29 Steps you could take in the fight against Human Trafficking (Brought to you by Tristan LaFave)

1.  Wear the same dress for a month with a pin attached to raise awareness    
2.  Research organizations focused on ending modern-day slavery, blog about it and invite your friends, family, coworkers, etc. to follow it and pass it along to their friends, family, coworkers, etc.  
3.  Raise money for a local or global organization by doing a fitness challenge
4.  Host a showing at your home of a film or documentary about slavery 
5.  Buy music / songs to support organizations that are fighting modern-day slavery
6.  Learn about the laws regarding human trafficking in your state and advocate for comprehensive and victim-centered laws
7.  Write a "Letter to the Editor" to spotlight human trafficking in your community  
8.  Start a book club to discuss issues of modern-day slavery and invite friends, family, coworkers, etc.
9.  Buy only fair trade chocolate.  In Milwaukee, find it at Outpost and Fair Trade for All among others
10.  Publicize the HOTLINE so people are aware of who to call if they encounter a victim
11.  Buy products made by survivors of modern-day slavery
12.  Invite friends, family, coworkers to an event focused on modern-day slavery
13.  Download the Free2Work app and become a conscious consumer
14.  Host a Free2Play event using your special talent
15.  Buy fair trade gifts for your friends, family, coworkers, etc. and share why you bought fair trade
16.  Volunteer your time at a local organization that is fighting against modern-day slavery.  In WI, check out 5 Stones or SlaveFree Madison or BASICS.
17.  Use social media like Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about modern-day slavery
18.  Go on an immersion trip to another country to learn about modern-day slavery in another culture
19.  Instead of asking for gifts for your birthday, ask friends and family to donate the money they would spend on a gift to an organization that is working to combat modern-day slavery
20.  Become a Freedom Partner to help rescue victims of human trafficking 
21.  Take the pledge to become a Defender (men only)
22.  Raise money by hosting a brat fray in your community and give to a local organization providing aftercare for survivors of modern-day slavery
23.  Talk to the leaders of your church and mobilize a movement to combat modern-day slavery in your city
24.  Learn the signs of a trafficked victim and share this information with friends, family, coworkers, etc.
25.  Intern for International Justice Mission to help make public justice work for the poor
26.  Pray for justice
27.  Call Congress to voice your support of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act
28.  Commit to giving a percentage of your weekly pay check to fight modern-day slavery
29.  Take the Human Trafficking Awareness Training put on by the U.S. Department of State

Day 29. Not done yet.

I spilled coffee all over my dress yesterday, so I guess it's good that today is the last day, considering I haven't been washing it.

So what's next?

I don't really know the answer to that for sure, but here are some things that I am thinking:
1. I want to continue writing on this blog. I want to continue research, learning, and sharing information. I want to continue to process what I am learning and experiencing. I probably won't post as much because it is time consuming, and there are other things in my life that I need to make a priority as well. Though this is one of my passions, I do need to find balance in the time I am devoting to it. I plan on definitely continuing this blog through my time in Thailand (I am going to be working with Pattaya Slum Ministries from June 2 to August 21).

2. I definitely plan on simplifying the choice that I have in my life right now. One area specifically is that I plan to get rid of a lot of clothes. In the month of March, I want to get rid of at least 75 items from my closet, possibly more. I also want to de-clutter other parts of my house and donate things that I don't use or don't need.

3. I want to continue to make my students aware of slavery and what is going on around the world. I also want to help other students in my school become more aware as well. I asked my principal if students in our elementary school could help donate Sunday school supplies for me to take over to Thailand, and she agreed to that. I'm hoping to be able to talk a little more about Thailand to the students and show them pictures. I also would love to talk to the middle school classes again as well, and provide them with some action steps they could take. I had a middle school student stop me in the hallway yesterday and thank me for what I am doing for people who experience injustice. My actions and words do have an impact.

4. I still want to write a children's book on human trafficking. This might not happen until I go to Thailand, but we'll see. I'm excited about doing this.

5. I want to make conversations about this topic more of a lifestyle. Since I've been wearing the same dress and a huge pin, I don't even really have to initiate most conversations. It's pretty easy. I've thought I about other things I can do to make conversations easy to initiate, like wearing my Thailand jewelry, but even when I have done that in the past, there are not many people who ask about it. This means that I need to be more bold in initiating conversations, which are sometimes difficult, uncomfortable and not really welcomed. But raising awareness is key in the battle against human trafficking, so I'm in.

