Day 18. Education is essential.

"How do you fight back against an evil that has many faces? How do you combat a problem that cannot be neatly defined?" writes my friend, Katie Tilden, who is on staff with YWAM in Bangkok, Thailand. 


Katie wrote an article Kidnapping Leads to New Strategies to Prevent Human Trafficking. Katie highlighted what the ARK International Thailand. 


This is why ARK exists: 

• Rescue children  -  from abuse, neglect and other exploitive situations while seeking to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment for them
• Restore children  -  through education, life skill training, discipleship and love
• Advocate  -  a real and effective commitment to the principle of children’s rights through raising awareness and mobilizing individuals, families, communities, churches and governments to action
• Resource  -  gather the necessary resources for children at risk
• Train  -  provide training that is versatile and flexible in various nations with a commitment to equip workers and locals in specific areas of need
• Research  -  a commitment to research and assess the needs within existing organizations and their nations
• Network  –  develop a global network of consolidated bodies that will create a stronger and united force to impact the lives of children
• Prayer and Intercession  -  fight the battle of freedom and wholeness for children at risk in prayer, intercession, spiritual warfare and worship

After an attempted kidnapping last month, ARK decided to take more preventative measures to reduce the risk of trafficking in this community in Bangkok. This community is home to many desperately poor illegal immigrants, making them vulnerable to traffickers. The ARK is teaching this large community about the "dangers of trafficking, how to identify a trafficker, and tips about how to protect one's self and one's family." ARK realizes that as this community becomes better equipped to dodge the advances of traffickers, they will change their tactics as well. This is why organizations, such as ARK, are essential. They stand with the vulnerable and prevent injustice from occurring by educating them and providing them with much-needed resources and support. Awareness and education are keys to conquering human trafficking. 

Day 17. I don't want my money to support this.

I don't know if this topic today is considered human trafficking, but it's definitely a terrible injustice that I felt compelled to share today. 


I listened to a podcast recently on labor practices in the Apple company. I decided to do a little more research. I read this article on Chinese labor practices and it said, "In the past few weeks, reports have surfaced about poor working conditions in Chinese factories that manufacture Apple products. FoxConn Technology, which Apple contracts to make its products, has been accused of exposing workers to toxic chemicals, hiring underage workers, and improperly disposing of hazardous materials."


The article goes onto mention one of my favorite reporter's opinion on the topic, "But Apple isn't the only company that's got an imperfect track record in workplace safety, and some, including Nicholas Kristof has said that employers like FoxConn have actually improved living conditions for workers who were once largely destitute farmhands."


I don't know what the answer is, but I do know that companies like Apple need to be regulated, so that this does not happen. Consumers need to let these companies know that this is not okay, and "Consumers who get up in arms about something and say, 'hey, I'll pay $50.00 more for an iPhone that isn't breaking the back of somebody," he says. "That could make a difference."


In doing more research, I came across an article by Nicholas Kristof, not talking about the labor practices involved with Apple but talking about the materials with which Apple and other electronic products are made. 


In this article, Nicholas Kristof said, "We may be able to undercut some of the world’s most brutal militias simply by making it clear to electronics manufacturers that we don’t want our beloved gadgets to enrich sadistic gunmen. No phone or tablet computer can be considered “cool” if it may be helping perpetuate one of the most brutal wars on the planet."


Here's what the problem is: 

Conflict Minerals in Your Electronics

Profit from the mineral trade is one of the main motives for armed groups on all sides of the conflict in eastern Congo - the deadliest since World War II. Armed groups earn hundreds of millions of dollars per year by trading four main minerals: the ores that produce tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. This money enables the militias to purchase large numbers of weapons and continue their campaign of brutal violence against civilians, with some of the worst abuses occurring in mining areas. The majority of these minerals eventually wind up in electronic devices such as cell phones, portable music players, and computers. Given the lack of a transparent minerals supply chain, American consumers have no way to ensure that their purchases are not financing armed groups that regularly commit atrocities, including mass rape. (http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/initiatives/conflict-minerals)

Here are some action steps you can take in response. 

Also while researching, I came across this website that gives actions steps for other atrocities happening in Sudan, Somalia, and other countries in Africa. Read about it here. 

