“We are from a project under UofN Cambodia called Children at Risk. We have been working in a community of former slum dwellers for the past 8 years. All of these families used to live in slums in Phnom Penh but were moved out by the government in 2007-2008 to a village 20 kilometers outside the city. Most of the families received a simple 4mx10m block home, but 58 families rented elsewhere or lived in the market waiting for their share.

In 2011 the government gave plots of land to 11 families from the market (these were mostly widows and the poorest of families) and have continued to give more smaller plots of land to the other 47. We have known most of the families in the market since 2005 and have done home church with them every Monday when they lived in the market. We still have home church now in their new homes.

In July of 2011 our friends from Steps of Justice and Mission Adventures New Zealand brought a team our way. They ended up changing their plans and built our first home for a family with 3 boys. It was such an amazing experience that our church back home in the USA raised money for 7 more homes, then a church in Hong Kong came and raised money for 4 more and a Mission Adventures and Steps of Justice team last summer built 4 more…so a total of 16 houses to date. This year the Steps of Justice team is coming to build another home at the end of June.

The 11 families who first received homes were so filled with awe that everyone helped build each other’s homes (even the 65 year old women carried wood and rocks and concrete!), cooked meals for those who helped, held prayer meetings in their homes for the other homeless families, etc…they ended up calling their road “Street of Hope.”

So yes, Steps of Justice is heading to Cambodia this June and needs to raise $2000 to build this home and we would love you to be involved. Here is how we are going to do it. With each $20 donation that you give, up to $100, you get a Prayer and Action guide. So, if you give $40 you get 2 Prayer Guides, $60 you get 3, and so on up to $100.

For those of you who want to give a little more, with each $100 donation you get a do justice’ t-shirt (super soft, black and in crew or v-neck). All you have to do is  put in your shirt size and what cut you want. We believe we can get this house sponsored by the end of the weekend. Tell your friends, your church, your school or your family. Each gift is tax deductible (minus the cost of the shirt or prayer guide).

So, to do all this go to the donate page of Steps of Justice, or follow the link here.

Thanks so much. Below are some pictures of the homes and the Street of Hope.

Please Re-post, tweet, facebook and share, lets change some lives.

The post Lets build a home in Cambodia appeared first on Steps of Justice.

Just remember, this schedule is what we have set for now, but as always when you go to another country and culture that is not your own things can and most likely will change. But, as Steve Winwood say’s, “roll with it baby.” We are making plans and then if things stay on schedule, which 90% of the time they do, then we have program, but if things do change and we are needed somewhere else then we will be fine to go with the flow. The key, be flexible, adaptable and open to whatever comes our way.

- 7:00 am  breakfast. Warm french bread, jam and fresh fruit

- 8:00 meet to talk about and pray for the day

- 9:00 Travel to spend time with the folks at Love 146.

- 12:00 Lunch

- 1:00 Travel to children at risk program to hang, play and love on kids

- 5:00 Home for dinner

- 6:00 Dinner

- 8:00 Debrief the day and have worship, story and prayer.

Cool

The post Cambodia Day 3 appeared first on Steps of Justice.

Her mother at first did not name her, believing she would die like so many other newborns. But she lived. So she was named Mara- “bitterness” for her life would be marked by a series of bitter rituals, rights of passage meant to measure her ability at survival. Her mother named her Mara, knowing her little body would need to fight against other invisible predators hungry for her starving flesh: malaria, anemia, tuberculosis.

Mara’s stomach is swollen and bloated by the final irony of starvation. Her empty stomach looks well fed, pushes itself out to the world as if it were full of food. At three years old, she is pregnant with the hope of eating. She laughs when she is told that there are children in the world who are not born hungry. Surely, she thinks, there are men and boys who do not starve, who are fed like the men and boys in her country.

But her mother insists that somewhere little girls do not starve, they eat three meals a day, smile and laugh regularly, and have energy left over to play. Girls who live in a land where there is food. Mara wonders what it would be like to see these strange girls, touch their chubby bellies, prod and poke in wonder that she cannot count each one of their ribs She dreams of those little girls at night, and the thought of their bodies frightens her.

This was taken from the 30 Days Of Prayer For The Voiceless prayer guide. It was the prayer for day 15, which is on starvation. Here are some of the prayer points:

1. Globally over 9 million people die each year from hunger and malnutrition. Reference

2. 6 million children under the age of 5 die each year from a hunger related cause. Every day, more than 16,000 children die-one child every 5 seconds. Reference

3. About 850 million people globally are malnourished; 799 million of them live in the developing world. More than 153 million of them are children under the age of 5. Reference

4. 54 nations currently do not produce enough food to feed their populations, nor can they afford to import the necessary commodities. Most of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa.  Reference

This prayer guide was put out my my friends Paul and Suzie Childers. The book is beautifully illustrated with pictures that have captured the faces of the voiceless. If you are looking for a way to pray, a way to stay informed, a way to help others get informed please pick up one of these books.

