No, no "adios," see you tomorrow...?

Just a monkey, chillin' and eatin' corn

     This is what the little girl I've been teaching Spanish told me when I left today - the last time I said "Adios." Stop it. You're breaking my heart. I knew she understood "Hola" but I wasn't sure we had gotten the "Adios" down. We had. Oh goodness.      

     Last week in Cambodia; my goodness it has flown by! This week I got to wrap presents and prepare a quarterly birthday party for the girls at the home, the staff, and the volunteers who have birthdays in July, August, and September. If you didn't know this about me, I LOVE giving gifts and wrapping them is one of my favorite parts of the process! Bethany and I planned the games at the party - face painting and balloon relays. It was such a joy watching the girls smile and laugh and celebrate each other's birthdays. They were so excited to open up their presents; I have never seen anyone so delighted to open up a $10 mp3 player - NOT an iPod - just a cheap little mp3 player where you have no idea which song is up next. And there was no jealousy at all! The girls were all genuinely happy for each other...wow. Just made me think about all the things we take for granted and expect in our life. 

Beth & I in front of Bayon Wat and its reflection

Angkor Wat

     Thursday night we got to visit the slums of Phnom Penh and help a local Christian church pass out food and water to children and families. It was definitely an eye-opening experience, to say the least. There are so many people just living in filth in a house that is constantly flooded during this rainy season. The people came out of the woodwork, it seemed, just to get a bottle of water and a snack. We drove back through the "neighborhood" on our way back to our house and watched the people hungrily eat the food we had just given them. They were all smiles as they shouted "aw-koon!" and "thank you" to us as we left. wow again.      

Elephant ride with our awesome tuk-tuk driver, Pov

     Bethany and I also had the amazing opportunity to visit Siem Reap, a calmer and more touristy city about 6 hours by bus. It's filled with countless ancient Hindu (now Buddhist) temples or "wats," with the most famous being Angkor Wat. Wikipedia says it's the largest religious monument in the world. We aren't convinced. Ever tour guide tends to have different facts...think Slumdog Millionaire and the Taj Mahal. But because our awesome tuk-tuk driver, Pov, told us about all the cool places and things to go do, in the most efficient way possible, we were able to see 4 temples. There were so many foreigners everywhere and even the Cambodian people spoke pretty amazing English - a great change of pace for us. We even impressed a lot of the locals with the few Khmer words we know. 

Teen circus performers: 2 legit 2 quit. I'm obsessed with them

     We also got to visit the Cambodian circus - yes big top tent and all - and watch an acrobatic act performed entirely by teenagers! It was so well done and absolutely hilarious and energetic. There are a few organizations here in Cambodia that work with street kids or at risk youth by providing a place for them to put their talents and hobbies to good use. This organization is called Phare and it focuses primarily on artistic talents, but there's another awesome non-profit called Friends International centered in Phnom Penh. Friends is a restaurant, cafe, and shop that trains street kids to be waiters and employees. I'm absolutely obsessed with this idea, and I would love to one day do something or start something like this to work with at-risk kids in big cities. 

      And then...we rode an elephant. I had to add this to my bucket list just so I could check it off. There's really nothing more to say about it except that I was singing Aladdin the whole time. Check out our genie pants. Prince Ali's got nothing on us. 

Beth and I with Anet - check out the Mexican flag logo :)

      We stayed in a cheap hotel that ended up being a restaurant as well - a chain of Mexican food restaurants that we've already been to. Viva! Breakfast burritos for included breakfast...delish! Our waitress was a friendly teenager named Anet, who spoke very good English. She came up to our table to ask what kind of lotion or product I used to get my freckles..haha! We got to explain to her how she was so beautiful and loved by God. She is in school and wants to go into accounting when she finishes. Please pray for her now, that Khmer believers will come into her life and share Jesus with her. It's hard for us as Americans to come into this Buddhist culture and try to share Jesus' story without making Christianity seem like just a Western religion. We've added Anet on Facebook (thank you God for social media!) so we'll be able to keep in touch and continue to share truth with her.

     Wednesday the 16th is our last day of work and it was really beginning to make me sad that I won't be able to take photos or videos of the girls, due to obvious privacy reasons. But last week they told me that I could go film the girls at the new transition home (called Home of Hope) for the girls who are lower-risk and who hope to be reintegrated with their family again, permanently. Little Changes International (the organization that helped to send Bethany and I here to Cambodia) is a huge reason and financial help to open this new home. So I was able to go in and get some footage of the girls (without faces) which will be so encouraging to always be able to hear their little laughs and voices. I will miss hearing "hola Raychelle" as I walk through the gate everyday. 

