I sat cross-legged on the tile floor – two of the most precious and beautiful teenage girls sit on either side of me. One of them laid their head on my shoulder, and my heart melted. I tried to take in the preciousness of that moment. Oh, my mind and heart couldn’t even begin to fathom what these two sweet lives have seen, endured and experienced as a survivor.
I wish you could have heard the giggles. I wish you could have looked into their dark and beautiful eyes. I wish you could have played games along side them and seen their innocent teenage goofiness. I wish you could have felt their timid but eager hugs. I wish you could have heard them whisper to each other in Khmer and then burst out and laugh uncontrollably.
* * *
This month in Cambodia my team and I have been working with an organization called Transitions Global. Our work here was nothing like the normal – our mission was to create a program, from the ground up, for the girls of Cambodia and Transitions Global to be able to give back in their city and communities. We where given a list of the interests of each of the girls in the program, and then our goal was to find ways for them to serve in their areas of interest.
Our days where filled this month with lots of researching, Google searches, phone calls, and setting up times and meetings with organizations, ministries, orphanages, and such.
God has put us in situations, and has connected our team, with the most incredible and amazing contacts and encounters – because He loves us and He is all over this project, number one. But two, because that’s what He loves to do when we ask, and believe.
* * *
Last Saturday my team got to actually spend some time with these sweet girls for the first time. We spent an entire afternoon playing and teaching them new games. It was priceless.
It was beyond words what I felt when we walked into the house and saw them for the first time. The work that we had been doing on their behalf the last month totally became realty.
It was for them. It was for their future. It was to help give them a bright and promising future. It was for future generations after them. It was for their city – their country.
* * *
Going back to God’s awesomeness and His incredible answers to prayers —
Tomorrow morning our team is going to International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org) here in Phnom Penh. Like, that’s a BIG deal. IJM itself is a big deal here in Cambodia.
This is totally a God thing, and I am so pumped.
This month for me has been one of many battles, attacks, victories, freedom, GRACE, growth, and this ever growing eagerness to chase after the heart of God.
Up next — Phuket Thailand!
Please be in prayer for me and our team as we take on month two and all that God has for us. I need you to fight with us and for us as we walk into the darkest places in the world for Human and Sex Trafficking.
If God is for us, who can stand against!?
Elizabeth
P.S. There is this lady down the street that sells the most AMAZING waffles EVER for 500 riel. ($.25 USD) I had one, and knew right then and there, heaven does exist. I’m so sorry that you can’t relate to exactly what I’m talking about. (There is no comparison, trust me!) But I just thought it was a blog worthy mention…and that you should know.
* supporters- every time a log into my support account I am blown away all over again at how you have so graciously given. The stories you read here on this blog, the stuff I experience on the field, the person God is making me to be though this journey is all made possible because of you. I can’t thank you enough. The only thing I can tell you that might be of worth, is that you are having an impact in lives around the world- and your investment in me is making an investment for all eternity *
