"I have suddenly transitioned into an older sister - and one who is often caring for girls who are in need of constant attention, and affection. 

 In general, the girls have so much energy! - from the 5 to the 15 year-old, they are constantly active, giggling, and often making me laugh despite the language barrier. It is never quiet, never organized, and never boring. What a contrast to living the majority of my days in corporate America - with my average day comparatively private, efficient, and orderly. 

 I am re-learning to appreciate the blessings of laughter, squealing, and community. Even if that means sacrificing the 20 square feet of private space that I have (my bed) to the 6+ girls that just want to be close. Yesterday throughout the course of the day I had four different people napping on my bed at some point in time. Everything is shared - and has to be!

 The young women that call this home come from such distressing circumstances, and as they begin to open up to me about their lives, I am finding my heart swell again and again hearing their stories. They accept each other as "family" almost instantaneously and it is a wonder to watch them care for each other. 

 From haircuts, to homework, to consoling the little ones from nightmares, I am constantly blessed by the love that overshadows all things. The organization and the home itself are built on the idea of Agape - God's unconditional love - and the verses on love from 1 Corinthians 13."
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.


And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 

- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Written By: Remember Nhu Intern, Thailand
“Remember Nhu,” God spoke quietly to my heart.
I was listening to C&MA missionary Rick Drummond at a missions conference in Thailand in November 2003. He spoke about a 12-year-old girl who accepted Jesus as her Savior, was baptized and started sharing her faith publicly. Her family would not feed her when she went to church, so her church family stepped in and cared for her. But when the Drummonds left for the United States on a medical furlough, this young lady’s family sold her to a brothel to be used as a sex slave.
As soon as Drummond told the group what had happened to this sister in Christ, God whispered to my heart what He wanted from my life. As His Spirit breathed “Remember Nhu,” I committed to do everything within my power and to use every talent and treasure God had given me to make sure that the use of children in the sex trade would stop.

Haven of Hope

Since that conference three years ago, my wife, Laurie, and I established the Remember Nhu Foundation to help children along the Mekong River in Cambodia. Like Nhu, most are Vietnamese refugees with few options in life. It is estimated that 70 percent of these children are sold into the sex trade. Learning how to help them has been a long process.
In 2006, I met with several people, including representatives from the C&MA, to develop plans for a training/learning/life-skills home—Haven of Hope—to help girls escape the sex trade. The Drummonds recommended that CoAi, a woman they know well, run the home and help set up businesses to give the children and their parents vocational training. The first home opened in January 2007, and we hope to open two more this year.
We returned to Cambodia later in 2006 to interview 22 girls whose parents told them they must quit school and earn money for the family. One of the few jobs open to these children is collecting trash to recycle for US$10–$20 per month. But without intervention most of the girls would be sold to brothels.
The girls’ stories are tragic: some have parents who are addicted to alcohol or gambling, and others’ parents are terminally ill, have abandoned them or are deceased. We were able to offer scholarships to all of the girls.

“When can I start?”

On one of our fact-finding trips, I called Trang, the woman who had led Nhu to Christ, and asked her to set up an early meeting with Nhu, who works in a hair and nail salon from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The next day CoAi, Charles Harvey (a member of our advisory board) and I went to a diner at 7 a.m. to meet the namesake of the Remember Nhu Foundation. As we waited, it became 7:10 . . . then 7:15 . . . then 7:20. Nhu had forgotten about our meeting and was away when Trang went to get her. But just when I thought Nhu was not coming, I saw her at the front door.
I told Nhu about the home we planned to open to help prevent children from being sold into slavery and asked her how much she earned working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. Nhu said she made $70 per month in wages and $30 in tips. I asked Nhu to consider teaching personal hygiene, nails, hairdressing and life skills in the home and explained that she would receive medical care, two meals a day, her own bedroom if she wanted it and a salary of $100 per month. I told her she would learn English in the morning, be spiritually mentored by CoAi and would work only Monday through Friday.
During this conversation, Nhu had kept her head down and did not look at me, as is the custom in Cambodia. When she realized we were offering her a job, she swung her head up with a gleam in her eye and joy on her face.
“Well, what do you think? Will you work for us?” I asked.
“Can I ask one question?” she queried.
“Sure.”
“When can I start?” Nhu said.
At that moment every bit of energy left me. I had begged and cried out to the Lord on behalf of Nhu more than for anything else in my 15 years of being a Christian. I am sure I have shed gallons of tears and prayed hundreds, if not thousands, of hours and asked others to do the same.
And here was the first fruit of those cries to God: on September 19, 2006, at a diner in Cambodia, Nhu became the first official employee of Remember Nhu!

