02.25.2015

NEW NORMAL

Since arriving in the kingdom of Cambodia on January 12th of this year, you might say that a few teensy things have changed for us. We call it the new normal….

barefoot all the time- teaching, church, friends, home
roosters, stray cows, filthy dogs, roasted pig heads, geckos, snakes, mosquitoes!
rice 3 times a day at least
no sour cream, Starbucks or Chili’s chips and salsa
2-3 showers a day
can fill up our moto tank for $1.50 every 2 weeks
unlocked I-Phones FINALLY
data on my phone for $1 a week
sounding like a 3 year old when speaking
year round school with children in uniforms
tuk-tuks, cylos, mopadops, and motos
gorgeous fruits and vegetables- rombatans, lychees, pomelos, dragon fruit
filtered and bottled water
dust, dust, dust, dust, dust, dust
air conditioning ONLY AT NIGHT
Spraying your whole body with OFF before you jump in bed
Bug bites everywhere
kilometers and kilograms instead of miles and pounds
wishing you had paid better attention in math when they discussed the metric system
no mail
3 English speaking channels- America’s Top Model, American Idol and BBC CNN
no Ohio State football
Whole series of Downton Abbey for $1.25
beautiful, colorful weddings that last for days
even longer funerals with monks chanting round the clock for days
pepperoni pizza is “hot dog” pizza
right hand turns from the farthest left lane ignoring opposing traffic
being pointed and laughed at
very patient Khmer teachers and co-workers
language tutors who speak better English than you do
red lights and greens are merely suggestions
police?
being the only one stopped by the police amidst hundreds of Khmer on motos
banged up knees and elbows
learning to submit to husband when riding a moto at 59 years old
will we have internet this week?
getting up in the middle of the night to see our kids and grandkids faces on Facetime
power outages
no hot water- everything washed in cold
no dryers- hard crunchy towels
helmet hair
wanting to take home every child sex trafficked
poverty, filth, trash, sewage, decay
pleading with God every day to deliver this nation from sin and pour out His salvation
did I mention, Ohio State football?

02.20.2015

What does 3rd world mean?

Cambodia is a 3rd world country and the United States is not. Why? What is the meaning of this term that is tossed out when referring to many mission locations?

Actually there is not one term, but three. During the Cold War the United States and its non-Communist allies were deemed the First World, the Communist bloc was defined as the Second World, and nonaligned nations, which were predominantly poor, were designated the Third World.

Today, 3rd world usually refers to areas of the most impoverished countries and regions of the world, serving as a blanket term for characterizing the political and economic life of Latin America, Africa and Asia – Cambodia where we now live. One might also use this term to describe extreme destitution in otherwise affluent countries.

The TEFL Academy which certifies and trains teachers all over the world outlines 20 characteristics that generally apply to most Third World countries.

1. Low life expectancy is encountered in these countries due to the lack of money allocated to health services, and because people have less access to quality medical care.
2. Low standards of education.
3. Poor health care. Over 11 million children die each year from illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia.
4. Unemployment.
5. Poor nutrition. 824 million people go hungry or have a very limited food supply while an additional 500 million suffer from serious malnutrition.
6. A lack of clean drinking water. In excess of one billion people do not have proper access to clean drinking water, 400 million of which are children.
7. Overpopulation.
8. Poverty. About one in four people have no means to live on, and millions of people live on less than $1 a day.
9. Economic dependence on more developed countries.
10. Their economies are devoted to producing primary goods for the developed world whilst providing markets for finished goods manufactured in the developed world.
11. The ruling elites of most of these countries are extremely wealthy.
12. Corruption is endemic in a lot of these countries.
13. Control of major economic activities such as mining and cultivation is often retained by foreign firms.
14. The price of their goods is often determined by the developed countries.
15. Trade with developed countries is practically the only source of income.
16. Human rights are less protected.
17. A total lack or inadequate national electricity grid- 1.6 billion people live without electricity in these countries.
18. Although some of these countries, such as Venezuela and Nigeria, are rich in natural resources: very little benefit is felt by the ordinary people.
19. These countries are often ruled by dictatorial regimes, or corrupt ‘democratically elected’ governments.
20. HIV/AIDS is a serious problem in some of these countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Much of this list describes our precious Cambodia and the environment where we work. Understanding the living conditions of the people is essential in showing them to Christ. Pray for the Khmer people and those caught up in the ravages of sex trafficking. Only Christ can be their hope! These too are God’s precious people and He is setting them free!

