The Call to Cambodia

Well, the Tucker crew had an incredible Christmas with lots of presents, rest and food! But the most amazing gift of the season was the opportunity that presented itself all because of a divine appointment.

Over the last couple years, Brittany has developed a huge burden for the girls of Cambodia, specifically the ones involved in the sex trade industry. She has cried, dreamed and prayed for God to give her direction on the extent of her involvement concerning that issue. Pastor Kevin has even prophesied this same thing to her...twice. I have often gone upstairs to find her weeping after she has either watched a documentary or written a paper on the subject as one of her chosen assignments required in pursuit of her psychology degree. She recognized a very unique calling on her life and began the process of constructing a letter that she intended to send to Lisa Bevere and others with connections to the safe houses in Cambodia. But God had a better plan, a seemingly quicker plan.

While working at Lifetime Fitness a few weeks ago, she came across a member whom she had never seen before and has never seen since. He began to talk with her about religion and church, then somehow Cambodia. He said that he attends the Covenant Carrollton campus and mentioned that he heard something about our church being involved with Cambodia and that she should check it out. Talk about a divine appointment!

She called me, and I said that I had not heard anything about that. So, I contacted the McKinney campus, and they didn't know anything either. I was transferred to the Carrollton campus, then to the mission's pastor, Donna Holland...all in about 3 minutes. Pastor Donna explained that there was no missions trip scheduled but did say that there was a missionary by the name of Liney Chacko starting a safe house there whom she was getting ready to meet with in a few minutes. She said that she would have Liney call us back soon after.

Liney called and had lunch with me and Brittany last Thursday. This was the divine connection Brittany needed. Liney and Brittany hit it off very well and both share the same passion for that culture. Brittany shared her testimony and her heart; Liney shared their missionary efforts and heartbraking stories. We were saddened to hear about a 9 year old girl that had been sexually and physically abused. Her neck was tied with chains that left permanent scars, and she was drugged during the day to keep her quiet. At first glance, they assumed her to be 5 years old, but dental records proved otherwise. She had been sold by her family, then rescued by the Chacko's organization, Global Renewal, even before a safe house existed.

As we wept at the table, I sat in awe as the opportunity of a lifetime began to unfold for Brittany. To make a long story short, she will be going to Cambodia for about 3 months during the summer to support the Chacko's and help in any way that she can with the new safe house that overlooks the Gulf of Thailand. She will learn the culture, the language and see what the future holds concerning her long-term involvement. All of her room, board and food will be covered (divine provision, PTL!) and she will go through extensive training at the Carrollton campus over the next 5 months prior to her departure. There may even be a chance that she can obtain college credit toward her degree which she will continue to pursue as her schedule permits. The only thing that she will be required to pay for is her transportation there and back. She will also need to make sure that her expenses in the states are covered, but she is not worried because she has faith that God will provide even that.

Please keep her in your prayers as she embarks on this new endeavor. I have never seen her so full of purpose, so happy, so excited! Since she is relatable and compassionate, I know that she will be able to minister deeply to those little girls once they are rescued and brought to the safe house. There is already one waiting for her.

*To learn more about Global Renewal, please visit http://www.globalrenewal.org/