to understand the sermon for one of the first times on the Race. And the pastor spoke about new beginnings.
Her body needed to be cleansed. Remnants of her harsh life living on the street were still on the surface of her tough, weathered skin. Laura and I decided to bathe Moam. We entered Moam’s room with the metal bowls and plastic buckets we had filled with lukewarm water. She lit up when she knew she’d be receiving a bath. She vigorously scrubbed her skin with her new bar of soap; such a luxury in her previous life. With the fresh scent of shampoo in the air, I began to wash her hair.
She did not cringe or scowl but rather peered through the tangles with that rare smile. And she washed our feet. Of all the acts she could of committed while being released from the CHAIN, she washed our feet. Moam could have fled or clawed her way out, instead she became selfless and served us in the ultimate act of humility.
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments,
and sat down again, He said to them,
“Do you know what I have done to you?
“You call Me Teacher and Lord,
and you say well, for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
John 13: 12-14
Laura and I took such joy in Moam’s moment of servitude. We laughed with her and repeatedly thanked her for showing us what kindness looks like. I didn’t fully appreciate this moment until a few days after we said our goodbyes. When explaining to the team how I was feeling, that beautiful moment with Moam surfaced once again. It dawned on me that she washed OUR feet. After all of the trauma and heartache she has been through, I felt as though I was the one who should be doing the washing. But He had different plans. Better plans.
We were called to leave Teen Challenge to help the women and children we had fallen in love with. In the moment, I was upset and wondering, “Who is going to take care of Moam? Will she willingly take her medicine? How long will she go without a bath?”. But I am slowly finding out the answers to these questions. And it took just two days for the “better plans” to show themselves.
Unsung Hero’s: a program established by The World Race in which one team a month travels through out the country our squad is ministering in looking for new organizations to partner with for future World Racers. My team, Team Phoenix, has had amazing ministries fall into our laps. We began with “Daughters of Cambodia”, a faith-based, NGO that rehabilitates women out of the sex-trafficking industry. They care for their physical, mental, educational, social and spiritual needs while providing them a steady job within the various “Daughter” businesses. This includes two cafes, a restaurant, spa and a boutique hostel. We were blessed to meet the CEO/Founder, Ruth Elliot, and discuss a future partnership as well as facilities able to take in Moam.
A piece of my heart is with her in that 10X6 room. But He is with her where we are not.
*After Moam’s bath she wanted to be done up. Here is Laura putting the finishing touches on her beautiful make-up.
