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

8/6/09 (Thur.) I am freaking exhausted, it is 11:40 pm, by FAR the latest I’ve stayed up, and I still need to write stuff before I crash….Today was a MUCH better day. Although I laid in bed from 6am-8am thinking of ways to rescue the kids from the orphanage, I felt a lot better emotionally. Even before anything began I was feeling a bit better, but as the day progressed I was feeling pretty normal and happy again to be in Cambodia. Today was a good day.

We started off going to an organization called Daughters, who works with women who are sex workers, right in the brothel area. They have day care for the women’s children, medical help, and their main focus is on vocational training so that the women can learn to do other things besides sex work. There were women there making jewelry, sewing, and making cakes. What they produced was amazing. I bought a necklace and earrings, I figured it was a pretty good cause to be supporting. Although I don't like the fact that the women are limited to sewing, jewelry making, and cake making, the concept of the organization is really great.

Most of the Cambodia girls seem to like me a lot because they think I am so young. When I tell them I am 25 they are shocked, thinking I was more like 16, just like those in the states. ☺

We FINALLY met the girls at the Transitions Living Center (TLC) today! ☺ We were told that the girls were SOOO excited to meet us. In all the years it has been up and running, we were the first group that has ever visited there. The girls were so cute in their dress clothes, they made us lunch and bracelets for each of us. We gave them our gifts and they were so appreciative. They were the cutest things ever. You would think that victims of the sex trade would be more closed off and reserved, but they were beaming and gave hug after hug after hug. It’s amazing what Transitions is doing in their lives. There were a few girls that just clung to me, and this little boy (a cousin of one of the graduates of TLC) was too cute. He sat on my lap a majority of time, his nickname is spider monkey, and for good reason. ☺

We then went on to an organization called SISHA, they kick butt, literally. It was started by an ex-police officer and they investigate and take down pimps and perpetrators of sex crimes. The founder was telling us all about SISHA and when asked he said he wasn’t afraid of taking anyone down, even corrupt government officials if need be. I was SO excited when I heard that, I felt like I was going to burst. I couldn’t wait until the talk was done and everyone was leaving so that Steph, Jen, & I could talk to him about the orphanage! I was praying and praying that God would somehow help me figure something out, that one of the organizations that we were going to meet could somehow do something to shut down the orphanage and help the poor kids. So we told him everything and he said that they would check it out TOMORROW and email us pictures when the pimps were handcuffed! I couldn’t believe it, I was SOOO happy. I just hope he was serious. Either way I’m gonna call and keep on his butt until it happens. ☺

After dinner Steph, Jen, & I finally went out to Liquid for a drink with the other girls, it was fun. Now it’s crazy late and I need to hit the hay.