Laurie and I had the opportunity to develop a relationship with Nhu during subsequent visits to Cambodia. We had been praying for her so intensely that we felt like she had become our adopted daughter. Since her mom and dad had abandoned her before she was a year old, we believe that the time we spent with Nhu was probably her fi rst experience of parental love.
In November 2006, Laurie and I asked Nhu to help us shop for gifts for “our daughter.” We spent four hours with Nhu as she picked out stylish clothes, shoes and jewelry. Nhu asked CoAi, “Why do they buy so much for their daughter? They must love her a lot.”
The next morning we explained to Nhu that each year we give our daughter one major gift at Christmas. Since we had missed Nhu’s fi rst 17 Christmases, we were going to celebrate them today, so she had 18 gifts to open!
I wish everyone who has prayed for Nhu could have seen her face when she opened the first gift, a pair of gray dress slacks. Her face lit up as she realized that when she had taken us shopping for “our daughter,” we meant her, our Vietnamese daughter! After opening all of her gifts, Nhu tearfully told CoAi that no one had ever done anything like that for her before.

Home of Darkness

Because Nhu would be taking these presents home with her, we thought we should go and meet her grandmother. After the Sunday evening service, CoAi, Nhu, C&MA missionary Debbie Vik, Laurie and I traveled to a village of shacks where Nhu has lived since she was one year old.
Nhu’s grandmother met us at the door and invited us in. The home consisted of wooden planks with many gaps, a roof of green tarp and a floor of dirt and a little vinyl. There were two rooms of about six feet by eight feet, with a total of about 100 square feet of living space for Nhu, her grandmother, two uncles, an aunt and nieces and nephews. They all slept in one of the tiny rooms.
A shrine to idols filled one wall of the living room. I was stunned by the spiritual darkness that permeated the home. In my moment of shock, Nhu’s grandmother asked if we were upset that she worshiped idols. Seeing where Nhu has spent the last 17 years gave me great respect for her courage in accepting Jesus as her Savior. Nhu had taken a stand against the demon worship that surrounded her and then had to survive the evil of the sex trade. We truly can do all things through Jesus.

Our Favorite Hug

During our trip Laurie and I were blessed with the opportunity to talk, eat, shop, brainstorm, laugh and cry with Nhu. Normally, one of my favorite moments in Cambodia is the feeling of the jet wheels lifting off the ground to take me home! But this time it was different: we all realized it was time to say good-bye to Nhu.
Nhu put her head on Laurie’s shoulder and gave her a long hug. Then it was time for me to say goodbye. After choking back tears, I said that we felt like we were leaving our hearts behind. I told Nhu that it hurt to leave because she truly felt like a daughter.
I told CoAi that in the United States, I give my daughter a “side hug,” which I demonstrated on Laurie. I asked CoAi to ask Nhu if I could give her this kind of good-bye hug. Nhu said, “Yes.” I stepped toward Nhu, and she plunged her head into my chest and wrapped both of her arms around me. I kissed the top of her head and asked CoAi to tell Nhu that Laurie and I loved her deeply and wanted her to always follow Jesus. Those hugs were worth more to Laurie and me than anything we have ever owned.
In His great love for us, the Lord uses our life experiences and even our weaknesses to show His strength and to bless His children. During the last three years, many people have cried out to Jesus and given and served and fought for our sister Nhu. I feel that He’s made it all worthwhile in a simple hug.
In that moment, I experienced what I think agape love feels like.
Written by: Carl Ralston, Founder of Remember Nhu
https://remembernhu.org/

Soft dark brown eyes, sweet pucker-lipped smile, and dark bangs that hide most of her broad forehead. A simple soft pink hand-me-down t-shirt and blue denim shorts that cover her small frame. Quietly but with great enthusiasm, she plays in the toy box near the open door that leads to the vast greenness outside. Diving into the toy bucket and searching out the dolls, she gathers all the toys into her little arms, some spilling over her arms hugged closely to her body threatening to make the short plummet to the floor. In a delicate balancing act she shifts the load of dolls to one arm, with only a few casualties in the process, and reaches for the handle of her roller backpack. Then off she goes, with an armload of dolls and backpack in tow, around the house on a great make-believe adventure. Her eyes shine with the simple joy of being a kid, of living in the world of a child.

