Finally! An Update... from southeast asia!

So, Catherine and I are in Thailand!!! We've been gone since the 22nd, and I was hoping to update before leaving but, as is the case before any big trip, things were a little hectic.

Right now we're having a nice afternoon rain. We just ate some noodles, veggies, and chicken at a local restaurant (staple dish here) that also makes homemade cakes (definitely NOT a staple here, so we ate up!!) Catherine is playing the guitar, and we're preparing to go visit the Red Light district this evening to see girls at work. Remember Nhu exists to prevent girls from ever getting to this place, so it will be very beneficial to see what exactly we're preventing.

Last week we were in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We visited the RNhu home there, which houses about 25 girls from age 7 to about 17. Half of the girls are Khmi (Cambodian) and the other half are Vietnamese refugees, and therefore are illegal residents. These girls in particular come from the river, which is a highly concentrated area of Vietname refugees. 70% of all Vietnamese girls on the river are trafficked. They are either rented or sold. Because the refugees cannot get a real job, their only real options are to collect recyclables, beg (which is an industry in itself, more on that later), or to sell a child. While in Phnom Penh, we visited the river twice and passed out fresh fruit to the children and some adults. This put a whole new light on the significance of prevention. Some of the girls we laughed with on the riverside will be sold or rented very soon.

We'll be going to Chaing Mai tomorrow until the 4th, then back to Bangkok to fly back home. There are 2 girls homes there which we will stay in.

I'm collecting so much information culturally as well as what ministries are here working against trafficking. I'm gathering about the local Church, but understand I'm only seeing blips. Everything I see and taste and experience here I want to collect!! I'm saving it all up in my heart and brain and can't wait to be able to go back through everything to sort it and see more of how the anthropological difference can be applied here.