The Adventure begins Phonm Penh here I come!

Growing up in the 60's and 70's at the height of the Viet Nam War, it never crossed my mind that I would EVER travel to Southeast Asia. Well, here I go. It hasn't been on my bucket list, or even I would ever want to go there list. Three years ago my daughter felt called by God, to travel more than half way around the world to work for Agape International Missions in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I really did do a double take when she announced this. She is a Fashion Designer, a graduate of the University of Idaho and had a small business designing and selling children's clothing. What could any of that have to do with being a missionary in Southeast Asia? As we looked into Agape International Missions (AIM) www.agapewebsite.org it became more apparent that she did know just what she was doing. AIM rescues women and children out of sex trafficking. They offer them a new life, teaching life skills, healing and the love of Jesus. One option they have is to learn to sew. That is where Kat comes in. AIM has an employment center of about 80 women and girls who produce garments including: T-shirts, Kimono's, and bags. They ship all over the world. They also make jewelry (the 22 bracelets) make paper, cards, and do screen printing. Kat is their designer. She has designed all of the T-shirts in men's, women's and children in all sizes as well as designing the beautiful Kimonos on their web site. Check it out.

I have been putting this off for 3 years and I really have run out of excuses. So I bought my ticket and leave on January 2nd for 15 days. I felt that if I was going half way around the world to see her life and meet these girls, I should make my self useful. I will be teaching about 10 sewing classes to the girls that work in the employment center and some of the new residents at the restoration house that would like to learn to sew. I will have about 10 students at a time. The girls at the employment center will be making a cute little sewing kit that will be theirs to keep. It will have a seam ripper, thread clippers, and a seam gauge. Do to the generosity of my teammates from the BERNINA Event Team, they cut about 50 sewing kits and mailed them to me, and probably 50 pillow case kits. Many other friends from all parts of my life donated Rulers, Rotary Cutters, Rotary blades, Velcro, and cash. I couldn't have done it with out them. Thank you sew much. I am also taking bags of American Candy that is a real treat for them, as well as buying them soda during class (which they hardly ever get), and all of the left over donation will go into a fund that they save for all year to go on a retreat together. It will be quite the adventure for all of us! I've never taught with an interpreter before! I thought you might like to follow along as I traipse through Korea and Cambodia. I will try to post daily when I have internet available and be as entertaining as possible. Here we go!