A lot of what I am doing seems small at times in light of the hugeness of the problem. There are times where I feel what I am doing isn't making a significant impact. But then, I think about the ways my heart has changed in the past 3 years, and I am sometimes blown away about how different I have become. I am not the same person because of what I know about human trafficking and the injustice I have seen with my own eyes. I am excited about the steps I have taken to help fight this thing that I want to see come to an end. I know that I am not powerful enough to do it on my own, but I am thankful that I know that God cares deeply about people who experience injustice. I am thankful that I serve him and he is continually showing me how I can be apart of bringing his kingdom here on earth. I am also thankful for friends who are excited about fighting injustice as well.

Romans 15:13 is a verse that I have taken hold of in the past year, and I really love it's message. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 


As I move forward, I am praying that God fills me and you with hope, joy, and peace as we trust that he is working  everything together for good. And I pray that this hope will spill over to people who know Jesus and can help fight this battle with us, and people who don't know Jesus, who we can shine God's love into their lives. 


Thanks for reading this month. Continue to read. Continue to learn. Continue to ask questions. Continue to pray and see how God can use you to help fight injustice. He will use you if you are willing. 


Peace! 

Day 28. Coming down to the end...

I had coffee with a friend last night, and she asked me about my dress project and whether I felt like I met what I set out to do. 

When I started this dress project 28 days ago, these were the goals that I had:

1. I want to learn more about injustice and ways to fight against. I will be reading and researching about human trafficking, specifically sex slavery, and posting some of this information each day of this month. Instead of focusing on just the United States (which I still will do), I am going to open it up to sex slavery around the world. Most of you know, I have a huge heart for Pattaya in Thailand, and I will post about my passion for this city during this month (as well as other places around the world). 
2. I want to increase awareness about human trafficking. I am going to wear a button that tells what day I am on in the experiment and tell people who ask about why I am doing this and what I am learning. 
3. I want to at least get a taste of what it is like to wear the same thing every day. There are many people all over the world who have to wear the same thing every day of their life. I know that I will not get the full feeling of this, but at least an idea. I plan to post about how I am feeling and the reactions I get from others during this month. 


Do I feel like I met these goals? 
1. Yes. Obviously with the breadth of this topic, there is SO much more to learn and the ideas of how to fight injustice are so complex. I do feel like I learned a lot about human trafficking and ways to put an end to this injustice. I learned about different organizations that I hadn't heard about or known much about in the past. I read stories that continue to affect the way I respond to injustice. I learned about more about different types of injustice and what is being done to combat them. This month was a valuable time of learning, and I am excited to continue to learn more. 
2. Yes. I feel really blessed for all the conversations I was able to have during this month. Specifically, at my school, it was cool to see how my students responded to what I am doing and how their hearts are developing to care about justice in the world. I liked being able to share with all the students in the lower elementary, and even if they didn't understand all of the concepts I shared, I think most of them get that God loves people who are poor and overlooked. One of the students in the other fourth grade class came up to me yesterday and said, "You're still wearing that dress, huh? You are committed." That blessed my heart. I also have had the opportunity to talk to some middle school classes about modern day slavery. Their history teacher told me that she thought it really impacted them. Some of the boys in her class don't pay attention very well, but during my presentation, she said that they were more engaged than they had been in a long time. Other middle school students who have noticed me wearing my dress have come up to me and asked me about it. I've also had random people ask me about my pin, some people from different countries, some people I didn't even know. I've gotten nice responses and at least some interest level from pretty much everyone I've talked to. It's been cool to have a visible way to engage people in conversation, where I don't even have to bring it up. After this month, I'll have to think about ways I can incorporate these conversations into my everyday life. 
3. Yes. I know that it's not a perfect mirror image of a poor person's experience with wearing the same clothes everyday, but I have had a taste. After 28 days of wearing the same clothes everyday and not washing them, I feel a little dirty. I mean I haven't really done anything strenuous in them and haven't sweat too much, but I definitely notice a not-fresh smell. You can tell black shirt hasn't been washed for a while. When people ask me if I've washed it, I sometimes have felt embarrassed saying that I hadn't. I know some people definitely thought that was gross. There have been times where I have wanted to wear something else, something more comfortable, or something better suited for an activity, or just something different. It has, however, been nice not to think about what I am going to wear. Not having a choice has actually been rather nice. It's just become routine and normal. Now, I don't know if I continued to do this, if I would really enjoy the lack of choice for much longer. Overall, I feel like it's given me some good insights into what it is like to wear the same thing everyday. 


I am 100% glad that I did this dress project. I feel like it was really beneficial for me and those around me. I know that the benefits to this will continue for me and those around me as well. I'm still thinking through what action steps I want to take in the coming months, and I will blog more about that tomorrow. 


I am thankful to those of you who have read my blog, who have shown interest, who have asked questions, and who have given me more questions to think about. It's great to have people to encourage me in this and join me in fighting against human trafficking as well. 


