------------------UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE------------------ (Sex Trade Documentary)

Hey everyone. No I didn’t fall off the face of the earth, I’m just trying to work on pre-production for my documentary and finish up my last year of school! I promise to do better at writing here and there.

So here’s the deal, I’m working on logging the footage that I filmed while in Cambodia, writing the script, and compiling a list of donors for the feature length documentary. I hope to have this accomplished in the next few weeks, there’s been a lot of work that has led up to this. Then I will write the budget (equipment expense, travel expense, etc.).

Starting min-January I will be putting my short film together along with my proposal and contacting potential donors for money and donations of equipment, air mileage, etc. I’d like to raise enough funds to get a nice website up and running dedicated strictly to my film business and the documentary.

I need to get my crew nailed down and set the shoot dates in Cambodia and here in the U.S. Once that occurs I need to contact my interviewees and make sure the dates work and that they are still willing to talk with me. I will need a translator while in Cambodia and I need to start thinking about and contacting distributers for the film as well. There’s just a lot of little details that need to be taken care of and soon.

This is the real deal, a full-length documentary! I still need to figure out the budget, and I will cut cost as much as possible, but I’m guessing I will need about $50,000 for this project. I’ll keep you up-to-date on the particulars as they come together.

I’m trying to think of good names for my film company. Oh ya, so I’m working on my film company; mission statement, vision statement, values, etc. as I work on my documentary. I am reading a great book that’s helping me along with this process “Shaking the Money Tree” by Morrie Warshaski.

So that is the short version of what has been, will be, and is going on regarding my documentary on the sex trade. I’m getting REALLY excited about it too. It has kind of taken on a life of it’s own and I like the way it’s looking.

Dear Friends,

We are excited to share the news that Transitions Global has been selected to participate in GlobalGiving’s Global Open challenge, a unique fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations working around the world.
Now through Sept. 18, if Transitions Global can raise at least $4,000 from at least 50 donors, we will earn a permanent spot on www.GlobalGiving.com, the internationally recognized marketplace for philanthropy that connects individual donors to the causes they care most about.

Every donation helps, and no donation is too small. You can support Transitions Global for as little as $10 and make an impact. In addition to helping us earn a spot on GlobalGiving, the nonprofit organizations that raise the most money will earn a bonus $1,000-$3,000. The organization that recruits the most donors will earn an extra $3,000.

We are very excited about this opportunity to reach a whole new network of donors to help the survivors at Transitions Global, but first we need the help of our friends and supporters. Help us achieve our goal of $4,000 from 50 donors by Sept. 18 by making a donation to Transitions Global on GlobalGiving here.

Please share this with your friends and family and ask them to help too. Together we can open up a whole new avenue of support for the girls we serve!

Thank you for your generosity,

The Transitions Global Team

8/24/09 (Mon) So by the time I finally got home and got to sleep I had been up for 29 hours! I had woken up Sunday at 9am and went to bed technically on Monday at 2pm all Cambodian/my body time. Oregon time I went to bed at midnight last night and woke up at 5am for a bit went back to sleep was woken by Kevin an noon told him I needed sleep and went back to sleep again until 5:45pm! Wow that is crazy, it might take longer then I thought to get use to the time change and all that. Please pray that my body will get with the program and quickly, I just have too many things to get done. Thanks.

Kevin is the most amazing husband ever! He has been hardcore cleaning and organizing our place since I left. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it look this good. Everything was literally cleaned; he vacuumed, dusted, mopped, etc. Also he had gone through all the paperwork and crap in our office/music room that we could barely walk into. He shredded all the paper and filed the rest. He even reorganized the furniture so there was more room. It looks sooo much bigger and just amazing. I can’t begin to tell you how happy it made me. I can actually do homework in there now!! Te he he! He also organized things under our sink in the bathroom and the hall closet! Wow what a man! :)

So I know need to eat and start unpacking and SHOWER! My back is pealing bad! I sure hope it will be okay by mom’s wedding on Saturday! :)

8/23/09 (Sun) Yeah, I was able to get a hold of someone who could burn a DVD for me! So late last night the DVD was burned! Now I can give it to Zaya when she takes us to the airport! Whoopie it's compete! I leave today, it’s crazy to think that I’m leaving today (Sun) and after 26 ½ hours I will be in Portland and it will still be Sunday! Crazy. I think I’m going to sleep for like 2 straight days, that is if Kevin will let me. ;) He might be so excited to see me that he just wants to spend time with me. :) That’s nice too, but I wont be much company until I get my rest. Mom’s wedding is in a week and then I start school. My husband is amazing, he already bought my books for class, has been paying my bills, cleaning the house…I’m excited to see what the house looks like and of course most importantly to be in his arms!

