Preparing the Soil

This morning I took a little bit of the soil of Cambodia and stuck it in a small container for my sister in law. She has a collection of small bits of earth from all over the world, and we all know that we need to collect a little at each new place. The soil in the Mekong basin is fertile and it is unbelievable what grows here. Unfortunately one of the things that has grown here is the routine rape and trafficking of young girls (and boys) as a part of the sex tourism that grew when that sin remains unchallenged and is winked away by corrupt officials and profiteers.

In the thick of it all stands a beacon, and I went there yesterday to meet some of the most unforgettable people I have ever known. You can read a little about Don and Bridget in Beths post. I want to tell you about Pastor Chantha and his wife Buntal (sp) and little David. Christ called us to pray for workers for the harvest, but told us that some of the seed would not fall on good soil. These two heroes shine a light in Svay Pak that reaches hundreds if not thousands of lives. Their heart for those they minister to, and for the Svay Pak village is huge, and they are a picture of grace.

Buntal is the quarterback at Rahab's House, and has a thousand foot wide smile. Watching her marshall a couple dozen kids while schooling them on everything from simple hygiene to how to talk to Jesus, I could just hear her shouting I love you and God loves you and I know you can hear me and I know you can hear Him.

Pastor Chanta walked us through a part of the village and introduced us to his family in Christ. His heart for the people of Svay Pak just rocks my day. He knows them all, and tells of their trials, their children, their afflictions and their hope. He ministers at all hours of the day or night because when he prayed about his ministry, God called him to be there, so he and Buntal and baby David have moved in to Rahabs House and can be found there day and night. He answers the door for the victims, the sick, and the lost, and of these there is no shortage in Svay Pak.

I will post more later on, because today I will go back and look in the eyes of children who are the image of God, who I first met yesterday, and who quite possibly were raped last night. And I thought I knew what it meant to care......

Read what Beth posted last night.

In His Love

kmm