Just a brief update taken from my latest Facebook post:

I've been visiting Alabaster House regularly on Wednesday nights before I came back to Malaysia this summer break. I started ukulele lessons for selected children who are interested in the instrument, and I also spend time singing worship songs in the ladies' common room. I know I am called to love and minister to these wonderful individuals and the best way I can do it is through music.

I've seen mothers dropping by to shower their babies, have a meal and have a safe place to spend the night. The staff and volunteers at Alabaster House always, always, always welcome them with unconditional love and would treat them with respect and dignity that every human being deserves - something that is quite rare when you live on the streets or work as a sex worker.

I have yet to master my Khmer language to be able to hold deeper conversations with the girls so I usually just sing to them. The last Wednesday I went there, one of the ladies came into the common room and asked if she could just rest there while I sang. Before long, she laid down and fell asleep as I sang words of love, hope, grace, freedom, and peace over her... Even as I'm typing this, I have tears in my eyes because the thought of her being so comfortable and trusting just moves my heart. It's been impressed upon my heart over and over again that Alabaster House is a place of restoration and rest for these ladies. Whether or not they decide to leave their lifestyle, they are loved with no questions asked. If they intend to start a new lifestyle, the wonderful people at Open Arms will be more than happy to help them transition. It is a place where they don't have to put on a front to please anyone; a place they can just be themselves and be loved.

It is always wonderful to hear touching stories from this place and it almost feels like a fairytale with an eventual happy ending. I usually do not share heavy things on Facebook because I think the world has enough of crazy stuff going around and I prefer to share personally if anyone is interested to find out more. But I think it's time to call a spade a spade. The reality is things are much more challenging than we imagine them to be. There is still so much to do in this country that many times people who come here to help feel discouraged because we either don't know where to start or when it will ever really get better. All we can do is to focus on loving one life at a time. Alabaster House needs support with donations (funds/items) to keep it running. There are 2 full-time staff who dedicate their lives to love the women in the area and their salary needs to be paid. Rental needs to be paid every month with utility bills. As much as Alabaster House is receiving, or has received, financial support, the need is still persisting because it is an ongoing effort. I pray that one day we will not need Alabaster House anymore but until that day arrives, I pray for providence for this wonderful place.

I will be running my Spartan Super race this 9th July in KL. I hope that you will support me with your prayers. If you would like to donate to my Run For Restoration fundraiser for Open Arms Cambodia, please do not hesitate to drop me a note and I can give you more details.

If you have a PayPal account or if you would like to donate via credit card, you can do so on my fundraiser page:

https://assets.gogetfunding.com/joaans-run-for-restoration/

If you would like to do a bank transfer, please drop me a private message and I will give you my bank details. I've raised 271USD so far and any amount you wish to donate will play a part in loving and transforming lives.

Since I am only a volunteer on a weekly basis, I won't be able to give you a full report on Alabaster House but If you would like to find out more about my experience to get a better idea of the situation, please talk to me and I will find a way to meet up with you to share. There are certain things that I am not allowed to share on this public platform and I also cannot share photos here because our top priority is always the wellbeing of the ladies and children, and therefore, we have to protect their identities.

Thank you

----------

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."