In America, we often hear of stories of millions of people around the world who are in slavery; orphans who live in poverty with no one to care for them, and Christians who live in countries where they are not allowed to openly worship God or share their faith with those around them.
For many of us these are just numbers.
They are faceless stories.
For years this was true for me also. I would hear the stories and they would break my heart for a time. I would pray for them, give money, but the stories were still not personal. They were of people on the other side of the world whom I had never met. But, after a period of time I would become distracted by life, school, problems, and trivial inconveniences.
…..
In 2011, God began to shift my view. He sent me to East Asia to a country that was closed to the Gospel. There I met brothers and sisters who risked everything for their faith. Some were not able to advance in their career because they were Christian, others faced being outcast by their family and friends because they choose to follow Christ.
Stories of the underground church became personal. They were my friends. People that I had held Bible studies with. Brothers and sisters that inspired me. If they could sacrifice so much for Christ, so could I. They understood what it meant to embrace the freedom of Christ, even when it may mean risking everything.
Over the past three months, the stories that I used to hear growing up in church camp have become real to me. More than ever I can put a face to these millions I used to simply hear about. They are people that I love.
During the month spent in Thailand I befriended prostitutes, lady boys, and bar owners.
Women that most of society outcasts, I spent many afternoons and evenings talking to. Listening to their stories. Hearing their worries. Meeting their children. Reassuring them that there is hope for a life outside the bars. Showing them that they are worthy of love. That they have value. Sharing the love and freedom of Christ with them.
I have spent many mornings singing praises to God and declaring His freedom amongst the bars where these women sell themselves. Speaking light into one of the darkest corners on earth. Brothel bars are no longer just a horrible, far away idea. For a month they were where I hung out. A street that many people avoid became a place I genuinely looked forward to going to. Each night I could not wait to go out, buy a Sprite, play pool, and talk to my friends. And they knew we were coming. When my friends and I would walk in the women would excitedly greet us with hugs. (photo credit: Candice Shuffield)
The number of women who sell themselves to support their families, for me, now have faces. It has become personal.
While in Cambodia I played with children who are forced to work in order to help provide for their families. Children who experience things everyday that no child should ever have to.
Each time my team visited the tourist beach we were quickly swarmed by children grabbing our arms and begging us to buy bracelets. One specific day I met a little boy named Don. I had no money to buy a bracelet, but he spent an hour playing Frisbee with me. Through broken English and the help of a translator I learned that Don was 10 years old. His mother worked long hours as a cook at a local restaurant in an effort to provide for her family and his father lived hours away in another city. This left Don to wander the beach with a group of children trying to sell bracelets to tourists so that he could also help bring in money for his family. When we finished playing I watched him walk down the beach approaching tourists continuing to try and sell his bracelets. As much as my heart desired to take each of the children off that beach I was powerless to do so. As I watched Don walk away I simply prayed for him. (photo credit: Paige Burlew)
The number of children caught in child labor, for me, now have faces. They are Don and the many other children I met on the beach. It has become personal.
In the past two months I have befriended many people and heard their stories. This month the same is true. Stories that I once thought of as taking place on the other side of the world have become my reality and will continue to be for the next nine months.
Pray that God continues to give me discernment in how to best love the people that I meet. That it will be through His strength that I am overwhelmed by love for them, not my own. And that He will be glorified in each encounter.
God has faithfully provided the funds needed for me to carry out his mission to this point. In order to continue following what He has called me to I need $5,000. Please pray about how you can partner with me in this mission. Thank you so much! I Love each of you.