In some ways, these third world folks understand the love of Christ that first world folks just can’t. We are privileged to be working with them and seeing God work through them to show the world how to set captives free.

Note: TEFL is an acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. TEFL academies are all around the world.

02.05.2015

Home

The most frequently asked question to this new Cambodian missionary is, “Where is home?” I can honestly say I just don’t know how to answer that question anymore.

Is it the shop house where we are now staying temporarily while local missionaries are on furlough? Is it our new apartment in Tuol Kork into which we move March 1st? Is it Jefferson City, Missouri where we raised our last 3 kids and our most recent US address? Is it Oklahoma City where we raised our 7 children and lived 13 years? Is it Grand Rapids or Lansing, Michigan or Cincinnati, Ohio, or Doylestown, Pa? (Yes, we’ve lived in all these places) Is it Columbus, Ohio where Pete and I grew up, went to school and married?

None of these seem to be the right answer. While I have loved all these locales, I believe there is something new in my heart – a longing for a real home which makes all these others seem like wonderful temporary stops on the way to home in with Christ.

We must live vigorously in each “home” God calls us to for the advancement of this Kingdom; yet the older I get there is that unsettling reality that knows there’s more.

Scripture tells us this is true…

Philippians 3:30, For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”

2 Corinthians 5: 1, For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”

Hebrews 11:16, instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

I thought maybe it was just me. After all, here at 59 and 60 years old Pete and I have made an around the world cross-cultural change uprooting everything that was comfortable and “normal” in order to assist others in the elimination of sex trafficking. Wouldn’t that make just about anybody feel a little out of sorts?

But, as I have pondered and prayed through this angst, God has delivered sweet revelation though His Word by His Spirit. My home isn’t supposed to be here: it’s ultimately supposed to be with Him someday in Heaven. My longing is natural and right.

So, where’s your home?

Our supporters are our backbone. We thank you for your donations to the work to end sex trade of children. Donate if you can. We are very grateful when you do.

01.25.2015

At the heart of our work

In Cambodia they say men are like gold and women are like cloth. Drop gold in the dirt and it can be washed clean. Drop cloth in the dirt and it is stained forever. From within that deep seeded context we find the atrocity of sex trafficking of little girls. With this cultural perspective in view, how can this atrocity occur? It occurs because the culture lacks any deep root of the Gospel of Christ.

We are here to help see that this changes. We are here because folks have partnered with us in the work. We will share through this blog what benefit is coming through your support. Watch and see what God is doing.

At the heart of our work here is the desire to see God become known and followed among these precious people. Stepping into the middle of the huge issue of sex trafficking of kids is without a doubt a place to see how lives can be changed through knowing the Truth. In the next few posts, I am going to try to help you understand the root of the lives here and both the depravity and the desperation. Then I will follow up with the rays of hope shinning through. Follow us and please share with friends. This is a cause that cries out. It is worth your attention.

Here is one of the best articles clearly describing the context. Please, take a few moments to read, consider, pray, and share.

Please, follow this link for the story that will change the way you look at your children and grandchildren. If you are a teacher, you will look differently into the eyes of young students. We have a responsibility to our children to raise them in the ways they should go not for self pleasure or reward. http://gu.com/p/3qjv7/sbl

Donate if you can. Thank you when you do.

01.23.2015

When in Cambodia……

The Cambodian Custom of removing shoes at the door.

I am a barefoot kind of girl and I have the calloused dry cracked feet to prove it. On our first day in Cambodia our house host laid us out a simple mat for our shoes and we quickly caught on. I did a little research on this Asia custom and thought you might like a little education. Thanks Jenny Hones!

