The ministry our team did in Cambodia was working with children ages 11-20. We taught 3 English classes and a bible study class at night with all of the same students. We became very close to them and I can honestly same they are the best kids in the whole world. They love as Jesus loves.
A Woman of my Word. I have found this to be one of the biggest things I needed to learn this year. I need to let my Yes be a yes and my No be a no (Matthew 5:37 and James 5:12). Srey Chan is a beautiful 13 year old girl of the Lord. She would ask me to teach her guitar, come over and be able to share scripture with me, or she would ask me to wear my hair a certain way that she thought was beautiful. Whatever she asked for I would stick to my word. I wanted her to know that I am an honest woman so she can trust what I say to her. She can trust that when I say I will do something, I will do it and when I tell her God is listening to her prayers she can believe what I say is true.
A Mother. Okay well not a Mother but a heart to be one, someday. There was a little girl about the age of 4 who lived at the place where I taught English and Bible classes. Her name is Bom Boy. At first sight of her my heart lit up. She is one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever met. As I spent more time with her my love grew. I would hold her when I wasn't teaching and she would fall asleep in my arms. I would carry her as the class would walk to the river to swim. My favorite memories of her were when she would first see me in the day and she would run to me with her arms open as I would pick her up and toss her into the air, then will a gentle catch I would bring her close and she would kiss my cheek. I began to have a desire for a girl of my own to love and raise someday.
A Better Servant of Others. These students, kids, children of God, they love like Jesus. One boy, Pech, would bring me mangos everyday just because they could. Srey Chan would write me little notes telling me how much she loves me and will miss me. During prayer request time at bible study the kids would think to ask to pray for our team or for me personally (awkwardly enough it was that God would give me a boyfriend, but it was the thought that counts... right?). They were genuine, heartfelt, and sincere in everything they did. They made me want to strive to show the character of Christ in everything I do.
Bom Boy
PechSrey Chan
So maybe it wasn't Cambodia that made me these things but the Jesus inside those children I met in Kampon Spue, Cambodia.
While in Thailand, I was able to take a fantastic weekend trip to Phi Phi Island. We did many things including snorkeling,boating, swimming, kayaking, resting, and celebrating Lindsay Short's Birthday and Baptism.
During our one night there we went to a bar called The Hippie Bar. We plopped ourselves down at a table in the sand near the shore of the beach. There where lanterns in the trees, mats in the sand, and a stage next to the water with a guitarist and bongo player for the night.
As we sat there my table started to cheers with their arms up, so of course I joined in yelling " Phi Phi 2012! Yeah Birthday Girl Lindsay!" I then noticed everyone was looking at me. The guitarist had asked if anyone here played guitar so my table was yelling and pointing at me.
I quickly leaned into the table with a concerned look and said "Guys, all I know how to play on the guitar from memory is the theme song from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Worship songs." They told me to start with Fresh Prince and take it from there.
Within minutes I was on stage with a guitar in my arms, bongo played by my side, and many people in the crowd at the bar. I introduced myself and began with Fresh Prince.
"That was flippin' awesome girl, keep going, I'm going to take a break," said the guitarist.
I took a breath and leaned into the microphone whispering "I'm going to do it" and began playing Our God.
Before I knew it I had played several worship songs as some of my fellow ladies jumped on the tambourine and became back-up dancers. I was in shock. After each song I heard people out in the crowd yell "one more!" They were yelling for more, more worship songs, for more God. I began to play like no one was around, as if I was in my room playing for God alone, expect praying at the same time that the people hearing these songs were having their hearts pulled closer to God's.
The guitarist came back finally complimenting me on the time well played and sent me to the bar for a free beer.
That night I played worship for a beer , for a beach full of people who called to hear more, for the God I love and serve. He gave the most amazing gift... being able to share my love to worship Him with people who may not even know Him.
We met one night as I was walking
through the bars. She yelled out at me to sit at her bar as all the girls do.
She grabbed my arms and yelled "Sister!" and embraced me tightly. My heart sank.....
[Every night before
we go out to ministry we worship. During worship this night I wanted a right
heart and mind to be out on a street that is so evil with drunkenness,
prostitution, and lust. I prayed that I would spend the night looking to find
my best friend. I prayed that God would have a girl somewhere out there tonight
who needed a friend and I was going there tonight to find my friend, MY
SISTER.]
That first night I was able to talk to "Bear" a little before
she had to go dance on top of the bar. Yet, within those few moments my heart
was determined to love her the way she deserved to be loved.
"You come back later?"- Bear
"Yes, I will see you Friday night." - Me
"You Promise?"- Bear
"I promise." - Me
And we pinky swore to meet again Friday.
