As Steph and I drove in the tuk tuk I felt nervous. “What if I don’t recognize her? Will it be awkward that I can’t speak very much khmer? How do Khmer people ‘hang out’?” We arrived at City Mall and it wasn’t long before we saw Somali’s smiling face heading towards us. I handed her the flowers and we all hugged in excitement to see each other again. It was just natural, like being reunited with an old friend. We headed upstairs to the food court for lunch. It was fun to just talk! Somali knew some English, Steph could communicate really well in Khmer, and I was encouraged by how much I understood as well. We talked about life and boys… you know, just typical girl talk 

After lunch we went to one of those photo booths and got goofy pictures taken together. The three of us just laughed as we looked at our different pictures and silly poses. Taking ridiculous pictures together- again, just girls being girls 

 We walked around the mall a bit then got ice cream. Steph asked Somali what else she was going to do that day for her birthday. She said that her and her mom were going to the Pagoda to offer sacrifices to the monks for good luck. Steph asked Somali if she knew who Jesus was. She said she did- that there was a big church by her house. Somali had been sharing with us about her frustrations with her boyfriend who claimed to “love” her, but she wasn’t feeling very loved by him. Steph was able to tell her that Jesus loves her so much more and affirm her value in Christ. Nothing forced, just natural conversation between girls about struggling to feel loved by men in their life- the same struggles talked about by girls all over the world. 

Time went quickly and Steph and I needed to go. We said our goodbyes and all left our separate ways. I think the divine touch of love we had prayed for left its presence on all three of us girls.

What connects me with these khmer women? Not my language, not my skin color, often not my beliefs- just being a girl! Just being a girl is ministry in itself.

Ministry should never be something we “start” or “stop” doing but the way we naturally live out our every day life.

 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

I believe that Jesus died to take on the punishment for my sins and through him I am now reconciled to God, my father. God has given me his Holy Spirit as a seal of my rescue and deliverance and eternal identity as His daughter. There is power in the spirit of God and that power is within me at all times. Belief in Jesus- salvation- produces living water that flows out of me. If water is living that means it is active, moving, getting other people wet! Everyone I come into contact with should be affected and touched by that living water. Every person should be stained by the life drops of Jesus coming out of me. Ministry is loving people here and now, where they are at simply by living life together.

The picture of ministry is not me up on my high ledge pulling the “needy” up, but walking side by side with the people around me- encouraging them to continue forward and sharing about the narrow road of joy and life. When we need to climb mountains on our road, ministry is me bending down so I can help push other people up. As Christians eager to serve, we often look for ways to “do ministry” as if we are looking for poor helpless people in the ditches that we can "rescue". I confess that I have been guilty of looking for that “poor bar girl”, “poor sex trade victim” that I can “rescue” through the power of Jesus. My heart’s desire is to “rescue” through bringing these women God’s light, God’s love, God’s life, and God’s salvation. I don’t think I have any more to offer than God, yet even though my heart’s desire is good, my mentality can become distorted and prideful, thinking that I’m                                                              pulling all of the lowly people out of their ditches in the name of God!  

My desire for Somali to feel loved, treated well, and valued is not because she is some "bar girl" that needs saving and I am standing ready with my cape. Somali is simply a beautiful girl that I have had the privilege of meeting on this road I am journeying on. Ministering to her is no different than ministering to anyone else I meet or any of the girls on my team. The ministry is living life together- letting the life of my salvation overflow from my heart. It’s about girls being silly girls together!