Love Each Other

10 Mar Love Each Other

Hello dearest friends and family,

It’s been over a month since we wrote an update, and SO MUCH has happened so we hope you are as excited as we are to hear all of our amazing testimonies from the past month!

First, we would like to say thank you to each of you for your prayers and support. Our transition back has been smooth and seamless. We continue working lots in our Railway and Riverside communities helping children and families. We are also overseeing hospitality for the Phnom Penh base, taking language lessons 3 times per week, and Jill does weekly outreach to the brothels with some of the women here.

Here is a brief overview of a few things our team has accomplished the past few weeks…

• Helped a woman transition out of rehab and return to her family (scroll down to read more of her story).
• Taught a workshop on jewelry making from clay to some of our mommas.
• Partnered with another organization to rescue a baby that was abandoned on the streets and is now living in a safe place.
• Helped get two small boys that were living on the streets in one of the darkest areas of the city into a safe home.
• We have seen 2 people receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
• One woman has said ‘Yes’ to us helping her find a life outside of prostitution.
• Continuing to send more and more children to school.
• Continuing to provide food and housing to families.
• Continuing to do kids club in both our communities.

We are only able to share a few details of these testimonies with you but here are some…

• “We have some great news to share about ‘Deborah’ whose life has been transformed by stopping for the one and seeing Jesus at work! Deborah was raised in the countryside of Cambodia and moved to Phnom Penh when she was offered a job as a cleaner in the city aged 18. Sadly Deborah found that she had been trafficked for sex instead and was unable to escape until her family found her after a few years. During this time Deborah was held in a house and forced to have sex with many men. We understand that the trafficker was eventually arrested by police but with little support in place, Deborah ended up living on the streets and struggling with addictions. We met Deborah a couple of years ago when we started doing Kids Clubs on the street in Phnom Penh. Deborah loved to participate and sing in our Kids Clubs and she asked for our help. In February 2017 we were able to take Deborah to a Christian rehab where she has done so well. A year on Deborah, now in her 30s, has met Jesus, her life is transformed and she is ready to graduate rehab. Deborah’s prayer is to be reunited with her family and start her own small business.” -(Iris Cambodia Facebook Page).  Deborah’s prayer has now been answered. Our team was able to take her back to her home province where she had not been for 5 years. As they arrived, the entire village was in shock because they all thought Deborah was dead.  They hadn’t seen or heard from her in 5 years and so they lost hope that she was still alive. Her brother and sister welcomed her back well and have promised to look out for her and help her transition back to normal life. Our team as well as the rehab program will be following up with her regularly and to encourage her to continue to pursue her dream of starting her own business.

• In February we had a visitor come to our base who makes art and jewelry out of polymer clay. On Valentine’s Day she was able to teach a jewelry making worship in our Railway Community for some of the momma’s there. We made hearts and beads for necklaces and pins and the women absolutely loved it! It is our hopes to one day be able to employ women by teaching them a trade like this, rescuing them from slavery and prostitution, and giving them an opportunity for a better life.

• Jillian, along with other women on our team, go to the brothels every week. They are working on building relationships with the girls there, building their trust, and giving them a safe place to sit for the night, drink a coca-cola , with no expectations. They are able to just be kids, be girls and just have fun! After nly a few visits, we have already had one girl ask for our help in finding a way out. Right now we are in talks with other organizations, trying to find the best fit for our friend.

• One of our partner organizations was doing a social work visit with one of our families and the grandma looked at the man and said “You know that other group that comes here (Iris Cambodia)? They are so sweet. They always make us feel so loved and special and they always tell us about Jesus.” And after the man was talking to her for a while, she decided to give her life to Jesus.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” -John 15:12

When we are willing to stop for the one in front of us and shine the love of Jesus, peoples lives can be changed! When we take time out of our busy schedule, look at who God has placed in front of us each day, and ask Him how they need to be loved that day… that’s how we will see change in this world! One person at a time!

Thanks for reading and for sharing in this journey with us. We truly appreciate your continued prayers and support. If you believe in us and what we are doing here and would like to partner with us so that we can continue living here please go to https://www.belovedministriesglobal.org/give/ . All gifts are tax deductible in the USA.

Please pray for…

• each of our families and children, safety and protection and that they would come to know Jesus!
• ongoing cases fighting for justice
• safety for Jillian as she goes to the brothels late in the night.
• Jillian’s dad, as his health is still not well.
• guidance for us
• finances for us to be able to continue living here