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I am now in the Taipei airport and I think that we board in about an hour. I only have about 20 more hours until I’m home. ;) Pray that I sleep, but still will be able to sleep when I get home. Pray that my jet lag isn’t too bad, that I sleep well when back in Oregon and get re-accustomed to the time. Pray for safety and good health. Thank you to all of you that have followed my blog and prayed for me while I have been on my trip. Thanks for supporting me in all the different ways, including funding so that I could make the trip in the first place. It has been an amazing adventure of excitement and sorrow, clarity and confusion, hope and despair, it has been an incredible experience and I will forever be changed. I can grasp even more fully what I have been learning this last year and I believe I am more equipped to fight against sex trafficking. Thank you again to all of you that helped in my growth.

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I guess there was a Swine Flu outbreak in Phnom Penh. Some missionaries had it and didn’t know it and brought it into the Hope School where someone we know was going. A hold bunch of kids got sick and everyone was quarantined at the Phnom Hospital. How crazy and a bit scary. Thank God we didn’t get it and neither did the girl that attends the school.

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Wow that sure took awhile. When arriving at the LA airport I had to go stand in line to go to customs so that someone could stamp my form, then I waited and waited and waited for my bags, I started to get a little worried. I stood in another line so that someone could take my stamped form. I walked down a long hall until I was able to drop off my checked bag again. Then I had to exit the international building and walk all the way down the sidewalk until I got to the United area of the domestic building. It was WAY further then on my way to Cambodia. If I knew it was going to take that long I actually would have taken the shuttle. I stood in the wrong United Air line for awhile and then after getting in the correct line I was given a piece of paper basically and told to wait at the gate until they called my name to get my seat #. That concerned me a bit but I just went on to security. When at security they decided to check my entire bag because of the external hard drive I had in it. He started by asking if I spoke English, I wasn't even in an international line or anything, I thought that was interesting. Somehow it was a problem and I should have taken it out along with my laptop, all though it was fine in all the airports to Cambodia and all the airports back, but whatever. I finally got to by gate and walked across the walkway to customer service to make sure I had a seat and they just printed me off a real boarding pass. That made me feel a bit better.

Between the fact that I was starving and I have been up for far too long my tummy has been bugging me. It is 8am in Cambodia (my body’s time) and I have been awake since 9am yesterday and I wont get to bed until probably 1pm Cambodia time! My whole body aches I am so tired. On the 12 hour plane ride I fell in and out of sleep for only 2 hours! Oh my goodness I am tired. Good thing I only have 3 more hours and I will be in Portland, probably about 4-5hrs and I will be able to be in my own bed! :) I’m so excited to finally sleep. I kept telling myself the entire time I was gone that I would sleep when I was home.

There were these two guys that I set next to on the plane that were pretty awesome. One of them use to edit film and he gave me some resources for getting funding for my documentary! God pretty much rocks my face off. The poor guy to my left puked (sp?) everywhere when we landed, good thing he didn’t eat anything or it would have been really nasty. I felt like I might throw up, but I did not (that had nothing to do with him throwing up). If it wasn't for them I don't know if I could have got my bag off the dealybober, it was freaking heavy and akwardly placed between other bags.

I don’t think that I’ll have a problem falling asleep on this plane ride, I’m struggling to keep my eyes open as it is. I sure hope that sleeping on this plane wont interfere with my sleep when I get home tonight.
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I was in and out of sleep for most of the plane ride to PDX, as was the young woman sleeping next to me. For the last part of the ride we spoke and I found out that she is from China and has never been to America before. She is here to teach Chinese at Western for a year. I thought that was pretty cool and she spoke AMAZING English. She actually kind of sounded British not Asian when she spoke. She was excited for my documentary and wanted to see it when it came out.

