Bora Rescued: Now off to Ratanakiri

Rescued from human trafficking in Southeast Asia, Bora has become a cross cultural communicator of the gospel in Northeast Cambodia. Several years ago while working as a cashier her boss accused her of taking money. Her boss set up a long term payment program requiring her to work several years to pay off the money. Unable make the payment quickly, Bora sought refuge in another country to earn money to pay off her debt. She worked and lived in a compound that gave her no freedom to come and go as she pleased. A new found friend helped her escape from captivity. She gives testimony of the incremental steps God opened for her as she returned to Cambodia without money or passport. 

God placed within her a desire to study and become a midwife. While she waited certification for a government job, she gained experience working at a well equipped and staffed local delivery unit. Desiring to be well prepared for her future cross cultural ministry she trained with Community Health Evangelism (CHE). 

Photo by Bora
On the road again

With her certification in hand she was took an assignment in a remote area of Cambodia. As she described to us her opportunity to serve in Northeastern Cambodia at a new health center, her trust in God and excitement for the future can hardly be contained. She calmly told us about the journey of 520 kilometers to Ratanakiri taking more than 12 hours on a small motorcycle. Nancy and I realized she may need a van to carry her belongings. We offered to rent a van and make the trip with her. Knowing the past faithfulness of God, she told us not to worry. She would talk with several van drivers, who have vans to carry multiple people plus motorcycles. God rewarded her faith with an inexpensive ride.

Photo by Bora
Nhhang Health Center

Bora’s walk with God demonstrates her confidence that God guides and direct her path. 

Please pray for her as she has taken this challenging midwife position. She will work with minority tribes speaking several different languages without the immediate back up of a physician. She desires that God will be the light shining through her in a very difficult place.

HEARD

God spoke the world and everything we see into existence by His word. Even now the world hangs together by the very word of God. Amazingly the Word took on human form and lived, died and came to life again on this earth to draw men to himself. Even though many, well most of us have adequate hearing, we with regularity close our ears to the words that God speak.

Imagine living in a place where you cannot hear and your hope of hearing does not exist. A few months ago we met a young lady working at a resort along the ocean in southern Cambodia. Her employer rewarded her good quality of work as an employee of the month in spite of her inability to hear. Her brother also a resort employ works with her to help understand her job. Using a tuning fork I carried with me I found that her nerve conduction intact suggesting a hearing aid could be helpful. After we became aware of her dilemma we explored different avenues to help her hearing. None worked out. In our recent stay at the resort I saw the deaf young lady cleaning our room, reminding me of her dilemma. It came to me that I could look online for a hearing aid. After a quick search, I found one that was very inexpensive. A youtube review suggested the inexpensive aid’s quality almost equaled one costing over a thousand dollars.. I let the resort management know that the hearing aid I ordered should arrive in the next 30 days or so. Almost immediately young  lady’s brother came to me anxiously happy to give me the money for the hearing aid. I wanted to pay for the hearing aid but I also did not want to rob him of joyfully serving his sister. The brothers excitement could hardly be contained with the hope that his sister could one day hear. Wow! what amazing love he has for his sister. 

As I reflect on this event I must deal with my hardened heart. This young man’s attitude reminds me of the Word who became human who now loves us fervently. I become aware that I with open ears should listen to the Word of God to help guide my heart and mind. How shall I show love to those around me? 

Love of Money

The love of money according the scripture is the root of much evil. In the course of paying translators for a recent medical team, God used the receiving of money to enter the hearts and minds those who came to our apartment. 

When the first two came one talked about her recent engagement to a foreigner, who stated he was a Christian. As we talked further we realized her finance’ was member of the Christadelphian sect which does not believe in hell, the devil, the trinity and a few other non Biblical ideas. Her companion stated that if indeed she was a true believer in Christ she should stand for her beliefs and the doctrines of the Bible. Her companion observes several of her friends who stated they were Christian, married ones who were not believers.  Consequently, they very quickly found themselves in a life style straying away from their beliefs. She was thankful her boyfriend showed evidence of a heart to follow after Christ. As you pray, ask God to enlighten the heart of these two young ladies.

The next young lady glowed with a testimony of how God sustained her through difficult times.  She recently interviewed for a job, but she presented herself poorly. I know a couple of people who work at the place where she interviewed and I could put in a good word for her. As an outgrowth of her faith God she felt God will care for her whether I talked with my friends or not. Then she thought how unfair it would be for the other candidates who did not have connections. The question came to me. Do I believe God is the one who cares for me or do I rely upon my network of relationships?

  

When the next young man and lady came we talked about church, Jesus and God. The young man stated he was not a Christian, but the young lady had become Christian about a year ago. As a child the young heard about Jesus, but did not like what she heard, to the point that she became angry when people talked about Jesus. Because of this knowledge she has been hesitant to share about Jesus with her classmates. The young man came as a translator on the invitation of two Christian young ladies. He was not aware that they were Christians. However, as he participated with the medical team he heard about Jesus. He eagerly downloaded the Khmer Bible app on his smartphone and smiled as he heard the first part of Matthew. Now he has two Christian friends who will continue to talk with him about the good news of new life in Christ.

So it appears that coming along side Christian translators who invite their friends the door opens for them to discuss their faith in the Christ-centered environment of the medical team.