Ten Girls

Well, I can't believe it is already November! We are expecting the dresses to arrive at the end of this month and I am starting to get a little nervous. We have so many expectations... will the dresses sell? Will they be as beautiful as the samples we approved in September? As I think about these things I am reminded that these concerns are the least of my worries when I compare them to the human lives that are changing because of this endeavor.

Ten girls. Soon, ten girls will be living together in a home with real walls and a roof. Ten girls will be eating yummy meals everyday. Ten girls will have a yard to run, dance and play. Ten girls will have a private bathroom to bathe and care for themselves. Ten girls will have a safe and clean bed to sleep in. Ten girls will be laughing, working and sharing life together. Ten girls will no longer have to worry or fear the night.

Today, my heart is full of hope and prayers for one of our daughters that did not come back after the weekend. We don't have all the details as to why. Chris will be traveling to Cambodia after Thanksgiving. He will meet with the family and try to contact her. Please pray for her safe return.

Give more, keep less,

Nicole

Starting v. Staying

Have you ever "picked something up" only to put it right back down when you found out how difficult it was actually going to be? You know, the time you wanted to pick up the guitar (for me it was the banjo), or learn to crochet a scarf, or finally become a runner. What about the time you started writing that book or a song? Well, that was how this project started. So much enthusiasm we could have run a small country with the power and strength we felt.

With no less enthusiasm we began this trip. Shortly we found out it would take more than that. Just like the music lessons and the hobbies, it would take years of commitment and alot of mistakes before any real results would ever be seen.

We had only 5 days on the ground in Cambodia this time. Our primary task was to see the 20 samples that Mr. Hay and the young ladies had put together since July. Since they were working only off a pencil sketch and a brief description from Nicole we knew there would be some aspects we would want to change. However, we didn't expect what we saw the first day. Frustration set in when we saw only 17 samples were done and only 1 was what we actually envisioned. "Lost in translation" suddenly became the catch phrase of the week. Apparently, terms like sweetheart neckline, ruching, corset back, ruffles and spaghetti strap aren't universal. Part of us understood that and laughed. What must Mr. Hay have thought when we said we wanted a spaghetti strap on the eggplant dress? Did he think we were chefs all of the sudden? And why were we surprised that all 20 samples weren't complete. Every foreign traveler and missionary knows no one but Americans operate inside the confines of time frames. Either way, we went home that day exhausted and discouraged wondering how this would end and if we should throw in the towel now.



Unlike the guitar and running shoes that gradually collect dust we decided to stick with it. We reevaluated everything we had done wrong and everything that we could do to change things in the future. We decided the mission behind this whole project made it worth the trials and hard work. We spent the next 4 days in the market and at Mr. Hay's working through all the samples one by one and changing every little detail. In the market we found the shiniest beadwork and the most stunning fabric. We were determined to be proud of this line and to work out every kink.



And it worked! On the last day 2 hours before we left for the airport we saw the new samples. They were gorgeous. Mr. Hay and all the girls were smiling and giddy. They all said they were happy to learn how to make dresses like "the rest of the world." Mr. Hay said everyone was excited because they were happy to see different types of dresses from traditional Cambodian styles. And so were we! We can't wait to show everyone these amazing gowns.

On the way home Nicole and I thought about what this was going to take. Weeks of travel, alot of money and even more plain hard work. Seeing the girls this week reminds us why we are doing this. Having a mission behind a project doesn't make it less difficult, but it does make it more rewarding.

Today's Newspaper

We are overwhelmed today with excitement to see the Daughters project written about in the paper. We are even more ecstatic that they also did a write up on sex trafficking and are bringing awareness to this problem. Throughout this project we have been humbled and are grateful for the response we have received from the friends and the general public. We are moved by the outpouring of love, support and compassion that people express for these young women and this global issue. Thanks again!
http://www.ss-times.com/2010/08/26/global-daughters-program-connects-two-countries-to-prepare-girls-to-be-self-sufficient-one-stitch-at-a-time/

Dessert Vision and Fundraising Evening 8/18 6:30

Friends,

As much as we have tried to write on this blog and keep people informed there is only so much that can be written out in a paragraph or two. We really want to share the pictures, stories, future vision and needs of this project face to face. We have set up a night at our church, Common Ground, to have coffee and dessert together and fill in all the blanks for you.

