80% chance of rain, 100% of children in need being saved

I did not come up with the title to this post.  Jessi was the originator of the title from her photo album taken at this event.

There are events in life where one must jump in full force.  Yesterday was one of those times when I decided to go do it without thinking too much. 

Thinking, reflecting and discerning is useful.  There are times we need to plan properly before we act.  We might have to weight different options.  We need to play with different scenarios and make sure we are picking the right one.

There are times when we have to act before thinking too much.  Maybe it is too hard. Maybe it is impossible.  Maybe we think we can't do it.  And we talk ourselves out of it and walk away. 

Every first Sat, I attend a prayer meeting and we prayed for Cambodia.  A mixture of different Christians, from different churches, from all walks of life, come together with the sole focus to pray for a country half way around the world.  

Someone mentioned that there is a event coming up called Ride for Refuge.  We can use this event to sponsor  Ratanak.

I talked to my friend, Paul, and suggested we should put a team together.  After the prayer meeting, I went back home and created a team page.

I am not a very keen person on raising money. I don't think I am very good at it.  I don't like asking people for money.  I have no clue who will be interested.

I did it because there is a huge need in Cambodia.  We prayed for Ratanak and other ministries in Cambodia.  This sermon was on praying and acting afterwards.  To pray without action = nothing.   

And there is much need indeed.

Paul and I asked everyone and anyone.  I started off with a goal of $1,000.  Then it bloomed to $1,500.  On the night before the race, we raised over $2,000.  $2,260.  It was awesome.  You can check out our team page at http://bit.ly/Ride4Ratanak.

And then there is the bike ride.   The event have different distances for us to select; 25 k, 50 k and 100 k.

We selected the 25 k route.

I haven't rode a normal bike for a long time.  I had to borrow one from my friend's.

Yesterday was a chilly day.  Paul and his wife, Jessi, brought his family along (a five year old and a four months old).   We prayed and then we were off.

The 25 k route was around the area I use to train for Ironman.  It was great to be back there again. Patches of trees and farm lands.  Quietness on the road.  On occasions, we would pass horses or cows grazing the field.   Paul and I were moving along discussing different topics...including different styles on approaching theology.  It was great.

There were volunteers along the route to guide and cheered for us.  They were wonderful.   As we were heading back, the rain started to come down.  It was getting chilly and windy.

Then I thought about the reason why we were riding.  For Ratanak.  I thought about the girls that were sold to sex slavery.  Some girls chose to sell their bodies because their family was too poor.  The same girls being  taking care by Ratanak.  The many prayers items we prayed for those who are lost and those who are oppressed. I thought about this verse from Isaiah...

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 

to loose the chains of injustice 

and untie the cords of the yoke, 

to set the oppressed free 

and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:5

To loose the chains of injustice...the rain continued to come down.  Rain drops were heavier.  It didn't matter. I prayed as I rode back.  Pray for Cambodia.  Pray for the girls that were still lost.  Pray for God to intervene.  Pray for a nation that is in the midst of poverty.   Pray for the courage to fight against a bigger cause.

We were back just as soon as we left.  It was a joyful moment.

It was good.  It was good to ride for a cause bigger than myself.  It was awesome to see everyone helping out with donations.  Many were so generous.  In the end, it was good to be part of God's plan in extending His Kingdom!

For the need is out there is great.  And we will keep going.  Even amidst the rain.  We will not stop.

..and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry 

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, 

then your light will rise in the darkness, 

and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10

Repost: Confront a New Chicken!

Repost from The Ratanak Foundation Mission Blog.

Chicken is the term use to describe pedophiles going to Svay Pak (a town in Cambodia) looking to abuse young children.

This post is about a sister decided to confront a chicken and exposed his intention on visiting Svay Pak.

http://ratanakmissions.blogspot.com/2010/07/confronting-new-chicken.html

I have to say I quite like having these direct conversations with the 'chickens'---instead of beating around the bush and being vague, its felt good to just be direct and confront him. In a way, it is exposing the darkness and evil intent of these men but more than that, it was nice to see him feeling a bit cornered, irritated, exposed and clearly frustrated. My prayer is that he would let his other 'chicken friends' know that they should avoid Svay Pak since its not what it used to be.

No doubt there are many pedophiles around and am sure many more will continue to drop into Svay Pak but nonetheless, just like we are called to seek justice one child at a time, in a similar vein, we are challenging these pedophiles one at a time. We pray that in doing so, more and more God will use these encounters to bring deep conviction in the hearts of these men and that where ever they go, they will feel so cornered and frustrated as God prevents them from fulfilling their destructive agenda against the vulnerable.

Repost: Light and Darkness

Taken from Lisa at Ratanak.

You can read the rest of the post here.

P's son who is now 10 years old was so badly abused by some foreign pedophiles that the doctors needed 6 hours to stitch him up. Today, he was overjoyed to see his mother. His sister who is 8 years old was sold like many of the kids here. I mentioned them as just outside the Sanctuary where they were playing was a well known brothel owner who was sitting in a nearby tuk-tuk while Pastor Chantha was like the 'Shepherd' sitting outside looking at His sheep. She happens to be friends with the children's mother. If you were to see her, you would think she is someone's grandmother chatting with the kids. She looks non-threatening but don't be fooled by her appearance. Her presence is a reminder that the darkness is always close by, how easily it seeks to encroach, encircle and consume the light. As the bible tells us, Satan is like a roaring lion looking to steal, kill and destroy. My reaction to her presence was to walk nearby and pray against all that she represents for the battle for the preservation of innocent young lives in this community is not against the flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.