Power of a name

First let me apologize for not utilizing this blog as I should. I have realized recently the importance of sharing what I am experiencing. If it is helpful to no one else, it will be good for me to process and reflect on the world around me.

I have been here in Cambodia for about 3 weeks. Our team is focused on working with organizations that are helping in the fight against sex trafficking. It has been a great experience to see first hand men and women who have had the courage to walk away from the atrocities that enslaved them. I will write more about that in another post, but today I wanted to share a moment that was simple, but so impactful to me.

It was the New Year here in Cambodia and everything was closed. So what is a team of six to do in a city that is basically shut down? We decided to head to the waterfront to pray. Along the way we met up with some kids about the age of 10 out on the street selling various trinkets to make money for their family. We had a great time interacting with them. It was sad to me to see these kids who were so good at manipulating and doing all they needed to do to make a sale. Kids shouldn't have to have those skills. Eventually, they all put down their stuff and just  played with us for awhile. It was so refreshing to see them just being kids. The oldest girl, who is about 12,  just sat on the side and scowled. We each tried to talk with her, but she wanted nothing to do with us. Understandable. I have had the hardest times learning names here. The sounds are so foreign to my ears and although I have them repeat it over and over I can never remember. Except this girls name...Tut. It was the first name that was a sound that I recognized. We played with the kids awhile longer and then said goodbye. I looked at Tut, called her by name and said goodbye. She barely even acknowledged my effort.

A few days later, I decided to head back down to the waterfront to walk and pray. It was really quiet and no one was out. I wandered and prayed and just enjoyed being outside. I looked up and there was Tut running in front of me with all of her goods to sell. I yelled out her name "TUT" as loud as I could. She froze and turned with a look of shock on her face. She looked my direction and then a huge smile emerged on her face as she ran to meet me. She was so energetic and started asking me questions and telling me about her day.

It was then it struck me, I bet she is hardly ever called by name. Here is a girl who basically lives on the  streets and struggles to eek out a living. She had told me she was basically abandoned by her parents to fend for herself and her little sibling. In that instant I called her name, she was known, she had an identity. I know most of the day she is overlooked and probably treated like an announce to tourists, but she is so much more than that. I was so thankful that of all the kids I met that I remembered her name and that God would bring her back into my path. God knows each of our names, how powerful that really is when I stop and think about it. We are known, maybe not by the people who pass us, but we are known by the Creator of the Universe. I looked at Tut and could see the beauty and the power of what it means to be known.