Dark brown almond shaped eyes, thin soft-pink lips, and short, straight, and dark hair cut to fall and curve around her small head. She wore a simple, somewhat worn outfit, most likely still from the day before. Moving around the small house, she swept and tidied the small common area. Outside, she finished washing and laying out the dishes from her simple meal that morning and began to hang up the basket of laundry she had already hand washed in a bucket. With the fusses of a small toddler coming from the door, she returned to the house and swooped the baby on to her hip. Then off she went to pacify the little cries with some lunch. Her eyes were dull with the weight of responsibility and the reality of living in an adult's world.  

She's five-year-old. 

These two stories are actually the same story about one beautiful five-year-old little girl named Peyton*. These two scenarios were only a few short days apart for Peyton, and they tell the story of little girl made to grow up and take on the world far to quickly. With the help of Remember Nhu she’s been given the chance to be a child once again. 

Prior to coming to our Remember Nhu home, Peyton lived with her mom, stepfather, and one-year-old brother in a small home. Her parents had moved from their hill-tribe village into the bigger city when Peyton was four in hopes of finding more opportunities. As is all too common in Thai culture, Peyton's step-father did not treat Peyton well, often treating her more like a servant than a daughter. At five-years-old, Peyton was responsible for most of the cooking, cleaning and laundry in her home. She was often left to solely care for her one-year-old brother, sometimes a whole day at a time as her mom had inconsistent work. She was a child forced to live an adults’ life. 

When the Thai directors heard Peyton's story, they feared for her safety. Peyton's step-father's lack of regard and care for her put Peyton at risk of being trafficked. Often in similar situations, if an indifferent caregiver is offered the right amount of money or promises, they will sell the child into slavery. With determination that it would never happen to Peyton, she was offered a scholarship to come and live in one of our Homes of Refuge and attend school.
Peyton’s story has been transformed. She no longer is that little girl carrying the weight of striving to survive in an adult's world, but now has the freedom to laugh, to play, to go to kindergarten, and to be a kid. She has the freedom to be five.

(Note: Name of child changed to protect identity)

Written By: Kelli H., Remember Nhu Intern
To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.

"Today we visited two girl’s homes in the Chiang Mai area that are run by an organization called Remember Nhu.
I've heard lots of good things about this organization, starting with the story of how it was created. Today we had the opportunity to see it first hand! The main home we went to was clean, cool, and built on beautiful, peaceful grounds. It was full of laughter and smiles – proof that these girls are protected and loved here. Which is a big deal considering what their lives COULD have looked like.
Most of these girls came from high mountain villages in Thailand – places of extreme poverty and desperation. They were at risk of being sold as child prostitutes and slaves. They were at risk of drug trafficking, drug addiction, and a number of other horrors that are common in poverty stricken areas.The little girl in the brown is only 5 years old. Her name is Maile. The leaders of Remember Nhu found her wandering around, alone, in a village. Her parents were both in prison for drugs. No one was caring for her. No one wanted her. When I looked into her big brown eyes I just couldn’t believe it! How could this precious child be unwanted – tossed out into the street to fend for herself!?

But here she is safe. And she is loved. Here she’s just a normal little girl, giggling as she jumps into a pile of clean laundry. Hugging me tightly around the knees and blowing me kisses as I wave goodbye.
Our American partners here in Thailand told us that this model is a great example of what they want to do with the Children’s Home we are building at The Promised Land. And as I looked at the kids’ sweet faces my heart was full. Now, when I look at The Promised Land Project I don’t just see this:
I see what WILL BE. Beautiful little girls and handsome little boys waving goodbye on the front steps. Children that are free to just be children because they are loved, protected, and provided for. Children who will have a REAL opportunity in the world."

