Part of being on the World Race is learning to be missional. ‘What does that even mean?’ you may ask.
Being missional isn’t going on a mission trips and preaching the Gospel. Being missional is living life everyday but not be afraid to create relationships. How so?
Well, living missionally in Sihanoukville has been great. We have made many friends by just sitting down to eat at a small food place off the street or walking down the road and striking up conversation or even at our hostel where we stay.
When’s the last time you went out to eat and just talked to someone random just to be nice and happy sharing not the Gospel, but God’s love?
There was one time in particular I went off to eat by myself feeling the leading of the Lord to go down to one of the bars to get some supper before it got too busy.
I went to a bar and at first I was the only one there but then an older man showed up. We will call him Michael.
Michael came up and ordered. I glanced over at him and started talking with him. He asked me how I was doing and where I was from. He asked if I was enjoying myself in Cambodia and just sat down to talk for a little bit.
He got a scotch and coke and sat down as a Khmer movie played in the background. We talked about different things in Cambodia and then I asked how he ended up in Cambodia and why.
He began to say that a lot of older men retire in Cambodia because there’s no tax and it’s very cheap. He also said the only thing here to enjoy is the beach and the girls.
Of course I acted dumb and asked what he meant by the girls. (This is where it may get a little graphic for you). Michael said that the girls are around for me to use in the bar and others next to it. He said I was in the heart of the red light district. He managed three of the bars and the owner of the whole shabang he had never met.
Michael said that the girls would give blow jobs, a quickie, or overnight stay. Each were a different price. He said it was ten dollars for a blow job, fifty for a quickie and about seventy for an overnight stay. He also said it depends on where you go but some are cheaper and a “good-looking guy like me could get a great discount.”
My stomach churned at his words and my heart broke for this man and the girls that had to deal with this.
He then just stared and then began to say that he really didn’t like it and that he knows that there’s more to life but he was probably forgotten. “People forget about you when you go wandering off and get lost for a long time,” said Michael.
I then began to tell him how there was someone out there that always has an eye on him. Of course he knew I was talking about Jesus and Michael didn’t want to hear it. He said that there was no way that he would be forgiven for some of the things he did. “Plus I have a wife and kids now that I take care of. I’m a good man. Yes, I’m a good man now and that’s what counts,” he said.
I stared into his eyes and could see a broken soul and heart. He said that he was good but he was trying to convince his self.
I made friends with Michael and see him every so often. I may not have been able to witness to him like I wanted but seeds were planted and someone will water those seeds and God will get the increase.
It’s tough seeing not only the girls in a broken state but the men as well. We put an emphasis on the girls that are trafficked but we also forget sometimes about the men who are lost buying the girls.
They feel forgotten so they do things that they feel forgotten people would do. They make decisions based on what people think of them.
We say our words mean things when we speak them and that we walk by faith and not by sight. We say that our words have power because we have authority by the Holy Spirit. Then why do we talk bad about the people that do wrong? Just because we don’t like the sin doesn’t mean we should hate the person that does it. They need love and God too.
We know that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. We know that He knows us and that He will not forget us because He loves us. In turn we must love Him but there are people out there, I have been in their shoes, that feel unloved, forgotten, and so continually sin even if it hurts their heart because they haven’t experienced the real power of God.
Michael felt lost and forgotten. But I claim that he will be found and remembered. Pray for Michael. Pray for all of the men and women involved in sex trafficking. Pray for Sihanoukville. Pray for Cambodia. Pray without ceasing.
God has a plan and a purpose. “ALL things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Let’s spread the love of God so that the Gospel may be spoken so people will turn their hearts to God.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. My heart is here in Cambodia and it breaks for the people here. I never thought I could fall in love with a people and with a nation but God has definitely turned my heart toward Cambodia. Please pray fervently. Love you all so much! Thanks for following and reading these blogs! God Bless!
