Kristen snapped this SMILE SHOT… to the lower left, while we were
on a street full of bars, dark alleys, and guesthouses that can be rented by
the hour. To the right is just one of many streets lined with bars etc…
on a street full of bars, dark alleys, and guesthouses that can be rented by
the hour. To the right is just one of many streets lined with bars etc…
ODD PLACE TO FIND A SMILE SIGN.
Some of the
most emotional and yet powerful times of ministry in Cambodia were spent on
this street. Alli took us there, pointed out popular bars for western sex
tourists, and shared her dream of a ministry nearby for girls, a place where they
can learn about freedom, find hope… and hopefully, begin to seek healing.
most emotional and yet powerful times of ministry in Cambodia were spent on
this street. Alli took us there, pointed out popular bars for western sex
tourists, and shared her dream of a ministry nearby for girls, a place where they
can learn about freedom, find hope… and hopefully, begin to seek healing.
You’d think
sex tourism would be in the dark corners of Phnom Penh. But not in Cambodia.
It’s printed in flyers, advertising bars and clubs with women (or men) to suit
desire. It’s posted on the back of tuk-tuks (public transportation), advertising
“hot spots” for western tourists to visit… on the signs of the
“establishments”. You find yourself assuming that every white male
you see is only there for one reason, and for the most part… you’re right. I struggled with not judging them.
sex tourism would be in the dark corners of Phnom Penh. But not in Cambodia.
It’s printed in flyers, advertising bars and clubs with women (or men) to suit
desire. It’s posted on the back of tuk-tuks (public transportation), advertising
“hot spots” for western tourists to visit… on the signs of the
“establishments”. You find yourself assuming that every white male
you see is only there for one reason, and for the most part… you’re right. I struggled with not judging them.
For some of you, you may remember my earlier blog about the… Stop, the Candy Shop movie that was released in Atlanta. I thought it interesting that they share the same name and are in the same business. (Above, a picture of the bar…Candy)
I’ll never forget the Candy Bar.
One of the most visited/popular spots. Alli instructed us to act as tourists. We were able to do that easily with our
Nikons hanging around our necks, grabbing brochures and snapping away as if we had no idea what was going on. From the street, we could see a man groping a girl inside. Then I
walked in. A man in the corner, surrounded by half a dozen women, waved me
over. I realized he was asking me to take his picture… bragging about his
selection. I smiled, still acting dumb, but walked away. A bit taken back by
his request…disgusted, angry…and broken.
One of the most visited/popular spots. Alli instructed us to act as tourists. We were able to do that easily with our
Nikons hanging around our necks, grabbing brochures and snapping away as if we had no idea what was going on. From the street, we could see a man groping a girl inside. Then I
walked in. A man in the corner, surrounded by half a dozen women, waved me
over. I realized he was asking me to take his picture… bragging about his
selection. I smiled, still acting dumb, but walked away. A bit taken back by
his request…disgusted, angry…and broken.
We left, and
continued down the street, but I couldn’t forget the Candy Bar. It was
hot… high ninety-degrees in the middle of a sunny day. So after
“touring” the area, we walked back into the bar and ordered drinks… a
Coke and water.
continued down the street, but I couldn’t forget the Candy Bar. It was
hot… high ninety-degrees in the middle of a sunny day. So after
“touring” the area, we walked back into the bar and ordered drinks… a
Coke and water.
The same man
in the corner, this time with only one girl at his side, waved at me over and
asked for a picture again. I asked the girl’s permission, who nodded as well. Then snapped the picture below. I then sat down in their booth and had a brief conversation, while
showing them the picture to make sure they approved. I knew, his intentions
with this woman and I knew she would follow through. She needed the money…this is her “job”.
in the corner, this time with only one girl at his side, waved at me over and
asked for a picture again. I asked the girl’s permission, who nodded as well. Then snapped the picture below. I then sat down in their booth and had a brief conversation, while
showing them the picture to make sure they approved. I knew, his intentions
with this woman and I knew she would follow through. She needed the money…this is her “job”.