"Bear" and I saw each other only in the bars throughout my
time here. We tried several times to meet up outside of the bars during the day
but it never happened. At times I started to believe I was doing nothing good
for her. How was I really helping her? I could hear God say "Bear with me." All
I was meant to do was to have a heart for her, pray for her, and pursue her
because of who she is not for her body. I did what God called me to do in His
plan for her life. As much as I wanted "Bear" with me and not in the bars.... I
have to trust that God has good plans for her, not plans to hurt her. He will give her hope and a good future. [Jeremiah 29:11]
It was our first day in Phuket, Thailand. We arrived at out
ministry site and readily left to go for a prayer walk on Bangla Street. As we
drove we were informed that Bangla Street has over 200 + bars on it and within
each bar there is estimated about 6 women who are prostitutes. That is more
than 1,200 women who are being sold for sex.
We stepped on the road and my head instantly felt pressure.
It was a dark place that needed these prayers. We began praying: God lay down
LOVE on this road, lay down GRACE, and bring change in this place.
We walked down a Soi (which is a side street or alley)
towards more bars we would be doing ministry in. While walking I noticed there
was a large sized cage on the outside of a club which is where girls would
dance in, but at this moment in the cage were 2 little girls about the age of
3-4 years old. It broke my heart to see these girls alone and playing in a cage
meant for seduction.
We continued to walk down and turned around to walk back
past the girls. At the same time as my steps lined up with the cage one
little girl ran out of the cage and into my arms. Then the next little girl ran
over and wanted to be hugged too.
Could this really be happening? Just because I was there
walking past they wanted to be in my arms? I thanked God that I was able to
hold them for a second before leaving. There was so much HOPE shown on the
street that day. I felt that God was showing me that as much as I want these girls out of prostitution they want it just as bad. They just need safe arms to run into and help. And that was our arms because we hold Jesus in our lives.
Our ministry in Phuket, Thailand this past month was
reaching out to these girls in the bars. There is so much I wish I could tell
you but to honor and protect the ministry I worked with I will not be posting a
lot about my time here.
However, I can share that girls from the bars really did run
into my arms and into my heart. One in particular was Bear.... Check out our
story in the blog called "Bear with me"
Here is a video Emily Bouche (my teammate this month and friend fro Wisconsin!) made to show what it is like out at the bars at night...
The air was thick with the smell of urine in this small little one room house. I found myself on my knees holding the hand of a young 23 year old woman who was dying from tuberculosis (TB). There was talk that she also has HIV which is not known whether if any of her 3 daughters have it either.
When I heard about Zondila's sickness I was sad for her and her daughters. Then I started to see the picture more that she did not know Jesus Christ and that she was actively choosing to die by not taking her medicine. ( TB is treated with a set of pills that must be taken for a certain amount of time even after the body feels better. Zondila chose not to finish her pills and is now in a life or death matter.)
While holding her hand beside the bed I wanted so bad to tell her about Jesus; to have our pre-school teacher translate to her how she can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But instead I began to beg... I begged God to forgive her, to save her life, to save her soul. I cried out most of the prayer and spoke a few words. I had never prayed for someone on their death bed before.
The rest of my team had God moving through them as well as they shared the story of what Jesus had done for Zondila and encouraging stories that life can be better.
I wish I could tell you the ending of this story. I wish I could tell you I know she accepted Christ and what he did on the cross. To this day Zondila is alive struggling with TB and not wanting to live or care of her children. Please pray and beg with me. That God would work in her heart and use her life for His glory.
As we gather in a one room school house with the children walking from their homes near by I wonder what Teacher will teach today. Will she review what a Family is? Will she ask the kids to repeat shapes or colors today?
Everyday at the pre-school I see them review and repeat basic things that are almost common knowledge to most people. It is amazing how similar it has been to my time with God this month.
While being here in Swaziland I have been put to the test to truly believe God is good and that God answers prayers. It seems easy enough for me to agree with that in America, but here in Swaziland where peoples' needs are more apparent I wavered in believing.
As my team and I did background checks , so to say, on the children we found out that many don't see their mom or dad who are not married, or a parent has TB or HIV, or they were left with their Grandma and not valued among several other children who live with her. Heart breaking things that are so normal here because that is the culture they are from.
God is good, huh? So good that these kids have sores on their face and arms while others have big stomachs in a way that means they have worms. Yet, He is. God is still good.
As I pray for the children while seeing them get a good full meal at the school, knowledge and skills from the teacher, and bible stories and love from us I know God is good and that my prayers do not go unheard.
I wanted to share with you probably the best moment of my
trip so far. It is about my best friend here named Nano(I wrote about him in my
last blog about him and his brother Cisco, who are actually twins [11 years
old] and have been at this orphanage for 2 years- filler details I know).
Nando and I hang out every day and I have recently started
to tutor him in the afternoons. We have become teasing buddies, movie seat
buddies, and life-talk buddies. We have water fights, play volleyball, and herd
the goats together.
Needless to say when I think about leaving I tend to tear up.
