A Passion for Children

Jesus Cares!

He prompts you to pray for children whom you have never met living in countries you may never have heard of. His love motivates and sustains us as we minister to children at risk and in crisis. When our hearts break as we hear stories of children in desperate circumstances being neglected or hurt or exploited, we know His heart breaks even more. God bless you as you read these stories from South East Asia and learn of the teams helping to change children in crisis to children in Christ.

―Wendy Dezan, ROH International Coordinator

South East Asia's Children at Risk

• Millions of children in SE Asia are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.
• Cambodia has the highest infant mortality rate in this region.
• An estimated one million children of primary school age in Thailand either do not go to school or enroll years later.
• More than one third of Cambodians live below poverty level, struggling to survive on less than $1 a day.

Source: UNICEF

Do You See What I See?
Cambodia

By Julia Clark (ROH Prayer Coordinator)

One day while visiting a slum I saw a group of young children in the distance. As I neared the group I realized they were not playing, as I had assumed, but were sifting through trash to collect recyclables. My heart began to break as I watched a seven-year-old train a three-year-old boy on how to separate trash into the different bags (metal, plastic, etc.). The younger boy then picked up a small toy car from the trash, and instead of playing with it, he proceeded to break the car into parts to sort into the various recycling bags. He didn’t even know it was a toy! That scene will stay with me forever. Please pray that God will provide a way out for these children and their families.

Bringing Light!  

Many slum communities in Phnom Penh have been relocated to areas an hour or more outside of the city. The homes they left behind were burned to the ground to prevent their return. These displaced families often find no shelter, and no services such as water, electricity or sewage. They receive no financial compensation, and there are no new jobs.

Villagers who have farmed the soil for generations may also fall victim to land grabbing. Slums now exist in several villages surrounding Phnom Penh. With no schools, no employment opportunities and no rights, the villagers face a future with little hope. Their traditional beliefs have conditioned them to accept their plight as fate. They cope with despair by drinking and gambling which only deepens their poverty and hopelessness. In these dire circumstances children are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Into this darkness the WEC Cambodia team brings the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray for the workers as they bring good news to the villages and see the lives of children, youth and families transformed.

Mango Trees and Mustard Seeds

In 2001 WEC missionaries traveled to a village in Cambodia to share Jesus. When they realized that children could not attend school because of the distance, they began classes under a mango tree. A year later the school moved to a rented thatched hut on stilts. In 2005  the Lord provided a proper school building. A house church, birthed in 2004, and the school are now under the leadership of local believers. Over 100 village children are grateful for the opportunity to attend school. 

Workers Sharon Lim and Rosalind Lee initiated Mustard Seed Cambodia, an income-generating project producing handmade body soaps. The vision of this cottage industry, undertaken by the local church, is to help both the church and school become self supporting. The project also provides job skills and part-time employment for economically-disadvantaged youth as they further their education at a regional high school. Through love, integrity and business ethics Mustard Seed Cambodia shows Christ to the community.

In Jesus’ Name
Thailand

Climb the steep stairs to the second floor of the storefront church in the village of KhomVelai, Thailand, and you will find yourself in a room with child appeal. Large colorful illustrations painted on the walls highlight scenes from familiar Bible stories. Child-sized tables and chairs welcome little ones. Here workers Malcolm and Kerstin Gray and their team invite local children to experience the fun of Kids' Club. Laughter fills the air as they enjoy songs,  games and crafts. The children thrive under this loving attention. A shy girl offers a smile, a rowdy boy settles into a lap to hear a Bible story while a timid preschooler thrills at being asked to hand out papers. God’s love is taught and demonstrated.

Some of these children have already experienced a lifetime’s worth of pain. Their families are trapped in a cycle of debt that ensnares much of the community. Merit making through money offered to earn favor with the spirits siphons off income. Parents work long hours seven days a week, often in far away cities, to make more money. To escape life's drudgery they resort to alcohol, drugs or gambling which only increases their debt. Once again, they try to please the spirits with offerings to gain a way out. Children are left to fend for themselves or are minded by elderly relatives. Sometimes they, too, must work to help pay the debts. Into this despair the WEC team brings the hope found in Jesus Christ.

Mark and Sally's Stories

By Kerstin Gray

Mark* (8) was about three years old when his dad died in an accident. Mark has already been a novice at the Buddhist temple a couple of times. His mother has moved away and found a new boyfriend, leaving Mark in the care of his elderly and alcoholic grandparents. On some holidays he can go to stay with his mother and her new boyfriend.

One day Mark's mother came back to the village to visit him. She was badly bruised from a beating by her boyfriend. She stayed around the village until she healed and then went back. Mark said he has seen his mom being beaten before. He comes every now and then to our Kids' Club. With his beautiful singing voice, nothing is more wonderful than to hear him sing, “There is nothing too difficult for God” as he walks along the road.

Sally* has not only moved numerous times in her life, but her guardian has changed with each move. Often she stays with her very old, betel-nut chewing and alcoholic grandma. The grandmother does not mind telling people how much she dislikes Sally’s parents, and that Sally is available for adoption. Sally’s dad keeps making promises of coming to visit, buying gifts for her, or taking her on outings―none of which ever come true. Slowly Sally is opening up and allowing a little bit of love to soften her heart.

The WEC Thailand team is focused on evangelism, church planting and nurturing in the provinces of Tak, Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet in Northwest Thailand. The main thrust of all the ministries is to see the name of Jesus exalted. With over 400 villages still without any believers, opportunities for evangelism abound. Come and join us in sharing Christ with the least, the last and the lost!

*Children’s names have been changed

Be the change you want to see!

Stories and statistics of hurting children can break your heart. What can YOU do?

PRAY

• Pray for these children and  workers in Southeast Asia
• Sign up to receive the Rainbows of Hope monthly prayer bulletin.
• Pray with a friend, your family, a group or share  prayer points with your church

GO

• Opportunities exist to serve with ROH and WEC for two weeks to a lifetime!

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