The post Justice Friday appeared first on Steps of Justice.

7am We will have a few of us head into the market to shop for breakfast (picture above). You will get to shop for the fruit and bread for the morning. We usually get lots of water mellon, pineapple, apples, mango and freshly baked french bread.

8am We will eat breakfast together.

8:30 Meet upstairs for a brief orientation and prayer for the day

9:00 Head out on the city tour where we will visit S-21, The Killing Fields, The Russian Market and Wat Phnom.

12:30 Lunch out

1:30- finish the city tour and head back to the team house

5:30 Dinner at team house

7:00 Orientation by Chris, debrief and worship.

9:00 head to bed wondering how someone could be so messed up in the head to do something so devastating to a country like Cambodia. Or, we can stay up and hang out, play cards, snack, or head out for snacks.

OK, that is day 2, looking forward to doing this with you all.

Steps of Justice.

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Make sure you have a passport sized photo of yourself with you on the plane, as well as $20, your passport and a pen (oh, and a change of underwear just incase they loose your luggage). Then, before the plane descends into Cambodia the flight attendants  will hand you out a customs form and immigration form. Fill these out before you land, this will save a lot of time. I will get you the address of the team house soon.

Then, when you get off the plane take your stuff with you and follow the crowd, they will lead you in the right direction as there is only one way out. When you get to the bottom of the stairs get into the line in front of you and when you get to the front hand the officer your passport, immigration forms, photo and your $20 (USD). Then, stand to the side and wait for them to call your name. When they call your name (10 minutes later) they will give you your passport and visa.

Then, take your stuff and go to immigration. They will take your info and stamp your passport. After this go and get your bags, put them on your back or a luggage cart and follow the line out of the airport. This is where it gets fun. People will be asking you like crazy if you want a ride, just say no. You can trust people, but don’t go with any of them because we will be there to pick you up with ice cream. So, just look for a Steps of Justice person and all will be ok, we will be wearing black shirts that say do justice on them in white.

OK, that wasn’t so hard now was it? I will post more next week, but now you know how to get into the country which is good for sure.

Peace,

Phil Cunningham.

The post Day 1- Arrival appeared first on Steps of Justice.

- Not wearing shoes increases risk or hookworm. Hookworm is a soil- transmitted parasite that affects 740 million people worldwide.

- Long-term physical effects of not having shoes include stunted growth, decreased cognitive development, anemia and chronic fatigue.

- Studies show that children affected by hookworm are 20% less likely to go to school and earn 40% less in adult life.

Here is the solution: Prevention and treatment includes education, medication, improved hygiene and sanitation and protection from soil.

And here is why shoes: Giving Partners like IMA World Health give de-worming medication along with shoes to children, helping them stay healthy with a combination of prevention and treatment.

Today we want to remember the poor, specifically those who can’t afford shoes. What we are going to do, in good old Steps of Justice fashion is join with thousands of others and go a day without shoes. Will going without shoes really help anyone? No, but it will help us remember to pray and to act. Each step you take pray for those who have no shoes, and then at the end of the day donate a pair of shoes or purchase a pair of Toms, or do something for the homeless in your town or city. Going without shoes helps us remember and remembering helps us act.

So, from the time that you wake up tomorrow, to the time that you go to bed don’t put those shoes on. Outcomes may include:

• Not being allowed into certain stores or restaurants.
• People looking at you funny
• Walking on hot cervices or cold ones
• Your feet getting sore
• Your feet getting dirty

Thanks for going a day without shoes, post your responses and thoughts below or on the Facebook page.

Use hashtag #stepsofjustice when you Instagram your pictures.

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Sevenly is an organization that helps raise funds and awareness of charitable causes through the sale of shirts.  Their goal is to change the world one t-shirt at a time. These aren’t normal t-shirts though.  Sevenly has an awesome design team that creates trendy shirts that you will be proud to wear.

Specifically, every shirt that you buy from Sevenly this week will support the work of Invisible Girl Project’s partner in South India. We have successfully rescued over 170 girls from being murdered, just because they are girls. Through its partner, IGP has been able to have a significant impact in the lives of girls and women in the villages of South India.

This is from The Invisible Girl Project. We want to support them as Steps of Justice. Please check out how you can help.

