ASIA
Asia: Contrasts Are Only the Beginning
Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent, covering about 30% of Earth’s total land area. Asia is notable for not only its overall size and population but its dense as well as barely populated regions within the continent of 4.4 [?] billion people. Asia has exhibited economic as well as population growth during the 20th century, but overall population growth has since fallen to world average levels. Given its size and diversity, the concept of Asia may actually have more to do with human than physical geography. Asia varies greatly across its regions with regard to ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems.
Population: 1,439,000,000
Spiritually lost: 1,400,000,000 (98%)
Unreached people groups: 3909
- Mobilizer & Administrator for HPC activities in several countries
- Mission focus: training and coordinating workers who minister to the sexually exploited
Cambodia: Stephanie Iwanaga (HPC)
From a young age, God put the nations on my heart. It wasn’t until after college that I went overseas and began the journey of missions that God has called me to. In 2010, I moved to Cambodia to work with individuals in the sex trade. My work with The Hard Places Community (HPC) while living in Phnom Penh was life changing. I was able to work directly with young men, women & children who had been, currently were or would be at risk of being abused and sexually exploited. A lot of my time was spent working at our Boys Center in the heart of the capital city, Phnom Penh. I then helped with the research and development of a safe house and our Girl’s Center. Now, I am currently in the States working full-time as the Mobilizer & Head Administrator for our programs in each of the countries we are currently in. We are currently working with orphans & have started a school in India, working with those who are being sexually exploited in Cambodia and refugees & asylum seekers in Greece. Continued below.
More About Stephanie Iwanaga
It is such a blessing to connect with others who have a passion to serve and seek justice for these men, women and children who have been and are currently being exploited. My heart is to come alongside of those overseas to help train, equip and mobilize them to help the people in their nation. I have a heart to mobilize those who wish to serve overseas on a short or long-term mission—to help those who are in the dark places of this world. The names and faces of those who I worked alongside and saw in my daily life while living in Cambodia have forever been ingrained into my mind and heart. They are the ones that keep me going and keep me passionate for the call that God has placed on my life to reach the poor, needy, broken and least of these, here in my backyard as well as overseas.
For more information about HPC, visit www.thehardplaces.org