Josh (not his real name) is the newest addition to our shelter in Pattaya.  XP partners with Mercy Home on the ground in Thailand to shelter children who are coming from backgrounds of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

We went to pick up Josh this week from his home in the slum.  Josh, 3 years old, was living with his grandfather, four other cousins, and several aunts and uncles in a small house.  Josh’s parents are in jail for drug trafficking.  Josh is actually the little brother of one of our kids from the XP shelter and on a home visit, our staff found Josh’s brother wandering by the railroad with a big wound on his leg.  Josh’s brother had suffered much abuse and we pray that Josh never has to go through that.

The brothers will be reunited at the Mercy Home and we are so grateful to God for allowing us to place this little boy in a house full of love and care.

Josh’s grandfather signing the paperwork with our STAR social worker Sudjai.

Josh having his first meal with us.

One of our main values as a missions team is that, if possible, a child should be placed with their own family.  Sadly, in many situations, the kids cannot stay with the family because it isn’t safe.  As a team, XP Missions always tries to help the family as well as the child, and provide a safe and loving environment for the child to grow up in.

Kate (not her real name) came to our shelter three years ago when she was 8 years old. Kate had suffered sexual abuse in her community because her parents left her behind on most days while they went to work.  Because of that distortion, she was determined that she wanted to be a prostitute when she grew up.  She made friends with the local brothel owners and she admired the beautiful ladies who worked there.

Kate had previously stayed in our XP shelter for a year, then she was placed in a special school because she had delayed learning due to trauma.  Her family has moved to a better location since and they are now able to take care of Kate on the weekends.

As a team, we “put our money where our mouth is” to see families prosper and children provided for.  Various team pooled together some finances to buy fishing equipment for Kate’s family.  Kate has two little sisters and a grandma and their family lives in dire poverty.  By helping them set up a small business, they will be able to send their children to school and provide dignity and support for the kids.

Here is a picture of Kate’s sisters, their mom and grandma on our visit to their house to tell them the good news.

Here is one of the two fishing nets that we are buying in addition to the other equipment to sell the fish.

This is a small look into our time on the ground in Thailand.  The rest of our time this week has been filled with police meetings, trafficking case work and even a visit to the local hospital to try and help a mom who wants to abandon her child.

God is our main source and our main provider.  Our time is His and our purpose is to bring His undying love to those who need him the most.  Thank you for partnering with us and allowing us to serve the Kingdom in this capacity.

- Malina Enlund

Come join the XP team in Cambodia this July and share the love of Jesus in the brothels, the streets, the parks and the villages!  We target specific areas with prayer, and do a variety of outreaches specific to social justice issues.

We have 1 and 2-week outreaches planned, and it’s always a very impacting time, for both the people reached by the love of Christ, as well as those that come over to serve!

Our next school runs July 7-14 and July 14-21, so there is still time to plan, pray and raise the finances to serve overseas on this short-term missions trip.  We often have people returning a second time, because they see the impact of their love, their care, their sharing and their prayers in a powerful way!

We’d love to have you join us, so pray and click here for more information.

Feel free to contact us for more information: cambodia@xpmissions.com

There are many contributing issues, making it a complex and challenging task to bring an end to the trafficking of humans for sexual
exploitation.  Thankfully, there are many people and organizations at work, from the social-justice level to changing the governmental laws to tackling the underlying issues of poverty and injustice.

But sometimes I think that there is also a disconnect between what happens in the privacy of people’s own homes and what happens globally in this area of sex trafficking.  We are all spiritually connected, and when a person views pornography within their own secretive space, they may not think they’re doing anything that hurts other people, but they are fueling and contributing to the spirit of sexual perversion that is running rampant over this entire earth.

Each act of violation against God’s righteous standard strengthens the powers of the air in this area of sexual perversion – lust and greed together fuel the connected injustices of porn and sex trafficking.

