Sitting here on Sunday night, I’m just hours away from driving down to Atlanta to board a plane to Bangkok. I’m so excited about returning to Thailand and Cambodia! The total trip time is from May 20-June 13. I’ll be support staffing 2 short term trips, and can’t wait to return to the friends and relationships we have made there! I can’t wait to see Little Pong in action again, greet the lady who sells drinks in front of Pat Pong, find out if the Christian vendor is still there. Can’t wait to catch up with the ministries working in both Bangkok and Phnom Penh, to tie a bracelet onto the bar doors during the day, to prayer walk at the river front, catch up with Alli and the AIM staff in Cambodia, meet these new teams, and most of all, see what God does.
There’s been so much going on that it hasn’t felt real. Now, staring at my suitcase, I’m suddenly realizing this is happening. But I wanted to tell you about all the goings on before I leave! Here’s what my last week looked like:
Freedom Project:
Last Saturday was the Freedom Project‘s Crocodile Crawl and the showing of Nefarious. Both events were great- and very successful- but in very different ways. Over 150 people showed up to run in the 5K in Roswell! I was a part of that crowd and actually managed to do run it without stopping, which was a first for me. The entire day was so neat- to be a part of something so big.
That showing of Nefarious was also good, but we’re beginning to think the point of the evening wasn’t raising awareness. I think it was to learn about trafficking right here in Gainesville.
A police officer walked in just as the movie was starting. He saw our posters in town and knew specifically of an area in Gainesville where Guatemalans are being trafficked. Right here, in our own town. We’d known there were places in town where it was rumored to happen… but now we have a location. A street name.
This isn’t just a problem on the other side of the world. It’s in Atlanta… and even here in little Gainesville.
Because of this officer’s visit and the information he was allowed to share, we are able to do something. Prayer walking the area, looking for signs of trafficking, reporting what we see… etc.
This bigger-than-life project, where two youth groups are raising $40,000 to build a safe house in Cambodia, is already having a much larger impact–a global impact–than any of us expected.
Long Term Missions:
Earlier this spring my boss and the Director of Long Term Missions, Mark, told me that God was calling he and his family to North Africa. Within a few weeks, everything was set, including their date of departure in August. His last day in the office was April 19. Personally, it was sad for me just because I have loved working with him. I have learned so much from him and genuinely enjoyed being a part of the team he created. But I know that what God has called them to in North Africa is beautiful, in His timing, and completely in His hands.
This week a few of us gathered for a final meal with Mark and his wife, Jana, before they leave Ga at the end of May. It was a great time to laugh and dream of the future. (Photo by Connie Rock)
John:
On Tuesday of this week, John, a volunteer with the student ministry at the church I’ve been attending/volunteering at, was injured in an accident. He was lifeflighted to Grady and while in emergency surgery, his right leg was amputated below the knee. When he learned that he had lost his leg, John’s response was, “God will get the glory from this… somehow”.
I don’t even know what it is to live with that kind of faith. I want to be a woman of big faith, but I’m not sure how I’d respond if one moment I was fine and the next learning to live with the loss of a limb.
John’s story has moved us in our local community, and I wanted to tell you about him to ask you to pray for him. He just had his second surgery Friday and has a lot of recovery ahead. He also is recently unemployed and doesn’t have insurance. I have been so blessed by all of you, not only financially, but also in prayer. So I wanted to bring this need to you personally. To learn more about his story or to give towards his medical expenses, you can click on his picture above.
Support Update:
Earlier this spring, I asked you all for help. I’d estimated that I needed $3000 in order to pay for this Thailand/Cambodia trip, cover a new Indian visa, and pay for the medical costs from my tests in February. After one ticket price went up before it could be purchased (there’s still one more to buy once we are in Thailand) and my visa renewal cost more than expected, I realized that I’d underestimated the amount I needed. But as I sit here, I’m $400 away from raising enough to cover the entire cost, and I have until June 1 to raise that amount.
Thank you so much! Thank you for praying, thank you for giving, thank you for all that you have done. I can’t wait to come back on after the trip and tell you about all that God has done!
To give financially, you can click “Support Me” for an online donation, or send a check to:
Adventures in Missions, INC.
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Please make all checks out to AIM and write “Kristen Torres-Toro” in the Memo line.
