If now is the time... than send me!

photo by Stacey Bacque (Cambodia)

If you know me well enough you know that my heart lies deeply in hoping that one day I will get an opportunity to make the difference in the lives of women and children who are being treated with injustice: largely in the area of sex trafficking. Many times I have prayed the same prayer that God would open my eyes and break my heart for the things that break His; that I would stand up for injustice and be a voice to those who do don't have a voice to stand up for themselves. I would begin to read books like "Half The Sky", or watch a document on TV about sex trafficking and red light districts in places like Asia and instantly have a heart wrenching feeling, tears in my eyes and have to put down the book or turn off the TV in fear of not feeling ready to embark on my prayer.

Recently my sister, who is Cambodia working at Place of Rescue, posted a like for an NGO called Daughters of Cambodia. She had gone to their boutique/cafe/spa and really liked what she saw. It is a place for girls to escape from the brothels and find a place to be trained in sewing, spa treatments, cafe work, jewelery making so that they have the ability to work and make an income. The Daughters of Cambodia organization teaches these girls about Christianity and the love of Jesus and how to provide a living that is honorable to themselves.  Anyways, as I browsed through their website I instantly began to have a stirring in my heart. I began to think that now is the time! I WANT to get involved and make a difference.

But than of coarse feelings of doubt started to overwhelm me. I began to doubt my feelings of needing to get into the world and learn more about trafficking and how I can make a difference. I began to doubt that God would call me NOW, at this time in my life when I have two small children. But I could not dismiss the feelings and thoughts I had the day before that felt like the Holy Spirit urging me to take ahold of the calling and passion I have to minister in this area. So to make sure I am not quenching the passion inside my heart, I am deciding to embrace this feeling of need to go overseas and get connected with an organization that helps women and children escape from pimps, abuse, disease and horrible brothels and learn the Love that Jesus has for them. To learn they are beautiful and valued. I want to have my eyes open, my worldview expanded and gain knowledge of how we can help and make a difference and I know God is calling me to do more that pray and donate money. He is calling me to step out and expeince what is going on first hand. To step out of my comfort zone and finally truly allow my heart to be broken and reshaped.

SO, I know if this is meant to be that God will open the doors and allow me to take the steps in the right direction. God asked Isaiah who should He send? Who will go for us? And Isaiah responded, "I will Lord, Send me!"  At the end of Isaiah chapter 1 God says, "Work for injustice, Help the down and out. Stand up for the homeless. Go and bat for the defenceless." (The Message).
I stumbled upon this verse this morning. No matter where we are in life, with a job and a family, we will always be busy. We will always not have enough money. We will always find an excuse to not do things.  I don't want to make an excuse why I should not go. I want to make every effort to make sure I am listening to the holy spirit and allowing God to use me in any way, shape or form and follow my passions.

Who will go with me? When will we go? Where will we go? Why will we go there? What will we do with the things we learn and experience? There are alot of questions running through my mind. I don't know the answers quite yet but I know God does and He will bring this to pass if it is His will, because God knows I am super willing to be His servant. I have a few girls on my heart that I feel like are supposed to go with me on this mission. Jenelle Matson being one of them :) I know her heart is in this area as well. She also has some girls on her heart and we both feel like God might be putting together a team of strong Moose Lake women. Is  God strring something up in your heart as you read this? If so maybe you are called to! Pray. (Than talk to me or Jenelle!!)
www.daughtersofcambodia.org