Last day in Cambodia

Today was my last day in Cambodia. The day started with packing up, grabbing breakfast and heading to the safe house for our last staff devotion. It was an encouragement to be there and know the staff and know how great the girls have it with an amazing staff! After saying goodbye we headed for a 5 hour and 45 minutes bumpy bus ride. We made a stop where kids had these large spiders and sold pineapple. It was interesting. The bathrooms were literally a squat-potty. Katie feel in the yucky water... got cut up a little bit so we had to clean her up on the bus.

Once we got to our last hotel, so hit the russian market one more time. There we were able to find good buys! We went to dinner at the place we 1st ate at when we got to Cambodia. It was a fun cultural experience. After that we went to the mall and my eyes were opened to the wealthy people in Cambodia there. It was a 5 story mall full of things. Then I was shown a Casino and took a tooktook (taxi) around the city. We were able to see some of the major streets were girls are trafficked. Most of the brothels were in obvious locations and it was hard to see.

When we came in for the night I talked with our translator. She used to go talk with the girls who were trafficked. She said sometimes husband sell their wives just to get more money. I cannot imagine being married and my husband letting me sleep with another man just for money. The culture is so different here, people live around money.

Tomorrow am we fly to Bangkok and have a 9 hour layover. Pray for safety in our travels.

Temple Ruins

We woke up at 4:30am to see the sunrise. We made it there just in time to see some of the sunrise. It was absolutely gorgeous! I have never seen anything like it. The detail in the temple designs of the stones was breathe taking. I found myself taking photo after photo. There were also so many large trees with their roots in the temples.

After two hours there we went back to the hotel for breakfast. Breakfast was the fuel for the day! It was amazing when we went back to the temples, the food helped me in the heat. I also drank 2 bottles of water! It was so toasty outside! The markets by the temples were an experience. The children were funny and men had a little stand attached to their bikes.

After the temples we had a fun lunch and then got a massage... 1/2 hour feet and 1 hour back for $10 with tip... crazy cheap! Then we hit the day market. It wasn't too busy, but a fun time with Kelly, Seth and Katie!

After the fun, eventful day we went to the safe house for our last night devotions with the girls. It was a sad time. It rained right when we got there, so we did devos inside. We were able to do the games outside though because it cleared up! During the games I sat out with one of the girls. She and I talked about prayers. I was able to pray over her and her prayer requests. It was so amazing!

We went to dinner at a missionary's house and had a fun time eating pizza. It was cool to know about her ministry and pray over her! Then we went to the night market. I absolutely LOVE the environment of the night market! Everyone is so chill and the weather is cooler so it is a blessing to be outside. I love it!

Now it is bed time for me! Only 1 full day left in Cambodia!

Adventure Filled Day

At 11:30pm last night I woke up and threw up. My stomach had been hurting all day. I woke up at 6:15am and talked with my boyfriend, then felt super weak again. I laid down to rest. When the team came back to the hotel we went to a silk farm. It was very interesting to be there and see how many women were given jobs because of the silk farm... the younger girls were saved from trafficking. After that we went to lunch at a Christian restaurant called Common Grounds. It was so neat to be there and know that is was Christian based in the middle of Cambodia and we were supporting it! After this we went on a boat tour. There we saw the way that many people live. They have built homes on the river. Many of them send their children out in the day to sell drinks to the people on the tourism boats. At one of the "boat markets" I fed a croc a fish. It was an interesting experience... I got it on video! We had multiple of these children come on our boat. We also had a young boy with a snake come on our boat. They all say "One Dollar". Our tourism spending is their income. It was a shock to take a step back and evaluate this. These people live on about a dollar a day, sometimes more.

After the boat ride we went to the safe house and enjoyed time with the girls. Singing, dancing, doing a devotions on a beauty. It was incredible. Playing the games with the girls was so much fun. I pray that through the time we have spent with multiple girls, we learn from them, pray for them and grow... as well as be salt and light to them and the staff that works with them.

