Cory climbing a palm tree

 

Traveled yesterday from a small city to another fairly large tourist town called Siem Reap. It is considered to be one of the sex trafficking centers of Cambodia and has an international reputation for sex tourism. International Justice Mission states, “While best known for its proximity to the temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap has also become known in recent years as a destination for sex tourism.” Despite some of the negative connotations, it actually is a really cool city with lots of restaurants and shopping and has even a hint of American architecture. However, one can’t help but grieve over the sex trade industry as he or she walks around the town.

Angkor Wat Temple near Siem Rear

 

Ta Prohm Temple

We went out last night to eat and we could tell some people were there for reasons other than eating and shopping! Need I say anything more?

Most of us had a fish massage. We stuck our feet in a tank and all these fish started eating the dead skin on our feet. It was very ticklish, but after a while I kind of got used to it. Then we went shopping at the local shops.

This morning we toured the incredible architectural Angkor Wat Temple. It is a world heritage site and is protected for its amazing grand scale and architecture that has been preserved since the 12th century. It took 37 years to complete with by an untold number of people.

We then visited another temple called Ta Prohm, which was in the blockbuster movie Tomb Raider. Thick massive trees surround the temple site and some even grew up over some of the buildings themselves. This temple complex was not preserved as well as Angkor Wat, nor was it as large, but in its own right was extremely impressive!

Currently, we are getting ready for a team meeting and then headed out again for dinner and shopping in Siem Reap.

Please pray for this city that God will open up opportunities for more and more children and young women to be rescued from the prostitution industry and that He would raise up more laberors. God’s heart grieves over the hurting and afflicted and desparately wants to set men and women free!

Lastly, we leave tomorrow morning for Thailand and will be visiting Destiny Rescues main hub for their ministry! Can’t wait. Continue to pray that God will lead me to the right people to talk with and grasp His heart and what He wants me to communicate!