Where we were:
We spent a week in the capital city of Phnom Pehn. Took a 7 hour bus ride up north to Siem Reap. Spent four days there. Took a 10 hour bus ride south to the beach town, Sihanoukville. Spent a week there. Took another 7 hour bus ride back to Phnom Penh. Now are spending our last week back here.
What we did:
Researched new ministry contacts. Swam in a pool and the beach. Celebrated the 4th of July with fajitas and chocolate cake in a cup. Had a divine appointment with Mary from a medical NGO who gave us food, coffee and her story. Met new potential contacts in all three cities. Saw God teach us each how to be responsible women. Had a bible study on ACTS. Talked to tourists at bars. Wrote encouraging notes and handed them to women workers on the beach or left them at restaurant tables. Saw "Despicable Me 2" for Brittney's birthday. Learned how to communicate more effectively in our team. Got stuck in flooded streets in our tuk tuk. Saw political campaign parades for the upcoming election this weekend.
What we saw:
Local tuk tuk/motorcycle drivers doing everything they can to get us to use them so they can make money. Children ages five to ten walking in between cars at stop lights asking for money or trying to dust off your car. Local prostitutes trying to get business from tourists in the bars on the beach. Babies being dropped off by their prositute mothers to a night daycare ministry for moms to work while their babies are being cared for. Female massage workers doing everything they can to get male tourists to give them business. Children ages five to ten selling bracelets to tourists on the beach. Women ages fifteen to forty offering on the spot manicure/pedicures on the beaches to tourists (some who have been doing this every day for ten to fifteen years). Partying western tourists who looked so insecure with themselves.
What we felt:
Anger. Pain. Loss. Love. Compassion. Determination. Hope. Desperation. Jesus.
This month has been crazy. So much traveling. So many ministries. So many realities and so many feelings. I still haven't been able to process through all of it, but will when God wants and needs me to.
We will be leaving Phnom Penh on Tuesday to head to Vietnam. My team will be heading to the city on the beach, Danang, to work at an orphanage called, Orphan Voice http://www.orphanvoice.org/ . I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us next month.
