Updates From Stephanie Freed-- USA Director of Rapha House (ARM's Home for Girls) in Cambodia

 
August, 2005

Our Administrator, sends this report:  In June we selected 6 girls from the center to become team leaders for the girls at the center, These 6 team leaders learn more and responsibility of the job assigned by the house mother and close supervision from the administrator and director.  So far they learn a lot and leading the team is much better and effective to the daily work.

Staff building: Sy Noun still participate the one year course of training in Phnom Penh, but the course will finished in August 2005 then we will send another person to participate one more course relate to after program and how to deal with the girls. Nary will be the one to participate with new course. Since April 2005 all staff meet together to develop the internal policy of the organization such as policy for staff, work plan, budget plan, internal regulation of the center.  Keep remember and pray for our staff, it is hard work for us in this area but so far we learn a lot and know direction that we want to go in future.

Building and paper work for the land deed: Thank God for all the paper work and official land deed we got everything from the Land department and ministry in Phnom Penh. After we got all the paper work then we proceeded for the building permission for ARM Rapha House. With presence of Bill Blair, we got a builder and had contract signed and the building construction is going on. It is going well.  The builder finished the fence and now are being built the foundation of the main building. 

All the girls at Rapha House are mature in the Lord they are progress both in physical and spiritual. It is a long way to go with them help and training them in order to change their life in the future. That is a great blessing that they are able to lead bible study and some lead cell group bible study. Some are Sunday school teachers; we hope that God converted them and changing them from trafficking to churches planter. It is my vision in the next 3 years or 5 years that churches will be planted through them when we reintegrate them back to the community.

ARM is ministering to needy girls -- some as young as 8 years of age -- who have been victimized in the human slave trade in Cambodia thru the Rapha House.  

Did you see the Rapha House article in July 24, 2005 LOOKOUT?  
If you want to read it, click here: www.raphahouse.org/joy.htm

July, 2005

Betsy Evert, a retired schoolteacher who has spent much time at Rapha House, raised money to send the girls on a "little trip." Now, these are girls who have never left the province of their villages. Their worlds are very small. For some, their world was as small as the walls and gates of their slave owner’s establishments. We asked Heng, our dorm mother, what the girls would like to do. The word came back, "Girls never been to sea. Girls want to go to sea."

News is a little slow in reaching Cambodia. Some weeks later, we received another message from Heng. "Girls don’t want to go to sea. Girls afraid of tsunami."  I tried to communicate to the girls that fear should never keep them from a great opportunity, but it was to no avail. Their world is very small, and they are now afraid of the sea.

Instead, we rented a small bus and sent them only 4 hours down the road to Siem Reap. This was a huge trip for these girls. Siem Reap is a tourism area for Cambodia. There the girls learned the history of their country in the historical village and saw ancient ruins. They put on their best clothes and hats to keep the sun from darkening their skin, and they absolutely had a ball. For a few days, they just got to be tourists in their own land - a land they really know so little about. 

Thanks for making this wonderful ministry possible.  --- Stephanie Freed, USA Director

 
June, 2005

President Bush has further documented the need of ministry to the victims of the sex slave trade in SE Asian countries like Cambodia.  In a Florida speech made last year, the president highlighted more of his initiatives against human trafficking. Why does President Bush give so much time and attention to this issue? For one thing, foreign human trafficking is moving ever closer to this country.

The president pointed out a recent study by the Protection Project at Johns Hopkins University. It found that Cuba has joined Southeast Asia as a destination for pedophiles and sex tourists.  That makes it easier for U.S. citizens to participate in this vile trade. And this, whether it takes place within our borders or outside them, is a betrayal of everything our nation stands for.

April, 2005

SUMMARY:  The land has been purchased. We are now waiting to receive all the paperwork. About$36,000 is still needed to build and furnish the new building.  Gifts of any size for Rapha House may be sent to ARM, Rt. 5 Box 159, Salem, MO  65560.  Here is a recent press release about the work:

American Rehabilitation Ministries has been recognized by the Kingdom of Cambodia as an official Non-Government Organization (NGO) at a signing ceremony led by Ouch Borith, former ambassador to the United States and current Cambodian Secretary of State. ARM is now legally certified to build Rapha House, a home for abandoned and abused girls who have been or are at risk of being trafficked into slavery and the sex trade. 

