Marin on Mission- Cambodia

Hello friends and family! I am eager to share with you all that our mission team is returning in 3 months to Kampuchea (Cambodia) to continue our work with The Hard Places Community (HPC). I cannot overstate the importance and meaning that comes from your encouragement, advocacy, prayer, and financial support when it comes to our cause. Please take time to watch this YouTube video below that enlightens the reality for children in Cambodia. It is not only children who are at risk which I will explain more in follow-up communications. This video is lengthy but when watched in completion will help you understand the dynamic of why Khmer children are at such great risk for human and sexual trafficking. It is not as simple as Paedophiles.

Human Trafficking Awareness Video

So what exactly will we be doing? We will be working with local Khmer staff to offer morning and afternoon sessions with local children both in the center and out on the streets. From the children's perspectives, we will play games, do arts and crafts, have snacks and do some learning. In addition, we will also be providing healthy emotional connections through compassion; modeling healthy interactions and bodily autonomy; administering first aid to the children who have zero access to medical care; and working with staff of HPC to identify those at immediate risk so that they can work with authorities moving forward. Additionally, we will also have our night street team which more specifically targets building familiarity with new kids in need as well as identifying predators.

We cannot do this alone. What YOU can do to help:

-Share about this to help raise awareness for what is happening and to fuel support.

-Pray for and encourage our team. If you would like to send mail I can provide an address.

-Donate towards this fundraiser.

Our team has many expenses. While Cambodia itself does not have very expensive costs for food and drink, our team members individually require about $2,500 in other necessary costs. Not included in this figure are personal costs for childcare, healthcare-related costs, luggage, international phone service for emergencies, and appropriate clothing and gear for being very mobile and active during extreme weather in the very hit monsoon season in Cambodia.

-Some of what this includes: Roundtrip flights from North Carolina to Phnom Pen with a layover each way, likely in Abu Dhabi or Singapore. While in Cambodia, the team will also be traveling on a smaller flight to do work in Siem Reap during our time there. Lodging in these 3 locations. Any baggage fees. Meals. Etc.

--Additionally, our team is bringing with us items that HPC doesn't have easy or any access to or cannot obtain in an affordable fashion. This will be carried in our additional baggage which will accrue fees but is still more effective than shipping: Education items for sessions; Medical/First Aid supplies; Art and craft supplies; Simple games and toys used during play therapy; Items the center needs for maintenance, etc... We also leave a donation for HPC to help care for staff members, many of which are older rehabilitated victims who have found opportunity to help others as well as having the ability to maintain healthy gainful employment.

If at all possible, it would be a huge help if you could donate towards these mounting costs. Feel free to reach out if you would like to specify what costs you would like for your donation to go to and I will ensure it is used appropriately. Again, please pray, send out positive thoughts, and educate yourself on this issue. Feel free to reach out with any questions about any of this as well as any areas of your life that I can be praying for you about. I will be updating this fundraiser with additional ways to help and specific ways you can be praying for myself, this mission, and the team. Thank you for your love and support.