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"