This month we are living in Phenom Penh, Cambodia. We work Monday-Friday with an organization called Feed My Lambs and help in the daily grind of running their daycare center; assisting with feeding, bathing, dressing and, of course, playing with the children. This day care caters to unmarried women whose families have disowned them because of their pregnancy. Feed My Lambs is an outlet to these mothers as an alternative to abortion. While the mothers work, they can rest in knowing their child is being well taken care of by an amazing staff who absolutely adores their child.
Twice a week we have the privilege of assisting with a feeding program to a nearby slum village. We pull up in a white van and the children come running. Their lunch consists of rice, green beans, pork and egg. Once the back hatch of that van opens the game is on! It is almost impossible to grab the next container because of the amount of children that are wanting and waiting for food. Most of the children are wearing very dirty and oversized or very dirty and severely undersized clothing, some wearing nothing at all. The yearning for love, attention and food is unmeasurable. After all of the children are fed, we walk around the village handing out formula along with clean water for the mommies who are unable to breast feed. The children wave and say “Hello! How are you?” as we pass. It seems like we aren’t doing enough. Not loving enough, not feeding enough, not saying enough. But that is true, isn’t it? We aren’t enough…the only thing that will fill these children and families completely is Jesus. He is enough. He is MORE than enough. This ministry is heartbreaking and so very rewarding. These beautiful people allow us these strange white foreigners to come to their village and welcome us into their homes. What a joy.
But that is not all, no way. The directors of Feed My Lambs has also partnered with several other organizations. The first is called “Mother’s Heart” this is the organization that finds the women for the daycare center previously mentioned. The other is called “Saving Moses”. This organization caters to children whose mothers are in the ramped sex industry. Saving Moses begin watching the children around 6pm, allow them to play, feed them, bathe them and put them safely in bed. You may be asking why the children don’t just stay at home? Well, most of these children don’t have anyone except their moms. Therefore the mothers either have to leave them at home by themselves (most of these children are 3 years old or younger) or take them to “work” with them (usually leaving them in a closet or under the bed). So Saving Moses has created a safe place. A safe place to sleep, to play and to be a child. We do not work in the night centers every day, but we have got to visit and it is lovely to see the warmth and care the staff takes in loving these children.
Cambodia is amazing. The Khmer people are genuine, sincere and beautiful. While their country has had its ups and downs, these people are resilient to keep their culture and heritage alive. I wish I could spend more than a month here.
