April 18, 2007

An Oft Repeated Horror
Human Trafficking is REAL in Southeast Asia

A 22 year old woman studied with our English Bible Study teachers for ten months and in September last year became a Christian. Full of life and energy she was an inspiration to us all. Working nights at a Garment factory she would work all night and come to study at 8 a.m. before going home to sleep.

In October she excitedly reported that her company had selected her and ten other young women to transfer to one of their plants in another Asian country where they would all have better positions and salaries.

Concerned about her spiritual life we contacted the church in the city she was going to and they prepared to receive her. BUT the night before she left her Boss contacted her and told her she would not be gong to the previously announced city but rather to another, some 300 miles away. Communicating by E-mail we quickly contacted the church and they informed us there was a faithful group meeting nearby and that they would meet her and help her find her way to worship services and fellowship. This they did and she E-mailed us that she was thrilled to find such a warm caring group of Christians.

The new employer collected all the girl’s passports under the guise of needing to get them visas and refused to return them. They were only paid half of the agreed on salary and the company refused to discuss any grievances with them leaving them worse off then they had been at home with no funds or passports to get back.

When she reported this to her newly found church family they immediately went into action, knowing the corrupt system and having heard of similar incidents in the past. Their first Stop was the Cambodian Embassy who said they could not help nor issue her a new passport. Realizing that those who run these Human Trafficking schemes often are powerful people and have political connections that protect them, the local Christians immediately smelled a rat and smuggled her out of the country and got her back home. Typical of such Trafficking schemes, the Man who recruited them is no longer in Cambodia and no one “seems to know” where he went.

There was great joy and thanksgiving when she returned safely and she is now working with the local UN office to help get the other girls back home. Without Christian contacts “who just happened to be near her” she would no doubt be stuck and soon without any hope of ever getting home. It happens every day in Southeast Asia.

(Names and places have been withheld for the security of all those involved.)

William E. "Bill" McDonough, Director
Partners In Progress
Phnom Penh, Cambodia