Teen Ink

I was in Cambodia on a mission trip with some people with my church. We visited Siem Reap's "Floating Village". A series of small huts that literally floats on the Mekong River- some two stories tall. As...(more »)

I was in Cambodia on a mission trip with some people with my church. We visited Siem Reap's "Floating Village". A series of small huts that literally floats on the Mekong River- some two stories tall. As we head to our destination, a small row boat comes perpendicular to our large motor boat. As the bow of the boat touches the side of ours, a small girl climbs to the edge of the row boat and puts a hand on the our rail. She casually holds up a snake wrapped around her neck with a blank expression. There are no exchange of words, but her intentions are clear- she wants money. Tears well up as I witness the cruelty that life had inflicted upon her. I ask myself, "what can I do?" After that mission trip, I vowed to come back to Cambodia as a medical-photojournalist missionary. I dream of a world where little girls do not have to catch snakes in the reeds in order to salvage some money for a meal. I hope you agree.« read less