1 more day. What's next? I don't know. But, I'm pumped. 

Day 27. 3 Things You Can Do to Empower Women.

One of the things that I like about Nicholas Kristof is that, while I don't think that he is a Christian, he appreciates all people's efforts, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack there of, in the fight against poverty and injustice. In his book, Half the Sky, he recognizes the great work of International Justice Mission in their efforts to bring an end to slavery around the world. He also highlights many other organizations that are not religious but are doing some amazing work in the area of social justice. He believes that if both Christian and secular organizations work together to combat global injustice great things can happen. I agree. I have seen and read about awesome things that Christian organizations do to help the poor and oppressed, and I have seen and read equally great things done by organizations that have no religious affiliations. Arguments and disagreements about what is motivating your actions toward social justice are not important and will not help bring an end to injustice. Let's work together to bring an end to the evil of human trafficking. 

"In their new book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (Knopf), husband-and-wife Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn argue that the key to economic progress in the world lies in unleashing women's potential. Their suggestions for how you can help:

Make girls smarter. Many pregnant women living in poverty don't get enough iodine, so their fetuses' brains do not develop properly. Their children routinely lose ten to 15 IQ points—particularly the girls, for reasons not fully understood. The solution: Iodize salt, at the cost of a couple of pennies per person per year. To contribute, go to Helen Keller International (HKI.org). 

Support a woman's business. With a microloan of $50, a woman can start a business, producing income she can use to feed her children and send them to school. To make a loan, go to Mercy Corps (MercyCorps.org) or BRAC (BRACUSA.org), two groups helping women around the world. 

Keep a girl in school. A girl who gets an education will have fewer children, earn more money, and be able to help her younger siblings. One excellent support program operates in Cambodia, where uneducated girls are at great risk of being trafficked into brothels. For $10 a month, you can keep a girl in school through American Assistance for Cambodia (CambodiaSchools.com), or for $13,000, you can build an entire school that will revolutionize life in a village forever."

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/money/3-Things-You-Can-Do-to-Empower-Women#ixzz1naKAtt8V

Day 26. A look at the UCBC.

The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo have experienced injustice and continue to experience injustice on a daily basis. A war starting in 1998 captured many child soldiers and killed over 4 million people due to violence, starvation, and disease. Rebel groups inflicted thousands of rapes on Congolese women and children. Though the war is over, the violence and rape still continue. It is estimated that 1,200 people are still dying each day. (http://www.congoinitiative.org/view.cfm?page_id=91)

The UCBC is a Christian university, shining light into this dark country. Their vision is "to train and develop strong, indigenous Christian leaders to transform their communities and their nation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."

Here is a overview of the UCBC and how it began:

Africa’s deeply troubled and broken heart, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is today beginning to emerge from 8 years of brutal civil war (often described as Africa’s first World War), four decades of misrule, and the total collapse of its economy and civil society.  The second largest nation in Africa, and abundantly endowed with agricultural, mineral, hydroelectric and other resources, DRC is without question the most strategic country on that continent.  Its choices, direction and future will significantly influence the religious, economic, and political outlook of much of the rest of Africa.

Imagine the challenges of living and raising a family in a country the size of Western Europe -- a country with only 50 miles of paved roads.  What does hope look like for a 50-year old who has known only how to survive under oppressive colonialism, evil dictatorship, and devastating civil war? How do you ask an 18-year old former child soldier to “dream better, and dream big” when his home is burned to the ground, his father and brothers massacred, and there are no schools to teach new thinking, new skills?  


In August 2002, at the height of Congo’s civil war that was to take more than four million lives by 2004 (more than the number who died in WWII), 13 Congolese men and women--leaders representing churches, educational institutions, health services, and government--gathered in a dim, candle-lit room in the Congolese city of Benito pray, asking one another, “What is the Congolese Church’s response? How is the Lord calling us as Christian leaders to respond to the fragmentation of church and society due to conflict, poverty and political disintegration?" This meeting was the genesis of what was to become the Congo Initiative.

By mid-2004 Congo Initiative had come into being with the formation of boards in both Congo and US, together deeply committed to partnership.  Building on the initial 2002 vision, the two boards have collaboratively developed our vision, mission and values.

The foundation of our vision is that Congolese society can be transformed through strong indigenous Christian leaders who have a calling to transform their communities and their nation. As agents of change these leaders can model and introduce Kingdom values in all areas of Congolese life.  Through its core programs--the Christian Bilingual University of Congo (UCBC) and the Community Centers--Congo Initiative’s mission is therefore, to nurture and shape authentic, redemptive communities of Christ-followers, and to train, equip, and develop young men and women to be strong, indigenous Christian leaders whose calling is to transform the society in the DRC. 