Written By: Ericka Jackson

"We have successfully completed an entire month of English Camp! Every Saturday we visit one of the homes and play well known American games like Chutes & Ladders, Candyland, Connect 4, Memory, and such, which are modified with sight words and numbers to help students learn and increase fluency in everyday English conversation. I am continuously impressed with the children's eagerness to attend English Camp and their desire to learn. Although I also think it has something to do with the kanoms (Thai word for snacks) they earn at the end of English camp." 



"I need to give a huge shout out to the interns because without them English Camp wouldn't be made possible. They are the ones who rotate with the groups of children, explain how the games work, and facilitate learning!"

Written by: Remember Nhu TESOL Teacher, Thailand
https://remembernhu.org/

To support Cristina's work in the field go to:
Note Cristina R - Thailand in the notes section.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

Name: Mary S.
Title:  Director of Partnerships
Originally From: Dayton, Ohio
Where You're Serving:  Stateside in Indiana

Why did you choose to work with R-Nhu and how long have you been involved?
I had been searching and praying for many years on where God desired me to serve in His Kingdom.  I knew i was to serve but was not sure where.  I traveled to Bosnia, Dubi and SE Asia in search of answers.  In 2009 my journeys took me to Cambodia where I met founder, Carl Ralston.  He shared with us what Remember Nhu was all about.  I was also honored to meet Nhu herself.  After hearing their stories I was just in awe of how great our God is taking Nhu from a horrible situation and using it for his Glory.  From there I could not shake this feeling.  I prayed over this and shared with so many people in my church I lost count.  I went back in 2010 leading a team of 7 from my home church.  It was during that trip in which I had a conversation with Carl.  He said he wanted to talk to me and I said I needed to talk to him. My curiosity got the best of me so I allowed him to go first in why he wanted to talk to me.  He shared with me that God had pressed upon his heart that I would be serving with RNhu.  I was in awe.....This was in my mind the affirmation God was giving me to say this is where I will serve God.  In short, I choose to work with RNhu because this is where God desired me to be.  And it is with that I have been working with RNhu ever since.  

What’s been your best experience working with R-Nhu? 
Wow this is a hard question, there are so many amazing experiences I have had.  I would say the best is when I get to take teams over and see sponsor families meet their sponsor child for the first time.  It is such a sweet moment and one of just pure joy.  It makes all the sacrifices to get from one side of the world to the other worth it and then some.  

What type of projects are you working on? What skills do you bring to R-Nhu? As Director of Partnerships I am working on helping churches around the United States build a strong partnership with RNhu.  As they come on board sponsoring a home, we are working to provide them with the best tools of keeping a strong healthy relationship between sponsor families and the children.  I help them to understand that to our children, relationships and prayer are so vital and important.  When we take gifts to our children, they will search their bag for photos or a letter from their families.  And when they find it, oh the joy they have.  Joy greater than a new toy or clothes.   In addition, I work locally in my home church, Eagle Church to raise awareness and get more people involved.  Eagle Church has simply been an amazing support to me and RNhu.  I have moms that spend hours on end organizing garage sales to raise money in addition to gathering clothes for us to take over to the children. 

Prayer requests? 
  • God would continue to bless and protect the workers and children of Remember Nhu
  • God would provide clarity and discernment to all who are a part of Remember Nhu
  • For God to use me as He desires and that I would be willing to be willing as I serve with Remember Nhu
  • For God to continue to equip me to do His work for His Glory.  Less of me and more of Him.
What’s one Bible verse that has been particularly motivating for you? 
It is so hard to pick just one Bible verse that has been particularly motivating for me.  However over the past 2 years, 1 Timothy 6:11-12 has been my pursuit."...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 

Anything else that you'd like to share with the general public?  
If I could share on piece of advise with someone, it would be this.....Live full out for God because that is the one thing you will never regret.  Yes, life can get hard and sometimes can downright stink BUT....there is hope.  There is hope in a God who loves you more than anyone on the face of this earth could love.  There is hope in a God who is just, fair, compassionate, trustworthy, dependable, assuring, comforting, and encouraging.  As the Bible tells us, God will equip us to run the race He has placed us in.  I can attest to that first hand.  I never ever imagined doing what I am doing for Remember Nhu.  God gave me the ability, the skills, the confidence, the knowledge and the passion to do this.  He will do the same for you as you live full out for Him and pursue Him.  

