It was a fairly large house, but we soon learned three families shared it. Our partner Marry and her foster daughter Sanda Htun, now 16, sleep in one bedroom and everyone in the house shares the kitchen and single toilet.

We’re here in beautiful Taunggyi, the capital city of Shan State. Because of its location nestled on top of a ridge 5,000 or so feet above sea level the climate is quite nice—low 70s in the day, mid-40s at night—even though we’re in the tropics. Today our partner took us to a local outdoor-type restaurant where 6 of us ate our fill for around $3.25 each.

Is it worth it? Sometimes we ask ourselves that question. The answer is again a resounding YES. We’ve flown half-way around the world to help protect women and children from human trafficking and slavery. And to reach the remote places where some of the most vulnerable people live, we then had to drive for many hours.