Brock Perry shares his experience overseas.

By Keila Funez, Staff Writer

This past January, a group of students went to Cambodia and Thailand for their J-term. The trip was planned by Shaana Robrock and two current student leaders, Sandra Haraguchi and Ali Everett. During the trip, they visited organizations that take part in fighting sex-trafficking.

“It was incredible to spend time with any of the kids we met in the organizations that were saved from trafficking and seeing how much God had done through the organizations for them,” said Brock Perry, who went on the trip and spoke about his experience in chapel. “It was beyond incredible to see a smile from a young girl that had, at one point, been in one of the worst situations ever.”

Those who were part of the trip enjoyed meeting these organizations, and they had a good time at the night markets too.

There were different things that stood out to Perry during the trip. He loved his first experience of being overseas, especially while being in Cambodia. On the other hand, learning how these children are tricked into working as slaves stuck out to him. One of the places they visited was Red Lights, where they learned about organizations that are dedicated to buying and selling women.

As I read what Perry wrote for this interview, it upset me to hear about the things they witnessed. It is sad to find out that people from America and Europe visit these organizations for the purpose of buying girls. Finding out these girls are tricked from their villages and sold, really broke my heart. 

Besides being on this trip, spending time with his group, and learning more about trafficking in Thailand and Cambodia, Perry saw God working in him.

While on the trip, they saw how men exploit women as objects, which is heartbreaking. But at the same time, there was hope. They met Christian Lenty, who runs The MST Project, an organization where he fights trafficking by sharing the Gospel. He seeks out men in the Red-Lights district and shares with them the love of God.

“It’s amazing to see how God loves, heals and forgives in places full of both sin and brokenness,” Perry said. “God broke my heart, all while giving me hope.”

If you ever considered taking a J-Term trip, you should give it a chance. 

“It’s an opportunity to be immersed in a totally different culture where you can learn so much and see so much of the work God is doing in the country you visit,” Perry said. 

You either experience God’s work, or you are a part of His work in helping others. The trips give students the opportunity to travel to a different part of the world, spend time with their team, and learn about new cultures.