Genocide

I don't really want to blog about this nor to be honest,  did I really want to go. Today we visited Tuol Sleng genocide museum. This is where thousands of Cambodians were held, interrogated, and tortured under Pol Pot. It was intense and emotional. It struck me that it all occurred during my lifetime. People were killed simply because they were educated. And those responsible are still being tried. 

We were able to read the stories of some of the survivors then when we came out, we met one. Number 22.  Chun Mey.  

It disturbed me that at the end display where there were skulls and bones, there was a Buddhist worship shrine. 

We have sensed much darkness here. There are spirit shrines in all the businesses. It struck me that a culture who has experienced genocide would now allow sex trafficking. I am not judging because the US has done the same. 

Later we ran across this beautiful prayer for Cambodia. 

I cried as I prayed it. 

World Hope

This morning we toured the World Hope office and one of the shelters. We met at the secret office location where we signed child safety and security agreements and the gal there took us out to one of the shelters where the girls are first taken after being rescued. They are a bit more open about the operations since the location is kept secret. Security was very tight. 

We were taken in through a series of gates, signed in and received badges. We went first to an office where we met a  counselor and a social worker. Off to the side were two rooms that had toys and dolls and a mat on the floor. This is where the kids are taken for initial assessment. The center is open 24/7 as they receive calls from the police, emergency rooms and rescue agencies after a rape or traffic victim is brought in or after a traffic ring is busted. This center is an assessment center where the girls receive initial evaluation and treatment and are then either reintegrated into their families or taken to long term shelters. They only stay at the center for about two months. 

We toured the kitchen, a play and activity room and then we went out into the compound. The kids , about 12 of them, ranging from 7 to 18 years old, were sitting with two leaders on a mat weaving and crocheting bracelets and purses. They smiled at us shyly and said hello. Some barely made eye contact with us. They showed us what they were making. 

We then went into another building where we saw a classroom and some of the kids' artwork and then toured the sleepng rooms. The girls sleep on mats on the floor with mosquito netting. This is so if they go back to their villages the adjustment is less intense. 

When we came down for lunch, suddenly the girls surrounded us and put bracelets on our wrists as gifts. My little gal was 11 and she smiled and told me her name and named the colors in my bracelet in English. 

I was so choked up I could barely eat lunch. I'm tearing up as I write this. The leaders said the girls had been watching the clock all morning anticipating our visit. 

We then gathered around a table and the girls gathered around nearby tables and we all ate lunch, a simple but beautiful Khmer meal of rice, fish and vegetables along with chicken and mushroom soup and bananas for dessert. We ate with the staff who knew Angela since she used to teach them English. Two of the staff are pregnant. We enjoyed a lovely visit and when it was time to leave, I put my arm out for a side hug and one by one the sweet staff ladies gave me a full tight hug and laid their heads on my chest and told me they loved me. I am crying again. I really don't know why they felt so close to us in such a short time but it was special. I will remember my time there forever. 

After World Hope, we went back to Bloom for another frappe and a cake pop. We played another game in Angela's English class with the girls. They seemed much more comfortable with us today. I was sad to leave. 

On the way back to the hotel, Buntheon took us to a store called Tabitha that provides employment to poor women. I bought more items and gifts. Deb said I have single handedly done my part to lift people of of poverty with the amount of purchases I've made in free trade shops. Not to mention the amount of coffee and cupcakes consumed at Bloom. 

Shop til you drop maybe literally

After English classes yesterday, deb and I sampled more cupcakes at Bloom.  I am sure I've gained at least 10 pounds here. 

Then we went shopping along 240 in some nicer shops. I bought a nice black dress in a shop that the shop girls said they made clothes that were designed by the French owner. Some of the shops were free trade shops and the workers were on site sewing. 

Last night we took Angela to eat at Jars of Clay, a Christian run cafe employing disenfranchised women. We walked there after dark, a new adventure. We had Asian food and a really good talk. 

Deb and I returned to the hotel and quickly put our swimsuits on and went to the rooftop pool for a nighttime swim. 

This morning Deb and I were on our own.  We walked to the Russian market( it isn't Russian ) and bought mostly gifts. It was probably 90 to 100 degrees in there. There were lots of handmade items like clothes and bags and jewelry but also shops with Buddas and opium pipes and things made out of coconuts. There was also a food section but we avoided that. There were also random shops that sold motor parts. My mom wanted me to find her a cross which was a challenge. 

We just texted Angela then Bumtheon, our tuk tuk friend and took Angela to lunch at the  Blue Pumpkin.

We then stopped at another free trade shop that makes the most amazing bags out of recycled plastic bags. You know I had to support that effort. 

We are now resting at the hotel. I am amazed at how healthy we've been but the heat really kicks my hiney sometimes. I also have lots of moments where I just feel groggy like I'm awake in the middle of the night. Wait!  I am!

Random Cambodian things:

People put their babies on their motos!  Very few have helmets on, most are sandwiched between the parents but some just stand them in front of them and have them hang on. 

We are getting used to the traffic where everyone just goes across intersections, any direction they want. Deb and I have gotten the hang of crossing the street,you  just go slowly and steadily and people slow down and sort of let you go. It's the same way tuk Tuks and motos and cars get across intersections. 

I have lots of video footage of this to show you. 

People live mostly outdoors here. They may have a shop and live above it but they eat sitting out next to the road. They play cards, nap, and play with their kids next to the road also. 

People use what Angela 's friend Jackie, called a "bum gun" instead of toilet paper. 

I've tried it a couple of times. Works well:)

Also interesting to me that the streets and sidewalks are filthy and men per everywhere but every single restroom we've been in was spotlessly clean. 