8/22/09 (Sat) I am not sure if I mentioned this already, but everything that could go wrong where video is concerned pretty much has. It has been a frustrating trip when it comes to video. I was all done editing yesterday, but when I was exporting it the power went out, so I had to start over, and then it exported incorrectly. I ended up having to just leave it and work on it today. I was hoping to get the DVD to Sola last night, but hopefully I can meet up with her and give it to her today. I’m not sure if my computer will even let me burn a DVD though! Wow, it’s almost comical how very wrong everything has gone. Oh well, I am sure it will work out, just not the way I ever expect. Since I’m dealing with the video today it looks like I wont be going to the Killing Fields either. :( Well, maybe next time. I sure I’m excited that I get to go home tomorrow though. I REALLY miss Kevin!!!!!

I don’t think I will be going for drinks with Steve and people. For one I’m pooped from last night, I need to pack and get this dang DVD thing figured out and then get it to someone…There’s always correspondence by email and then there is next year.
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Looks like I’m not going to be able to have even one DVD for the girls before I leave. Everything is completed and exported, my computer just wont let me burn a DVD for some odd reason. ☹ Athena and/or James will be back in just a couple of months and I can send all the DVD’s with them, so that’s good, but I really wanted them to have at least one copy right away so they could see the fruits of their labor when it’s fresh in their minds. ☹ Oh well. I did everything I could do, and that’s all I can ask of myself.

8/21/09 (Frid) The little bit I did sleep I slept hard. I almost didn’t know where I was when my alarm went off, but I bolted out of bed. Keep the prayers acomin’, this should be an interesting day. I am sure it will all work out, not necessarily the way I think or hope it should, but everything will work out. Wow, look what a little sleep can do for you, it gives you a whole new outlook on life. :)

I am suppose to meet with Isabelle, the girls yoga therapist at 2:30pm today, we’ll see if that works out. I actually got a lot accomplished last night, so mainly I just have to input the new video we get today and add subtitles, so that’s good news.
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God is good. Why do I ever doubt or freak out? So every girl was there this morning and we got everything filmed in record time! :) I had everything almost edited by 11am! ☺ Now I just have to go back to the hotel and get capture some footage that I already filmed, make sure the audio is good and then export it. Then I make a DVD and hand it off to Sola tonight and I’m done! My hope was to have a DVD for each girl, but at least they will have one and they can burn some with the blank DVD’s I will be giving them. YEAH!

I am now sitting here waiting to talk with Isabelle, their yoga therapist. Then it’s off to edit, hopefully take a nap, then shower and get ready for dancing tonight! :) Now that the film is almost behind me, I can relax and have fun, plus go to the Killing Fields tomorrow! :)

I can’t believe that that was it. That was the last time I will see the girls for a year. It’s bitter sweet going home really. I can’t wait to see my husband, to be able to take a deep breath without toxic fumes, to sleep in my own bed, to actually sleep. But I will most definitely miss the girls, the staff, and Cambodia as a whole. I can’t wait to come back and have Kevin share the experience with me.

It’s hard when you don’t I don’t know the language and the girl who wants desperately to talk to me doesn’t know my language either. So we just give these smiles that says we long to say so much, but we cant. It’s amazing how these girls have so much capacity for love, they long to love and be loved, just like all of us. You would never know by looking into the innocent faces of these sweet girls that they have seen more and experienced more pain then most of us would experience in a life time. Yet even with all that they cling to you and are so vulnerable in your midst, laying their heart out before you. The resilience and fortitude baffles me. They are my heroes.

It’s really hard here to see all these suffering people living on the streets, lost limbs, chunks of flesh gouged out from mines or whatever it may be, little children naked, dirty and hungry, and they all want you to provide. Oh, if they only knew how much my heart longed to help. But would my money really heal their wounds, enable them to move from the streets and provide for themselves, bettering their situation? Probably not. It’s heart breaking to see some people that have been dealt a bad hand in life and truly just don’t have the opportunities, or know of resources to help, and others are somehow bound with unseen chains that society and themselves have placed upon them and they can’t break free. Whether they “choose” to stay in their situation or they have no choice. James has offered this one girl a job numerous times, but she chooses to stay in sex work, because she has the perception that she is making so much more doing what she is doing, when in reality she is making it, the bar is. So even those who “choose” to stay where they are in life, they really might not be choosing, but there is something hidden that keeps them where they are…
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So I met with Isabelle and I really like her a lot. She is very grounded and wise and passionate for helping the girls. It’s really encouraging to hear her speak. I could just sit at her feet and have her talk, soaking in all her knowledge for hours. :) I am excited to keep in contact via email and to see her again when I return.
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So we went dancing last night with the gang, we didn’t end up being able to pick up “my girl” though. :( Dancing was actually really fun. The place was huge and kind of fancy, they had this big stage with a band and people singing and then they would have the DJ up above the stage play music and everyone would flood the dance floor. Then they had like a comedy hour, which would have been funny if I spoke Khmer. :) I hadn’t been dancing in a long time, and it was really fun. I got to bed far too late though.

