Forced To Move…

Just two nights ago the slum that we have worked in for 5 years was raided and completely evacuated. A large army of men came in with tear gas and sewage water and sprayed the entire area. Families were loaded into trucks with nothing but the clothes on their backs and drove 20 kilometers outside the city and dumped on the land we now call “The New Land.” Although, we knew these families would have to move in time, we had no idea it would happen like this. What little these families had: photographs, mattresses, clothes, mosquito nets, money hidden in walls, was completely destroyed. Even the earrings were ripped out of the womens ears!
As we arrived on the scene, people we knew came running up to us telling us their stories. One lady handed me her baby and said, “Please take her, I have no food to give her!” Another lady just held on to me and sobbed. It was so surreal…people who had nothing in the first place, forced to an even greater disgrace of having no home.
This week we are headed for outreach in Siem Reap to join friends who have started a home for girls who want to leave the brothels. We will run training programs for those who have become Christians to learn about teaching kid’s club and bible studies, and we will also take time to encourage the new girls and give testimonies of God’s transforming power, as well as pray for the missionaries who are serving them full time!
At first we thought we should cancel the trip and minister to those being moved to New Land…but we feel peace that God wants us to continue on this outreach for one week. We hope some relief organizations will help with food and clothes, and when we get back we can focus on helping them long term. We will get with the families to start support groups, community surveys, bible studies, help kid’s get enrolled in local school, help with small business loans, getting the kids involved in kid’s club and extra curricular activities…fill them with hope that God has a plan and they are not alone!
This is the time to preach the Good News, bind up the broken hearted, and show them they have been set free! Isaiah 61. Please join us in prayer for these families, as well as for our team, that God would fill us up to pour out on those He Loves and has been waiting for so long! Let’s pray in the Kingdom of God!!!

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