Old traditional homes in Asia were raised about 2 feet off the ground for ventilation and staying above the cold damp earth. It was customary to remove your slippers in the entry which was at ground level and one would step up into the home in their socks. This custom of removing your shoes before entering a home, is still practiced in Asian homes throughout the world.

In newly constructed homes in Asia, regardless whether a single family home or high rise, the entrance is usually lower than the rest of the home. You step up into the house or flat. This practical design allows for any type of weather, such that all dirty and wet gear can be left in the entrance and does not need to be brought into the home, hence the house stays clean. This has a physical and psychological purpose: the motion of stepping up to a different level, allows one to be aware that they are entering someone’s private space. Originally, the Japanese home had wood hallways with tatami or woven straw mats as flooring for the rooms. The ancient Koreans had under floor heating stones to heat their wooden floors. That’s the original radiant heat!!! What one must remember is that the Asian lifestyle at that time was mainly centered around the floor. The tables were low and they sat on the floor to eat, sleep and do all their activities. That’s why it was so important to have clean and warm floors. That tradition remains today.

Another point is that Asians believe it is good health practice to be barefoot. The Chinese have been practicing foot reflexology for over 5,000 years. Being barefoot allows your pressure points to be stimulated. When confined in shoes all day, your feet do not have the chance to breathe, stretch and feel. If you do not practice removing your shoes in your home, please give it a try and see how you feel. You may like it!

Today, western furniture has taken over the average Asian home, but we still like to sit on the floor and walk barefoot. Just remember when visiting an Asian home, wear clean socks with no holes because you may be asked to remove your shoes!

12.31.2014

4 Suitcases

The big day is approaching. In 12 more days we will say goodbye to America and adventure off to the Kingdom of Wonder (Cambodia) as missionaries with Agape International Missions. Due to airline regulations, we get to take one 50 pound bag each and can pay an additional $100 for an extra bag. So we have thus elected to take 4 suitcases. We read David Platt’s Radical several years ago and always wondered what it would be like to sell it all and serve wherever He sent us.

Well, we’ve done it. The house now echoes, we’re sleeping on blowups, eating all carryout, driving borrowed cars, the dog is sleeping inside our suitcases (that made us tear up) and saying hundreds of goodbyes.

Now we’re down to the last 4 suitcases to take with us. I could wax all spiritual and eloquent, but instead have elected to share with you the” nitty gritty” of the important (not counting the 8 clothing sets we each took). If you had to put everything you needed in 4 suitcases, what would you take “ o rich young ruler”?

I know you’re saying “what the heck”? As a teenager my granddaddy gave me a cutting off his aloe plant and I faithfully planted it in 1970. It is now one monster plant and has been given to a dear friend to babysit. This little cutting of that plant is going in a baggy in my makeup case to be transplanted in our new Cambodian home.

If you know me I am a coffee freak and am taking a stash of Starbucks instant me with (thanks Laura).

I have been devouring this book on cross culture teaching- it has become my education “bible” while this feeble, can’t speak Khmer teacher tries to teach other teachers. Pray for me.

Have you ever thought of what you have to do with all your bills (US and Cambo), payments, receipts, the dreaded FASFA and US income taxes? Well, all this is faithfully going with us in a specially organized notebook (I am after all Notebook Queen). Man we lose this and we’re sunk!

We got rid of thousands of books (that was hard) and have it pared down to those super special to us. I have been holding this one aside as my airplane read. Yes, I already saw the movie. And I always tell my students NEVER SEE THE MOVIE FIRST!

Well, that’s the first 5…the next 5 to come. FullSizeRender_1

12.12.2014

They need a New Life

There are places where it is not safe to be a kid. Places where adults use kids for awful purposes. These places exist everywhere on the globe. Even in places considered “civilized”.