8/20/09 (Thur) Last night my legs were as red as they were Tuesday. My skin on my legs was so tight from my sunburn that I could barely straighten my legs! If it wasn’t for the melaleuca oil I’d probably be hurting even worse. Too bad I didn’t get to put it on the day I got burnt, I probably wouldn’t even hurt now if that was the case. I had let Athena borrow it though because she had a nasty scrape on her arm, the poor thing. Oh well, at least I have it now. I pray I don’t peel so I wont look scary for my mom’s wedding, especially where I can’t reach to put the oil on! Sorry I keep complaining about this, but I have only had one worse burn in my life and laying in bed last night it felt like my legs were all bruised even. They feel and look quite a bit better today though. The oil is quite refreshing. :)

Yeah, so all of the filming is done and we transferred all the video from the second tape to my computer/external hard drive. Sola helped me figure out which takes were the best, since I don’t speak Khmer. I could have sworn I grabbed the right tapes, but none of the tapes I had were the first tape, so I’ll have to find that and hopefully Sola can come over tonight and we can finish with what we started. I feel an all nighter editing session will have to occur this evening.
It’s so funny watching people drive here in Cambodia. If anyone in America thought it was impossible to carry certain things on a motor bike, the Cambodian people could surely prove them wrong. You see six people on one tiny moto bike, babies, beds, crates of eggs, trailers being hauled, old men that can barely see, live animals, various things piled 6 or so feet high, you name it it’s been done here in Cambodia. :) People drive or walk around with little masks on all the time, either because they are sick, they don’t want to get sick, or because they had dental work that they don’t want people to see. I found that interesting when I learned it. What else…there are all kinds of interesting things here that I wish I remembered to write down. Guess you’ll just have to come here and see for yourself. :)

Okay, so I’m pretty much up s@*t creek without a paddle. I can’t seem to find the first tape that the girls filmed with!!! I don’t know if I somehow left it in my other room, before I left for Siem Reap, if it somehow dropped out of my bag, or if P-rome was messing around with my stuff like he does, and it’s now somewhere at TLC. Regardless of where it is, I wont get it before tomorrow, therefore no editing will occur, and everything has to be done tomorrow! I tore my stuff apart looking for it, and it is not here. Sola wanted me to meet at TLC at 7am tomorrow morning so that we could look over the video, the hotel said that I needed to check with the cleaning lady at 8am, class is suppose to start at 8:30am tomorrow. I don’t know what to do, I’m pretty much screwed. It’s all I can do just to keep from crying. :( I feel like everything surrounding video has gone wrong for me on this trip. It’s beyond ridiculous, and the crazy part is that it’s not like I have just been irresponsible and taken poor care of my stuff. I’ve worked really hard, sacrificing sleep and all for these girls and I feel like life keeps taking a crap on me where video is concerned. Grrrr!!!! I leave in 3 days and this is supposed to be done tomorrow! Sorry for that rant. Needless to say, PLEASE PRAY!

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Okay, so there is some good news and some not so good news. The good news is I’m not as dumb as it seemed…I thought that I only brought 6 used tapes for the girls to film with and I have 6 right here, and I was correct that that’s all that I brought. I also now know that I didn’t loose or leave the first tape the girls filmed on anywhere. Now comes the not so good news, somehow the “2nd” tape is really the first tape that somehow got rewound and taped over! I can almost guarantee it was when P-rome was messing around with the camera. :( Oh man. We’ll I don’t have to keep looking for the tape at least, but now I have to figure out what the heck to do. The goal was to have a finished DVD for all the girls by tomorrow, but that obviously can’t happen. Maybe there is some way that we can RE-shoot all the girls tomorrow and I’ll just have to work on the film when I get home and send it to them. I don’t know what to do. :( I’m sad/frustrated.

