Terrify No More

I have been reading the book Terrify No More, written by Gary Haugen, the president of International Justice Mission.  IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression all over the world.  The book describes a brothel raid that IJM did about 10 years ago in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where we’ll be moving soon.  About 40 girls ages 4 and up were set free due to IJM’s strategic work.  There was a particular passage in the book that challenged and encouraged me.   I wanted to share it with anyone who might read this:

                     

Our investigators march into these dark, ominous settings because they believe they are called by God to be that defense.  As Sharon Cohn often says, “We can’t expect the children to be more courageous than we are.”  Some Christians are uncomfortable with the idea that God has been in a dark, repulsive brothel, that he could possibly be a witness to all the evil acts that take place there.  Our investigators are not only comfortable with the idea---it’s the truth they count on.  Robert Earle explained his emotional state during this first journey into Svay Pak.  “I don’t mean to discount the feeling of apprehension or vulnerability that comes from being in the dark, completely disoriented in an entirely unfamiliar setting,” he said.  “But I also don’t want to discount the fact that prior to going into this village we had prayed.  I know that sounds very simple, but it makes all the difference in the world, certainly on an emotional and mental level, but more important, on a spiritual level---to draw upon the resources of God who is already in that place and is familiar with it.  He’s already aware, sadly, of every horrible thing that happens in there.  So you call upon his promises that he’ll be with you.  You’re not going in there alone, someplace that he can’t lead.  He’s been in there for years, and he’ll be there long after I’m gone.  You’re simply not going in there alone. 

--Katy

Out West

We've made it to Palmer Lake,CO where our next five weeks will be filled with language learning and cultural training at Mission Training International (MTI). Our drive out West was filled with adventure. After spending time with family, we headed to Boise, ID to visit with our church's newest church plant. Along the way we stopped to enjoy some of God's beautiful creations, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. Both places offered some nice downtime and relaxation as we both enjoy spending time outdoors. After a few days on the road, we made it Boise.  What an encouraging time! God is moving in the North End Collective Church in big ways. It was nice to see old friends and meet new ones. I hope we were as encouraging to them as they were to us. On our last night in Boise, the leadership team prayed over us; it was awesome. In a way we can relate to the church plant, picking up and moving to go share our faith with others in a new city across the country or across the world. Thank you Boise church plant! What a great few days! 

We're at MTI now.  We just went through orientation this evening and classes start tomorrow. It is nice to meet people that are going to serve all over the world, knowing that God has a plan greater than we can even imagine. We're looking forward to the next five weeks.

Alan

Transition

    Over the last couple of days I have said goodbye to my coworkers and friends, packed up a moving truck, driven 350 miles, and unloaded all of our belongs. I’ve known that transition was coming but now it’s starting to sink in.  Katy and I are preparing for our journey out west to attend missionary training in Colorado Springs, CO.  It’s tough to say goodbye to Indianapolis. It’s been our home for eight years, and we look forward to visiting Indy throughout the summer.  Now we’re looking ahead, excited for what God has in store for us as we take steps of faith. It’s neat that God has timed our transition during the Spring when everything is changing all around us. The dead, dormant grass is turning green, flowers and trees are starting to bloom, and potholes are being filled in.  Easter is another reminder that change has happened, is happening, and will happen. Easter is a great reminder for me that our Lord and Savior is real and was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Today Katy and I step out of our comfort zone to pursue a calling that we’ve felt for the last couple of years.  It’s scary and exciting all at the same time.  Wishing everyone a very blessed Easter.

-Alan

Visit to MUMC

This past weekend we spoke at my home church, Monticello United Methodist Church, about our plans to move to Cambodia.  What an encouraging time!  I wish that everyone could grow up in a church like MUMC.  People who attend there understand what it really means to be the church, the body of Christ.  I think my family started attending there when I was around 5.  Since that time, I have seen people love and care for each other and others through good times and hard times.  Thank you MUMC for being such a faithful group of people!     --Katy

Doors

There’s a trip to Cambodia going next week.  Maybe you should go and see it…..okay….now where exactly is Cambodia again?

We had been investigating an overseas move and some of the doors we had opened in the process had been shut.  We had met with the church staff to determine what to do next, and they had asked us to go home and think and pray about what our ideal overseas work situation would be.  At our next meeting, Alan shared that he would like to work with development projects, working on existing projects and coming up with new ones.  Katy shared that she would like to work in a social work capacity and teach English.  We also shared that we would like to host mission trips and that we were interested in Southeast Asia.  We also felt called to work with an organization strongly connected to Common Ground.

The church staff then shared with us about a Christian development organization, Center for Global Impact, which Common Ground was building a relationship with.  The organization was looking for a couple to move to Cambodia and work with its projects.  They also wanted the couple to host mission teams.  As we listened to the description of what was needed and checked on the map to know specifically where Cambodia was, we both felt in our hearts that this was certainly worth exploring.  It seemed like such an exact fit.  Then, Jeff told us the crazy news—there’s a trip going next week, maybe you should go.  Miraculously, both of us were able to get the time off from work with just a week’s notice.  We visited in September 2010 and both felt really at peace while we were there.  Upon returning home, we prayed about the decision and both felt God prompting us to move to Cambodia. 

We returned for another trip in February 2011 to prepare for our move in August 2011.  It is neat to see how God was able to match a need of an organization with our desire to serve.  We know that the journey will be challenging, but we are confident that this is a good fit.  Although it doesn’t always seem so, God has a clear plan for us.  If we wait on Him, he will make things clear in His time about how He wants to use us for His glory.  He shuts and opens doors.  We are excited to see what doors open when we move to Cambodia.