After month 8 in Thailand, we switched up the teams yet again thus putting me on my fourth and final team: Team 2- 7- One! Cicely is again my team leader and we were joined by Tenacious teammate Alyssa, my LOGOS teammates Gina and Danielle, as well as our friend Kristy. The six of us thought a lot about what we wanted our last 3 months to look like and what we wanted our focus to be. We talked a lot about strength, going all in, fighting for our last few months of ministry, and also being a light to those around us. Thus we adopted the verse Psalms 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life — of whom should I be afraid?” Our team name (said like: two. seven. one.) is a shout out to that particular verse. Little did we know just how much we would need to be reminded of that verse the last few months.
While in Cambodia, we were in Phnom Penh working with an organization that takes girls out of sexually and physically abusive or dangerous situations and then restores and educates them until they have a safe place to go. Our contact Chandra and everyone at the organization were such a blessing to us and were so passionate about what they were doing. Each day we would do devotions with the staff, teach the girls some English, eat lunch with them, and do planned activities in the afternoon. Our days were often busy and scheduled- but we would always leave feeling refreshed and encouraged by interacting with the girls and seeing how well they loved in spite of their circumstances.
Before we began working with the girls directly we were introduced to the organization and we learned about each girl’s story. There were about 16 girls aged 7-17, almost every story involved rape- some for many years. It was very difficult to hear and to be told just how common it was.
Cambodia is a very dark place. We heard a lot of dark stories, and saw the effects of those stories. But we also saw the effects of a caring and generous staff who loved with the love of Jesus. We saw the gospel as a means of restoration and hope. We saw the light in the midst of darkness and saw the Lord as the source of strength. Those broken little girls taught US about strength, they taught US about love and redemption. They taught US about courage.
Whom should we fear?
of whom should we be afraid?
There is light and strength in Christ.
