04 Mar Do we really live in Cambodia?
“Do we really live in Cambodia!?” …This is a common question we have been asking each other, asking ourselves, and even asking God over the last week. It has been an absolutely surreal experience uprooting from our comfortable, “normal” lives to follow to plan that God has placed before us.
This city and these people are so beautiful, it’s hard to even put into words. Cambodia already feels like home and we feel like we fit into this culture so well (even though we stick out like sore thumbs!). The culture definitely different to what we are used to, to say the least. We were greeted by tall buildings, motorbikes going in every direction, scorching heat and humidity, and massive amounts of people everywhere you go. After 2 weeks of being here we have adjusted well and thrown ourselves right into the mix of things; riding motorbikes through the city, wearing jeans when its 100℉ and humid, and eating food we can’t pronounce. The Iris Cambodia Team here is incredible. We have been welcomed with loving open arms, helpful tips, and lots of grace as we transition into this new culture. Right now, on the Phnom Penh team, there are 5 missionaries and 5 Khmer staff, and we have 2 missionaries coming later this month.
In our short time here we have gotten to see just a glimpse of the amazing work Iris is doing in Cambodia. Right now we are focusing on 3 main areas in the city, the railway community, the riverfront, and rural outreach.
THE RAILWAY COMMUNITY is a very impoverished community where only a handful of children have the opportunity to attend school. It is also an area that is very at risk for trafficking and abduction. Right now we are ministering there 2 days a week, every Tuesday and Thursday for the entire day. Iris has a house in the midst of this neighborhood that gives the children a safe place to come to during the day. In the mornings we hold a kids club where we worship, teach the children bible stories, play games, as well as teach them basic education and hygiene. Last week our area of focus was hair, and we had to privilege of helping de-lice 20+ children. They loved it! They got their hair shampooed, conditioned, brushed, and some even styled. We know this could be a negative experience for some children and maybe even for some performing the task but we were able to help to kids feel comfortable and like they were just getting pampered for the day.
In the afternoons we go out into the community to build relationships with the people and minister house to house wherever the Holy Spirit leads. We have social workers on the team that do family visits and make sure families and children are safe and their needs are being met. Due to Mitch’s background in home improvement we were able to do some painting in the Iris house. Love looks like something and sometimes that means doing very practical things to help however you can.
RURAL OUTREACH is something Iris has started in the last few months where they go out once a month to share the gospel and teach about trafficking prevention. Shortly before we arrived the team visited a remote community that knew nothing of Jesus. During this trip they prayed for a crippled boy who had deformities in both legs and arms since birth. In that time of prayer the boy was partially healed. He was able to stand and take a couple steps, but not at 100% healing. The team shared the good news and the boys’ families repented, received Jesus and were baptized. There other hearings that day and people coming to Christ. That night, in a dream, the mother of the boy saw 3 men dressed in white with beards standing at the foot of her bed. When she woke up the next day her son was completely healed. Not only could he walk a few steps, he was walking and running around the entire village. The entire village, where there were no Christians before, now knows that it was Jesus Christ that healed the boy! Thank you, Jesus! We are planning a visit back there soon.
This past Wednesday we took a ferry boat to Silk Island in the middle of the Mekong River with an incredible team. We were able to spend time with a beautiful family there, pray over them and others in the community, pray around wats (temples), chat to and pray for buddhist monks, and eat delicious local Khmer food. It felt like another world in comparison to the busy city… such a lovely change of pace and peaceful visit!
THE RIVERFRONT area is one of the darkest and most at risk area of the city but it is definitely where our hearts lie. This is a very visually beautiful place in the city, and because of that it is very much catered to western tourists. This is also where the highest concentration of prostitution is in the city. Many of the children in this area have no place to go at night, have no family or no home, so they sleep outside on the streets which this puts them at risk. Iris is going to the riverfront 2-3 evenings per week. We go there to pray over the area, build relationships with people to love on them and gain their trust. We minister and pray for people and just follow the Holy Spirits leading.
Jill has a real heart to actually go into the bars and brothels and just sit with the women there and spend time with them; be a true friend, loving them unconditionally, teach them about their identity in Christ, and show them there is life outside of this, even providing a way out and possibly even work. Jill has some business ideas that could truly help employ women wanting to leave that life behind. Right now she is learning to make candles, and is looking into making soaps, lotions, and possibly even jewelry. Once she learns this she can pass these trades along and could even save a life. Mitch’s heart is to team up with another ministry that solely focuses on ministering to the men, especially western men, in the bars. He would just sit with them, get to know them, have conversations with them and share the Father’s love for them. Mitch is a very business minded man, so his knowledge and wisdom is going to help Jill’s creative ideas become a reality.
THIS YEAR: Iris Cambodia has a huge and amazing vision for this city and we are all truly believing that this is the year for great breakthrough. We don’t know exactly what it looks like, or how God will make everything come to pass, but we know it is going to happen. Iris also has a much larger vision for Cambodia and Southeast Asia as a whole, but we will share more details on that things begin unfold.
God is doing amazing work through the Iris team in this city and this nation and we are so honored to be a part of it. We are so excited for what Iris has planned and for what God has in store for this incredible place. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to partner with us please contact us at jillianstiner@gmail.com or visit www.belovedministriesglobal.org/give/
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
Mitchell & Jillian Stiner
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