There are places where kids are rescued, restored and reintegrated. Where they are shown that God loves them and has a plan for their good. These places DO NOT exist everywhere on the globe. The best places are emerging in more distant lands. Places like Cambodia. Places where the Gospel can be presented clearly as the PRIMARY tool to knowing a person’s worth and purpose. There is enormous hope emerging in these places and it is hope in Christ that is the key.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Debbie and I get to see the Rescue|Restore|Reintegration places grow! We want to press into the atrocity with the Truth of God’s saving grace. We get to be a part of a work that is seeing over 85% of the rescued kids restored and reintegrated. We get to see and aid in the work of the Lord to make the old pass away and new things come. In early January we will begin our two year assignment embedded in this cause.

The premiere agency in the world is Agape International Missions (AIM) in Cambodia and we have joined their staff. While we have already begun to engage in the work, we will move to Cambodia in January to engage face to face and personally for the cause.

Help us spread the word. And if your organization needs a cause for a fund raiser, if you need a service project (ie., ice bucket challenge and glow runs), if you want to support our work, we would love your help. Visit AIM.RADICALLYMARRIED.COM for more info or contact us. We are donor supported in this work and if this cause resonates with you, your church group or your business, please support our work in any way that you can.

May this cause lead you to prayer for the Rescue|Restoration|Reintegration of kids who need to know there is hope. They need a New Life – one found in Christ.

If you can support the work in any way all gifts are greatly appreciated. Please, share this post on your FaceBook page and other Social Media. Bring awareness to the cause.

Support the work

12.02.2014

The real “priceless”

My last few months have been quite troubling. I have been wrestling with emotions in a way and for reasons that are different than at any time in my life. I am seeing circumstances, thinking about lives, hurting over tragedies that in the past I found easier to dismiss. I find myself more connected to the sufferings of others than I have been in the past. A lot of it lingers into sleepless nights. It is not fear, it is not anxiety, it is something quite different.

As we prepared for this Thanksgiving holiday and the visit we would get to enjoy with three of our adult children, I found myself thinking about the relationship I have been able to have through the years with each of them. How it has transitioned from their enormous trust in me to the lessons they learned (and taught me) as they grew into their own worlds, to now me placing enormous trust in them. Letting go and letting them let go. I am very blessed, very fortunate. I can sit down and discuss difficult subjects with them and we can learn from each other. They are quickly becoming wise and more independent. Our respect for one another seems to be growing. It certainly is for me of them.

With that as my backdrop, let me describe what has me troubled and wrestling, what is contributing to sleepless nights. What has me both thankful and broken down. What gives me reason to “press on” in these days with work that is about the Kingdom of God.

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you (Philippians 3:13-15 ESV)”.

There are little kids in the world who do not know the love of their mother and father. They don’t have that growing respect thing going on. They only know abuse at the hands of adults. They only know a life that is absent the visible presence of ones who love God and are entrusted with their care and upbringing. What would a “thanksgiving” gathering be for them?

trafficked As Debbie and I engage in the new work of Rescue|Restoration|Reintegration with AIM in Cambodia, we do it knowing that what is being accomplished half way around the world will lead to answers that will one day reach around the world – here. Answers that come from the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the only life changing answers. We fully get that the mission upon which we are embarking is an opportunity in our lives to live more deeply committed to the life changing impact of Christ upon a person. These kids need rescuers. And I do not mean Debbie or me, I mean Jesus. They need a face-to-face, heart-to-heart meeting with the real rescuer. Our role is simply to point the way, to be among the adults that act like the grown-ups these kids deserve to have.

I stay awake some nights preoccupied with the awesome chance to “be like Jesus” when these kids may have never seen that before. I am preoccupied with daydreams of the atrocities committed upon these kids for even one more day. I cannot separate my feelings from the cause. God has gripped me with it. What an honor.

Could this be a form of suffering for Jesus that I have never known before? Could the suffering of others become more significant to me than what I previously considered to be my own suffering? Yes, I believe it is. Paul expresses his rejoice in suffering for others:

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ‘s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (Colossians 1:24 ESV).

Feeling the sufferings of others and the opportunity to be planted in it for a time to point to the hope of Christ! I hope that a year from now my life will have intermingled with the lives of others such that there is a real thanksgiving for them to celebrate.

