I am so sad for this country. Truly. The past two days have been spent on lock-down in my stark-white-going-insane room. Because of political unrest and violent rioting, Bangkok was declared in a state of emergency. 

I drove with some friends through the city this afternoon. Suddenly, the overcrowded and colorful streets of Bangkok were eerily vacant unless marked by military. Protesting started peacefully, but has escalated to violent demonstrations and taken two lives. Two men, 50 and 19 years old, lost their lives… for what? 19?

If you don’t know what’s going on, there are two political “sides” – the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts. The Reds are anti-government, many of them uneducated and a large majority unsure of what they’re really fighting for. Their protests are aimed at the resignation of Thailand’s current Prime Minister. Buses were highjacked this morning and set ablaze, stores and shops were destroyed, and now the blood shed.

The people of this country are frustrated, and even if they don’t know why they’re fighting, I guess protests like this provide an outlet. I am so sad for this country. Truly.

These photos are from MSNBC.

Can find updates at: http://www.bangkokpost.com

It’s men. It’s women. It’s children. Approximately one million humans are trafficked every year, and thousands of them were born in Cambodia.

It was a three hour drive to the border from Bangkok, and although only minutes from Thai soil, crossing the border took me into another world. Endless dirt roads - They were first thing I noticed. Kids carrying babies - Second thing. Sketchy, everything - Final observation before declaring Poipet an unhealthy environment for any person to live. 

Men are trafficked into forced labor, while women and children are trafficked for sexual exploitation or forced into organized begging rings, soliciting, and street selling. This was how the street beggar I recently wrote of came to be. It’s horrifying and it’s rampant.

It was the only light I could see in this new world of darkness. The Cambodian Hope Organization, or CHO as it’s affectionately called, came to life when Chomno In pledged all he had to the people of his country. It was God. It was his vision. It was his calling.

In only seven years, CHO and its OUTSTANDING staff have transformed thousands of lives with a passion for more. Among the laundry list of mind-blowing projects CHO coordinates, schooling opportunities are provided for children with no means of otherwise receiving education. The organization is also in the process of building a mega “safe haven” that will function as everything imaginable for women and children who have returned from being trafficked or are currently at risk.

This team is 100 percent offering the gift of hope through love, and I was so blessed to witness God’s mark on it all. THANK YOU for an unforgettable experience!

I attempted to find the beauty of the situation. Here are some shots from my trip to Poipet, Cambodia.

Dirt roads, everywhere.

Workers pulling their goods to the border.

“SCHOOL ON A MAT”! That’s literally what it’s called. CHO set up 25 mats throughout the town where child workers could come and learn basic reading and writing skills. They’re also educated on trafficking and other relevant issues.

CHO sets up vocational training for men and women to create better lives for themselves.

There were so many children taking care of children…

I needed proof! Little did I know I’d have the opportunity to jump in and help in the construction of CHO’s safe haven. The project is amazing, so how could I not help?! I’m a skinny beast! Legit!

Looking forward to returning next year and seeing more of the country… there’s a lot of hidden natural beauty there. 

I’m heading to Malaysia Tuesday (!) before working my way back to the south of Thailand for a family camp. Love*

PS – Bangkok has been declared in an official state of emergency. Please keep the situation in prayer.

I love weddings. I love weddings, because I love love. And what better occasion to celebrate love than the union between two of God’s beautiful creations?

Rojana and Creecha met three years ago working side by side at world vision. Their passion for serving others, God, and their other halves was so evident during our time together. I was blessed to meet their warm families and freeze the beginning of life as one. Thank you, Rojana and Creecha, for your selflessness and compassion. God has awesome plans for you as a couple!

Photographing a Thai wedding – vastly different from what I’m accustom to – presented more challenges than expected. Plus there’s always the what factor, which involves my internal thoughts shouting, “WHAT just happened, or WHAT did they say?!” every ten minutes. I could only grab five minutes of alone time with them, but here are a few shots from the day!

Yay for love.

Getting beautified…

Rojana had her dress made in Bangkok.

Work it, girl! Twinkle those eyes!

Creecha getting prettied up… in a manly way.

Outside the church.

It’s not a Thai event without a MOD SQUAD!

Professing their loooove… I think?!  *wink wink*

Looks like an act of respect to their parents.

Yay! They’re official!

Suuuuch a doll.

And they lived happily, ever after.

The end.    

; )