Gleason, Emily
Professor Updegraff
Composition
September 25, 2013 A Day In a Foreign Culture
Nicole Gleason, an American girl, grew up in Southern California left her family and traveled seven thousand and nine hundred miles away to help and serve. To help girls who have survived the sex trade in Cambodia. The poverty level there was incredible and amazed her; she had never been anywhere like that. Malnourished children flooded the streets, young girls being trafficked into the sex trade, and poor hygiene surrounded the city. “There were shacks in forests with no plumbing or running water, brothels everywhere along the streets”, Nicole remembered.
I asked what the culture is like there if there were such terrible conditions taking place. She replied quickly, “The culture there is lacking in important areas. The hygiene is poor, many foods are scarce, such as meat and they have a corrupt government. The government has laws against human trafficking but do not push them enough, there is a lot of money involved in that business. Thankfully RAPHA house is there to help with the girls who are affected by the trafficking.”
RAPHA House is a home for girls who have been human trafficked. It is safe home for them, a place to be protected and feel safe. They “restore” the girl’s lives by teaching them about Jesus and His forgiveness. They educate the children and treat them like family. The girls are taught cosmetology and are found a career before they leave the home so they are not forced or fall into the sex trade.

A photo from RAPHA House wed page http://loverescueheal.wordpress.com

“Girls as young as five years old are sold into the sex trade by their families and are beaten and mistreated for a small price. RAPHA house is a safe house for those girls who have been rescued from those places and from men. They are put through some schooling and cosmetology school, helping them with a career path so they do not go back into human trafficking”, Nicole looked away as she shared this, and her mind ran through all the memories.
I then asked what it was like living there in a typical day as a missionary. Nicole answered, “The team and I woke up at six in the morning to monks chanting into loud microphones at the shrines that were at every intersection there, I even had ear plugs in and could still hear. For breakfast they fed us hot soup and then we went to were the girls were at RAPHA house.” They participated in a bible study daily, which helped them prepare for the day with the girls. She continued, “We had an open discussion and time of counseling for the girl everyday. They would