Cambodia: Raid was a success!

The raid went as planned. 13 out of 17 girls were rescued, and 2 out of 3 pimps were arrested. This is such a relief.

Before we left, we stopped by the IJM office to say one last goodbye. The office director told us that the investigators told him that our being apart of the operation helped them close the case quicker. He said it helped their credibility for us to be there because it looked like they were bringing in rich American clients. Enabling them to get to know the Mama-San better.

It is not over though. From here, the girls will be questioned and detained. It it typical for the pimps to tell the girls that when the police raid, they will arrest the girls and punish them, and threatened their families. Basically the pimps scare the girls into not confessing to anything. Also, most of the girls are the primary bread winners for their families, and they feel obligated to "work". Leaving them wanting to go to another brothel to "work". That is why it is so important for IJM to get in there and make the girls feel comfortable and secure. I should know something in the next few days if any of the girls we met were rescued.

Continue to pray for the girls. Pray that they will willingly go into an aftercare program.

Cambodia: Brothel Raid

Good News!!!! A brothel will be raided sometime Sunday night. (Texas time) Please pray that they find Ahn, Special Apple and the other girls and get them to safety. Thanks.

We will be heading out in the morning for a loooonnnnggggg journey back. Can't wait to see wife and kids!

Thanks again!

Cambodia Trip Day 10

Today was our last day for meetings. We have much research and info to report back home with. A little overwhelming, but I guess it is good that there were 7 of us. Tomorrow we will go to Angkor Wat to see all the temple ruins. Should be fun. Alf is trying to talk me into renting some dirt bikes to ride out there. The last time we thought about doing something crazy was in Phnom Penh....and it was paying $200 to shoot a rocket launcher. Pretty sweet deal! To shoot an AK47 was only $20...should have at least done that one. Oh well. Maybe we can do some jumps from temple to temple. Maybe a superman seat grab over a few monks. We'll see. After the tour of the ruins, we will fly back to Phnom Penh for one last night there. Monday morning we will report back to the IJM office, say our goodbyes, then head back to the states. So, this might be my last blog entry. If so, thanks for reading and checking in. Keep in touch. I shot lots of cool stuff, and look forward to producing some strong videos that bring more awareness to the human trafficking world. Akun! (Thank you)

Cambodia Trip Day 8

Thursday | Ocotober 1
Today we spent the whole day in Svay Pak. Svay Pak is like a suburb of Phnom Penh. As said before, it is known for its prostitution. Things have changed drastically in this suburb. Since IJM raided the area in 2003, the area still has some brothels, and many pimps, but now they are not running the area. They are still dangerous, but the people are not as afraid anymore.

Rahab's House and The Lord's Gym was started by AGAPE Ministries. This ministry went into this area, bought 2 buildings, and are now changing the area, and its people. The Lord's Gym is just that. A place where men can come to lift weights. The goal is to slowly get to know some of the men, and pimps of the area through hanging out in the gym. It is small, and not a whole lot of machines to work on, but then again, this is a small community. While we were there, a few pimps were in there working out. The goal of AGAPE is to not only help the children, but also reach out to the men who are misguided.

Also, while we were there, Rahab's House was in full swing. One hour it was a classroom for about 12 kids, then it transformed into the communities health center. The room was full of sick people. All needing free assistance. Later in the day, it became a kids club. Where the youth ministers taught lessons, and sang songs. It was cool to see the kids' parents watching from the doorway.

In a conversation with the co-founder, she told me that 80% of the 30 kids there had been assaulted. Their ages were from 5 to late teens. She said at times, a mother will come in and take them out during a lesson to go perform a trick or two on a customer. And as she was telling me that, a mom came and did just that. She carried her daughter off. Now I do not know for sure if that was her purpose, but could have been. I pray not though.

During our time there, we went and visited 3 women that have HIV. These women got infected from their husbands. Their husbands got infected from prostitutes. Two of the husbands have died. Many of the prostitutes have died from HIV as well. It was sad to see these women barely getting by, and crying as they asked us to pray for them. Their house was in a small area where all the houses are over water. Their floor was made out of lumber. You could see through the cracks on the floor to the water. I cannot imagine living like they do.

I shot lots of interviews with people, and the Rahab's House founder to help them make some promotional videos.



So after a full day, we jumped on a plane and headed for Siem Reap. A 40 minute flight to another famous city for child trafficking. For the next two days we will meet local officials, and tour areas of the city that need support.

In case I have not been clear...our church is commited to helping an injustice in our world. We have nailed down Cambodia as our target. We know we want to partner with IJM (International Justice Mission). And we also want to find another opportunity to help and/or support.