In the Cafe's, they bring chilled scented wet towels for your face and neck with menthol or lemongrass. Amazing. 

Testimony

Deb and I slept well again, God is so good. 

Our tuk tuk driver picked us up and we joined the adventurous traffic for the short ride to Bloom. Buntheon likes to ask what we ate for dinner and breakfast. He eats rice three times a day amongst other things. 

At 915, the girls gathered in the main foyer upstairs. This is a beautiful old house that is a mansion in Khmer standards. The cafe, kitchen and baking rooms are downstairs. Upstairs has classrooms, offices and cake decorating rooms. 

The girls , about 35 of them, all dressed in the light blue shirts and brown skirts and aprons which is the uniform , and the leaders, sat all along the walls on pillows. Ruth, the Director, shared as she just returned from Australia where she had surgery to restore hearing to her ear. Then they had me give my testimony. I shared about how I felt insecure and empty and unworthy until I accepted Christ and how now I feel accepted, approved, at perfect peace. Then we sang and I prayed. I hope I am able to post the video. If not, I will try to put it on my Facebook wall. 

Afterwards, the girls played a game. I also taped their screaming  laughter. Such healing laughter. 

Then Deb and I sat in the beautiful cafe that is Bloom thoroughly enjoying mocha frappe's and cool lemongrass scented washcloths. 

Angela's classroom:

In the afternoon, we shared pizza that we bought with the staff and chatted and laughed some more. 

Then we helped with the English classes again. Angela planned a variety of games including go fish. 

Fun

Last evening we met Angela and her Cambodian friend Ratta at the rooftop restaurant of our hotel. We shared Khmer fried rice, chatted and laughed.

The Bloom staff has a retreat this weekend so Angela and Ratta needed to make a funny video. They decided to do scenes from The Titanic. First Angela leaned into the corner of the railing as if over the bow of a ship and sang My Heart Will Go On. The next scene was Angela trying to wake Ratta whose face was slowly sinking under the water and the Angela blowing her whistle. Then Ratta pretended to be an old woman and dropped a necklace in the water. We laughed and laughed. We decided the out takes will be as fun as the actual footage. Oh!  We had a fake boat hitting a fake iceberg , too !  I hope the staff enjoys it. 

Bloom

This morning we went on a tour of Bloom and spent some time with a Bloom staff member, Kat, from Australia. Bloom has about 7 foreign volunteers. There are about 50 women at Bloom. We saw each of the classrooms where the women are taught baking, cake decorating, card making, hospitality, English and barista training. Downstairs is a cafe serving coffees, teas, and cupcakes. People also come in to order elaborate cakes. It is quite high end and extremely impressive. 

Cupcakes, bubble tea, latte, and some of the cakes displayed:

We had a quick lunch at Brown, a high end cafe nearby that had food. We had a good talk during lunch hoping to really encourage Angela. 

This afternoon, we got to help Angela with two of her English classes and spend time with six of the girls. Angela has developed an entire curriculum for teaching English. The girls are learning conversation skills and are learning to read and write English. The whole time, Angela herself is learning Khmer. The classes were instructive but also fun. The girls seemed to truly enjoy them. Angela is such a blessing to Bloom and she contributes so much to the work they do there. 

Cambodia Sunday

Deb and I both woke up tired Sunday morning, our bodies still not getting the time difference. We got ready and I had my quiet time with God by the pool wih my feet dipped in it. 

I also got some treasured Facebook messages from home. 

Angela came to the hotel for breakfast again then we got into our tuk tuk and took a 30 minute ride to Angela's church. The ride was dusty and insane as we went through a traffic jam near a construction site. 

Its very hard to describe the traffic here but it feels and sounds like bees buzzing and swarming and flowing around us. 

Angela attends a large interdenominational church called ICA or International Christian Assembly. It is very large and has a school and Bible institute with it. It is made up of people from about thirty different countries, many of whom are here on mission. This is where Angela leads worship about one out of five Sundays. She took this Sunday off. 

We very much enjoyed the worship which lasted close to an hour. We knew many of the songs. It is always awesome to worship in another country with people who are our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world. Even the worship team were from six or so different countries. 

The message was also good, about taking up the staff for God and also being willing to throw it down for Him. 

After church we ate lunch at Mike's Burgers. 

It was very hot outside and our tuk tuk driver napped while he waited for us. 

After lunch we were tired and Angela was getting a headache so we took another afternoon of rest in the air conditioning. 

In the evening, Angela wanted to shop at a vintage clothing store that only opens a few times a year here. It was run by a girl with an Australian accent who travels the world collecting vintage pieces. She had them displayed in the room of a beautiful home in a nicer section of Penom Penh. My girls would have absolutely loved it. Angela bought a yellow dress and a plaid skirt. 

Next we drove through more crazy fun traffic around a traffic circle near the Prime Minister's house, to Angela's favorite cafe, Java. My girls would have loved this also. It is a cafe and coffee shop decorated with random eclectic retro furniture. It had unique drinks and food. Angela had a pink lemonade and a salad and deb had a drink called a ladybug that had watermelon and lime juice, and a salad. I had chocolate chip pancakes with butter and honey and a vanilla steamer. I think I will gain about 10 pounds on his trip. 

A friend of Angela's,  Rodda, from thePhilippines,  met us at Java and we enjoyed getting to know her. She is on the worship team at ICA with Angela, teaches some English classes and is supported in part by her home church. 

We had a lovely time laughing and eating and chatting. We returned to our hotel and crashed early yet again.