When going on a missions’ trip, one
expects to have culture shocks. I have no idea why, but in my head I
had thought that I would just work up in “levels” of how much
culture shock I would experience starting in Cambodia, then moving on
to tougher situations in Thailand, a big shock in India, and then
hitting the reality of this existing in my own back yard in Atlanta.
Well I had quite a shock to the system
yesterday. I felt like it was one round in the boxing ring after
another. I will be honest with you all and say that I need prayer.
Prayers of discernment and prayers for the children of Cambodia.
Kristen and I are working in the slums
some days and it is…well I cannot really find a word to describe
it…I guess the best way to describe it is intense. These houses
are on top of garbage. Literally. They are about eight feet above
the ground on stilts of wood. Most have no walls, I do not remember
seeing many doors, if any. The households consist of drug-addicted
fathers, children working as garbage pickers, and stressed-out,
excruciatingly thin mothers. Children have been beaten in front of
our eyes in that place. Some for reasons unknown, one was because
she lost the equivalent of 2.5 cents. It is horrific.
I can get why now Moses had so much
anger in him to kill a solider for beating another Jew (Exodus 2:11-13).
However, God had a better plan – one to rescue an entire nation from slavery (Exodus 3:7-10).
I am seeking God on what his plan of salvation is for these children.
I feel so hopeless when I see the unspeakable happening right in
front of my eyes. I can honestly tell you that right now I do not
know how he is leading me to react. My brain seemed to turn off from
the trauma that I was hearing and happening. But I feel that if he
had a plan for the Israelites before Jesus extended his love, then He has a plan for these kids after Jesus showed us his love .
There has got to be a future of hope for them as well.
Please pray for the protection of these
children in Cambodia. Pray for their angels to guard them, protect
them and keep them safe.
