Heavenly language

Many days here seem ordinary. Today surely was not. It was a God footprints day, hugely!

Kov, the young guy whom we have become so fond of, comes from the same village as Heng, a great young guy who works in the Phnom Penh church. He has such a genuine heart for his village and for Kov's family. Dad is an abusive drunk and the whole family is a story of tragedy.

Kov's dad and mum and three of his brothers. The youngest is still being breastfed. I also met a sister (aged 15) and another brother who looked so thin.

Today Heng and I took the 90-minute trip to his village to ask again (Donnie has been previously) that the family sign Kov over to a ministry that will love and care for him. Dad was rotten drunk when we arrived at 10am - but at least he was mostly happy drunk.

Quickly we realised that God footprints were all over this day. Kov's mum said 'last night I had a dream'. She explained her dream - that Kov was playing in the village and he went close to a big hole, like a deep well. Suddenly he fell in. She ran to the edge and cried out again and again for help. In the dream, Heng's father came to her and said 'do not worry, I have already rescued him'.

The dream ends - and now, in the morning, Heng is standing in front of her. Mum instantly understands - this is the rescue. Amazingly, this is also the name of the ministry Kov will go to - 'Rescue' run by Marie Ens.

Heng at his parent's house today. On his own initiative and cost, he goes each month to run an outreach meeting in his village. Heng is mild mannered and soft - and I'm encouraged to see such a genuine, sacrificial young guy among his people.

With the village commune leader, signing the paperwork. Kov's mum has no literacy so everything was explained to her and she signs by the mark of her thumbprint. The commune leader was more than happy as he knows the issues surrounding the father. Dad was too drunk to be present for this time

Mice are nice - it's been a while since I've eaten well outside the usual menu. For lunch today there was rice, pork, fish - and mice. These little critters get zapped as they brush under an electric wire en route to the rice field. Heng's little brother collects an average of six per day of these little critters. They taste just fine, as long as you think some far away happy thoughts as they go down ...

We will take Kov to Marie's next week. He will start school there - in a class with one other girl (aged 15) who also has never been in school. He will join 100 kids at Marie's community. He has been rescued by our mazing God who has already spoken to him (remember a former blog? 'Do not worry about your liver any more. It is now healed') and spoken to his mum in a dream.