LONG-TERM

Eric and Shannon Wiederholt are part of the Beyond SE Asia team moving to Thailand long term.  They will be working as agricultural missionaries in Thailand with Remember Nhu.  They will help manage a large organic garden, fish farm and mango orchard.  Vocational training for protected children will be a part of each of these areas. 

From growing food, raising and maintaining the fish farm to marketing and financial education; your support will have a lasting impact in a child’s life as well as their family and (home) community.

Having worked and volunteered locally in TN and VA with both hunger and agriculture organizations, Eric and Shannon are excited that God is using this passion as a way to serve in SE Asia.  



"We've been praying to join God where He's already working to combat child sex trafficking for several years.  We were not sure where we might land until SE Asia captured our heart. After visiting Thailand last December, we were offered to work with Remember Nhu, a wonderful organization that is protecting so many young lives.  Quite simply, no child should be subjected to the terrible cycle of sex trafficking. " 



"We are looking forward to working alongside others in our new work setting at the children's homes. Field day was fun too, getting reaquainted with the house parents, helpers and the children. It felt so good to say to the visiting team when they asked how long we'd be here for that we were here long-term!"


The kids all come running for ice cream!


This little guy must be pretty confident in his goalie skills to be this relaxed!


A beautiful Haven of Refuge for the children to call home.

Written By: Eric & Shannon W.

To support Eric and Shannon's work in the field go to:
Note Eric & Shannon W. - Beyond SE Asia in the notes section.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Kelli H.

Title: Intern with Remember Nhu

Originally From: Albany, OR

Where You're Serving: Thailand, in a home of 50 girls. 

Why did you choose to work with R-Nhu and how long have you been involved?
There is a long and short answer to this question! I officially chose to work with Remember Nhu a year ago after I heard about their specific ministry helping to prevent sex trafficking of children and felt my heart pulled to be a part of their work. This decision was a culmination of over 10 years of my heart being broken for trafficked children in Thailand after my first trip to Thailand in 2004 and three more subsequent trips. For over ten years I have been praying about being a part of the end of child sex slavery and God lead me to the ministry of Remember Nhu. 


What’s been your best experience working with R-Nhu? 
By far getting to know the girls and building relationships with them. Just last night, two of the girls, two interns, and I sat on the porch and laughed and talked for hours about a lot of random topics, but the connection and love we continued to build in those moments were powerful. It's amazing to get to know the hearts of these girls and watch them grow in their understanding and relationship with Jesus. They are world changers and I'm so blessed to be able to be a small part of their stories. 

What type of projects are you working on? What skills do you bring to R-Nhu? 
Besides just loving on the girls, one of my main roles is to help host short term teams that come to partner with Remember Nhu. I love this part of my work, because I get to take the love and understanding I have these kids, this ministry, and this country and pass it on to others. I am also a part of helping to develop a weekly English camp to give the kids more chances to improve their English. Finally, I hope to be able to share the story of Remember Nhu and these kids with as many people as possible, whether that is through writing or other avenues. I feel like Jesus has used a lot of my life experiences thus far to grow me into the person I am here at the Remember Nhu home. This includes my countless years of experience working with and studying children, the ability to communicate well in a variety of situations, and the ability to interact and build relationships with people from all different backgrounds. Most of all, I pray that my greatest skill is that I strive to be a humble servant of Jesus and allow His Spirit to direct me in all of my actions. 

Prayer requests? 
God would live and love in and through me across all barriers, including language and cultural, so that these children may know His love a little more.
The ability to comprehend and learn to speak the Thai language quickly so that I can build better relationships with the Thais around me.
Comfort and trust for situations back in the States that I am so far removed from and to know how I can best support those at home during my time in Thailand.

What’s one Bible verse that has been particularly motivating for you? 

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

To support Kelli's work in the field go to:
Note Kelli H. - Thailand in the notes section.

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