Either one of two things are happening as you look at this picture. 1) You want to look away…like it never happened. 2) You can’t stop studying this picture in disbelief. I encourage you – DON’T LOOK AWAY!
As Kristen
gently reminded me… “And yet… Christ died for him too.”
gently reminded me… “And yet… Christ died for him too.”
When our
drinks arrived, we had one girl assigned to serve us. She refilled our glasses
and picked up things we dropped. We tried to talk with her, to learn her name
and something about her. To let her know that she mattered. For the record, we
weren’t entirely convinced “she” wasn’t male (ladyboys are common
there and her body looked quite masculine). We learned that she had two
children, a boy and a girl, and she was 28 years old… ten years younger than me.
Our conversation was limited because she spoke little English and we spoke no
Khmer, but hopefully she felt loved in those few moments. She allowed Kristen
to take the below 2 pictures of her and I. She didn’t like the first picture, so asked for the second. (I had to laugh! Somethings never change – we all want to “ok” our photos when taken!)
drinks arrived, we had one girl assigned to serve us. She refilled our glasses
and picked up things we dropped. We tried to talk with her, to learn her name
and something about her. To let her know that she mattered. For the record, we
weren’t entirely convinced “she” wasn’t male (ladyboys are common
there and her body looked quite masculine). We learned that she had two
children, a boy and a girl, and she was 28 years old… ten years younger than me.
Our conversation was limited because she spoke little English and we spoke no
Khmer, but hopefully she felt loved in those few moments. She allowed Kristen
to take the below 2 pictures of her and I. She didn’t like the first picture, so asked for the second. (I had to laugh! Somethings never change – we all want to “ok” our photos when taken!)
Notice
another western men in the back of the photos. Again, Christ died for them as well as our new friends at Candy Bar.
another western men in the back of the photos. Again, Christ died for them as well as our new friends at Candy Bar.
Trafficking is everywhere… and anyone
can be trafficked in Cambodia. Women, teens, male and female, children… even
babies. They are often sold by their own parents, told that it is the only way
their families will be able to eat. While we were there, we met 3 children who
were being taken every night to a guesthouse by two men–one who preferred the
girl and the other who preferred the boys. If you think about it, please pray
for these three specifically, as well as for the thousands of others who are
enslaved across the world.
can be trafficked in Cambodia. Women, teens, male and female, children… even
babies. They are often sold by their own parents, told that it is the only way
their families will be able to eat. While we were there, we met 3 children who
were being taken every night to a guesthouse by two men–one who preferred the
girl and the other who preferred the boys. If you think about it, please pray
for these three specifically, as well as for the thousands of others who are
enslaved across the world.
You might have a lot of questions. I
know we did… and still do. Always will! Hopefully, in the next few posts
some of what we share, will be able to address those questions. Starting with the history of the
Killing Fields, then more about anti-trafficking ministries/NGOs you can be
praying for. Friday will be more lighthearted, with fun stories and pictures
from our trip.
We want to close this by asking for
prayer. Prayer for those mentioned above. Prayer for those living in Southeast
Asia as missionaries/aid workers. Prayer for strength, protection, wisdom…
for freedom.
This is a
picture of a brothel on the streets of Phnom Penh. *Photos taken by me…unless noted. Please do not use without my permission. Thank you!
powerful.
It’s the little kids and babies that hit me hard. Can’t get my head around that depth of perversion. How can their own parents sell them? Can the parents be so numb and ignorant that they don’t know what the buyers of their children are going to do to them? AAArrrrggghhhh!
joe
Thanks for sharing. It is a privilege to know you!
You have so much Grace as as I read this I just want to be so mad at those men in those pictures and stories. So proud of you and all those in the ministry there and for their strength in seeing this everyday.