Rapha is the Hebrew word for “healing”, and in cooperation with other anti-human trafficking NGOs, will provide a safe shelter for girls in trouble. The girls will be taught the Bible, computer skills, sewing, and how to read and write English and Khmer. ARM’s goal is to return the girls to their own communities to potentially teach Bible study groups and help establish churches. Rapha House will serve as an educational center and secure harbor until the girls develop enough personal and professional skills to enter the work force and feel confident enough to return to their families or friends. 

Rapha House has been operating without government recognition since 2001. Rapha’s girls currently live in a rented house with a Cambodian staff consisting of around-the-clock dorm mothers and security guards. Other workers include a supervisor, a business manager, language and sewing teachers, and a nurse/counselor.  Rapha House also provides educational training for “at risk” girls in the surrounding communities and dispatches teams of workers to remote villages to conduct town meetings and distribute pamphlets concerning the craftiness and evil deceit of sex predators. As a result, Rapha House has received support from the Chief of Police, the City Fathers and the local citizenry.

Rapha House is not for everyone. Some girls prefer to work in the lucrative sex trade and even attempt to recruit Rapha House girls on their way home from school or in the open market. Organized crime is everywhere and prostitution is big business. In a recent interview Joe Garman said, “Some of the girls who will be coming to Rapha House have experienced extreme verbal abuse. The majority of them are younger than 18 and lack proper hygiene. They will suffer from an array of mental disorders, depression, alcohol and drug addiction, fear of being kidnapped again, low self-esteem, rebellious and suicidal tendencies, sexually transmitted diseases, skepticism and suspicion. Treating their emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs will be a lengthy process and monumental task; but rescuing, rehabilitating, and redeeming these victims of prostitution is the work of God.”

Jesus showed compassion for the oppressed…and by the grace of God we will follow in His footsteps. Our daily prayer is that He will protect us and raise us up as a “City of Refuge” for children and women caught up in Asia’s sex trade and that our ministry will be well pleasing to Him.

We have already purchased a 10,000-square meter tract of land (about a football field long and a football field wide). Under the Lord’s leading we will build Rapha House as part of a Christian campus with ample room for fruit trees, gardens and recreational activities. Rapha House will accommodate 48 girls. For those seeking escape from the brothel, they will find a caring and loving staff at Rapha House, who believe Christ when He said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you give Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:35,36,40, NASB).
March, 2005

Joe Garman just arrived back in Joplin from his trip to Cambodia. The process of acquiring our own property for the Rapha House (formerly the "House of Hope") is moving along, though slowly since we are dealing with a very unstable government. But the girls are still being loved, cared for, and led to Christ. At the same time, the Lord is providing for the continued growth of our evangelistic programs for prisons!
December, 2004
 
     I will get right to the point here, as I am sure you are all wondering why we must change our very poignant name.  This summer, we encountered another ministry in Cambodia called House of Hope.  They also work  in Cambodia, but they do a similar work.  To avoid any confusion, and to promote brotherly love, we have conceded to change our name.  We were troubled at first, because we felt our name stated our work so perfectly, but as always, God showed us that He is in control. 
 
     In the Old Testament, God connected His name with the Hebrew word "rapha", which means "to heal" or "healing".  He revealed himself as Yahweh Rapha- the Lord who heals.  He promised the Israelites that He would heal them if they would keep His commandments.  (Exodus 15:26)  How beautiful and true to this day!  We are claiming this covenant for the girls who live at our home in Cambodia.  They are in desperate need of the Healer- Yahweh Rapha. 
 
     Everything remains the same within the ministry.  Our name is the only change.  Please continue to partner with us in the rescue and harbor of these precious girls.  It is your financial and prayer support which makes this ministry possible. Now, at Christmas, we are especially thankful for our families, and for the love that surrounds us.  The girls at Rapha House finally have an opportunity to know pure love.  They are sheltered by a Godly staff who has rescued them from their traffickers.  They also have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ. 
 