We ate dinner at a mexican restaurant tonight. It was a fun time with the team and interesting to be out on the town after dark. We came back to the hotel for a meeting. Now it is time to rest and get up at 4:30am to see the sunrise and look at the temples.

Prayer Request:

1. the team's health... 2 are sick and I am still not 100%.

2. tomorrow is our last day for devotions at the safe house. pray that we can impact, encourage and share God's love.

3. For our team to be well rested.

4. For our team to be unified and pull together.

July 6th

Today started well with a final devotion with the staff at the safe house. Saying goodbyes to a few of the girls that we out of their rooms was rough. Some of them were crying and it made me cry as well and be sad to leave. One of the girls I was able to talk with when she started crying. I think there was a deeper reason for her tears, but she would not share. Once we left we went to breakfast at Sunrise Cafe. There I enjoyed my food way too much! I ate so much. Then we went on the bus a Siem Reap. The bus ride was not to bad, I fell asleep for a 3rd of it. When we got to our hotel it was interesting because we had to take our shoes off at the lobby and walk to our rooms barefoot. They put our shoes on a rack for us when we left. We got settled in and had an hour of free time. I hit the bed and passed out. After we woke up we went to grab some food. I was not hungry and my stomach began to be sick. I ate a piece of garlic bread. When we were eating we were warned that the tourism trafficking is very in your face here. It was hard to see it happening and not be able to do anything about it.

After eating, we went to the safe house. There we met the girls, they sang praise and worship songs and we lead a devotional on Daniel in the Lions Den. After that we taught them the chicken dance, played the human knot game, played musical chairs and had a dance party. Musical chairs was the best part! The girls were so into it and it was cool to hear some of their favorite music as we played.

Prayers Request:

1. The team's health... a few of us are not feeling 100%.

2. Safety for our team.

3. The strength to not speak out when we see trafficking happen.

4. The girls at the safe house and our devotions that we do with them.

5. For God to start telling the team how to bring what we learned from our trip home.

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. I hope all is well!

Peace filled Day

The morning started with a chipper rise! I woke up perky and so joyful! We had devotions with the staff at the safe house and it was a Q/A of the Bible... amazing questions the staff asked!

After that I was able to see the girl's rooms and see what there living space was like. It was so cool. During this time one of the girls got hit and started crying. She ran to my arms and I picked her up and bounced her until she was better. Such a touching moment! After that I played cards with some of the girls and bought 8 beautiful purses! I also got to ride my 1st moto in Cambodia with Sarah! It was so fun!!!

Sarah and I met the team at La Villa for lunch. It was a really nice restaurant with wonderful Caesar salad and I got a banana/chocolate smoothie... AMAZING! The outdoors of the restaurant was beautiful! We took pictures!

After that some of us made our way to the foundation/salon. It was cool because I was the only one to get a pedicure and I was able to talk with the girl I have blogged a lot about. She really opened up and before she came in... I was able to hear her story from a missionary there. It was so eye opening. I got the girl's picture and had a blast talking with her and showing her pictures on my ipod touch!

Tonight we had to say goodbye to the girls at the safe house. It was rough... but not as bad as I thought. We had a wonderful devotions, fun game and even sparklers to play with the girls! It was a glorious day!! Praise God for these girls and their rescued lives! Tomorrow we leave Battambong and head to another city to a safe house! Thank you for the prayers! Keep them coming!

Independence Day in Cambodia

Today was an awesome day! Despite my restless sleep... waking up was good. I was able to have some alone time with God and even pray with Nick on skype! Things are looking up for sure!

We had church with the girls at the safe house and the local community that goes to that small church. The service started 20 minutes late (typical for them) and it was full of amazing times. It was so cool to see some of the girls around me worship as they sang. Eyes closed, swaying and singing their heart out. It took my breath away and I was caught in awe of God and His awesome light. It was cool that a few of the songs they sang I actually recognized! When I didn't I watched the people or prayed. Church was great!

