Day Five

Another full day in Cambodia today. We have just passed the halfway point for the team who, by the way, are absolutely amazing! It's not easy to leave family and friends and travel to a third world country. But they have been pouring out their lives to love and serve our kids and the people of Cambodia. I feel so blessed to come from a church full of people who are committed to what God is doing in the lives of the people here. And thanks to Jeannine's church in Texas for sending her with us. We love her!! I can't wait until everyone back home gets to hear the stories from this week.

This morning, we started our day by doing some painting at a center for women who have left the sex industry and are trying to change their lives. This organization called Daughters of Cambodia helps victims of trafficking by offering them an employment alternative along with other services. (Check out their website.) Human trafficking is a huge problem here in Cambodia, and really in all of Southeast Asia. Women and young girls are sold to traffickers or brothels...many times by relatives or people they know.

The precise scale of Cambodia's sex trade is difficult to quantify. International organizations -- such as UNICEF, ECPAT and Save the Children -- say that anywhere from from 50,000 to 100,000 women and children are involved. An estimated 30 percent of the sex workers in Phnom Penh are under the age of 18, according to the United Nations. The actual figure may be much higher, activists say. (from a 2008 article on cnn.com)

The longer I have been here in Cambodia, the more I have learned about this issue...and the more truly devastating stories I have heard.

A few months ago, I learned about Daughters and began to volunteer my time there. All of the girls who are at the center have voluntarily left the industry seeking a better life. They are given a job and a salary and are taught a trade. Along with that, they have the opportunity to seek medical and counseling help and can attend workshops that offer information on life skills. There is also a weekly church service that they can voluntarily attend...and most of them do. As you can imagine, the girls have much to deal with after the lives that they have lived up until now. But, Daughters provides a safe place, support, and love as they make steps to change all of that.

So, today after taking a tour of the center, we did some painting in a couple of rooms. I loved seeing everyone just jump in and find a task to help complete the work. It was done in no time, it looked beautiful...and it blessed the director greatly. She is really trying to make this shelter a welcoming place for the girls, the staff, and the volunteers.

The team broke for lunch...and sang for Morgan who has a birthday today!

A little birthday brownie from us and big birthday wishes from home. Thanks Morgan for spending your birthday with us and with our kids!!

After everything was finished, we got to do a little shopping at the Daughters in-house store. Each of the girls belongs to a business at the shelter. There is a cake-decorating business that produces sugar flower goods. They are truly amazing! Then there are some sewing and silk-screen printing businesses. We were able to purchase some of their products...which is another blessing for them.

Later this afternoon, the team went back out to the orphanages to spend time at Prek Eng 1 and at Vista's home. This time, I was unable to go with them as I had a special goodbye with the girls at Daughters. But, I asked Morgan to take some pictures for me so that I would have them to post for you tonight.

I hear they had a blast playing four-square at Prek Eng 1. And then at Vista's home, the kids decorated flip-flops. (Bless the people from Vista who cut up all the necessary felt strips to tie on the shoes!) It was another fun time for them.









This afternoon, we took some time to process our thoughts about the time so far. One thing that came up was just how different the love and joy and peace is at our kids' home when compared to the center this morning. Our kids will never have to know the devastation that the women at Daughters have been through. It's tough to think about how those women not only did not receive care and affection for most of their short lives, but that they instead experienced so much abuse and destruction. I'm thankful that they have hope for a way out now.

But, it also becomes all the more clear how crucial it was that our kids have been saved from that life. One of the first things that I mentioned to the team was that the most important thing they could do on this trip was to love on our kids. That love that is continually poured out into their lives is producing confidence, peace, and hope in them. It's beautiful to see.