     We are very excited to see some of the very first girls who came to the home now mentoring the younger girls.  We are exceptionally proud of Ratha, who was the very first girl to come live at Rapha House.  Ratha now teaches sewing classes to the younger girls, and performs the duties of a resident assistant.    Ratha's life is far different from the life she was living in slavery before this ministry began.  She never believed she would have the opportunity to go to school and live in the kind of freedom we all take for granted. 
 
     The statistics tell us that there are literally thousands upon thousands of young girls whom are trafficked every year in Cambodia alone.  Most of them end up in the sex trade.  To their traffickers, they are simply possessions to be bought and sold.  To their creator, however, they are the apple of His eye. 
 
     During this Christmas season, some of these girls will hear, for the very first time, the story of a baby who was sent to this earth to become their Savior.  Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share that story with them. 
 
     Please join us in the prayer that every girl who comes to Rapha House would accept Christ as her Savior. May Yahweh Rapha be present in your home this Christmas season, blessing your family with peace and joy.
 
 
November, 2004
 
CLARIFICATION ON COMMUNICATION WITH THE GIRLS:  At this time, our policy is that we cannot allow correspondence between supporters and the girls.  This is an overall safety issue we have had to adopt after interviewing other organizations doing similar work.  These are not little orphan children.  These are girls who have come out of terrible circumstances.  Our two major concerns were that something could be said that could hurt them, or that they may say something inappropriate to their sponsor.  Of course, we don’t believe we would have this problem, but as an overall policy, that is what we had to do.  Also, the biggest concern was that some of these girls would get letters and gifts every month and some would never get anything.  There has just been too much trauma in their lives already.  I hope you can understand why we can’t allow personal communication at this time.  It is a question that comes up a lot and one that we keep discussing.
October, 2004
 
Another rescue ministry was discovered to have already been using "House of Hope" so our name has been changed to "The Rapha House" meaning "House of Healing."  Rapha was the first girl rescued; the Hebrew equivalent means "healing."
 
There is now both a counselor and a gynecologist from the local church serving the girls’ needs. Government changes have delayed our property process some, but we continue to minister to the 19 girls in our care and move forward toward our own facility.  Your prayers and gifts are such a blessing.
September, 2004

Greetings from Cambodia...

Thanks for all your efforts on behalf of the girls at the home.  Being here with them reminds me why we do what we do.  Most of them -- former Buddhists -- have now been baptized into Christ.  They seem happy and content.  They are good girls who need a chance to have safety and love in their lives.  I took great pleasure in just holding them.  I could tell that some of them had never been given the gift of human touch.  I would hug them and their bodies were rigid, and then they would just melt into me and cling to me.  Some of them cried when I held them. Their own families have discarded them.  They have nothing, but the safety of our home and the hope of Christ.  So, thank you ... and all who continue to stand in the gap for these girls. 
Blessings to you!  -- Stephanie

 
Update from the ARM House of Hope in Cambodia
April 21, 2004
   
    At about 2:00 A.M. this morning, our brother, Po Sarith, went to be with the Lord.  Po lived an incredibly difficult life without any luxuries.  I would love to see his face right now as he sees the splendor of Heaven!  I can hear his contagious laughter in my heart- those of you fortunate enough to have known him, know just what I am talking about.  Thank you for all your prayers over the past three weeks as Po struggled after sufferring the strokes.  Please continue to pray for his family and all the girls and staff at House of Hope.  This ministry was his life's vision.  The girls he risked his life to rescue truly thought of him as a father. 
     This is a huge blow to the staff there, but we must continue now more than ever to push ahead.  That is what Po would have wanted.  A wonderful Cambodian man, is currently working in Po's position.  He and Po had worked closely together, and he has a heart for the work.  Veha needs extra prayer.  Right now, she feels the weight of the world resting on her young shoulders.   Bill Blair, ARM VP, will be journeying to Cambodia in May to begin plans for land prep, and for the actual build job.  My father, Joe Garman, will join him in June.
     Please remember House of Hope, and Po's family in your prayers.  As I struggle with the question, "why", I am reminded that it is my job just to trust and obey...So we pick up the torch that Po lit, and we obediently carry it forward.