     On my last full night in the city, we went down the the river front to meet with Chamnam, our Buddhist monk friend. It just happened to be the one year anniversary celebration of the King's death so the Royal Palace was lit up and there were hundreds of Cambodian people standing around watching a fireworks show. It was by the grace of God that we were even able to find Chamnan. We stood and talked with him for over and hour and a half - just about his Buddhist beliefs and the idea that Jesus loved us enough to actually DIE for us. There is no greater love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends. Please pray for him because Bethany is planning on meeting with him more while she's here for the next 2 months. So yeah, by the way Bethany is staying until December to work with another organization that deals with preventing trafficking. Pray for her and her friend April for the next couple of months. 

     I got to lead devotions today (Wednesday) for the girls for my last day. In the schedule I made, this week we are talking about Adam and Eve. So I shared about how God sees us and sees everything we do, both good and bad. But that He also loves us and His love will never fail. So, naturally we sang "Your Love Never Fails" again with the motions. BEST way to end my time here, watching the girls smiling and laughing as they try their best to sing the words in English. They will remember those lyrics forever..."You make all things work together for my good." At the end we said our goodbyes - happy goodbyes - and left. 

     My taxi comes to take me to the airport in 15 minutes so I got to go. Thanks for reading and keeping up with my adventures! 

I'm Tired of Eating Rice.

     That's really all I have to say about this week. 

     Just kidding. I always have too much to say. This has been a very historic week. By that, I mean I've learned a lot about Cambodia's history. SHE Rescue wants all of its volunteers to write a research paper about Cambodia's culture, religion, history, and politics. So I've been learning about many aspects of this culture I'm living in and realizing how its destructive past has shaped its present. This weekend I visited one of the the Killing Fields, Choeung Ek, where an estimated million people were brutally murdered during the Khmer Rouge between 1975-1979. I also visited the Toul Sleng Genocide museum, which was a high school-turned prison during the Khmer Rouge. This country has been through so much unnecessary turmoil, it actually amazes me that it has overcome so much in just over 30 years. 

Choeung Ek, the Killing Fields in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

     I have one more paper to write on Christianity in Cambodia, based on the book Killing Fields, Living Fields by Don Cormack. The history of Christianity in this country only dates back to the 1920s, it's incredible! As Christians in America, we take for granted basic "essentials" like education and the internet - tools that help us know and understand our Christian heritage and our vision for the future. In the 5 years leading up to the Khmer Rouge, Christianity was spreading like crazy all over the country. However, when 90% of Christians were killed during the Khmer Rouge (only 3 pastors lived), the few survivors suddenly and unexpectedly found themselves to be alive but alone, having to start afresh but still afraid to share their faith. Even today, many Khmer believers may not know their Christian ancestors or the stories of their fallen brothers and sister from the Khmer Rouge era. How discouraging and scary it must be, thinking that you're alone in your faith, especially after the religious oppression set in place by Khmer Rouge leaders. Although being a Christian is legal now, evangelizing in public is illegal (oops-see last week's post) especially in such a dark, Buddhist environment. Please continue to pray for Christians in Cambodia. It's been such an honor meeting some amazing godly men and women here, and reading about some revolutionaries from the past. 

Things I've done this week:

Wat Phnom, Buddhist Temple

Lots of Merchandise packing to send back to Australia

So much flooding! These pants were originally light blue

My favorite coffee shop plays the Backstreet Boys

     Does my favorite coffee shop here (Xotique) just happen to play the Backstreet Boys? Or is it my favorite because it plays the Backstreet Boys? I'm leaning towards the latter. 

     It's been a busy week in Cambodia. Bethany and I still have 2 research papers/reports to write for the organization we're working with, so this week's blog will have to be brief. Here's some of what we did this week: 

     Joyce Meyer's ministry has ordered 1,000 bracelets wraps from SHE Rescue Homes. The fabric part is made by reintegrated girls and their families and they get paid (very well, compared to Cambodian standards) to make each one. Because it's such a large order, this past week we worked every day to sew on the heart pendants and wrap each bracelet so they could be sent off in the mail today. Lots of work, and I realized my spiritual gift is not sewing...or patience. 

     It flooded. Lots of rain and other gross unmentionables in the streets, but we wandered out to explore. 

#wedidit

     Bethany and I were assigned to decorate the reading corner in the transition home, for girls who are going back to live with their families. They all love Disney princesses, so we chose Belle's library from Beauty and the Beast. Lots of hard work, but it was so much fun and I think it turned out pretty good! We even treated ourselves to a $15 one-hour massage after all the standing and painting. Definitely one of our favorite projects so far!

before we practiced the trust fall

just kidding

<------------I did this------------>

I helped decorate/decal the merchandise area in our office. We often have visitors from western countries who are interested in our non-profit and what we do. We sell stuff that the reintegrated girls have made. The guy on the scaffolding with me is the husband of the couple team who manage all us volunteers. As the only other person in the office not afraid of heights, it was a fun adrenalating (that's gonna be a word for now) job for me. Think sketchy Cambodian scaffolding. We actually had cushions on the floor at the bottom. #moreriskmorefun
   

