Empanadas, Bruno Mars, & Sunburns

     It's been a while since I've had an out-of-the-country adventure. And by "a while" I mean, almost 6 whole months. God is calling me to a season of rest and steady learning - refinement. So although it's kind of killing me, I'm called to Texas for the moment. But that hasn't stopped me from a whole new set of adventures!

     I work with college students at Austin Community College through Hill Country Bible Round Rock. It's a difficult ministry; ironically there's a lack of community at the community college. It is nothing like a 4 year school so it's a whole new ball game for me, but I'm enjoying our weekly outreach of serving coffee and snacks to students on campus. I'm also nannying for 2 little girls - Ella & Emma. They're 4 and 5 years old and are so energetic! Everything is new and exciting to them so I'm enjoying our time baking, watching Veggie Tales, and reading at the library. 

Homemade Empanadas at Midnight upon our arrival in Mexico

     And the highlight of this year so far was my trip to Jose Maria Morelos, Mexico with my church. As you probably know, I love corn tortillas, Spanish, and all things Mexican. However, this was a completely different trip from all the other ones I've taken. In the past year, God's really revealed to me my heart for Spanish-speaking cultures of the world. In hindsight, I see that this passion has really been there all along, through my family's heritage of being pastors & missionaries several Hispanic countries, as well as my love for speaking Spanish since I won my "Spanish Bee" in 1st grade. So I went into this trip with a new perspective: "what would it be like if I lived in an environment like this one day?"

My teammate & I with some kids from Esperanza

     On Saturday we traveled from 3:30am to 11:30pm the first day, flying into Cancun and then taking what turned out be a 6 hour drive to JMM! We were given delicious empanadas when we arrived then went to bed to rest before a busy Sunday at church. Sunday I got to work with some middle & high school aged students (my favorite!) at the church. We talked about Elijah & Elisha and they wanted me to read 2 Kings in Spanish (probably just so they could laugh at how slow I read and how I didn't know how to say "Eliseo" and "Elias"). Sunday evening we went to a nearby village called Esperanza (Spanish word for "Hope") to watch the kids perform songs they had practiced for our visit. They sang songs like "Father Abraham," "If You're Happy and You Know It," and "I'm in the Lord's Army." We also got to talk to 2 teenage girls (the Mexican girls in the photo above) about their life, school, and words in English vs. Spanish. This conversation helped me build confidence about speaking in Spanish - which I did a lot for the rest of the trip! 

Painting the Church #HillCogoesttoMexico

     On Monday & Tuesday we were happy but exhausted. We helped paint (and later repaint) a local church in JMM and then went to nearby villages that are heavily Catholic or traditional Mayan. We partnered with the small churches in these villages to go hut-to-hut sharing the story of Jesus, our testimonies, and praying for anyone who needed it. At the end of each walk around the village, the church hosted a service for all the people we talked to during the walk. We had a great turn-out of people, especially kids, and we handed out a lot of Bibles. A few of us Americans got to share our testimony while someone translated it into Spanish and sometimes Mayan! My favorite part was playing with the kids, and letting them teach us how to play their local games and football (soccer). With each group got to I walk them through the Gospel (in Spanish!) and tell them the story of Jesus. Then late on Tuesday night our group went to the city centre of JMM to just hang out and talk to the locals. Immediately I had a group of 15 elementary aged kids

Sharing Gospel in Spanish w/ Gospel Beads

around me, wanting to teach me a game. We played several games for a while and then we sat down to talk and I shared the Gospel. These kids were way more involved in the story than even the churched kids in the nearby villages. It was amazing to watch them process through the story, even though they had probably heard it before. A guy from our group had brought over necklaces, bracelets & pins that helped tell the story. So after we gave them out, I got to walk all of those kids through the story as well! It was an amazing experience and I went to sleep that night with a full and joyful heart. 

     

Shared the Gospel with these kids from Tobasco

     Wednesday we went to the local university to sit in on a Mayan class! What a confusing language, but I did learn a lot and we got to talk to the students at the end of class and explain what we were doing there. Afterwards a couple of students gave us a tour of the campus and while walking around, a professor asked us to join his Environmental Politics class. We played a game with the students and answered questions about how Texas, specifically Austin, handles environmental issues. We got to share with them about the responsibility we believe God has given us to look after our earth and the environment. A news crew even came out to interview Jacob, our leader, and some translators to explain "what the gringos were doing here!" :) It was such a neat opportunity and God surprised us big time! 

The Church Building in San Diego

     We drove back to Cancun and spent our last day on a boat snorkeling and at the beach, reflecting on all the God had taught us that week. It was so beautiful; I've never seen water that clear and fish that up-close before! I'm so thankful for this amazing opportunity to go somewhere I love and share what God has called us all to share! Thank you God for my incredible team, and for the endless adventures you call to experience with you!

     Here's a couple main things God taught me: 

Walking hut-to-hut with women from the church

1. Pray ALL THE TIME. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you profess" (1 Peter 3:15). To do this, we need to be in constant prayer, asking for eyes like Jesus and guidance from the Holy Spirit to recognize opportunities. The leader of our group from the Mexican side, Atlay, was a huge encouragement in this area of prayer. He prayed for any and everything and really challenged our group to do the same. Pray for the big things that are really game-changers in your life, but don't neglect praying for the small things that may not seem that important. God cares about every detail of our lives (Psalms 37:23) so talk to God about the little things - like paint drying the same color ;) And have the boldness and confidence to pray for something again and again. Pray for and with the people I do life with, no matter what their faith background might be.

Kids I played games with in the City Centre

2. Be flexible and walk with the Spirit. It's a wild goose chase, following the Holy Spirit. Be prepared to change your plans when you let Him lead! In the story of Mary & Martha, be like Mary, content to sit at the feet of Jesus and just be. Don't miss out on anything! (Luke 10)

3. Faith like a mustard seed - we heard this story in song-form several times on the trip. Apparently it's a popular Spanish tune. When we pray, believe that God will accomplish all that He has promised. 

4. Be content. This last year has been full of ups and downs. I'm really beginning to understand the passions and calling that God has given me and I'm ready to dive in and use them. But God hasn't given me the green light to go - yet. He has called me to stay in Texas a little while longer - to grow, to learn, to prepare, and mature. Even though I want to be in that next stage of life, living in a Spanish speaking country as a full-time missionary, I remember people like David, or even Jesus! From the beginning Jesus knew His calling but for 30 years God was up to something before he gave Jesus the ok to start His ministry. This is so 

This was just beautiful & perfect. Spent our last day in Cancun before flying back to Texas

weird to me, I mean, why God? Why wait? But something very important happened during that time of waiting. Same with David. God had to grow David and teach him things as a shepherd before He could officially become King. God, help me be patient and content during this season. Thank you for allowing me time to prepare for what you've called me to do. I'm sure I'll be so extremely grateful for this time one day! In the meantime, help me be fully here, where you've called me to be. Help me not miss out on opportunities here, just because I'm too focused on the future. I trust that your plan is perfect!

Our team on the Catamaran in Cancun - absolutely love this team!

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"