Go to the website for more information about the UCBC. Learn how you can pray. Learn how you can give. Learn how you could go. 

Day 25. A look at the Dalit Freedom Network.

Here's a story: 

Young Dalit woman abused in Mumbai

Originally published as “Dalit girl paraded naked in Mumbai”, Times of Inda, July 10, 2010.

MUMBAI: Cases of attacks on dalit women aren’t confined to rural India. Last month, a young dalit girl was stripped and paraded in a southern Mumbai locality. The local police has arrested 10 women and two men and slapped them with cases of atrocities. However, Sharada Yadav, the main accused, is out on bail.

Said senior police inspector Rajan Bhogale: “All the suspects named by the victim, including Sharada Yadav, were arrested in the case. We charged them under the Prevention of Atrocities Act. But Sharda Yadav was granted bail by the court.” The 22-year-old dalit girl Mita Kamble (name changed), who was stripped and dragged out of her house at Darukhana, Reay Road, by a mob of mostly women, said: “They all shouted that dalits like me should not live in this area. They kept hurling abuses on me.”

What led to the incident was Mita’s brother allegedly abused a five year old girl.

(http://www.dalitnetwork.org/go?/dfn/news/C144/)

Who are the Dalits? 

The "untouchables."

The Dalits, also known as the “untouchables” and “outcastes,” make up nearly one quarter of India’s 1.2 billion society, with population estimates of 250 million people. The Dalits are history’s longest standing oppressed people group.

By all research and reports, the Dalits also constitute the largest number of people categorized as victims of human trafficking and human enslavement in any single nation on earth. On November 15, 2008, in New Delhi, at a UN Delivery of Justice Colloquium, the Honorable Dr. Justice Arijit Pasayat of the Supreme Court of India stated that “there was no bigger problem in India today than human trafficking. In May 2009, India’s Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta, remarked that by his estimates “at least 100 million people were involved in human trafficking in India.”

The term “Dalit” means “those who have been broken and ground down by those above them in the social hierarchy in a deliberate and active way.” Because of traditional social structures in India, the Dalits are at risk of discrimination, dehumanization, degradation, and violence every day.

On December 27, 2006, Prime Minister Singh became the first leader of his nation to compare the condition of Dalits with that of black South Africans under apartheid: “Even after 60 years of constitutional and legal protection and support, there is still social discrimination against Dalits in many parts of our country. Dalits have faced a unique discrimination in our society that is fundamentally different from the problems of minority groups in general. The only parallel to the practice of untouchability was apartheid.” Dr. Singh continued that it was “modern India’s failure that millions of Dalits were still fighting prejudice.”

That apartheid is still in evidence today. In 70% of India’s villages, for example, non-Dalits will not eat or drink with Dalits. Traditionally, when Dalits enter a tea shop and request a cup of tea, they are served in a clay cup rather than a glass or metal cup that others receive. After drinking their tea, they are expected to crush the cup on the ground so that no other person risks being polluted by the cup the Dalit touched.

(http://www.dalitnetwork.org/go?/dfn/who_are_the_dalit/C64)

What is the Dalit Freedom Network (DFN)?

The Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) is a human rights, non-government organization that partners with the Dalit people in India. We represent a vast network of justice-minded, modern-day abolitionists committed to bringing freedom to history’s longest standing oppressed people group. We believe that we can end Dalit injustices, such as human trafficking and child labor, and make slavery history in India. Our major partners are Operation Mercy India Foundation (OMIF) and the All-India Confederation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Organizations (SC-ST Confederation).

Our four-pillared model of community transformation

EDUCATION

DFN began in 2002 in response to the plea of Dalit leaders: "Educate our children!" Today a freedom movement is advancing all over India through Dalit Education Centers, where Dalit children learn English and are taught the values of freedom, equality and human dignity.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In debt to landlords, moneylenders, grocers, and more, most Dalits work hand-to-mouth, ground down in horrific poverty. This economic disempowerment forces many into bonded labor and prostitution. Our Vocational Training, Self-Help Groups, and Fair-Rate Loans enable Dalit adults to learn marketable skills and support their families.

HEALTHCARE

Most Dalits cannot afford healthcare. Simple fractures go untreated and result in crippling malformations. More than 40% of India's youngest children are malnourished. Dalits also suffer from diseases unseen in developed nations, like polio and leprosy. DFN's comprehensive community-based healthcare program meets immediate needs and is paving the way for sustainability.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

DFN is the leading voice of justice for the Dalits in many nations' capitals. Focusing on the big-picture of ending the trafficking of Dalits, our education campaigns, legislative work, and continuous advocacy promote justice for the Dalits. Our work with Dalit children and women in India builds hope and enpowerment.