Final product of the decal on the office wall - SHE's motto

     And without a doubt, best part of the week was on our day off. Bethany and I went to the National Museum just to be a little touristy :) We'd been there maybe ten minutes when 4 Buddhist monks starting talking with us as we stood looking at the Buddhist Scriptures. They wanted to take a photo with us because they don't usually get to see foreigners...and of course we thought it'd be super cool to get a picture with some monks too. We ended up talking to the monk who spoke the most English, Chamnanem, (don't ask me how to pronounce it) for over an hour while standing the the museum courtyard area in the picture below. We asked Chamnanem why he became a monk and what he thought the purpose of life on this earth was (that's right, Explore God, Austin!) We asked him if he had ever studied any other religions and got to share the story of Jesus with him and how He had completely changed our lives. He thought it was so funny to believe in a God who created us and wants a friendship with us. We explained that we are so broken and messed up and need grace that we could never earn. We talked about the teachings of Buddha and the teachings of Jesus and apologized for his experiences with Christians as they are known for coming over to Cambodia and try to fix everything by converting people to Christianity and wanting them to leave behind their Khmer culture and heritage. It was just another reminder for us that the West cannot fix everything; Jesus isn't freaking American, people. Well pretty soon it was closing time at the museum so Chamnanem and his friends invited us to go back to their Buddhist temple so we could continue to talk. 

me with the 4 monks (Chamnanem is to the right of me)

     "What a random opportunity," we thought as we walked through the streets with these Buddhist monks. But God definitely had a purpose for us being there that day! We toured the temple and sat through some slightly awkward and pretty intense incense burning, water flicking, and bowing before statues of Buddha. Lots of prayer to Jesus during that time :) Cambodian Buddhists have also just started their 15-day holiday of Pchum Ben (Ancestor's Day) where they try to appease their deceased ancestor's so they will be blessed and not cursed. It's very dark holiday full of rituals, chanting, and fear. Please pray for this country.
     Anyway, we exchanged emails and Facebooks with Chamnanem because he wants to practice his English any chance he gets. Please pray that this will be an opportunity for us to continue to talk about our faith openly with him. He said he has read some parts of the Bible in English, but he needs a Khmer Bible. We will try to get him one. Chamnanem's biggest hesitancy with believing in God is that he sees the Christian God as absent and indifferent to all the suffering in this world (also an Explore God question...doesn't matter where you are the in the world!). He has had several family members die in earthquakes so he struggles to see God as love. We got to share with Chamnanem that like a loving father, God hurts to see His children hurting. But He doesn't promise to make everything all better because we live in a fallen and broken world...a world that we messed up. It will not - cannot - be perfect on this side of eternity. But God does promise us that He will be faithful and that He will never leave us. And having that relationship with the Holiest of Holies make everything worth it. 
     
     I'm excited to see what the next 2 weeks and 1 day have in store for me before I leave. Please pray that God continues to use us in amazing random ways. Pray that we would keep and eye out and seize those opportunities! 

"Belle's Library" - feel free to hire us now, we need jobs

I'm Giving In...

Great view of the waterfront

     I'm giving in...I'm going to speak Spanish. Sorry to confuse you, Khmer people! I just can't help it. I don't know what you're saying, you don't know what I'm saying...so does it really matter? I've taught a couple of the girls in the home to say some things in Spanish so now one of the girls follows me around saying "hola Rachelle!" I kind of love it. Win for me!

     This week has been good. We're really getting acclimated to the culture, the humidity and rain, and the stress of transportation. I feel like I've been here way longer than 2 weeks!

     Here's just a few things I've noticed or learned this week:

Eating tarantulas with other volunteers

I look totally calm, but I was freaking out inside

1. Mosquitos here are very very slow. I've only gotten bitten twice! Cockroaches are so slow too. And I've killed so many of each. However, ants are incredibly speedy. I'm very impressed.

2. Tarantulas are the absolute worst thing to eat. Just don't do it. And if you do, don't accidentally eat its butt. TERRIBLE idea.

Delicious cookie dough egg rolls from Daughters

3. Living here kind of reminds me of living in Colorado Springs last summer. There are so many NGOs (non-government organizations, basically non-profits) that I sometimes forget I'm in Cambodia. Going into most restaurants is like walking into America. I was getting lunch the other day when halfway through the song, I realized Needtobreathe was playing. These waitresses can't even speak English, but they know what music to play for the foreigners! There's so many cafes and restaurants like Daughters, Sisters, Jars of Clay, and Friends that support women and street children by lifting them out of poverty and giving them jobs as an alternative to prostitution or trafficking. I absolutely LOVE this idea and supporting them, it's just so weird because there's never any local Cambodian people in most restaurants - it's too expensive even though it seems so cheap to us!


