Here are Quyen Pham's reflection – one of 13 young professional - on her trip to Cambodia:
"The trip to Cambodia was an eye opening experience. I would like to call it the "ugly truth" about reality, but however, we all have to accept what God had created for us. First of, I want to recall many memorable moments that I had encounter on this trip. It is when we meet up with Thầy Tùng and was taken to the village where he help to educate the younger kids, their age range around couple months old to 15 years n older. These kids are recuser kids from the street, whom are very unfortunate that they lost everything, especially their parent and home. The first thing I noticed was when he come home, all the kids, especially this one particular kid, he is probably a year old, was lending forward and wanting Thay Tung to carry him. The kid's action showed that thay Tung is a really carrying person and he not only doing his job because the superior told him do to so, but he is doing all with his heart and mind. I admired him because his good character is shown through his action that showed all of us he is a man with good heart and willing to sacrifice.
My second memorable moment was when the child cried in Cha Thong's arm and I was there to see it. I had witnessed something that I felt heart broken and I was not able to hold my tears back. Cha Thong's asked the little girl if she misses her dad, and so she begin to cried. We all know at that age, these kids are very innocent and their tears expressed a a million words. If you were there to witness these things that the kids are going through, you can not just step away and do nothing to help. These kids are just less fortunate and they have to be somehow educated and find a living style before they are exposed to the "ugly" side of the world. The "ugly" side that I emphasize in quote is referring to kids that are sold and force into the route of sex slavery. These kids with poor understanding, background knowledge and too young to realize what is happening, therefore with thay tung's purpose and intention, he want to help educated these kids to help prevent the future generation from following the same foot step. I truly admired his vision and intentions in trying to accomplish his goal.
My third moment and I am still somewhat in denial is to be able to see with my own eyes of the "job" that these children n female adults do for a living. At one of the village we went too, they are "known" for selling and forcing their kid into sex slavery direction. I would to describe it that it's a "norm" for them there who live in that village. But however, we all know it is not right to do so and we all know that these kids are innocent. So who do we blame? We can't point finger at anyone but when we see these things happened, we need to find a better solution and figure out what will be best for the kids or for the situation.. Also looking at those female adults on the street, just thinking about what they do bring tears to my eyes. I understand it is a job, I never look down on them or anything. I know they are very wonderful people but it's the situation and environment that had lead them into having this "job" that they are doing now. I know I have a burning desirer to help these children and the female adults, but I am only a no body, though I do have a big heart. If I know I can do something to even eliminated and ban all these prostitution I would do so in a heart beat. However, it is not possible YET, I still believe that one day these children and female adults will live in a better life with a brighter future, if not for them, hopefully it will be better for the younger generation. The only thing I can possible do for everyone right now is remember them in my daily prayer and pray specifically for their health, and always to have a "better" life.
Quyen Pham"