Where: Common Ground Christian Church (basement)
4550 N. Illinois Street Indianapolis, IN 46208 (corner of 46th and Illinois)
When: Wed. August 18th 6:30 p.m. (sharing will begin at 7)
Why: to share with you the exciting and complete story of Daughters and it's future

Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly, andraeac@yahoo.com Or if you have any questions feel free to can contact me.

We are always overwhelmed by the support, encouragement and hope we find in each of you. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Is there anything I, we, they can do?

There are alot of things 5 people can do. They can form a team and play just about any sport, I've seen 5 people move an entire house in just a few hours, they can start a band or even a burger joint (well, 5 Guys anyway). But I learned in the last few weeks what 5 people can't do. As much as we loved our time in Cambodia and all of us were so thankful for all the opportunities we were given we realized above all else that we couldn't do it alone. We were going to need community to make this project work. Community in Phnom Penh and in the US. You.

Encouragement, sadness, despair and excitement are among all of the feelings people have expressed in the emails we have received. Friends asked how they could help or what they could do. So here we are. There are many opportunities to participate in this project. Especially as it gets off the ground. We really want to partner with people that are concerned with the issue of trafficking and are moved passionately to act. There is so much fundraising based on emotion, heart strings, guilt and fear. The end result of that is boredom by the partners and movement to another issue that they feel more guilty or sad about later. We want to avoid that. We are surrounded by a community of people that want to be radical and sacrificial, want to participate in change and desire to personally be transformed as they contribute to the world. Is that you, is that your community, is that your church? If the answer is yes, please read further.

Two couples have already offered to begin sponsoring the girls. A house church (or small group) has taken on the rent of the home in Cambodia ($330/month). So what else is there? Here are a few of the other needs:

1. Sponsorship for all 10 girls (weekly stipend, training, food, education, counseling, weekend activities etc.)
2. Sponsorship for the house mom - $300/month She will be our life line in some ways. Taking them to and from Mr. Hi's shop, caring for them, feeding them, teaching them.
3. We will need to purchase a van for the home. This is approximately $8,000-$10,000.
4. Home "furnishings"- refrigerator, kitchen supplies, plates, cups, bathroom renovations, towels etc.
5. Training equipment- sewing machines, tables, chairs
6. Awareness funds- website and marketing materials to get the word out.
7. And so many misc. things that can't even be counted for like paying off contracts

(The sale of the dresses will pay for most of our transportation back and forth as well as the fabric and materials for the gowns)

You can give once or you can participate monthly. If you want more information you can email me at andraeac@yahoo.com We encourage small groups and communities to do this together and are happy to share with everyone what the vision is. Also, if you are creative and have fundraising ideas please let us know. If you are interested in giving for the project this is how:

Center for Global Impact (checks payable to CGI)
7358 Kita Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46259

or you can donate online at www.centerforglobalimpact.org
(put Daughters in comment- there will be a drop box soon for it- unrestricted gift is ok for now w/ comment)

Thank you again for caring about these children.

Blessings

Work...

We've been back for two days and I have to say that my body clock isn't quite right just yet. I woke up at 3:30am and couldn't sleep, so I did what anyone else would do in this situation - I watched a documentary. Actually, I finished watching a documentary that I started a couple of nights ago. It's called Food,Inc. and it chronicles the sad state that the food industry is in as a result of convoluted corporate and government issues. They showed the harsh treatment, not only of the technologically engineered plants and animals that we eat every day, but also of the workers who carry out the harvesting, slaughtering, and preparing of the food before it hits the supermarket. Scary stuff to say the least.

After the documentary, I went to the grocery store and did my best to shop in a way that matched the conviction I felt after watching Food, Inc. I don't know why, but doing these two things broke my heart all over again, thousands of miles away from the poverty and trafficking issues we've been walking through during the last 2 weeks. This world is so very broken, and the earth seems to be this disgusting place where people have become just as much of a resource as anything that we draw out of the ground. Once the fields and wells are sucked dry, we move onto the next one. Once the people are used up, we cast them aside and look for the next ones to help us achieve...well, whatever it is we're trying so hard to achieve.

After Jesus fed the five thousand and walked on water, the group of people followed Him from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the other. He knows the people have come for another miracle, for another meal. They want to use Him up, because He appears to be such a valuable resource. But He cautions them not to work for temporary resources that spoil, but for things that endure eternally. Then they ask Him, "ok, then, how do we do the work of God?" To which Jesus replies, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He sent." (John 5-6)

Sometimes, it's hard work to believe. It's hard to believe that the Chief Shepherd is leading us to a better land where sex trafficking will be no more, where poverty will cease and people will treat each other the way we were intended to. Today we work hard to believe that God is changing things for the better. We work hard to believe that He cares, even though the outlook seems bleak at times. Today is a day where the work of believing seems a little harder than usual. Please continue to work with us as we continue believing that God is changing the lives of at least 2 girls and their families today.

Home

Well, we are home now. U.S.A- home of dinner plates the size of platters fast food joints, drugstores. With a bank and gas station on every corner.

I am sure all four of us are struggling to process the things we experienced in Cambodia. My heart is full of prayers for the people we left- the two girls that want to be in the program, our new Cambodian friends, and Chris Alexander, as he is still there for two more weeks.

Home. This is such an elusive thing. It can be just as much a feeling as it is a place. Of course, our true homes are not here. We are called to be "other- worldly'. This is fairly easy when you have seen what God is doing in other places. The problem is when you "see" you have choices to make. So these are the things we are left to process... how will our lives be different here, in the land of freedom and opportunity? In many ways the struggles are greater here. So many temptations to spend your time and money on; so many distractions.

SO- I am sitting this morning with sketches and swatches trying to fathom how God can use this thing to save little girls. Fortunate for us, we serve a Mighty God and His name is Redeemer. He redeemed me, he longs to redeem those girls and he is always in the process of redeeming humanity, all of it. This is His very best work and He is an artist when He does it.

Your prayer is needed,

Nicole

Launch My Line (and my hopes and dreams)

Today was a monumental moment. Our first design was created. We spent the afternoon examining the first prom gown that was made. Mr. Hi, our master seamstress in Phnom Penh, and his staff crafted the dress. It was a beautiful tangerine satin w/ a keyhole front and beaded halter neckline. What a sight! We were all amazed to see Nicole's design come to life. It was a dream come true on many levels.

You may not know this about Nicole. Some of us spent our childhood with nurses caps on, some spent the days playing with fire trucks or Barbie's. I spent mine on the landing of the stairs checking out customers scanning them across the nightlight. With every purchase the light lit up. If I could only be a cashier some day. Nicole spent hers drawing bridal gowns. Dressing up girls in formal dresses that would turn the heads of friends, Ken dolls and families. As she grew into adulthood she realized this was just a childish dream. Or was it? Maybe it was a desire God had placed in her heart. As she really grew up she knew it was more than a fantasy. It was a calling.

Nicole and I came together a few months ago and began dreaming about what could happen if her designs and my hope to have a missional business could come together. A vision was placed into our hearts to use our hopes to transform the world, one girl at a time. This week we have seen that anything is possible. As the Daughters line continues to be created we hope it will benefit all the girls around the world. The ones in Cambodia that desperately need saved from poverty and the ones in the US that think the desires of their heart aren't real. To all of them, please let this be a testimony that He who gives us dreams will also help us realize them.

Learning to love

Some people are easy to love and others we have to work at. When the opportunity came for us to help those 2 girls this week it was a no brainer for all of us involved. We have spent most of the week following through on that. Yesterday Chris and our translator went to the company where the contract to work in Malaysia had been signed. I use the word contract loosely as it had the wrong age (stating she was 22), name and the dates were left blank. The only part that was spelled out clearly was that if the "servant were to jump from the roof any building or run away" they were not liable. They had a photo of the girl attached and a finger print. We were able to get her out of the contract by returning the original amount that was given to her parents. It was not easy as the company was extremely upset to lose her, she would have been a great asset for them.

In the afternoon both families of the girls came to see the facility and talk with us. This was not an aspect that I had thought about before. Point blank we were asked if one of the girls older sisters could be in the program. Another no brainer, right? Not that easy. This was the sister that had sold her younger sister to people she knew. So what is the answer in these cases? How do we participate in redemption and have limits and guidelines etc. How do we love the fathers, mothers, sisters that sold the Daughhters that we are trying to help? We have to think differently, love unconditionally and pray for wisdom above all else.

Yesterday we recieved great advice to slow down, think and understand. At this point we have not been recruiting or planning, but opportunities to help have come and now we are responsible. The girls will be starting on Mon. w/ our seamtress and staying with a friend until we can get the details of the program in place. But for the next month we hope to answer some of the questions that have come up this week. Visitation, curriculum, free time, church etc. We are meeting w/ some organizations today that have already answered some of these questions and we hope we won't have to reinvent the wheel.

They Said Yes!

The two girls that we told you about showed up yesterday afternoon and said that they were ready to enter into the Daughters training program. We were overjoyed to be able to walk them through the new facility and show them where they will learn and live. There are so many layers to this issue though. It is not as simple as paying a company $400 to buy them back. There is family pressure, education gaps, and the ongoing difficulty of poverty that make this situation and the entire trafficking issue so difficult. What we do know is that we are taking one step at a time, asking God for wisdom and discernment for each day. Thank you for your prayers.

The Reed's and Krajewski's

$400 - Part II

Clint and I met up with Nicole and Drae at the end of the day feeling pretty satisfied with our shopping. We kept costs low, found good furniture and didn't get into any trouble. We met them at the salon just a couple of doors down from the new Daughters Training Center. They were talking with two young girls in the back of the shop along with our two Cambodian friends and Chris Alexander, our host from CGI. Thearin and Theary were deep in conversation with these two girls who they had known for a long time.

We discovered that both of the girls had been previously trafficked by their parents. The reason they were at the shop was because one of the girls had just arrived home after paying back her "debt" to her previous employer. She had been sold for $300. She had only been home for a couple of days when her parents re-signed a new contract for her to become a housekeeper in Malaysia for 2 years. The contract payment was for $200 and 5 bags of rice for her family [this 15 year old girl is worth less now because she has been previously contracted]. This beautiful little girl was convinced that she would be a housekeeper while Thearin and Theary were convinced that she was being trafficked; at best as a laborer and at worst as a prostitute.

Her friend, sitting next to her wouldn’t make eye contact with us for most of the time that we were with them. Her story is equally heartbreaking for different reasons. She had been sold into prostitution by her father. Some of the folks who know the family think it was so that dad could buy a television [at some point we will comment at length on our opinions about how this becomes the logical conclusion in a global society that is established on consumption]. She had been sold a number of times and now was sitting here in the salon contemplating her next move. She was considering relocating to a region where prostitution is prominent. This 15 year old girl was making a career decision right before our eyes!

And yet, the beauty of this encounter is that we had something tangible to offer them. We have a two year training program that will teach girls like these how to sew so that they will be able to get employment, help their families, and ultimately protect their younger siblings from experiencing the same thing. We put the offer on the table to both girls. Come to live in our training center, learn to sew, make $20 a week (girls make about $50/month as escorts) and break the cycle of despair.

Then the twist came. The first girl had already signed a legal document with a legitimate(??) agency in Phnom Penh that she was bound to repay for the next two years. The only way that she could get out of the contract was to repay the $200 plus an additional penalty of, you guessed it, $200. $400 goes a long way over here!

Pray for these two young ladies. We will have already met with them by the time you read this but yesterday was an amazing moment. We were given the privilege to offer freedom for the captives, literally. If the girls agree, we will pay the $400 and begin the long, difficult, and scary process of redemption with them.

Do you have $400 that you would like to share with the girls in Cambodia? We would love to stretch it into redemptive capital for the glory of our God if you are interested.

Jeff

$400 - Part I...