     This week has been super busy and productive for Bethany and I. We're getting to know the girls more and more and I think I finally know all their names! The girls go to school in the morning and have English class in the afternoon. So Beth and I (creative side is all Beth) made a reading chart to encourage the girls to read in English! We're also helping make a reading nook in the new girls home - for girls who are in transition to be reintegrated. We decided on the theme of Belle from Beauty & the Beast and her library of books so the girls are so excited because they love Disney princesses!

     Speaking of Disney princesses, the girls asked me to read Beauty & the Beast the other day. One of the girls translated what I said into Khmer but I may or may not have added God as a character in the story. He's the one who loves us based on what our hearts are like, not what we look like on the outside! It was so fun reading to them and, of course, singing every song in the movie with the girls. This was definitely one of the highlights of my week!

#gocru Reppin' the Cru's first win in the new stadium

     Another highlight was leading devotions for the girls. I've been asked to come up with a guide for all the volunteers as we plan out the daily devotions. So starting this next week until December we'll be going through the stories of Old Testament people and learning about how God reveals Himself through each of them. We're covering some difficult stories like Joseph being sold into slavery and how he trusted God through it all. So please pray for these girls to understand God's love and sovereignty in every story! By the end of November we'll stress the need for a hero to come in and save all people - a perfect introduction to the birth of a perfect hero, Jesus! 

     Every Tuesday that I'm here I get to lead the girls in a daily devotional. I have an AMAZING translator who is a beautiful 20 year-old girl who teaches the girls English and is a solid Christian woman! It's soooo powerful having her here with the girls; they can reach the girls in a way that none of us foreigners can. Last Tuesday I talked about God's unfailing love. I taught the girls motions to the song, "Your Love Never Fails," a song they already know. They've asked to do the song several times since then and they're starting to learn the English words! I also shared the story of the lost sheep and how "nothing can separate, even if we run away, God's love never fails!" The girls acted out the story and loved "baa-ing" like sheep! Last Tuesday I was having a pretty down day, not feeling like I was getting to use my gifts or doing things I loved. And God gave me this perfect opportunity to laugh and spend time with the girls - loving on them and sharing with them truths about Jesus. Ah, my favorite thing ever. 

You want the girls to ride on the back of THIS? #itsnotok

     Saturday morning we took 3 girls to the new transition home. When we went to pick up the girls on our bikes we learned that only 1 of the girls could ride a bike and that the other two 6 year-olds would be riding on the back of our bikes. Totally normal thing for Cambodians. Not Americans. So we're riding our bikes through the busy streets of Phnom Penh with a girl on the back of each of our bikes - not to mention we're trying to keep track of the crazy A.D.D. girl biking wayy ahead or behind us. God was definitely gracious and we made it safely both ways! In the afternoon we went back with all the girls and just spent time playing with them. I taught them several Rock the Rock songs and the motions and they loved it. And I loved it. It was just the best. 

     Anyway, this week was great. Please pray for Bethany because she's sick, and pray that I wouldn't get sick either. Pray that we know how to really be there for the girls; I'm such a fixer and I can't do that in this situation so pray that I will know what my role can be. Also PLEASE pray for this city from October 3-5th for Cambodia's Buddhist holiday, Pchum Ben day or ancestor's day. During this time, Cambodian Buddhists believe that the gates of hell are opened and dead spirits are free to roam about the city. Everyone stays inside during these days and chants constantly to try to appease the spirits. It's a very dark holiday for believers and many Christians have been known to have nightmares or struggle with things they don't normally struggle with. Please pray for our team here during these days. Thank you so much for your prayers! God is good! :) 

Oh, I'm sweating...I guess forever.

     You all have permission to punch me in the face if I complain about Texas humidity ever again. Seriously. It's ridiculous here. I'm so thankful for this air conditioning and the 5 fans we constantly have going in our room. 

View of the street from our 4th floor balcony

     Getting to Cambodia was pretty painless. When we arrived, however, the hotel taxi forgot to pick us up at the airport, so we had to find a phone and figure out how to get the our hotel. God was so gracious and we finally got to the hotel around 12:30 and enjoyed a much-needed long night of sleep!

     This place is so different than any other place I've ever been to - it's Asia! The culture is so strange to me so I keep having to remind myself of God's creativity when designing cultures and customs! As far as trafficking culture goes, men see themselves as superior to women; women - especially girls - are basically useless. Khmer men believe that they have a right to abuse and use the women in their lives. So young girls grow up thinking that they have no rights to their own bodies and that's why they get abused, raped, or trafficked. It's heartbreaking to see the girls in the homes everyday. They look so joyful even though they've been so much. For things to change, the whole culture will have to change.

