Hillary

Today was our first official day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We started our day waking up bright and early, and I managed to catch the last few minutes of sunrise. When I looked out the hotel window, I realised how different it is from Melbourne. The buildings have varied architectural styles, from skyscrapers to 2-story flats right next to each other. It's a lot more colourful than Melbourne, and the roofs with the pink skies looked very picturesque.

We ate breakfast at a cafe near the hotel, and coincidentally, all our outfits matched: navy and white! Although it was very, very hot, the tuk-tuk rides were super fun and cooled us down. On our first tuk-tuk ride, I noticed the traffic here is much more chaotic, with lots of motorbikes and tuk-tuks on the road. At first glance, it seems wild and frantic, but after a while, I realised that there was order in the chaos. It reminded me of how sometimes our lives might initially seem super messy, but if we trust God, like how we trusted the Light of Hope tuk-tuk drivers, He knows the way and will lead us through the mess.

Then, we went to the killing fields. We took an audio tour and walked around different parts of the site. We learnt about the impact and horrors of Pol Pot's regime. While it was a confronting experience, I feel it was really insightful and necessary for us to be able to understand the history of Cambodia and have a more in-depth connection to it compared to learning about it in a classroom. For me, this experience was important because it gave us all a new perspective and more empathy. And even though it was hard to comprehend how people could do these things to other people, it reminded me of the importance of having empathy and actively remembering not to succumb to hateful thoughts and mentalities. We are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to experience and connect with this history today.

After the killing fields, we went for lunch. It was really nice to talk with my friends and teachers and get to know everyone outside of school. Then, we went to the market, which was really fun but also tiring, and we were able to secure some mementos and clothes. After that, we went to the She Rescue Home visitor centre. There, we learnt about the effects of poverty on young girls who were trafficked and exploited. It gave us an insight into how Pol Pot's regime still affects the country and those in it today. After that, we ate dinner at a nice restaurant and went back to the hotel, where we did worship and rested.

Today was a very eventful day, and I am super tired, but also so grateful for this opportunity and experience. I'm so excited for the rest of the trip, and I can't wait for Light of Hope!

Emily

Today was such an eventful and amazing day, from the killing fields to markets and the She Rescue Home. We woke up refreshed from our sleep to an amazing view of Phnom Penh; it felt unreal to be in a whole different country with our friends and teachers. After getting ready, we walked to a cafe and had breakfast, with the weather being very hot and sunny. Such a change from Melbourne!

After breakfast, we hopped on our very first tuk-tuk ride. It was so cool to see everyone getting from one place to another amid the chaos. We then arrived at the killing fields and did an audio tour while learning about the atrocities that happened during the Pol Pot regime. After the tour, Tarenne did a short reflection on a passage in Psalms about not having hateful thoughts about someone just because they're a bit different.

We then drove to our lunch stop and had an amazing meal with all the girls having fried chicken burgers (definitely recommend). Afterwards, we went to the russian market and bought things to bring back for ourselves and our loved ones. It was so big, and there were so many things to see (Amelia and I totally didn't get lost).

We then went to the She Rescue Home, where we learnt how they help rescue girls from situations no one should be in. There was an opportunity to buy handmade items like shirts and bracelets to support the cause. While we were leaving, it started pouring (like buckets of water), and everyone got soaked while running to their tuk-tuks, but it was definitely something to remember.

Next, it was dinner at a great outdoor restaurant where the food was delicious. We ended the night with worship and a swim in the pool. Overall, it was such an awesome start to the trip, and I would do it all over again.