This may be the real priceless moment of my life.

If you are a “supporter” in our ministry words cannot express our thankfulness to you. Please know that we pray for you with deep gratitude.

Please, help us spread the word in the SENDHELP! Campaign to reach the desperate neighborhoods where kids do not yet know that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their future. Help us “press on toward the goal for the prize”. If this message is reaching you for the first time, please consider supporting this effort with a donation before the year closes. All donations are tax deductible. See the DONATE link at the top of the page for more information.

10.23.2014

Every gift is special, but some are very moving.

The receiving of donations is new to me. As we have worked to tell the story of the cause that has so drawn us in, we have found the most interesting patchwork of people connecting with our work to Prevent|Rescue|Restore|Reintegrate children from sex trafficking. Family, friends, fellow Christ followers, strangers and age disparity is significant. Every gift is very special. Each one says to us that the donor gets the significance of this work which is an earthly example of the redeeming work of Jesus. Each intervention becomes an opportunity to speak the one name of the one God that can really change a life.

But there was one recent gift that just really was touching. A young girl, about the age of those we will work with, offered a gift. She sent it in a note. But before writing the note she asked her dad about the paper bills she was offering. She wanted to know how much they were worth. When he answered she was convinced it was a large sum and was pleased she could give that much to the cause. Her joy in having something significant to help was evident to her dad. Her joy makes the gift enormous to us.

As we continue our commitment to speak about the abolition of child sex trafficking and the Power of the Gospel to bring real change, we thank all of those who have given gifts to our work. Without each gift we would be sidelined. Without your prayers we would feel alone. Without the Lord we would be weak. With all these, we will see lives, families, communities and the nations changed.

Thank you. Each and every one. Every gift IS special.

10.18.2014

I didn’t set out to be a missionary

As young boy, I set out to be a great athlete. In my school, football was the big sport so I played football, but actually I was a much better runner. And I loved to run. I dreamed I would be the fastest ½ miler in the country and actually, I was one year when I won my first race of the season and it turned out to be the first official track meet of the year in the nation. By the end of the first couple weeks I dropped off the leader board. But I dreamed of that kind of success. Being a missionary was not on my mind.

As a young adult, I set out to be the best sales representative my multi-national pharmaceutical company had ever had. I planned to rise to heights in the company at a great rate and one day run the company. I did quite well, rose pretty quickly but I never did run that company. Being a missionary was not on my mind.

As young parent, I dreamed of an amazing family. This dream has come true. I am blessed with an amazing bride and amazing children and grandchildren. This is a dream that has already come true. Still, being a missionary was not on my mind but I was intrigued by those who were.

Later in my business career, I dreamed of moving an emerging company out of difficult circumstances and advancing it as a public company. That dream ended a bit flat as after reaching the goal of “going public” the shareholders wanted something very different than what I expected. I departed. Short-term missions was inviting and now seemed a worthy work for which I had time.

I took what was to be a two year sabbatical from the business world to engage in the development of a new movement in churches, Family Ministries. In 18 months I realized this was my niche. Still, permanent mission work seemed unlikely although I did begin to have new dreams.

I found what I thought would be my role for the rest of my life when the universe of church ministry began to see business executives with training and skills as useful in church work. Being and Executive Pastor seemed to bring together years of experience in management with years of experience in ministry. It seemed I had been prepared for this throughout my life. Being a missionary now seemed unlikely.

Then came a short-term trip to an Asian country known as an epicenter for some of the deepest and most vile sins of mankind – adults preying upon children for sex. Selling them, trading them, trapping them, abusing them. Suddenly, I wanted to be a missionary. Someone had to go and I knew in an instant that the someone God was tapping was me.

I did not set out to be a missionary but now I find I am embarking on the greatest challenge of my life, to fulfill perhaps the greatest purpose of my life. I have eight grandchildren and someone has to engage in changing the world they will grow in to. Why not me?

Now I am setting out to be a missionary. From where I see things today, I think God set me on this course long ago. He just let me see it a little bit at a time.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord……