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