     Early Tuesday morning we got picked up in a tuk-tuk and taken to the guest house where we'll be living while we're here. We jumped right into the swing of things and got to meet the rest of the volunteers and the girls at the home! It's been such a blessing to get to spend time with the girls every single day; we weren't sure that we would get to see them much at all.

Tuk-Tuk

     Every morning we leave the house around 7:45 and bike (gulp, BIKE!) to work! It's about a 8 minute ride but it's weaving in and out of cars, motor-bikes, tuk-tuks, and trucks! I'm getting so much more comfortable with this Tetris-type game and actually am beginning to enjoy each adventure as I learn how these Khmer people travel. Mondays are our day off, so today Bethany and I got to ride around and explore Phnom Penh. My confidence in biking is improving so much and now it's one of my favorite things to do - what an adrenaline rush! 

     Each work morning usually consists of prayer time with the other volunteers then Bethany and I head over the the girls' home to clean while the girls are at school. We sweep, mop, and fold/hang up laundry to dry. It's such a humbling job to get to serve the girls and bless the Khmer house mothers in this way. The girls also just got brand new bed sheets (some for the first time in their lives!) and we got to surprise them by having their beds made when they got home from school.

     There are currently 16 girls at the main girls home, ranging from 6-16 years old. These girls are from very poor rural villages and have either been raped or prostituted or are at risk of being raped or prostituted. They've been brought to this home until their case is over and it's safe for them to go back home. For a lot of the girls, it was someone in their very own family who sold them into sex slavery. Organizations like International Justice Mission will find girls in trafficked situations and bring them into rescue homes like SHE until their case is closed and it is safe for them to return home. The girls love coloring, skipping rope, watching The Land Before Time, and singing worship songs! One of the 3-month volunteers left yesterday so she led the girls in one last guitar worship sesh. It was so amazing to hear the girls singing "Our God is Greater" and "Your Love Never Fails." Cambodia has a very dark Buddhist culture, so it's challenging to hear their little voices declare such strength knowing that "there may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning!" 

     Every afternoon at 4 a volunteer will lead the girls in a devotional using a book, song, craft, or game. This week Bethany and I got to share with the girls about God's faithfulness. We used Hebrews 13:5 which says, "I will never leave you, I will never abandon you." Bethany and I taught the girls hand motions for the verse and they enjoyed repeating it several times. Then we wrote each word of the verse on a balloon and had the girls try to get in order to spell out the verse. What a powerful way to for the girls to learn English and truth about Christ! I've been asked to come up with a theme and outline for devotionals for the next couple of months, and I'm excited about the ideas I've come up with so far.

     The other volunteers here are AWESOME. I've met some amazing women from Australia, England, Canada, and from here in Cambodia. It's been amazing hearing their stories of faith of how they got here working with SHE Rescue. They took us to an actual local Mexican restaurant and it was pretty legit! It was started by a man from Texas so we will definitely be back for more! 

Khmer worship band at New Life

    Yesterday we went to a local Khmer church pastored by an American who married a Khmer woman and speaks the language fluently. The church was started in the early 90's and has grown into a thriving church-planting body of believers. They are very missions-minded and have a vision to plant churches in every province of Cambodia. It was so amazing just to be a part of seeing what God is up to here in Southeast Asia. My favorite part was singing the song "Bless the Lord (10,000 Reasons)" by Matt Redman. The worship band was all local Khmer speakers, but there were people singing in all different languages and accents. It just made me so excited for Heaven when we will have "10,000 years and then forevermore" to worship our creator! 

     Week 1 was definitely very interesting and eye-opening. Pray that we will continue to lift our lives up - ready for God to use us in any way that He wishes. Pray that we will know how to respond to different circumstances and that everything we say and do will reflect God's spirit of freedom. 

Cambodia, here I come!

     Thank you for visiting my blog as I prepare to leave for Cambodia! Here is the story of how I got involved in this trip and how God has provided in some amazing ways!     

     I’ve been passionate about ending human trafficking for a couple of years now. It was at Christian conference for college students, Passion 2012, when I first realized that I could actually do something about it. While I was in England I got to share this passion with both my middle and high school aged students, as well as others in the church. I assumed that my role in ending this injustice would only go as far as making people aware of it. But I began to pray, asking God for opportunities to use this passion in a more practical way. And God provided an opportunity!

     Around Christmastime of 2012, a Christian organization called Little Changes International emailed me about participating in their new partnership with another organization in Cambodia called SHE Rescue Homes. SHE was started by a group from a church in Australia, and is committed to joining with locals in Phnom Penh to help with the aftercare of girls who have been rescued from abuse or trafficking.

