Thursday, July 25, 2013 - en route to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
"...encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
In everything set them an example by doing what is good."
Titus 2:6-7
Today we headed back to the capital city, Phnom Penh, for the final leg of our trip. Our one pit stop on the bus ride back was at a tarantula farm [yes, those exist]. Being someone who is freaked out by spiders but enjoys the adrenaline rush of conquering fears, naturally, I decided I needed to hold a tarantula.
["Proof or it didn't happen!" Welp, here ya go!]
Yep, that happened, alright. Moving on...
While on the bus, I was eagerly awaiting our arrival back to the city because I knew I would get to spend time with a boy who stole my heart [no, not like that].
Throughout the trip, I have seen trafficking and its effects in action. I have seen older white men in intimate settings with young Khmer girls. The fact that I can see trafficking occurring so clearly in public makes me wonder how much is happening behind the scenes. The prospect of it all makes me feel sick. Needless to say, I have grown skeptical. I have caught myself beginning to distrust nearly every man I pass by. I cannot help but think that a majority of the adult men here have been involved in trafficking in some capacity, whether it be working as a pimp, selling a child, buying a girl for the evening, or even being a silent witness. Not to say that women are not also involved- [believe me, they are!]- but it is the men that I see. It has become increasingly difficult to refrain from making judgements about people I encounter.
Despite losing a significant portion of my trust for the men here, God has shown me a silver lining- a valuable stream of beauty within the ugliness. Our translator's brother has begun a ministry for pre-teen and teenage boys where he mentors them and teaches them to make jewelry by carving coconut. Along with teaching these boys a trade in order to earn an income, he is also teaching them how to be Godly men. And it is becoming very fruitful. One of the boys in particular has helped provide a much-needed fresh perspective on Khmer men.
Earlier on the trip, we took a tour of the village where these boys live. At one point on the tour, we had to walk down a slippery staircase toward a part of the village on the river. Some of the boys were excitedly leading the tour, while the group of us women fell behind because we had slowed down in order to prevent slipping and falling. Before I knew it, a 13-year-old boy turned around and stopped at a spot where we had to take a particularly large step down. He offered out his hand and assisted us as we made the descent.
Amidst a world where trafficking is so prevalent, this one gentlemanly gesture spoke so loudly. This 13-year-old boy is more of a man than most traffickers will ever be. Thanks to this ministry, these boys are quickly transforming into men of God who will, in turn, raise up the next generation of Godly men. The prospects are so hopeful!
For now, prayer is the answer. Pray that God, in all His power, uses this ministry as the seed that becomes a root which grows a trunk which separates into branches that sprout leaves until the entire country is covered with Godly people. Pray for the hearts of the men and women involved in trafficking. Pray that they begin to see the children they victimize for who they are- precious children of God who deserve to keep their purity. Pray that their hearts become repentant and that they may, one day, get to enter the gates of Heaven.
That's right- I said it. I want to see those who do evil in Heaven someday. Even the most vile things they have done are covered by what He has done for us. He sent His only Son to die on the cross in our place. For me to deny that a trafficker could be saved would be denying the validity of God's promise and the power of His sacrifice. Pray that repentance occurs. Sex slavery is extremely evil, but God is infinitely Good! Pray that traffickers turn their backs on evil and sprint toward Good.
["Proof or it didn't happen!" Welp, here ya go!]
Yep, that happened, alright. Moving on...
While on the bus, I was eagerly awaiting our arrival back to the city because I knew I would get to spend time with a boy who stole my heart [no, not like that].
Throughout the trip, I have seen trafficking and its effects in action. I have seen older white men in intimate settings with young Khmer girls. The fact that I can see trafficking occurring so clearly in public makes me wonder how much is happening behind the scenes. The prospect of it all makes me feel sick. Needless to say, I have grown skeptical. I have caught myself beginning to distrust nearly every man I pass by. I cannot help but think that a majority of the adult men here have been involved in trafficking in some capacity, whether it be working as a pimp, selling a child, buying a girl for the evening, or even being a silent witness. Not to say that women are not also involved- [believe me, they are!]- but it is the men that I see. It has become increasingly difficult to refrain from making judgements about people I encounter.
Despite losing a significant portion of my trust for the men here, God has shown me a silver lining- a valuable stream of beauty within the ugliness. Our translator's brother has begun a ministry for pre-teen and teenage boys where he mentors them and teaches them to make jewelry by carving coconut. Along with teaching these boys a trade in order to earn an income, he is also teaching them how to be Godly men. And it is becoming very fruitful. One of the boys in particular has helped provide a much-needed fresh perspective on Khmer men.
Earlier on the trip, we took a tour of the village where these boys live. At one point on the tour, we had to walk down a slippery staircase toward a part of the village on the river. Some of the boys were excitedly leading the tour, while the group of us women fell behind because we had slowed down in order to prevent slipping and falling. Before I knew it, a 13-year-old boy turned around and stopped at a spot where we had to take a particularly large step down. He offered out his hand and assisted us as we made the descent.
Amidst a world where trafficking is so prevalent, this one gentlemanly gesture spoke so loudly. This 13-year-old boy is more of a man than most traffickers will ever be. Thanks to this ministry, these boys are quickly transforming into men of God who will, in turn, raise up the next generation of Godly men. The prospects are so hopeful!
For now, prayer is the answer. Pray that God, in all His power, uses this ministry as the seed that becomes a root which grows a trunk which separates into branches that sprout leaves until the entire country is covered with Godly people. Pray for the hearts of the men and women involved in trafficking. Pray that they begin to see the children they victimize for who they are- precious children of God who deserve to keep their purity. Pray that their hearts become repentant and that they may, one day, get to enter the gates of Heaven.
That's right- I said it. I want to see those who do evil in Heaven someday. Even the most vile things they have done are covered by what He has done for us. He sent His only Son to die on the cross in our place. For me to deny that a trafficker could be saved would be denying the validity of God's promise and the power of His sacrifice. Pray that repentance occurs. Sex slavery is extremely evil, but God is infinitely Good! Pray that traffickers turn their backs on evil and sprint toward Good.
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