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I just called Sola and her and I agree that we could hit P-rome for this (not really I love the kid, but aaaahhh!). Well I guess three of the five girls that we have to reshoot will be there tomorrow morning and hopefully somehow reshoot the other two tomorrow afternoon sometime after my meetings. Please pray that this works out. Then I’ll just have to try to edit Saturday instead of going to the Killing Fields I guess. :( I really want to try to have a finished project for the girls before I leave, plus I don’t know when I’ll have time to do it when I get back anyway. Tonight will still be crazy trying to get everything edited besides the video that we will shoot tomorrow. Bring on the prayers please!!!

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Okay, so it is 1am and I have to get up in 5 hours, so I’d better get to bed. Please pray that I make it through the day and we get everything done that needs to get done please. Nigh night.

If you are interested in helping out the girls in Cambodia financially please visit this website for more information: 

I’m not sure what it is about Cambodia that takes your heart, but from the moment I got here I fell in love with it. I can’t put my finger on why I initially loved the place, I hadn’t gotten to see the people, it was dirty, crazy, smelly, and new, but I loved it!

The longer I had been here the more I saw how friendly Cambodian people are in general. Even with everything that they have gone through they go out of their way to smile and make your day a little brighter. Even the poorest of the poor, their faces light up with this brilliant smile, as if they don’t have a care in the world. It’s really humbling to see people who really have problems, and a right to be mad at the world, be so happy.

I especially see it with the beautiful girls from Transitions. To hear stories of how they were when they first arrived at the TLC; shut down, angry, quiet, and hurt. Yet girls who have only been at TLC for two weeks are smiling and happy, or happier at least. I have a sense that some of the girls just put on a happy face, at least for us American visitors. I’ve noticed one girl at TLC, and other young women at the massage parlor, who smile big, but as soon as they think no one is looking they go blank. There is something going on deep within that seems to take them over, that no smile can push away. That makes me wonder if in general the Cambodian people feel they need to put on a fake façade and pretend all is well, when in actuality they are broken and bleeding inside. I’m sure it’s a little of both.

 James & Athena have done a phenomenal work in Cambodia. What they are doing, the organization that they have set up is truly one of a kind. I have never known an organization to do more for those they are trying to help, then Transitions. The way James & Athena have poured out their hearts for the girls and sacrifice so much because of their deep love for them is incredible, and I know that it doesn’t go unnoticed by the girls. When you dedicate your entire life to helping someone, they know it. They can feel your love and that makes more difference then any training or counseling they could get. There’s no way girls can leave TLC without knowing they are deeply loved, appreciated, and valued. You should see James with the girls, no one could doubt that he loves them to pieces, and has a blast with them. He’s a different person when he’s around those girls. He lights up and become a big kid. It wonderful seeing him with them, it makes me really proud to be a part of this organization. 

It’s interesting how there is always a tuk-tuk driver, or 5 waiting EVERYWHERE. No matter what time a day, you never have to worry about there being a tuk-tuk. What’s funny is the fact that after the first guy asks if you want a ride and you say no, the second guy is right there to ask you again, like you said no to the first guy and somehow you will change your mind when he asks 2 seconds later. ;) Drivers here are pretty much insane. I don’t know how people have enough guts to ride motos. Everyone and their grandma drive or at least ride on a motor bike. Sometimes you’ll see literally 6 people packed on to one, or someone loaded down with crates of fruit or something. I must say I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

If you just looked at the traffic in Cambodia you’d think that the Khmer people are very fast paste, but in actuality I don’t think they are. You see people sleeping in their tuk-tuk, or in a hammock, it doesn’t seem like they are too worried about being somewhere or continually being busy. It’s interesting to see how laid back people seem.

I absolutely love Cambodia. I can’t even describe why, but the moment I got here I fell in love with it. Yeah, it smells, it’s noisy, people are crazy drivers, but there’s just something I can’t put my finger on that has just captured my heart. Besides the fact that I will FINALLY get to see my husband, I’m going to REALLY miss it here when I have to go, and the girls. The girls and staff at TLC are pretty amazing. I am pretty much in love with the girls, I love being with them and just hanging out. I wish I could be at TLC more often. Sola & Zaya are great, they are such sweeties. Zaya is probably the most amazing person I’ve ever met in my life. She has such a heart for the girls. I haven’t gotten to know T-dine much yet, but she seems pretty cool too. She said that I could ride on the back of her motor bike with her if I’d like. I’d love to, even though it seems scary, I have to ride on the back of one before I leave, plus I’d love to get to know her better. I like Sareem & Sarin too, they are fun.