Visit the LIttle Changes International Website

 Visit the SHE Rescue Home Website

Me & Bethany, homecoming Queen 2012 at UMHB

     I’ve since been praying that God will provide a person to go with me on this journey. God has taught me that I’m not meant to serve in ministry on my own; he has blessed me with people in my life to share in these adventures in following God’s will. Again I prayed and God provided! One of my roommates from college, Bethany, has just finished her graduate degree in Social Work and is searching for areas in which to get involved in ministry, especially with trafficking. She has also felt led by God to be a part of this trip to Cambodia, and will be traveling on to Thailand afterwards to volunteer with another organization that deals with the prevention of trafficking. God has blessed us both with amazing opportunities at a pivotal point in our lives (until now, both of us have lived with either family/friends/host homes, and have the rare timing of being available to pick up our lives and take off for 6 weeks). As this is something I've prayed for and sought after, I can't ignore the opportunities God places right in front of me! 

     So from September 8^th to October 17^th, I’ll be going to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to volunteer with SHE Rescue Homes. The culture in Cambodia is drastically different in America; parents are actually selling their daughters into slavery, thinking that it's just like any other job and will be a way to bring money to their family. And the majority of these slaves/prostitutes are children under the age of 17. We know that the culture and mindset of the Khmer people must change before these outrageous statistics will, but we are ready and seeking to experience these truths up close. 

     I ask that you pray for Bethany and I as we prepare for these trip. We realize that we have less than 3 weeks before we leave, so we're trusting God to prepare us emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically for what we will experience. We have a ton to do before we leave so please pray that all that needs to happen will happen. Pray also for our time in Phnom Penh. Pray for the girls, local workers who are learning English, permanent volunteers, and anyone who we will come in contact with. Pray that God will use Bethany and I to share His love and message of peace. Pray that God will shape our hearts and allow us to be changed in anyway that He wishes - we want to be prepared for anything! And lastly, please pray for the end of trafficking around the world - there are an estimate of 27-30 million people who are in slavery around our world today. Pray that God will continue to raise up awareness and people who are passionate about bringing this nightmare to an end. Pray for both the victims and the traffickers to experience God in a personal way. 

     I also ask that you pray about supporting me financially. Between the 2 of us, Bethany and I need to raise a little under $6,000, either before and probably during our trip. If you feel led to contribute, please visit the Little Changes International Donation Page, click the "donate" button & enter in "Rachel Jeske" in the purpose box. Because this is a non-profit organization, all donations are tax-deductible.If you supported me financially or if you want to hear updates from my trip I will continue to update this blog and send out an update letter when I return.

Intern Dream Team

"for the sake of the Gospel"

     On another note, many people have been asking me what I did this summer since I've been back in Texas and what I will be doing after I return from Cambodia. This past summer I worked at Hill Country Bible Church Round Rock as a high school youth intern. I was expecting it to be just a quick summer job, getting paid for hanging out with the students I usually spend my at-home time investing in anyway. I knew that I'd be preparing for Cambodia and helping my parents move to India, so I thought that having a summer job that I absolutely love would just give me a little extra cash in the meantime. 

Me with my van of teens during Boot Camp

     But God definitely surprised me. I was so blessed to have an awesome & dedicated team of staff, interns, and volunteers around me. And I absolutely loved my students. God taught me so much through them and really showed me that I do have a heart and passion for working with students (hmmm...maybe that's why I've consistently had jobs working with teens for the past 5 years!) God showed me that working with students is just one of those things that find immense joy in doing. I'm finishing the summer with the thought that I can't not do this for the rest of my life. While I'm not sure how this will look in my future, I can't deny that God has given me a passion to invest in the younger generations and I want to use my gifts and talents to point others to Him!

     This summer God has taught me that He (unlike me) isn't consumed with wanting me to do things for Him (He actually doesn't need me...gulp!). He just wants my heart to be completely for Him. He wants to spend time with me, His daughter. In my mind this is so absurd. As someone whose love language is giving acts of service, I want to show God I love Him by doing things for Him...being a big asset to His team (haha). But He doesn't need me. This is such a humbling thought, but I know that God wants much more than just a busy Christian.

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in all the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth." -Psalms 46:10

     This is a command but also a promise. He will be praised in every tongue among every nation. It's not up to me to accomplish this task. I merely need to be still and trust Him, resting in His sovereignty. 

     So after I return from Cambodia, I feel like God is calling me to a season of rest and renewal. I've been so busy "doing" things for God that sometimes I jump ahead of Him and do things that He isn't even calling me to do! For so long I've thought that the most difficult path must be the most "spiritual" path. The more difficult an opportunity became, the more I thought it must be God's will - an opportunity for me to grow and be stretched in my relationship with Him. But that most definitely is not the case. I need to find my identity and confidence in His grace alone, not in trying to accomplish great things for Him. I'm not at all sure of what this will look like when I return in October, but I am looking forward to growing with Him and investing in all the relationships I've inevitably neglected during my college years and time in England.  

     As always, I'll keep you updated as God leads me on new adventures! 

Some of Hill Country Round Rock's high schoolers playing a flour & water game called "Bomb the Intern"

You Sneeeaky God!

