“I didn’t know what shampoo was and I didn’t get a toothbrush until I was 13 years old.” These words still ring in my ears after I sat and listened to this raw, vulnerable testimony pouring out. There sat in front of me a beautiful woman of God, a mother to around 38 children and a teacher of over 600 students.
I listened of how her family struggled to fight for their lives here in Cambodia. How they were separated by men, women, children and elderly into separate camps throughout the land. How her brother died of starvation alone in a camp. How another brother had been hit by a grenade and shot in the leg. How her well educated family had to pretend to be ignorant and homeless for fear of losing their lives. How men and women were blindly digging their own graves only to be murdered in them that evening. How her mom gave birth to her under a tree while running from the military to spare their families lives. Most importantly how the hand of Jesus was paving the pathway for this family to come to know just how Mighty He is!
From Buddhism to Christianity. From a simple act of following the Lord to now having a church planted right where her mother gave birth (coincidence? I think not). From planting one church to now having over 100 churches in the surrounding area. From witch doctors to praising Jesus name! From so many illness to healings that no one could explain only to give praise to the one true King. From taking in 4 little boys and now running a fully functional orphanage with over 30 children. From a call to provide more for other children to a Christian school with over 600 students now busting the doors to soon be over 3000 all in the Lords time.
Gods plans are always quite bigger than we could have ever dreamed. I just thank God for women like Ream who are faithful to His calling and who press in even harder when the path may not seem fulfilling and sometimes quite impossible. From a woman who came from nothing to a woman having it all in Jesus name.
Kit and Ream Carson founders of A Greater Hope Orphanage. “Our mission is to give children in need a loving home environment and education; when requested by their families or caretakers. The orphanage will make every attempt to meet the child’s basic need of food, clothing and shelter needs while teaching English, skill trades and providing them religious choice until they reach the 12th grade or age 18.” Having lived here this month these two provide more than that statement could ever portray. They are parents to these children. They provide so much love, support, and discipleship for these children here at AGHO. They have provided support to follow through with YWAM once they graduate high school and even offer jobs here at the orphanage upon return. The Lord is setting this place on fire. He is speaking bigger into their lives. They are praying for the funds and land to open an even bigger to school to be able to take all the students in they can (somewhere in the 3000 range). They have a doctor waiting to move over to help start a clinic for the children as well. It is amazing seeing the Lord take what was once just a calling to help a few children and turn it into such a beautiful masterpiece of His! This is His battlefield!
