First day at Rahabs House - Richard

Well it has been an amazing two days. After arriving safely through customs and immigration - we jumped in taxis for an exciting but nerve wracking ride to the hotel. It was just likeyou see in the movies. Cars, mopeds, tuk tuks and pedestrians everywhere - everyone completely ignoring the rules of the road. Driving on the wrong side of the road, cutting people off, The only rule seems to be - whoever is in the space first - has the right to that space.

Motos or mopeds are really the way to get around. There are some very unusual site. 5 people is the record so far on one moto.

We have seen babies hanging on, panes of glass being transported. And today there was a guy with an intravenous drip that he was holding up so the the drip would still work.

After getting settled in the room and grabbing a lite lunch - we took a tour of Tuol Sleng. The used to be a French school in the middle of the city before the Kymer Rouge took over the country. They turned it into a interrogation and extermination centre. It is now a museum to commemorate the abuses that happened there. It never ceases to amaze and appall me of the evil that we do to each other - and get away with.

Today was our first day at Rahabs House. We had an early start being picked up at 7am. The village was very quiet when we arrived with only a few people sitting outside their places.

There was silence as we wandered around the building. Our first real look at the place up close. It was almost surreal after seeing the pictures for so long - to actually be there.

It was great to meet Christa from IJM and Heather from the Chab Dai coalition - who played such important roles in the shutting down of these brothels.

We made a good start in the demolition work - but there is so much more to do. We tore down 4 of the rooms and the dreaded 'pink room' upstairs.

It was hard hot work - someone said it was 30 degrees in that building - but with the humidity it must have been about 40.

We also went through a lot more water than we thought. Thanks to Clayton for thinking ahead and bring some more.

As the day progressed more of the villagers - curious as to what was happening at this notorious place - poked their heads in to check it out. As we carted out all the rubble from the walls (brick and plaster) - everyone wanted the rubble dumped by their place. Most of it ended up in the dump just across the street - where they brought pails and baskets to cart away, It was very strange to see the doors to the rooms with all the writings being carried away.

And the kids - they were hanging around all day. Kids who should have been in school - kids who our activity was the highlight of their day. Kids who with their angelic faces but whose eyes told a different story.
Some of them were quite bold and others were very shy and guarded.

Two pictures stand out in my mind from today.
One is the garbage dump across the road - that had people rummaging through it all day long.
The other is a face of a little girl - about 4 or 5 in her pjamas and a lollipop, She was very curious as to what was going on - but would back away if anyone approched her.

One encouraging sign - In the morning when we first arrived - it was quite dark inside. But asthe walls came down - it became lighter and lighter. It was like God was bringing light and hope to this place. And we are a part of it!

How amazing is that?