8/10/09 (Tues) Another early start to teach the film class. I’d sure like to sleep in, even just one day. I sure am pooped. Even though I was exhausted I didn’t sleep very much at all last night. I think I need to come back to the hotel and sleep after the class. I am excited to see the girls again, and to continue teaching them about film. 

The class went really well and I think that the girls had fun messing around with the camera. They seem eager to start filming tomorrow. Sola (the councilor & my translator) have a daunting task of reading through all the girls homework and translating it to English and then figuring out what the stories have in common and where and what we can film. I asked the girls to not only figure out what it was that they wanted to say, but more importantly, why? What is the point that they want to get across and who do they want to see it? Even some of the girls who didn’t work on it in class yesterday actually turned something in. That was encouraging. There were still those who didn’t have anything, but Sola worked with one of them to get something written out. I asked this of them, more for themselves then for me. I don’t want them to be nervous or embarrassed when it comes time for them to be in front of the camera with nothing to say.

This is random, but it’s really cute when the girls try to say thank you. It’s not thank you, but sancks you. :)

Sola and I worked on translating the homework for a long time and where only about half way when I just had to eat. Zaya was sweet enough to serve me what the girls had for lunch. I felt bad, but they kept serving me. They are all so sweet. The food was really good to. I had crab among other things. I just hope I don’t get sick from things being washed in the water. I think that everything was cooked, so I’m sure it will be fine.  

Zaya and I talked about her taking me to get my photo done like the girls do. It’s kind of like glamour shots for Asia. I think that would be sooo much fun. :) I really enjoy spending time with Zaya. 

Oh yeah, one of the girls painted my nails too! :) I’ve spent far more time at TLC then I expected, but I’ve had a great time with everyone. I really like it here a lot, I wish I lived in Cambodia and could work with the girls all the time. 

Sola and I kept working and working…She told me that one of the girls had written more in her homework then she ever had told Sola in their counseling sessions. I thought that was extremely encouraging that what I was doing was helping the girls express what they had been through. I think this is going to be a good experience for them. I just hope we’re not taking on something bigger then we have time for.

So I left at 8 AM this morning and JUST walked in my room at 5:15pm and I’ve been working almost the entire time, except when I ate lunch. Needless to say I am pooped. I think that if Athena feels up to it James, Athena, and I will meet to go over the game plan for filming with the girls, then dinner with the gang.  

So the meeting before dinner went really well, and we were all on the same page for the most part in regards to the film, and that’s always good. The ginger shrimp that I had for dinner was excellent.

It is now 6:20 am and I’ve been up for a little over an hour. I slept pretty well though, and am too excited to sleep. The rest of the group arrives today and we start doing some of the things planned. I’m still not exactly sure what all those things are, but we will be getting an itinerary for the week. You all should be happy to know that Athena gave me a phone while I am here so I can get a hold of at least four different people if need be. I kind of felt special. ☺

I prayed over my entire room this morning and I feel pretty dang confident that this is going to be an amazing experience and I have nothing to fear. That sure is a wonderful feeling. God is so amazing. He is really working in my heart and I know this is going to be a life changing experience for so many different reasons. I just can’t believe that I’m here, that this is really happening. A year ago I would NEVER have imagined I would be here in life. Not just in Cambodia, but working towards ending sex slavery by seeing it first hand and making a documentary about it to help others see too. God is good.

It is really raining hard here, but it is still relatively warm, that makes it interesting for figuring out what to wear. Right now it is currently the rainy season in Cambodia.

After 26 ½ hours I arrived in Phnom Penh anxious to get through customs, receive my visa and start my adventure. When I walked outside it was warm and sticky, but supposedly overcast and cool compared to normal. It was nice that we could ease into the heat a bit. Jennifer and Steph, two women that were to be a part of the initial group that would be going to Cambodia, were in the Taipei, Taiwan airport. It was a pleasant surprise to see them before we reached Cambodia, and to have someone else to be with me while I applied for my Visa.

Each plane ride I sat by people that were awesome. From PDX to LAX I sat next to a young woman from the Troutdale area in Oregon and we talked practically the entire time, it was a blast. It sure made the flight “fly” by. ;) When I got to the LA airport it was crazy. I had to leave the airport, walk down this really long sidewalk to an entirely different building, the international building. Once I walked in, it was chaotic and overwhelming how many people there were in long lines. I had no clue where I was suppose to go, but after asking a few people I was directing to the right place. There was only two people in front of me and I got through right away. I was afraid I’d have to stand a long line for hours and miss my flight.