What can you do to help the Dalits?

1. DONATE: With a donation, you can do some really cool things, like FREE a Dalit child, sponsor a Dalit teacher, provide healthcare for the Dalits, help a Dalit start a small business, give Dalits vaccinations, help a Dalit woman attend a women's empowerment conference, support advocacy for the Dalits in Washington D.C., and much more. 

2. Sign this PETITION: Every day 1.3 million people in India (of which more than 80% are Dalit women) are forced to clean human excrement with their bare hands for little to no wages, a practice called manual scavenging. On June 17, 2011, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India referred to manual scavenging as "one of the darkest blots on [India's] development process" and asked all state Ministers in his country to pledge to eliminate this scourge from every corner of India in the next six months, by the end of 2011. By signing this petition, you can stand in solidarity with Prime Minister Singh's mandate to end the heinous and inhumane practice of manual scavenging.  

 
3. Read BOOKS and NEWS articles about the Dalits to find out about how you can PRAY for them. 

One more post for Day 24.

I had lunch duty today and one of the first graders motioned for me to come over.

He says, "Miss Wilhelms, you're going to Thailand, right?" I told him that I was. "When you come back, will you tell me all about it?" I told him that I would.

I love that students not even in my class know that I love Thailand. =)

There is still a big interest in what day I'm on. Day 24.

Students reading about injustice.

One of my students came up to me and showed me this verse she had found.

Psalms 58:1-2
¹ Do you rulers indeed speak justly? 
   Do you judge people with equity? 
² No, in your heart you devise injustice, 
   and your hands mete out violence on the earth.


I love that I am teaching my students about justice and what it looks like here on earth. I continue to pray for wisdom in teaching my students about how they can respond to what is going on around the world. 


At the end of the chapter, there is hope. 
¹¹ Then people will say, 
   “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; 
   surely there is a God who judges the earth.


God judges the earth. He will bring complete justice one day. There is hope.

Day 24. Disgusted and thankful for choice.

I felt a little frustrated yesterday morning as I picked out a scarf to wear with my dress. I have about 10 different scarfs to choose from. It made me a little disgusted with myself to think that I have so many options. That I have bought way more clothes than I need, when there are women and children around the world who only have one outfit to wear everyday of their lives. And it's not just the choices in my clothing. I have so many choices, in what I eat, in the way I spend my money, in what I do with my time, in where I can go. So, I think to myself, if I care enough, I will take this negative feeling and turn it into doing something positive. I don't know what that looks like yet. I talked about getting rid a lot of my clothes, which I plan on doing next month, but that doesn't seem like enough.

I also know that I need to see these choices as a gift God has given me. He has provided me with a lot and I am so thankful. In that thankfulness, I am also praying for wisdom to know what choices are okay and what choices I can do without.

I came across this video this morning on the CNN Freedom Project. It's about a woman from Ohio who decided to wear the same dress for 6 months. She found herself thinking about all the choice that she had and wanting to do something for others in the world who don't have many choices at all. She donated the money that she would have spent on clothes to building a local organization building a shelter for victims of sex trafficking. She also raised awareness and encouraged others to join her cause. Watch the video here.

I also watched another video about a teacher in South Korea who taught her students about human trafficking and now those students are wanting to join the fight too. It's a really inspiring story and makes me excited to think about ways I can raise awareness as a teacher.

These are all videos on a 3 part series of how to make a difference. Here is the first video in the series (whoops, I gave them to you in reverse order =) This video talks about the chocolate industry and what is being done to fight this injustice.

I want to take the resources and knowledge I have and help those in need, those without many choices at all. I know that small things can make a difference, but I want to dream big too. If you have any ideas, let me know! =)

Day 23. A look at Somaly Mam.

"I don't want to go without leaving a trace." -Somaly Mam

I first heard about Somaly Mam from this Nicholas Kristof video, interviewing Long Pross, a girl from Cambodia who was forced into sexual slavery. She was rescued and went to Somaly Mam, where she received after-care treatment. 

Here's another story about how Somaly Mam began her organization:

"Born to a tribal minority family in the Mondulkiri province of Cambodia, Somaly Mam began life in extreme poverty. With limited options as a severely marginalized ethnic group, and living in unimaginable despair, her family often resorted to desperate means to survive. This confluence of dire circumstances led to the unspeakable horrors that would mark Somaly's early years. Somaly was sold into sexual slavery by a man who posed as her grandfather. To this day, due to the passing of time and the unreliability of a wounded memory, Somaly still does not know who this man was to her. Yet his actions set her on an unimaginable path fraught with danger, desperation, and ultimately triumph.