After church our team stayed and Seth and Theara (our translator) rapped with some of the girls! It was so funny and some of the girls with special needs was really into it and good too! She had great rhythm. We ate lunch at a place we had already eaten and the food was great... i think i even had 3rds!

Then we went to the Market in Battambong. It was fun... they had lots of very detailed dresses. I wish I had a reason to buy one and wear it. It was fun... no cats at this market either! A lot of motos though...

Then we had break time at the hotel. I was able to listen to 2 of Pastor Gary's sermons. It was so good to have that time to listen to praise and worship music and the sermons.. just what I needed! Then we went back to the house to hang out with the girls and have devotions. We did a skit on different ways that 2 are better than 1 and how to help each other. It was a simple concept but so fun for the girls! After that they did a craft with pony tail holders. I watched and took pictures. After the craft one of the girls I have talked about (the one who doesn't like to talk much) came up to me and gave me a pony tail holder that she had made. It made my day! Some of the girls came up to me with the leftovers and made some more holders. It was so much fun! We shared a lot of laughter.

After that we went to a missionary's house and had an American dinner... with red velvet cake for dessert and we had white cheddar popcorn!!! We finished celebrating the 4th of July with sparklers! My FAVORITE THING about July 4th!! What a joyful day it has been!

Thank you for the prayers and support... I feel it and can almost touch it. God has blessed me with the miracle of raising money to be here and I am trying to make the most of it!

A Day with some rough spots

Today was a rough day for me. I talked with my parents and they shared some stress and kind of downer news of things that are going on back at home. It is hard hearing things when I am not home to support physically.... and only support in prayer and thoughts for now.

The team had a great breakfast at Sunrise Coffee Shop. It was full of fun times. We decided we'd raise money for things we feel God calling us as a group to support financially by having crazy tasks. Tasks like, a shot of ketchup, one of hot sauce, one of coffee and brown sugar etc. It was an experience at breakfast! We raised $50+ though...

We went to the safe house and played with the girls. Spinning the young ones around and chasing them in the house was fun. Then later we played euchre and taught some of the girls how to play slap jack.... good times! Then we had a brief snack time for lunch. After that, we had a pool party with the girls. I did not get into the water... I was nervous I'd swallow some of the water. But I had a good times visiting with some of the girls what didn't swim or the ones that I talked with while my feet were in the pool. I also talked to a man on staff about the house and his background. It was so cool how God opens people up right away. However, sometimes he doesn't. One girl in particular, the 1st one i met there has not opened up. Most of the girls will tell you about their family and some information... this girl will not. It frustrated me because I have asked her for 3 days now and she just looks at me the same way each time. It bothered me and makes me feel bad. Then we ate a snack there and the kids wanted us to push them on this train thing... well once 7+ Americans pushed the 4 or 5 cart train the caboose got off the track! It was so funny how quickly the kids jumped out so it could get fixed. But while it was going before that... we had them going pretty quickly. Unfortunately, we didn't find a permeant fix to the train... so we all went to the house. One of the ladies on our team shared a devotion on spiritual gifts and our talents. It was a good message! During the message though, some of the girls I was sitting with were making fun of the girl in front of them. This girls sitting in front of them has special needs and her underwear was hanging out a little bit... she pulled her shirt down quickly when she figured out the girls were laughing at her. My heart broke and I told the girls to stop and be nice.... it bothered me.

After the house we had dinner at White Rose, we ate family style. I got a wonderful strawberry ice cream shake there! It was VERY tasty! Then we headed back to the hotel.

Thoughts of the Day

1. Depression is in some of the girls at the house, i also see them missing their families which breaks my heart because I think of how I used to be so homesick at their age.

2. I know that Satan is trying to pull me down. I need strength right now.

3. I love hearing from people at home, it brightens my day.

4. I have the best boyfriend in the entire world.

5. Pray for me to have more time with God through this rough patch.

Thank you again for your support, thoughts and prayers. I love you all and will be home in 8 days!