In Whitby with 3 Texans and 2 English girls

     God's been up to something this whole time! For the past 9 months God's been drawing these young people to himself and has chosen to allow me to see the fruit of my labor before I leave! What a blessing!
     The "Texans," the mission team from UMHB, were here for 10 days. And we kept them very busy. They spent the first weekend with their hosts, so Ste and I joined another group with the 2 girls we're hosting and went to Whitby for the day. We had a brilliant time hanging out with 2 of our youth group girls and their Texan.  
     Last Monday we hit the ground running with schools work all morning. Throughout the week we were able to share our testimonies in 9 different religious education classes. In England, Year 8 students (12-13 year olds) are required to take religious education and study the major world religions. The school actually asks us to come into to their classroom and share our faith with the students. A couple of Texans would share their testimonies with the class and then we would break into groups and allow the kids to ask us questions about America, Texas, Christianity, God, and anything else they could think of. We all built so many relationships with the kids and many of them came to youth groups or Christian lunch club later on in the week. 

Journey Weekend

     We were also able to go into 2 primary schools and share our journeys of faith. We acted out the story of Jonah and allowed the kids to come up with their own creative way to tell the story using characters like Shrek, wrestlers, zombies, and Dory. Then we lead the kids in the song Waves of Mercy and talked about the theme of mercy and grace within the story of Jonah. It all fit perfectly together and the kids really seems to understand the concept. 

     Over this past weekend we went on a youth retreat with 21 of our kids aged 9-17. It was the most amazing part of my time here in Nunthorpe; I just didn't want it to end! First of all, it was energizing and encouraging to have the Texans here. Just to have a team who I could trust, knowing that they had the same passion and vision to see every kid come to know Jesus as their personal Lord - I can't even tell you how uplifting it was!
Now let me just try to explain some of the incredible ways God answered prayers. 

Me with some of the Thunderbolts

     We gave out 12 Bibles over the weekend and on Monday at youth groups. 6 high school-aged girls had asked for Bibles after the Beloved girls weekend, so the Texans brought some over from America and we got to write personal notes in each Bible to each girl. We gave out a couple of Bibles to some primary school boys - boys who, at the beginning of the weekend, said they didn't want to talk about God or have anything to do with learning about Him. Even after the first night, the Texans working with this age group had their kids reading Bible stories and talking about their meanings. By the end of the weekend, the boys had memorized Proverbs 18:24 "one who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." They were even excited to recite it to the rest of the group!

LightningBolt, we look related

     I got to spend a lot of my time with the middle school aged group. The biggest thing that stood out to me was their desperate desire to learn more about God and the Bible. They all wanted it. As the theme of the weekend was "Journey" we took the time to ask them where they think they were on their journey and relationship with God. They all honestly admited that they were at the beginning. Some understood the gospel more than others, but all said they wanted to learn more. Many of the 13 year old boys even took notes on the Bible verses that we talked about. I got to know these kids so much more than I have over the past 9 months and it was so encouraging to see the Holy Spirit work in their lives. I will miss this group so much, their awkwardness and honesty have made the past 9 months hilarious!

Me with my EQ girls, I will miss them so much!

Some more of my EQ girls

     The high school aged group was also amazing. We asked the group where they were currently at in their relationship with God. The girls went around the circle and all said that Beloved was a huge step of growth in their journey. One girl said it was the first time God seems interesting to her. She realized that He actually related to her life and she wanted Him to get to know Him more. Another girl said that Beloved helped her move from just wanting to learn about Christianity to wanting to know Jesus in a personal way. And another girl from Beloved said that she made a commitment to surrender her life to Jesus. WOW! We all begin tearing up in the group as all the girls explained what my time here has meant to them and how my example of following Christ has impacted them so much. And I've truly seen them grow over the past month since Beloved. They told us how they gathered together at Journey to read their new Bibles together. Since the weekend they told me that they call each other in the morning to read their Bibles together. One of the coolest things to witness was them praying out loud for the first time! One of their Texan leaders asked them to pray for something that they've seen God do in their lives or in the lives of others. Some girls thanked God for the Texan team coming and for a fun weekend at Journey. But some of the girls actually prayed for me, thanking God for the difference I've made in their lives. We all teared up a little bit but I just sat there in awe of what God had done through me even with my doubt and hesitancy. One of our leaders even prayed out loud for the first this weekend too! It's amazing to watch as they take steps outside their comfort zone.