Forced to work in a brothel along with other children, Somaly was brutally tortured and raped on a daily basis. One night, she was made to watch as her best friend was viciously murdered. Fearing she would meet that same fate, Somaly heroically escaped her captors and set about building a new life for herself. She vowed never to forget those left behind and has since dedicated her life to saving victims and empowering survivors.

In 1996, Somaly established a Cambodian non-governmental organization called AFESIP (Agir Pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire). Under Somaly's leadership, AFESIP employs a holistic approach that ensures victims not only escape their plight, but have the emotional and economic strength to face the future with hope. With the launch of the Somaly Mam Foundation in 2007, Somaly has established a funding vehicle to support anti-trafficking organizations and to provide victims and survivors with a platform from which their voices can be heard around the world.

For her tireless efforts, Somaly has justifiably garnered world-wide respect and is now a renowned leader at the forefront of the anti-trafficking struggle. Universally recognized as a visionary for her courage, dignity, ingenuity, and resilience, Somaly was honored as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009 and was featured as a CNN Hero. She is also the recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, The World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child (WCPRC), Glamour Magazine's 2006 Woman of the Year Award, and has won accolades from the US Department of Homeland Security.

But Somaly's success has come at a price. She and her family have faced terrifying death threats and violence. Asked why she continues to fight in the face of such fierce and frightening opposition, Somaly resolutely responds, "I don't want to go without leaving a trace."

Despite the fact that she is known the world over and has certainly earned a life of luxury and repose, Somaly continues to work hard in the Cambodian recovery centers, living among the women and children she rescues and staying by their side as they walk the difficult path to recovery and freedom."

I love the fight in Somaly Mam, even after the devastating circumstances in her life. I love those words, "I don't want to go without leaving a trace." If no one stands against injustice, it will continue to thrive, at least until Jesus comes again. I don't just want to stand around doing nothing when I know what is going on around the world. Even if you think it is not enough, you can do SOMETHING. Something simple like writing a postcard of hope to someone in slavery. Find out more here. 

Visit the Somaly Mam website for more information about human trafficking and how you can get involved. 

I don't want to go without leaving a trace. Do you?

Day 22. A look at House of Hope.

In John 8, Jesus encounters some Pharisees who want to stone a woman who has committed adultery. He tells them that anyone who is without sin should cast the first stone. The Pharisees have no good comeback and they leave. 

Then, Jesus talks to the woman who has committed adultery, 

^"10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

   ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

   “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus meets her where she is at. She doesn't have to be perfect. She just has to be willing to receive forgiveness. After that forgiveness and with the power of the Holy Spirit, she has the ability to leave her life of sin and be offered a better life, a life of freedom. I am thankful for the ways God has given me a new life and has set me free from different sins in my life. I am also thankful that I have been able to meet people who have been set free from a life of prostitution and into a life of following Jesus. God is in the business of redeeming, and it is exciting when that happens, whether it be coming out of prostitution or any other sin. We are all sinners, saved by grace. We are all deeply loved and cared for in God's eyes, no matter what we have done and what we will do.

These verses are the theme verses for an organization called House of Hope in Nicaragua.

Here is how House of Hope began:

In 2001, after speaking to a group of prostitutes, God began to birth a vision to help thosewomen. The Holy Spirit confirmed the need to open a vocational center for the women and to provide them with a means to make a living and establish them in the Lord. Since that initial encounter the Lord has provided us with the land and we have built structures for job training, and housing for young girls and women with children. Please take a moment to see what God is doing at House of Hope,Nicaragua.

Now, after almost ten years of evangelistic outreach to prostitutes in Managua many
women have come to know Christ and a valiant group has made a stand to stop working the streets and attempt to support their families by various means, such as peddling candy and trinkets or doing laundry and ironing.

(http://www.houseofhopenicaragua.com/)

Here are some ways you can help House of Hope:
-Give a micro-grant of $75 for a woman who was formerly in prostitution to start a small business.
-Sponsor a needy woman, one of her children, or a street girl with a monthly donation of $30. This money will provide a home, vocational training, food, medical care and school supplies. 
-Buy jewelry, cards, potato bags (These cook delicious potatoes and squash!), ornaments, and gift tags and support women earn a dignified income. 
-Consider visiting House of Hope and serving on a short-term trip.
-Consider serving at House of Hope in one of these long-term positions. 


God offers hope for men, women, and children who are involved in human trafficking (whether it be the victims of trafficking or those who inflict this injustice) to leave their life of sin and experience the freedom that Jesus can give. Join me in praying for God to continue to bring his kingdom here on earth, in the places where it is the darkest. 


