Safehouse Update Part 2 - Meet With MOSA

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Yesterday was an important day for In His Steps: ministry leaders met with officials from the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) to discuss the building project and the future of our safehouse. Although our plans have already been approved, it's required to have the actual site and progress observed by MOSA workers. It's great to see the local government holding organizations to accountability! Corruption is a big problem even among many NGO's, and we want the community to know that we keep our word.

Meeting with MOSA allowed us to share with them our vision for the safehouse in greater clarity and explain the heart behind what we are doing in Saang. You could tell that many of those who attended the meeting were surprised by our views on how to break the cycle of trafficking. A common approach to dealing with at-risk children is to segregate them from the community in orphanages, but at In His Steps we believe it is important to work with whole families whenever possible. 

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The safehouse will not just be a home for orphans, but a place of refuge for any at-risk child. While nurturing and caring for each one, we will also work to break the cycle of abuse within the home through building relationships with their families and modeling ways to change. Education alone is not enough: hearts and minds need healing to bring this about. Advocating for healthy families is both intervention and prevention!

As we explained more about our vision for the safehouse, the MOSA workers shared that what we were saying closely mirrors many of the underlying goals of the Ministry of Social Affairs! It's encouraging to hear that we are on the right track and have the blessing of local authorities. By collaborating with MOSA, we have an excellent opportunity to model change and raise standards within Cambodia.

Children are the key to influencing culture, and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to reach this and future generations with the love of God. Please pray with us that the safehouse would be place where his presence is felt and healing can begin. 

A Strong Foundation

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IHSC National Director Theavy and Loaves and Fish Director Vouen sign the contract for safehouse construction

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Today was an exciting day in Saang as concrete was poured for the foundation of our safehouse for children! We have been looking forward to this moment and wanted to commemorate it in a special way. Since our ministry and this project is founded on the principles of the Word of God, we felt it was appropriate to literally place the Word in the foundation of the building. Sometimes pictures tell a story better than words can, so here are some shots of building preparations and what has been going on at the construction site!

​Building plans

​Preparing the ground

Vouen places the Word of God in the foundation of the safehouse... literally

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"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11

A Special Announcement...An Answered Prayer

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​ “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

Isaiah 65: 24

For some time now, we at In His Steps have felt God calling us to build a safehouse for children in Saang district on our Foundation Center property. Our plan is go beyond caring solely for orphans, by providing a safe place for any child considered to be at a high-risk for abuse and human trafficking. The local government has recognized the need for such a place, and approves of our plans. The only missing piece in the puzzle was the money needed to construct the building itself.

Since last year, we have been praying and working to raise the finances for this project. Amazingly, last week God answered our prayers by providing partners who are donating the entire amount needed to build a safehouse in Saang! This is a miraculous demonstration of God's heart for children, and we are so excited to see the vision that he gave us coming into fruition!

The safehouse is not just a means of providing for the children within its walls: it will serve as model in the community for the development of healthy families and the protection of all children. We pray that our example of loving and caring for at-risk children will be one that challenges others to do the same.

Thank you to everyone who was faithful to pray for and give towards the building of the safehouse; you are an integral part of God's work in the Kingdom of Cambodia. We give him the glory for the amazing things he is doing here and ways that he is providing for "the least of these". 

-In His Steps

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