Four hundred dollars can go a long way. Did you know they accept American money over here? Kinda nice. (as long as it is in the form of crisp, clean bills).No painful exchanging of the money process. Just grab your wallet and head out to the markets.

Jeff and I were commissioned to outfit the dorm room of the Daughters building. Interior decorators, if you will. It's okay, I'm comfortable saying it. The future site of Daughters is a unique building in that it sits on a bend in the road. The room dimensions weren't exactly easy to determine. Do you remember that scene in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder version, not the infinitely less watchable Johnny Depp version) where they're starting the tour of the factory and enter a hallway that continues to get narrower the further in they go. Well, that's kind of what we're dealing with here...but I digress.

The main things we looked for yesterday were wardrobes and beds for the 10 girls that would be living there during the training program. We visited several different shops with our translator, bobbing and weaving through the tuk tuks, motos, and Lexi (plural for Lexus - yes, lots of Lexi). The prices of the wardrobes were "soft" and in the end, we got some pretty nice pieces of furniture at $40 a piece, or $400 total.

I remember several brief conversations with my wife and others about the fact that as we moved further into our journey in Cambodia that it may feel a lot like Alice in Wonderland diving into that famous rabbit hole - "curiouser and curiouser", one opportunity opening up infinitely more possibilities. We thought we were just shopping for beds and wardrobes, but as we got deeper into the process, we realized that we actually needed laundry racks, fans, pillows, sheets, etc.

This is what it's been like so far. We start out the day with a brief checklist in hand, and before you know it, several things get added, and the day is gone. But, that's just the first half of the day, my friends. I'll let Jeff take over and talk about the rest of the day.

From Phnom Penh,
Clint

Going to Work

Here we go! We have been getting a feel for the country and people of Cambodia. All we can say is that we are overwhelmed by the gracious and generous reception that we have received. Today it's time to go to work. Andraea and Nicole will be in the textile market all day buying the fabric for the first round of prom dresses. Please pray for them. The textile market is a zoo. It is crowded and extremely hot. They are also looking for certain kinds of prints and fabrics and haven't yet found everything they are looking for. Clint and Jeff will be shopping for all of the equipment (tables, beds, dressers, etc.) that will outfit the girls rooms and the Daughters Training Center.

Sitting at the breakfast table this morning we are finally coming to the sobering reality that this is a HUGE project that we cannot quite wrap our heads around. We will absolutely need wisdom and discernment at every step of the way. There are so many unknowns as we look out into the future and we are hoping that this week we can simply stay focused on what is right in front of us.

The Reed's and Krajewski's

Hit the Ground Running

To say we hit the ground running would be an understatement. We have stayed in three different hotels in three different cities in the last four days. Chris Alexander (our Host and Director of CGI) wanted to give us as much opportunity to experience Cambodian culture while still keeping enough time for us to do what we came here to do. We have visited two different locations of Rapha House and spent some time with different ministries who are trying to help young women transition back into mainstream culture.

We say women but the one thing that has stood out to all of us is that these "women" are little girls. Some of the girls in the programs are as young as 6,7, or 8 and it breaks our hearts to know what sorts of lives they have had to endure at such a young age. But then you walk into Rapha House and you see the tangible Kingdom of God breaking through. The ministry at Rapha House is spectacular. The girls have a wonderful place to live, play, and to be the little girls that their Father had created them to be. We were all impressed by the level of excellence at the house.

The one challenge for combatting trafficking is the re-integration piece. Because of the stigma associated with trafficking, girls who are rescued are at the beginning of a long road to recovery that doesn't end until she has a skill that is needed in the larger community. Because of that, professional training is so important. We had our toes and nails done at a salon that is also training girls to do hair and to sew. We purchased hand made bags at another location. All of these projects provide pathways toward re-integration.

This is why we are so excited about the opportunity that God has laid on our hearts as well. We are hoping to provide housing and training for ten girls at a time to produce the Daughters line of formal wear beginning in the fall! You head that correctly. A lease has been signed for a facility in Phnom Phen that will be able to house women from around the country who will come for two years of formal training in sewing. The hope is that after these two years, the women will be able to own their own small business thus re-integrating them back into the culture that they had been so harshly snatched from.

