Unexpected Surprises - Svay Pak

How does one describe doing a VBS for kids in Svay Pak. It is simply to expect the unexpected and to be flexible at all times. Yesterday afternoon our team along with two staff from CEF Cambodia went to Svay Pak to visit Rahab House along with two young men who are with Aim4Asia. As we approached Rahab house some of the kids in the community began to run along and wave at us. They could hardly wait for the door of our van to open--their faces full of smiles and their eyes peering into the van. Their little wirey hands reaching out to grab amything that was available to the hand. If there is one Khmer word that I have had to use repeatedly over these last two days it is 'Ah Tay' which means 'no' in Cambodia.

Our initial interactions with the kids of Svay Pak was quite shocking as we watch kids punching each other. My colleague Brian Mcconaghy had warned me that the kids in Svay Pak are very different from the kids elsewhere in Cambodia. He could not have been more accurate in his assessment as we watched how rough they played without any kind of regard of whether they hurt their friends. Needless to say, all of what we observed at Svay Pak had us all feeling a bit overwhelmed as we looked at the daunting tasks of trying to run a VBS program for the next 10 days.

Fast forward and its a day later, after much prayer we were reminded through our morning devotionals that nothing is impossible with God. That we need to keep choosing to trust Him despite the visible reality. So here we are at the end of our first day and what a day it has been. Our morning began with picking up my OMF friend Cathy, then 3 CEF works and the two young men from Aim4Asia---here we were 12 of us in a van headed to Svay Pak. As the van turned into the main street of Svay Pak, the kids started to run along side us. Like the day before they swarmed the van wanting to see what we had inside and so as we began to unload all our things for that day, there seem to be a certain excitment in both them and us. As our team of 12 entered into Rahab house that morning we closed the doors, formed a circle and began to pray both in English and Khmer for God's power and might and His Spirit to take control and fill every corner of this place. I get the sense we are just another part of a new foundation that is being built in this place as I think of the role that different teams have played in this place---our fellow Canadian brothers and sisters from Fairview Presbyterian who had the ardous task of breaking down the walls of this ex-brothel, to the Newsong girls who come here every week with their teachers to reach out with God's love to the kids and now us who have the awesome privilege of just planting another stone of truth in this place as we partner with local Cambodian Christians. Indeed like David vs. Goliath, I feel as though we have all began to plant stones of truth in this community that will ultimately lead to Jesus being the chief cornerstone not only of Rahab house but to this entire place.

The VBS in the morning began full of energy as the kids came in, some of them slowly peering in and others being drawn in by their friends while others stood at the entrance not sure whether to come or to go...wanting it seem to be apart of what was going on but cautious in their approach. Two parents sat in with their young kids. As the time went by more and more kids came, but one thing I did notice was that there were not many 10 to 12 year old girls. There was a group of raucous young boys who seem to bond so well with my teammate Genie. God had given her the ability to engage with them in such a way that at one point during the day they kept on calling her name while we were on break. God had used her to make a heart to heart connection with them despite the language limitation. As the day progress, our fellow partners in ministry CEF did an awesome job in leading the kids in worship and praise. As I walked out of Rahab House at one point to organize the lunch that we were providing for the kids, I could hear the kids singing so loud. It was this joyful noise of praise that followed me up the street and I could not help but pray ‘Lord let your glory shine in this place as you raise up people in this community who will worship you in spirit and in truth.

By 2pm the girls from Newsong arrived with a few of their teachers and they began to join in and lead the kids in worship. It was such an amazing sight to see---former child prostitutes, ministering and reaching out to children who are at risk of being sold into prostitution. Only God can ordain such plans and purposes that remind me that His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. A few minutes later we were greeted with another set of people as Gary Haugen the founder of International Justice Mission stopped by to visit. What an unexpected surprise to meet and talk to a man who has really brought attention to seeking justice for the oppressed around the world. He had not been back to Svay Pak since that infamous raid in 2003 that was featured on Dateline NBC. In the midst of all these visitors, the kids were singing and playing games---there was such a buzz of activity going on but all of it filled with joy and laughter. Despite the heat of the afternoon sun, I could not imagine being anywhere else as I watched these little faces all around me having so much fun.

As our first day in Svay Pak ended I was touched by a special gift from God as a little girl came up to me. She looked the size of a 3 year old but was probably around 6 years old. With her big eyes and a big smile on her face she looked up towards me and opened her hands. I picked her up and she put her head on my shoulder and gave me a big hug. I began to pray for her that God would watch over her and protect her from any attempts that Satan would use to steal her for his purposes. Just then another little girl tugged at my pants leg and extended her hands upwards and so here I was holding two little girls side by side peering into their eyes. One by one they turned to me and gave me a kiss on both my cheeks. If I could freeze that moment in time, I would have. God was showing me again that no matter where we are, no matter what darkness is around us, His love is there. The children of Svay Pak maybe unruly and at times wild, but they long to be loved and to feel love like any other children in any community. I can’t wait to get back to them today.