Saturday Oct 29 Each day I get up I think how can this one top the last day. Well this day is up with the best. An early breakfast and tuk tuk ride through the streets of Phnom Penh took us to a ministry called Chab Dai. In Khmer, Chab Dai means 'joining hands.' It was started by Helen Sworn in Phnom Penh in 2005 with a vision to see Christians working together to end sexual abuse and trafficking. So what is human trafficking?

Scott Higgins on his blog scottjhiggins.com writes, 'Human trafficking is a vile trade in which human beings of all ages are sold into slavery, forced labour and debt bondage. Cambodia serves as a destination country (ie people are trafficked from neighbouring countries into Cambodia), a transit country (eg girls are trafficked from Vietnam into cambodia and from Cambodia to places such as China and the Middle East) and a source country (ie Cambodian boys, girls, men and women are trafficked to other countries). Victims may find themselves sold as sex slaves, maids, fisherman, construction workers and on and on.'

It was great to hear Helen's share the story of how she and her husband left behind a corporate career in England to pursue the call of God upon their lives. After completing her seminary degree, they felt prompted to spend time in Cambodia with a mission agency exploring how God might use them in ministry. Little did they know what God was about to do in their lives as they abandoned it all for the sake of the call. Helen began to encounter some of the dark sides of Phnom Penh and in that process developed a heart to coordinate anti-trafficking activities in Cambodia. There were a number of different groups doing their own thing with little to no collaboration together. With a shelter here and a legal service in other places, Helen saw an emerging duplication of services and other dire gaps being overlooked. After a series of intense conversations, the ministry of Chab Dai emerged and today there are a collation of Christian organizations working collaboratively to combat human trafficking. What an amazing ministry. Helen has since handed the running of Chab Dai to Ros Yeng. Yeng is another amazing survivor of the Pol Pot regime who is following Jesus and changing his world. Helen, Yeng and their team are making a great difference. What a privilege to have spent time with these giants.

Check out www.chabdai.org for more info and some compelling video clips.