I have begun to trust him and all that he tells me as he proves over and over
how good of a friend he is. I can hear him now, "Why you not trust me Rauren (It
is hard for him to say Lauren)?" And "When
you gonna trust me?" after each time I think he is up to no good.
So as my trust for him has grown I have seen how his trust has
grown in me which leads into this moment...
I was trying to have alone time with God, which is almost
impossible when you live in an orphanage. I headed to my tent as many little
boys followed. I zipped myself in and heard the boys hanging outside of my
tent. I choose to unzip my rain fly of the tent so I could see them. I asked if
they would like to join my time with God. Three boys got cozy close to my tent
as I continued to read in John 17 where I had left off the day before.
Boys came and went as I read until it was just Nando and I.
I continued to read through the book of John into Jesus being arrested and put
on the cross. I stopped reading and
asked him,
"Do you know what is happening in the story?"
Nando- "Yes, I have seen the movie."
I giggled to myself and continued on reading. As I read into
the part of Jesus not being found in the tomb I heard,
"Excuse me."
"Ya, Nando."
"Is this story true?"
"Yes it is Nando. Do you know what that means?"
"Umm..."
" That means that Jesus was a real man who died for you"
"And for you! And for all people"
We continued to talk about what that truly meant, freedom
from sin, power in Jesus name, and love for us. My heart has never been so
happy to tell about Jesus. To someone who trust me. To someone who is my best
friend. To someone who doesn't have a father but a Father in Heaven.
I have so many other stories of fun times with Nando but out of all of them I pray he remembers this one. I pray he sees God's goodness and presuit of him in the one month he spent with a girl named Rauren.
Pictures taken by Cisco (Nando's twin brother who insisted he had to be inside the tent)
So I am living here
in Mozambique at an orphanage called Kedesh. It was started by a man named
John Wickes. (If you want to know more about the history you can go to www.kedeshmozambique.com) While I have lived
here I have realized that, it is almost impossible for people who want to
adopt but, more so, there is no better home for these boys than here.
John has taught the boys ownership, responsibility,
carpenter skills, and the love of Jesus through the Bible. I am so
impressed with the way this place works.
The boys and John work as a family. Their land, goats, chickens, and house is all taken care of by them equally. They are all up around 5 a.m. doing chores, off to school by 7 a.m., and at nights movies and games are the norm.
As I serve here I seen how I am needed to help with planting trees that can help bring money or crops to the home. I can see how my love for the boys makes them feel special. However, I am being blessed to have fallen in love with all 30 boys and 2 in particular.
Franondo (Nando) and Francisco (Cisco).
They are brothers. Nando is 11 years old and Cisco is 8 years old. They have lived here for about 2 months. They lost their Dad due to sickness and their Mom still lives at their home with their younger sister. I have found myself many times holding them in my arms as we watch movies and beside them as we do chores.
Nando has taught me how to love. He looks out for his little brother. He lets him beat him up and eve lets me beat him up from time to time. Cisco has taught me how to serve. He is the first one up to take my plate at dinner time to clean it.
I had recently asked God to help show me how to love other better and in return I have learned by being loved well by Nando and Cisco.
I smell you. I smell you in the morning when I awake by the light shining through my tent. I smell you while everyone is laughing sitting on the floor eating grits and butternut squash. I smell you in all the times I would not even acknowledge you are there.
Your aroma is comforting like vanilla, fresh like pine, deep, overwhelming, but ever so inviting. When I smell you it awakens my senses with each next breathe being deeper than the last hoping to catch another moment of who you are.
Sometimes I fear that I won't be able to smell you when I leave South Africa or maybe Africa in general. I love how this is something so intimate that you and I share, Jesus. I feel like no matter if I lose this sense of smelling you or if others don't believe I do, I know I have learned from it.
Because of smelling you I have learned how you never hold it against me that I didn't get to read my bible during the day. You don't love me less because I didn't pray when I know I should have. Yet, the more I spent time in the Bible the more I feel lead to encourage others. The more intimate time I spend with you the more intimate time I have with others. The more I freely receive love, grace, and joy from you the more I freely give love, grace, and joy.
I smell you. I need you. I belong to you. I love you.
Sincerely a Daughter in Christ,
Lauren
"You are God's children whom he loves, so try to be like him. Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2
2) I am leaving for South Africa today! When our team gets there we will be working with 2 other teams from our Squad working at a Sports Camp for children :) (It can't get much better than that for me!)
3) Because of where we are I will not have any internet access readily available. Which is great but, I still need at raise $700 by January 1st. Which means only a few things:
- I am looking for 7 people to donate $10 a month for 7 months
or
- I am looking for 14 people to donate a one time gift of $50
Thank you to all who donated so far! You have made a huge impact on me and the people I have come in contact with because of this Mission Trip!
Srey Chan