Stephanie Garman Freed
USA Director -- House of Hope Cambodia
 
April 15, 2004
Very recently, we received word from a brother and co-worker in SE Asia that our key leader in Cambodia,  Po Sarith, had suffered a serious medical condition. It has been diagnosed as a ruptured intracranial aneurysm.  He was in a Phnom Penh hospital on life support over the weekend. Slight improvement has been seen and we urge you to pray for God's will in his recovery.
 
This comes at a time when we are moving forward on the purchase land in an ideal location for the House of Hope.  Finalization of the purchase is ongoing as we write.  Please keep Po Sarith, the girls, our staff, and everyone involved in your prayers.
 

ARM report

Reporting Period: September 16 – October 15, 2003

Type of Report: ARM projects

I. GENERAL SITUATION

There are 2 staff members working for ARM projects. Currently ARM projects specific support to 33 beneficiaries. It was spliced to 6 categories such as : 1) The girls in shelter based care. 2) The poor of poor girls at risk activities at home based care. 3) The women ( HIV/ AIDS/ Seriously disease ) 4) The children home based care. 5) Prisoners in jail. 6) Visit the former prisoners.

The main work: The activities of spreading the Gospel in jail. to collect and share all related information, rescuing, preventing, take caring, providing skills and knowledge for the girls and women and also for the children.

II. TASK ACHIEVEMENT

    1. Spread the Gospel to 7 prisoners in jail and visited their families.
    2. Train two leaders for ministry in jail.
    3. Took a girl from a KARAOKE night club.
    4. Contacted with Ek Phmnom district officer for a abusing cast of Chek (a girl )
    5. Two girls attended with the Christian Institute For Education.
    6. There are 20 girls and women attended with the sewing training courses.
    7. Counseling to 7 poor of poor families about how to take care the children.
    8. Set up the crisis women in group to help each others, share the idea and how to start a small business.
    9. Bible study

&#. Counseling to the girls and women.

III. COMPARISON OF TARGET VERSUS ACTUAL PROGRESS

Performance

Activities

Performance

Indicator

Target for

Actual for

Percentage for

The Year

The Period

The Period

Running Total

  

Running Total

Reach out the prison

Spreading Gospel in

jail

100

1 year

2 month

19

  

19.00%

Home for

Girl ( Shelter based home based )

Take caring

provide Skills

48

1

year

2

month

15

  

31.25 %

Collect information relate to violence

 

Receiving the priority cast

asking for help.

50

1 year

2

month

7

  

14. %

The target are focus on the prisoner and on the crisis girl, women and children

 

IV. PROBLEM / ISSUES

  1. The children, the girl, and women lacked food
  2. Some the parents plea for help from the girls.
  3. The prisoners who has not relative provide an additional food are thinned and sicked.

V. ACTION TO BE TAKEN

  1. Raised the problem to discuss with donors.
  2. Set up awareness of how parents love children in Christ.
  3. Sam Oll a former a prisoner, he is as a leader and the term have visited the prisoners every week.

They are happy then they met Samoll and the team, they filled confidence and trust God.

VI. PLAN FOR NEXT MONTH

  1. Rescues two girls.
  2. Spreading the Gospel in jail 7
  3. Baptism #9; #9; 5
  4. Set up women group home based
  5. Train group home based about family take care, family development in Christ way.
  6. Set up group poor of poor girl from Rattanak Mondol district, their activities at risk in city. And allow these 10 girls to attend with the sewing training and other skills and knowledge.
  7. Others

VII. ANNEX

- Financial report and list of the girl and women in center

- We send all of original invoices latter by post.

Could you please tell me if you have any comments or suggestions.

May God richly bless you.

Yours in Jesus Christ,

  • Dated: October16, 2003

    • Compiled by: Prom Veha Supervisor

              Checked by:  Paul Po Sarith, KCS field director