We are so grateful to have this incredible collaboration with Sevenly. To help us maximize this opportunity, please consider helping us in these ways:

1)    Purchase one of the awesome shirts that represents Invisible Girl Project’s mission

2)    Tell your friends about this unique t-shirt opportunity. Who knows? Your grandma might look super hip in one of these shirts.

3)    Begin following Invisible Girl Project on Facebook

4)    Follow us on Twitter 

5)    Repost to Facebook & retweet to Twitter.  Share the love!

As always, we would not be able to help the invisible girls in India without out your dedication and support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Sevenly Invisible Girl Project

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Then, at some point during the day please consider donating to Rock Foundation Cambodia as they are putting water filtration systems into peoples homes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (like this one pictured above). This way we are giving back. You can give at http://www.stepsofjustice.org/donate and 100% goes to Rock Foundation. Please make your donations before midnight Friday the 22nd.

Thanks, any questions feel free to ask. Also, post all Instagram pictures and twitter posts with the hash tag #stepsofjustice #worldwaterday

The post World Water Day- March 22 appeared first on Steps of Justice.

In Richard Stearns book, “The Hole In Our Gospel”, he tells a story of his wife and an experiment she did the day before teaching on water issues. What she did was to abstain from water for the whole day. She didn’t drink it, didn’t wash with it and didn’t use it in any way. This is exactly what we are asking from you, and of us.

This Friday we remember those who do not have water. How are we going to do this? Well, we are going to go through the day not using water. Here is the “Justice Challenge”:

1. On March 22, go without water.

2. Don’t use water at all, not for washing, brushing teeth, flushing the toilet, taking vitamins or drinking.

3. If you do need to drink do so, but only water, not juice or pop. Don’t use water for anything else until you wake up the following morning.

4. At the end of the day go on to the Steps of Justice website and donate any amount towards Rock Foundation and their work of getting water filtration systems into the homes of the poorest of the poor in Cambodia. All gifts are tax deductible and 100% goes to Rock Foundation.

The reason we are doing this is not so that we can see a tiny bit of what it is like to go without water. The reason for this time is to stand with those who have no water, put ourselves in their shoes and in doing so pray with and for them. Mostly though, I hope this action causes us to act on their behalf.

At any point during the day please stop by the Steps Of Justice Facebook group and post what God has been doing as you participate in this unusual action day. Lets encourage and be encouraged by each other.

Photo by Johnny Koster

The post World Water Day, March 22 appeared first on Steps of Justice.

Patrick was 16 years old when he was sold as a slave to Ireland. He remained in slavery for an isolated 6 years tending flock. What did Patrick do during those 6 years to keep his sanity and hope? He prayed. “I would pray constantly during the daylight hours. The love of God and the fear of Him surrounded me more and more- and faith grew and the Spirit was roused, so that in the one day I would say as many as a hundred prayers and after dark nearly as many again.” It was after six years of this that he heard a voice speak to him saying “Patrick, your hungers are rewarded: go home.”

25 years later, at the Age of 47 Patrick read a letter from from the Irish asking him to come back to Ireland, to serve the very people who enslaved him. It was at night, an Irish voice spoke out of the letter to Patrick crying “we beg you to come and walk among us one more.” From then on Patrick could not get the Irish out of his mind. Shortly after Patrick returned to Ireland, full of the Holy Spirit and in love with the Irish.

Patrick worried constantly for the people of Ireland. Not just for their spirit, but for their spiritual warfare. “The horror of slavery was never lost on him: ‘but it is the woman kept in slavery who suffer the most- and who keep their spirits up despite the menacing and terrorizing they must endure.” Patrick is beyond dispute the first hunan being in the history of the world to speak out unequivocally against slavery. His speaking out against it won victories for the Irish people as shortly after his death the Irish slave trade came to an end.

Today we celebrate a man who changed the world. A man who went back to the people who enslaved him out of his intense love for them, which can only come from Jesus. Today we celebrate a man who considered the lives of the Irish of greater value than his own. A man who gave up his life so that the Irish could have life. Today is a celebration, a celebration of courage, honor, humility and greatness. So, as you drink your Guinness, eat your cabbage and potato bread and listen to your favorite Irish band take a moment and remember Patrick of Ireland. Thanks God for people in the world who are like him today.

Whats your next step?

All quotes from How the Irish Saved Civilization.

I leave you with the Saint Patricks Breastplate

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through the belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness

Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,

Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,

Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,

Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In the service of archangels,

In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In prayers of patriarchs,

In predictions of prophets,

In preaching of apostles,

In faith of confessors,

In innocence of holy virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun,

Radiance of moon,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind,

Depth of sea,

Stability of earth,

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s host to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptations of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ to shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the threeness,

Through confession of the oneness,

Of the Creator of Creation.

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