There is a team from Elmbrook Church at House of Hope right now. They are teaching sewing skills and Batik. My friend, Ryan, is also teaching the women how to make beads made from clay. This skill will allow them to make different kinds of jewelry and earn an income. I am thankful that my church is partnering with this great organization that is helping prostitutes live a life of freedom. 

Day 21. Inside Out.

I gave a presentation to two seventh grade history classes. The first one was with 6 girls. The second class had about 10 boys. I showed an excerpt of the documentary, At the End of Slavery. After I showed the videos, I asked them what they were thinking or what they learned. Both of the classes said that it was sad and that they didn't know that slavery went on like that today.

I talked to them about the prevalence of slavery around the world and in the United States. I told them about fair trade and the decision that I made two and a half years ago to stop eating non-fair trade chocolate.

I also gave them a slip of paper with this information:
Divine and other fair trade chocolate, coffee, and tea can be bought at:
Fair Trade for All (2223 E. Capitol Drive, Shorewood)
Outpost Natural Foods (http://www.outpost.coop)
Alterra Coffee (http://alterracoffee.com)
For more information about fair trade: productsofslavery.org
For more information about human trafficking: www.ijm.org
http://www.zachhunter.me/, http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/, http://love146.org/, http://www.polarisproject.org/


They also got to taste a little fair trade chocolate thanks to Gail, the owner of Fair Trade for All. (Go shop at her store and buy lots of cool fair trade gifts!)


I talked to them about Zach Hunter and what he did, and I think that they thought that what he did was pretty cool.

I also told them about Pattaya Slum Ministries and a little bit about my time in Thailand. I gave them a prayer card for PSM too.

I asked them to tell others about what they learned. I asked them to consider buying fair trade items. I asked them to pray.

I am really thankful for the opportunity to share with these students. I feel very blessed that God gave me this opportunity and is using me to spread awareness about human trafficking. As they watched the IJM documentary, I prayed for these students, that they would remember what they have learned and do something to fight injustice.

On another note, today I put my dress on backwards. I didn't realize it until I was driving in the car. I thought about fixing it when I got to school, but then I decided against it. I was doing it to look a little less weird, to not stand out. I don't want what I look like, what I wear to matter. So, I decided to leave it the way it was. I also was curious to see who would notice. A couple of my students noticed and pointed it out after a couple of hours of being at school, but no one else did.

I thought about the fact that I didn't notice for a while at first either after I put on my dress this morning. I've been wearing this dress for 3 weeks now, and it's just life. It's pretty normal now. I wonder how many people in poverty, prostitution, and slavery just consider their situation as "normal", as "just life". I wonder how many have no hope of anything better. I think that's a lot. I think that is what keeps them in their situation. I want to help offer these people hope. Not only hope of a better life here and now, but hope in the next life too. I want freedom for all. Praying for change. My God can do it.

Oh, and I also got to share my Thailand pictures with 5 of my co-workers today!  I am thankful to have co-workers who are interested in what I have done and am going to do in Thailand. They listened to my stories (I always love to talk about Thailand) and they had a lot of questions too. It was a busy day, but well worth it. =)

Day 20. Seventh graders changing the world.

Tomorrow, I am going to talk to two middle school history classes on the issue of human trafficking. When I sent out my blog to my co-workers at Eastbrook, one of the history teachers asked me to come and talk. I am really excited for this opportunity, another chance to open more students eyes to what is going on around the world.

And maybe they won't do anything about it today. Or maybe they will.

When Zach Hunter was in seventh grade, he was learning about African-American leaders in the civil rights movement. He also learned that there were 27 millions slaves still in the world today. He started a fund-raiser called "Loose Change to Loosen Chains" to raise money for human trafficking. Today, this campaign is done by student groups all over the world. Zach also has written books, spoke on television and radio, and contributed to newspaper and magazine articles.

This is a seventh grader. Wow. It just goes to show that you don't have to be a certain age, in a certain job, or have any other requirements to do SOMETHING to fight against this injustice. He had a heart for injustice. He had a dream, and he ran with it. What do you have to lose? What if the actions that you take save one life from injustice. I think it's worth it.

Check out what he is doing on his website.

Here an excerpt from a letter he wrote:
"YOU ARE THE SOMEONE. TODAY IS THE DAY.

You don't have to look very far to know that our world is a messed up place.  People are hurting. Suffering is everywhere.  It can be really overwhelming.   You might wonder why someone isn't doing something.  Where is the help?  Or you may think that if you're going to make a difference, it will be someday  ... when you're older, better educated, have more money, or have fewer problems of your own.

Well, this morning when you woke up, there were people around the world and in your own community who were hoping that today might be the day.  The day someone stepped in between slaves and their oppressors. The day relief from suffering begins. The day they could feed, clothe and educate their kids.  The day someone showed kindness to them, or let them know they had value.

