I've mentioned before that in my 30s I started a plan to Learn Something New each year. Year 1 was knitting, year 2 was gardening, and year 3 was, well, I wasn't sure what it was going to be because all of the things I really wanted to do (take a creative writing class, learn to play an instrument) cost money which isn't something I had a lot of to spare, what with also being in year 3 of crazy, random, drive-to-Charlotte-to-get-a-diagnosis (expensive) medical problems. I found myself increasingly interested/horrified by what I was learning about the trafficking industry.
What started out as watching a movie on trafficking at work and participating in a 5k, turned into going through training to volunteer with anti-trafficking ministries and showing that film I first saw to others in my community. More recently, it's turned into outreach on the streets on Atlanta and now this opportunity to increase the vision for mercy in this issue in women across the southeast by seeing what God is doing in the world. Read more below to see how "learning" about something new isn't always enough. Some things require action.
Did you know that Atlanta is one of the top 15 cities in the US for most individuals trafficked in the US? Or that the average girl is trafficked at age 12-14? The statistics may be horrifying but putting names and faces to this reality is even more devastating. In the past year I’ve been privileged to work alongside a local ministry to those who have been trafficked sexually. And while the situation is bad here in Atlanta, this is a global problem, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a single country not involved in either the supply or demand side of this equation. Mission to the World (MTW), the organization that I work for, has become increasingly involved in human trafficking ministry around the globe.
It’s everywhere. And once your eyes have been opened to what’s going on, it’s hard to turn your back on the seemingly hopeless situations unfolding before us.
It is shocking to realize how prevalent this issue is in our very own communities. Even though I’ve been involved in what’s going on in Atlanta for over a year, I was still surprised to learn that one exit up from my home is a hotel chain frequented by prostitutes and their customers.
Due to the widespread nature of this issue there is much we can learn from others fighting this battle. To that end, I have been invited to co-lead a mission trip through MTW to Bulgaria and Greece from September 27 – October 5.
In Bulgaria, where many women are procured for trafficking, we’ll be walking alongside full time missionaries and their ministry to give trafficked women a place to recover and a hope for their future. In Greece, we’ll help with street outreach and with ministries that train women to have sustainable skills once they are freed from prostitution. There, brothels are not only legal but actually an integral part of cultural history. While the ancient temples may be relics, the brisk trade for purchased sex remains woven into the fabric of modern Greek culture.
Our goal is to learn from others, increase our global understanding of this issue, and work together to figure out how we can mobilize our communities at home to fight this evil on both a local and global level.
Ideally, I'd love to invite you to join me on this trip. Imagine if you could personally come and we could learn together what it means to love some of the most-used and least-loved among us. (This trip is now full, but let me know if you'd be interested in a future trip).
However, if physically coming on the trip isn’t possible, would you be willing to join me in spirit through prayer? This is daunting and scary and big, but God is in it! And your prayers are so very important.
Finally, another way important way to participate is by giving financially towards the cost of transportation and lodging. I’ve been asked to raise $2500 by September 14 to participate in this trip (only $600 remaining!), and having your partnership in this endeavor would be an enormous blessing. Knowing you are united with me on this mission to those who are immersed in such darkness will bring hope and courage to a seemingly overwhelming situation.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can be involved!
Here are the options if you would like to give financially –
2. Send a check to the following address with EV5359 in the memo line
Mission to the World
1600 North Brown Rd
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