We will worship today with Rapha House and then head back to Phnom Phen. The next 6 days will be focused on setting up a safe shop for the women to work in, purchasing material for 200 dresses and working with Mr. Hay to ensure that he is ready to produce the designs for the 2011 prom season! Wow, what else can you say?

The Read's and Krajewski's

Day 1: Spiders, Frogs, and Fish

We have arrived and we hit the ground running! Cambodia is a wonderful country and we have seen a lot of it over the past several days. Our first day was packed with plenty of stories to tell. We will keep this as short as possible. After breakfast on Wednesday we jumped in our van for a brief introduction to what CGI is doing in Phnom Penh.

Stop 1: We met Mr. Hay. He is the Australian trained, Cambodian tailor who is our contact for training girls to sew and producing the gowns for the Daughter line. Mr. Hay is a wonderful man who is also a follower of Jesus and he is very excited to be working with us. We saw his shop, his work (impressive!) and met some of the women who currently work for him. He is excited to join us in this opportunity as well as to provide training for the girls.

Stop 2: Off to see the facility that has recently been leased for to house the Daughters prom and bridal initiative. All we could say was, "Wow!" The facility is beautiful, close to the other CGI works in the city and very big. It has three floors with room for training, living, and storage. We believe that we could house up to ten girls at a time and provide work space for them to be trained as well as produce the prom and bridal lines.

Stop 3: by Tavi. This is a sewing enterprise that employs local women to produce handbags and scarves to be sold in the US. We will share more on this project in the coming days and Daughters will be connected to these women in some way in the future.

We loaded up into a van and set out for our 6 hour drive to Siem Riep.

Traveling abroad can be exhausting. Who knew that sitting on a plane and watching movies for 19 hours could take such a tole on your mind and body.

A God Thing?

We are always apprehensive to use the term "God thing" because, honestly, there are a lot of "things" that get blamed on God that He might not want credit for. But, we're going to say it, "This is a God thing!" If you are a praying person, we would ask that you pray for our hands. Not literally, but figuratively. Please pray that we would walk with open hands as we discern what God's "thing" actually is. Our sense is that this project might actually work but we don't want our plans to trump God's. So, we are asking that you ask on our behalf for the capacity to see what God is up to and how the gifts of Nicole and Drae can be best put to work on behalf of the women of Cambodia.


It is Sunday evening and as we prepare for our 23 hour marathon in the air we're excited to be able to share this experience with you. The project has continued to evolve over the past weeks and most significantly in the past few days. We are overwhelmed by the encouragement that we have received from friends, and friends of friends, as they hear about what Daughters could become.


Thank you all for your friendship and love


The Reeds and Krajewski's

Once Upon A Time....

About a month ago Andraea and I started discussing the possibility of starting our own prom and bridal line. For those of you who aren't aware, Drae owns a bridal boutique and I work there a few days a week. We thought about the ramifications of starting a line- the dresses would, most likely, have to be produced in China. We had mixed feelings about this. We did not want to contribute to over-seas production, as well as, the exploitation of women workers. One night, after a conversation with Andraea's friend, Kelly Bryant, she called me and said, "I have an idea! What if we get these women in Cambodia- that have been rescued from human trafficking- to make these dresses!?" Turns out, Kelly had been on a mission trip to Cambodia. She told us about Rapha House. They offer a home and vocational skills to girls who have been rescued from abusive situations so they can provide for themselves and their families upon re-entering there society. Apparently, one of the life skills they teach is sewing. A few days later, Kelly hooksed us up with the guy who leads these mission trips to Cambodia- Chris Alexander. He started a nonprofit called The Center For Global Impact, which we will refer to as CGI. So, there we are, having coffee at Starbucks with Chris and Kelly, talking about making wedding dresses in Cambodia. Yes, weird, we know. It gets better. Chris took a sample dress from Andraea's store and some of my designs to Cambodia in March and he came back with an actual dress! So now, Andraea and I have tickets to Cambodia! We are leaving in July, with our husbands in tow and we are on our way to creating a line of fair-trade wedding gowns! We will keep you updated.... Nicole