Please. Know this -- while you may not be able to do everything -- and you can't solve all of the problems alone -- working together, our generation CAN make a difference.

Don't wait for someone else.  Don't wait for someday.  Because, YOU are the someone and TODAY is the day."

On Saturday, I had the chance to share what I am doing with some people from Bangalore, India. That was fun.

Today was the first day I forgot to put on my button before I went somewhere. I felt weird without it on, and was disappointed that I couldn't have people ask me about it. I am liking the way it is a conversation starter. Without wearing it, I definitely have to be more proactive about telling people about injustice. It's not something that's always easy. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to be too pushy or make people feel guilty, but when I think about what's at stake, it doesn't really matter.

Day 19. 25 more facts

1. Human trafficking is estimated to surpass the drug trade in less than five years.  Journalist Victor Malarek reports that it is primarily men who are driving human trafficking, specifically trafficking for sex.ⁱ
2. Victims of human trafficking suffer devastating physical and psychological harm. However, due to language barriers, lack of knowledge about available services, and the frequency with which traffickers move victims, human trafficking victims and their perpetrators are difficult to catch.ⁱ
3. In approximately 54% of human trafficking cases, the recruiter is a stranger, and in 46% of the cases, the recruiters know the victim. Fifty-two percent of human trafficking recruiters are men, 42% are women, and 6% are both men and women.^d
4. Human trafficking around the globe is estimated to generate a profit of anywhere from $9 billion to $31.6 billion. Half of these profits are made in industrialized countries.^d
5. Some human traffickers recruit handicapped young girls, such as those suffering from Down Syndrome, into the sex industry.^l
6. According to the FBI, a large human-trafficking organization in California in 2008 not only physically threatened and beat girls as young as 12 to work as prostitutes, they also regularly threatened them with witchcraft.^e
7. Human trafficking is a global phenomenon that is fueled by poverty and gender discrimination.^k
8. Human traffickers often work with corrupt government officials to obtain travel documents and seize passports.ⁱ
9. Women and girls from racial minorities in the U.S. are disproportionately recruited by sex traffickers in the U.S.^l
10. The Sunday Telegraph in the U.K. reports that hundreds of children as young as six are brought to the U.K. as slaves each year.^m
Japan is a major hub of sex trafficking
11. Japan is considered the largest market for Asian women trafficked for sex.ⁱ
12. Airports are often used by human traffickers to hold “slave auctions,” where women and children are sold into prostitution.^m
13. Due to globalization, every continent of the world has been involved in human trafficking, including a country as small as Iceland.^k
14. Many times, if a sex slave is arrested, she is imprisoned while her trafficker is able to buy his way out of trouble.^l
15. Today, slaves are cheaper than they have ever been in history. The population explosion has created a great supply of workers, and globalization has created people who are vulnerable and easily enslaved.^l
16. Human trafficking and smuggling are similar but not interchangeable. Smuggling is transportation based. Trafficking is exploitation based.^l
17. Sex traffickers often recruit children because not only are children are more unsuspecting and vulnerable than adults, but there is also a high market demand for young victims. Traffickers target victims on the telephone, on the Internet, through friends, at the mall, and in after-school programs.^o
18. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and in some U.S. territories.^e
19. The FBI estimates that over 100,000 children and young women are trafficked in America today. They range in age from nine to 19, with the average being age 11. Many victims are not just runaways or abandoned, but are from “good” families who are coerced by clever traffickers.^o
20. Brazil and Thailand are generally considered to have the worst child sex trafficking records.^k
21. The AIDS epidemic in Africa has left many children orphaned, making them especially vulnerable to human trafficking.^l
22. Nearly 7,000 Nepali girls as young as nine years old are sold every year into India’s red-light district—or 200,000 in the last decade. Ten thousand children between the ages of six and 14 are in Sri Lanka brothels.^j
23. Human trafficking victims face physical risks, such as drug and alcohol addiction, contracting STDs, sterility, miscarriages, forced abortions, vaginal and anal trauma, among others. Psychological effects include developing clinical depression, personality and dissociative disorders, suicidal tendencies, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.^l
24. The largest human trafficking case in recent U.S. history occurred in Hawaii in 2010. Global Horizons Manpower, Inc., a labor-recruiting company, bought 400 immigrants in 2004 from Thailand to work on farms in Hawaii. They were lured with false promises of high-paying farm work, but instead their passports were taken away and they were held in forced servitude until they were rescued in 2010.^c
25. According to the U.S. State Department, human trafficking is one of the greatest human rights challenges of this century, both in the United States and around the world.^l

(http://facts.randomhistory.com/human-trafficking-facts.html)