Once getting my tickets I had to re-enter through security again, where there were was an even longer line! Thank God it was not the line I needed to be in. ☺ I got through security relatively quickly and by the time I made it to my gate I had more than an hour to sit and devise my plan of attack for teaching the girls cinematography/editing. There were these creepy guys in line for security though, trying to ask me all kinds of questions about my trip. The one guy asked me twice, so are you traveling all alone. Okay, so I’m not that stupid and I let them know that I was meeting a bunch of people and wasn’t specific in any of my answers. I know, I’m smart. ;)

From LAX to Taipei, the LONG 12 hr. flight, I sat next to this woman and her little 6 year old girl. They were both really sweet. The mother grew up in Taipei, moved to Brazil and met her husband. They have been living in California for 16 years now. Her and her husband speak Mandarin, Portuguese, and English, but can understand several other languages as well. It was nice talking to her and playing with her little girl, who also speaks Mandarin.

I was pleasantly surprised that I slept quite well on the plane. I read some of the documentary book, played games on my individual TV set that was placed in the back of the chair in front of me, watched some National Geographic, and the first Narnia movie. We had several meals and snacks throughout the flight which were great. It was so cute how all the flight attendents wore these cute little outfits with matching aprons when serving the food. It was a huge airplane! The entire plane was mainly Asian people, with a sprinkling of Caucasians. It’s interesting to be the minority, it doesn’t seem to bother me yet though.

At the Taipei airport I ran into Steph and Jennifer who were getting tokens for the free chair massages. I followed suit and we sat for about 15mins getting massaged in this “relaxing room” with actual plants, flowers and wall pictures of exotic landscapes. It was great, and well needed after the long plane ride.

On the last leg of our trip I sat by this precious little old lady who was originally from Cambodia. She now resides in the state of Washington. Although it was quite hard to understand her at times, we talked a bunch, she was a kick. I helped her with theVisa application when we made it to Cambodia, even though I didn’t know what the heck I was even doing. ☺ Seemed to work out though. As we were descending I could see Cambodia, mainly large areas of brown water.

Once in Cambodia, we were all ushered to the Visa area. There were people everywhere with masks on and it was a little disconcerting, but I brushed it off. If I had to deal with all kinds of people coming into the country, I’d probably wear a mask too. We got through the Visa area, got our bags right away, and went through customs with no problems, whew I had all that behind me and could just begin enjoying my trip.

Athena, James, Jaya, Huston & Becky were all waiting for us when we came out of the airport. It was wet and hot, but not too bad. We got in the van and took off towards our hotel. There were a lot of people on the road, mainly on motorbikes, zipping in and out of the correct lane, and even weaving between cars. It was madness, I can’t believe how brave, or crazy, these people are. There was young and old people driving the motorbikes with nothing but flip flops, shorts and t-shirts on for the most part. I saw people carrying large loads of fruit while on the motorbikes, and at one point I saw a man and wife holding their infant as they cruised down the road! There aren’t much in the way of traffic laws in Cambodia. Many people (cars & motorbikes) were just cruisin’ down the wrong side of the road like it was no big deal.

As we drove through town there was just so much to take in. Motorbikes for sale, fruit for sale, you name it. I was excited to arrive at the hotel and get to my room and get everything settled in. Jennifer and Steph are on the first floor (ground 0), and I’m on the third floor (really the 4th floor), what’s up with that?! All I have to say is that I’m going to be in amazing shape after this trip is over. ☺

The rooms are equipped with fans and AC, yeah! I have a big room with a desk, a nice size refrigerator, an armoire and large bathroom with a shower. The best part though is that I have this beautiful balcony outside my room where I can see people, buildings, and I think some Buddhist Pagoda . I was so tired from my long flight, but we needed to stay up until at least 8pm to get acclimated to Cambodian time, which is 14 hours ahead!

After checking into the hotel we all went to dinner and then Jennifer, Steph & I had an amazing 1 hour foot/leg massage for $7! ☺ The girls were so cute and sweet, the place was very pretty and relaxing. They soaked our feet in warm water with rose petals and other nice smelling things. Then they massaged our feet with oil, ending in a little neck, upper back, & shoulder massage which was a pleasant surprise. We were then served warm tea and some sort of cookie. Needless to say I crashed as soon as I got back to the hotel.