     Another amazing story is about a lad called Joe. Joe is probably the most interesting person I've ever met. He's only 15, but you'd think he's 25. He came to Journey as the only boy in the high school group, so he roomed with a group of smelly 10 year old boys. Joe is definitely on a journey. He would tell you he's agnostic but is open to Christianity, if only he had proof. He's studied every major religion and even knows the Bible better than most Christians. He gets it. He just doesn't believe it...yet. He understands why the Texan team comes every year and he could share the gospel better than most believers, he just hasn't accepted it! He has asked the Texans questions like "when was the time that you felt God's presence most strongly" and "where do you want to be spiritually in 2 years." He even asks us to practice sharing our testimonies with him and gives us feedback! Who is this guy? A few of the Texan girls got to have a 3 hour conversation with him about Christianity and he's very open to sharing his thoughts and listening to others. Every time I'm with him I feel God's presence so strongly, we all do. I'm completely confident that he will find Jesus through his search, it's just a matter of time. He needs to come to terms with the fact that he will never find all the answers - knowing about God and the Bible isn't the same as experiencing God. I can't wait for this day when he does experience his savior because I know that God's going to use him in an INCREDIBLE way to change the world, and hopefully help bring the UK back to Jesus. Please pray for him to experience God in a way he can't explain. I'm so excited for that day when he gets it! 

Me with Dr. L, Nunthorpe team leader

     The Texan team leader, Dr. L (one of my professors at UMHB) was sick in the hospital for most of the week. He was released just in time to come to our Monday night youth group this week. IT WAS AMAZING.
     Monday was my last night of youth groups. I had to say goodbye to all the Thunderbolts, Lightning Bolts, leaders and a couple of other older girls that I won't get a chance to see again. It was so incredibly emotional. After Journey, I realized why I've needed to be here for the past 9 months; I've been planting seeds and waiting patiently for God to grow them. Monday I got to see the fruit of the past 9 months. I got flowers, 2 goodbye cakes, jewelry, an offering from the church, and so many notes/cards/letters from young people and leaders. I can't even begin to describe the joy and love that I felt as I said goodbye. People told me the difference that my life had made in theirs. They shared their stories of what God has been doing in them, giving the desire to read His word and grow closer to Him. 

     And the TEARS! There were so many people tearing up and balling and giving me hugs. So many of the young girls who I've struggled with over the year came up to me and begged me not to leave. This gave me the opportunity to explain that I've told them everything I needed to say. I told them about a God who loves them and sent His son to reunite us with Himself. But then I told them that now I need to go and tell others; so many more people haven't heard this good news! I got to keep pointing them back to Jesus and tell them how I've prayed so long for God to do something amazing, but that now it is my season to watch what He continues to do from afar. It's teaching me to trust the Holy Spirit and to not rely on myself for the spiritual growth of these kids. 

     One 13 year old girl wrote a note that said "I know I haven't been respectful at times but I guess my tears show that I'm going to miss you. I'm so grateful for all that you have taught me." Other people said things like "thank you for bringing me closer to God" and "thank you for teaching me to move out of my comfort zone" and "thank you for opening up our eyes to the word of the Lord." As a person whose love language is encouraging words, this was HUGE for me. I don't think I'll ever really know the extent of what God did through me until I get to Heaven. And I'll continue to hope and pray that I will see many of these young people and adults there. One of my favorite notes said "as usual when a Texan leaves I reflect on how blessed we have been to have them...this time it's slightly different because I'm now 100% confident that we'll meet again - unfortunately maybe not anytime soon but definitely in heaven...seeing you go is horrible but I wouldn't change you coming here for the world (even if it meant no tears)." This note alone would prove to me that the last 9 months have been entirely worth it. I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness and I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. 

     Another awesome thing: 2 boys that we met in religious education classes that week came to the Monday event and became Christians! It was the first time in 6 years that Ste has seen "official conversions." Most of the time, the church would rather just push the "Christian lifestyle" more than an overnight change. So we got to be so excited with them and tell them the glorious inheritance they will now receive! We gave them both Bibles and they've been reading Genesis, Matthew, and Jonah - and actually telling us how it applies to their own life! Who are these people? God is crazy!! 

     I still have the high school group to say goodbye to at our all-nighter on Friday. Please pray for that as I'm wanting to talk to some of the girls individually to see exactly where they are in their faith and how I can continue to support them from across the pond :) 

     Last Friday before Journey, one of the Texans read these verses: 

"We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work." -1 Corinthians 3:5-8

     It pretty much summed up the last 9 months. Although it's super difficult to leave now that things are actually happening, I realize that I needed to come in August and start planting seeds. There is a season to plant. And a season to patiently wait. And a season to reap the harvest of blessing if we don't give up (Galatians 6:9). Thank you Jesus for caring enough to challenge me to grow during each of these seasons. 

The whole group at Journey 2013

P.S. One Republic is sooo good at making theme songs for my life. This one's my current theme for the rest of my time here in England:

 

     When I first arrived in Nunthorpe, Acts 20:24 became my mission statement and I think the rest of the chapter is very applicable as well:

“You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.

So guard yourselves and God’s people. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.

When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again." 

Excerpts from Acts 20:18-38