Justice and purity go hand-in-hand, and the counsel of God clearly shows this connection:

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27

One area of staying unstained by the world is to stay clear of pornography.  The word pornography comes from the Greek word pornographos, closely related to the Greek word porneia, which is translated “sexual immorality”, used numerous times in the New Testament.  What this helps us understand is that pornography is morally wrong: it degrades and objectifies women, men, and children. Somewhere, someone along the line, has received payment for their sexual poses, and this is a form of prostitution.  The consumption of porn is the selfish use of other human beings, who bear the image of God, as sexual objects to satisfy one’s own lust, which is the exact opposite of God’s heart of self-sacrificing love.

Research continues to link porn-use to many undesirable outcomes, including depression, anger, sexual violence, divorce, sexual dysfunction, low self-esteem, spiritual malaise, and negative attitudes toward women.  All of these take a toll on both the individual and society.

If you’re caught in the throes of a pornography addiction, there are many helpful resources available.  Humbling oneself and admitting there is a problem is the first step of bringing this hidden, shame-filled addiction to the light.  Then, just like any other addiction, it is necessary to look at the underlying issues.  Telling someone to “just stop porn” is like telling the alcoholic to “just stop drinking”.  Bringing healing to the underlying issues becomes critical to become fully free from any addition, and it’s good to know that there is deliverance and freedom by the power of God’s Spirit and by gathering the help of other godly men and women.

If your spouse is addicted to pornography, first understand that your spouse’s addiction is not your fault and that it is okay to feel wounded and betrayed.  Second, do not tolerate your spouse’s sexual sin – your spouse’s life, your marriage, your kids, and your family’s testimony of Christ are at stake.  Third, confront your spouse with grace and truth, recognizing that he or she is likely deeply wounded and in need of healing while at the same time communicating that his or her unfaithfulness will not be tolerated.  Fourth, insist that your spouse honor you and his or her wedding vows to you, and that he or she confess their transgressions and commit to finding help.  Fifth, pray with and for your spouse, asking God to heal hurts and bring health and hope where none previously existed.

Click photo below for free e-book:

Let’s all work together to bring down this spirit of sexual perversion that is ruining the lives of so many men, women and children, both locally and globally.  Together, let’s help stop the trafficking of humans for sexual exploitation.

Such is the life of intrepid missionaries, Don & Elizabeth Kantel.  These Canadians work tirelessly among the orphaned and vulnerable children in Mozambique in an area called Mieze Village, which is a comprehensive prototype for transformational village ministry.  It’s about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the large Pemba Base that IRIS operates.

They face challenges, such as seeing their humble home’s porch collapse after heavy rains.  Repairing their home will cost about $6,500 and a month to complete.  Then their 17-year-old truck’s engine had to be rebuilt, costing another $3,000.  Yes, just another day in the life of a missionary living by faith in God’s provision!

Not only do they face these physical challenges, they also face the other daily challenges of death, sickness and extreme poverty.  Recently, two people in their lives died of malaria, an 11-year-old boy and another missionary.  Death is a pervasive fact in Mozambique, and a reality that adds urgency to their proclamation of the Gospel.

Pray for Don & Elizabeth, as it’s during seasons like this current one, that the weight of serving the Lord in another nation can feel daunting.  They’re amazing, pressing in against all the trials and tribulations, laying down their lives and living simply, so that others may simply live.

XP is a proud monthly sponsor of this amazing project which includes farming, gardening, schools, food programs, clean-water programs and life-skills training.  Check out their various projects here!

Let’s pray, support and love on the Kantel’s while serving in Meize Village in Mozambique under IRIS – they truly are some of God’s finest!

Headed up by Jason & Kellie Holbeche, this group currently has 9 full-time workers in Phnom Penh, reaching out to the people on the streets, and learning the language and the culture in this introductory season.  They hope to soon open a rehabilitation center for boys that have been rescued, as the need for placement for young boys is very great.

Our worker on the ground, Andrea Aassen, has been in relationship with this team over the months and loves their passion and their focus and we’re pleased to be working with them, adding our love, support and prayers to their vision.

As a practical prayer point, please agree together with them that their official Cambodian government status as a non-profit foundation goes through, and that they have favor with the various government officials, as this is of huge importance in working with the right officials in this area of trafficking.

Check out the Iris-Cambodia web-site for further details and up-to-date news of happenings with this amazing ministry!