August Update

In our last newsletter we began with the sentence, "Sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting." This theme continues as we have seen God use persistent acts of love to draw several families to Himself.

One of the joys of working with the children at Kid’s Club is getting to know their entire family. After our program ends, our Khmer staff often visit their homes to build friendships, understand their family situation, and offer assistance in whatever ways we can. This is a tangible way to help with physical needs and also to share the hope and faith we have in Jesus to meet the needs of the heart.

One such family has had many challenges over the past several months. Our team has helped them move houses four times! They would move into an apartment with the expectation of the rent being $45 a month. Once they moved in, the landlord would raise the rent to $70, and they would have to leave because they could not afford it. They were often one step away from being on the streets. Helping them move, playing daily at the park, teaching English, helping the children register for school – these are all ways that we have been able to love this family.

Recently the mother started asking questions of one of our Khmer staff. She couldn't understand why we would keep helping them even though they practice Buddhism. She asked if the Buddhist shrines in their house made us uncomfortable. We told her that we love her family, that Jesus loves her family, and we wanted to help them even if they didn't believe in our God. After many conversations, the mother and two older children accepted Jesus as their Savior. We are thrilled that our friends are now our family!

This is only one story; there are many more like it. God is working and we are thankful to be a part of what He is doing. Progress is being made on the Boy’s Center. Cleaning and painting continue, and it is exciting to think of the possibilities for ministry in the months to come. One new development - the Boy’s Center has a name, Ponlok Thmey, which means 'new growth.’ Please continue to pray for the work taking place with the families in the community around Ponlok Thmey.

It is hard to believe that we have lived in Cambodia for half of a year. We are thankful for the journey so far and we are looking forward to expanding and moving deeper into ministry. There is so much to learn! We are praying for refreshed vision and dreams from the Lord and looking ahead to new partnerships and adventures in the next six months.

Grace and peace,

Kimberly, Becki, and Rachel

Prayer Request

Please pray for continued wisdom and direction from the Lord for our work and our lives here in Phnom Penh. There is a lot to learn, and overwhelming need all around us. We are getting to know other anti-trafficking ministries and exploring ways to partner with them as we discover our own passions and gifts. We want to continuing following Him in all things.

June Update

Dreaming of a Boys' Center

Sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting. Step by step, many things have built upon each other in order to be ready to open a center for exploited boys in Phnom Penh. And now, it's happening! On June 15, the Hard Places Community will get the keys to our new building. The dream is becoming a reality! This could not have been possible without many months of hard work to prepare the spiritual and physical ground for this long-awaited project.

While working with children at Kid's Club over the past few months, the need for a center for boys has become all the more apparent. We know boys like Mike* who showed up last week with terrible burns, evenly spaced, along his inner-thigh. Someone saw this vulnerable boy on the street and did something evil. Each day we see Steve* who is bright and loves to learn. He wants to go to school but his family does not have the proper paper work. Now he is far behind the other kids his age. Oscar* comes to Kid's Club when he can, as long as he still has enough time to collect recyclables in his ratty sack to take back to his family at the end of the day. These boys and so many like them need a safe place to find love and hope.

One of the main reasons that it is possible for us to open this center is because of Traffick Jam 2011 (traffickjam2011.com). Many of you responded to the call this spring and took a stand/walk against the darkness of human trafficking. The funds from this event made it possible for us to sign a lease and start renovations. We have teams of people arriving in the next two months to help with cleaning, painting, and construction, which are all important parts of getting ready to open our doors.

Thank you for all that you have done to be a part of this amazing endeavor! God has used you to be important building blocks in this project. Prayer warriors, Traffick Jam coordinators and walkers, our own supporters allowing us to be here to work in Cambodia, encouraging visitors, people spreading the word about human trafficking - all of you are a part of this. God is using YOU to bring his Kingdom here on earth!

We'll keep you updated on the developments at the Boys' Center in the coming months. Keep praying and spreading the word. God is up to something good.

Blessings,

Kimberly, Becki, and Rachel

* names have been changed

Rachel's Ramblings

Things are constantly changing around me, but one steady part of my life here is learning Khmer. Depending on the month, I go to my language school up to four times a week for a one hour lesson. So far, the focus is only on speaking and listening, not reading and writing. I'm continually amazed at my teacher's patience while I butcher the pronunciation and word order day after day after day.

Recently my teacher, who is a college student and also a believer, began teaching me how to pray in Khmer. Every lesson we switch off who starts the lesson in prayer. I have to write out my prayers the night before and then I stumble through them during the lesson, but I immensely enjoy learning language to express my spiritual life.

New Roles!


Pray for us as we transition in our roles within the Hard Places Community (HPC). Kimberly is taking on more responsibility as the HPC in-country administrator. Rachel will be doing resource development, setting up programs for the Boys' Center and training new staff. Becki will continue working with children in the park ministry while dreaming up the beginning steps of outreach to young women in the park.