Over the past couple of years, I have been learning more and more about products that are not made fairly. I have made changes in the what I do with my money, but I know that there is even more I can do to make sure that I am not supporting injustices like these. I can choose to buy items that are made ethically or not buy them at all. I encourage you to think about what changes you can make in your purchasing. 

More thoughts on Day 16.

Today, I showed my students some pictures from Thailand. They were really interested and had a lot of questions. I found myself becoming frustrated with some of the questions and comments they were making. They laughed at things that were "different", such as kids in different clothes or having different haircuts. Some of them asked why they didn't just go get a job so that they could buy things. I explained that jobs are hard to come by there and that many people end up collecting garbage to get money.

At the end of the day, I thought about the fact that they just don't know any better. It is literally a different world for them. A world that they were never exposed to, or at least most of them. Until now. My prayer is that some of these words would sink in and would cause them to take action in some way. And that might not be this year, but maybe somewhere down the road.

What if schools and parents brought up kids knowing about poverty and atrocities going on in the world? How would that shape their worldview and their actions, both now and in the future? Would there be more people advocating for social change? And how can it be done in a way that gives hope and does not lead to despair? These are some of the questions I have. I know that if I ever have kids, I want to expose them to what is going on in the world. Right now, I am thankful for the opportunity to tell my students about these issues. I am praying for wisdom in how to do this effectively.

As I walked around the lunchroom today, lots of kids asked me about my dress. Mainly they just liked to know what number day I was on and how many more days I had to go. Most of them think that I'm crazy, but that's okay. Hopefully, some of my words sank into a few of their brains and made them think.

Day 16. 13 more days to go. Much more to come even after those 13 days.

Day 16. Counter-Cultural Love.

I was thinking yesterday about a sermon I once heard from my boyfriend, Tim Deller. He talked about the Samaritan woman in John 4. Jesus loves this "outcast" with counter-cultural love. He knows her past. He knows what she has done. He doesn't care about that. He offers her the gift of eternal life, something that will satisfy her desire to be accepted and loved.

Tim presented two questions to think about based on this passage.
Who is it hardest for me to love? Who is it easiest for me to overlook?

When I think about who is hardest for me to love, pimps and traffickers definitely come to mind. God tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I know I don't spend enough time praying for pimps, traffickers, and johns, but they are just as much in need of redemption as anyone. Culture would tell us not to love them. They commit heinous crimes against innocent people. Culture would tell us to make them pay for the wrong that they have done. But as Christians we are called to love all, just as Jesus did. It's not our job to judge them. This does not mean accepting their behavior, but it does mean approaching them with counter-cultural levels of love.

Who is it easiest to overlook? It is easiest for me to overlook those who are not in my path everyday. It's easy for me to forget about the people who are victims of human trafficking because it's not in my face. Reading stories of injustice has definitely helped bring these people to mind more readily and pray for them. Going to Thailand also has made it even more real. After seeing it with my own eyes, there haven't been many days that have gone by since July that I haven't thought about the people that I saw and met and pray for them. I encourage you to make it more real for you. Read stories. Go to a place where you can meet people who experience injustice. And you don't have to go half-way around the world. You can get involved with Basics in Milwaukee or even serve the poor at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Get out of your comfort zone, and you'll be surprised by how God will bless you for your obedience to him. I have been blessed beyond belief by being involved with several organizations in Milwaukee and around the world. I am a different person because of it, and I am thankful.

Here are some more stories you can read about victims of injustice. Let God change your heart and grow in compassion for people he cares a whole lot about. I am praying that for you and for myself. If you have any questions about how you can get more involved in this fight, please let me know.

Day 15. Half way done. Much more to come.

I was looking on the Polaris Project website today as I was thinking about tangible ways that anyone in the United States can do to take action in the fight against human trafficking.

One thing I think everyone can do is raise AWARENESS. It definitely takes work to become knowledgeable about the topic. It definitely takes courage to speak up and talk about difficult issues. But when the crimes against innocent people are so heinous, how can I not speak up and defend their rights? 

The Polaris Project gives some steps you can take to raise awareness here. I am thinking about doing a clothing drive, which they suggested, because I have a lot of clothes I want to get rid of and if I can give them to a worthy cause, that would be even better. 

The Polaris Project website also gives information about pending legislation that will help fight against human trafficking locally and globally. Anyone can write a letter to a government representative encouraging them to advocate for these important bills. 

Here is a bill that is pending for Wisconsin:

Wisconsin 2011-2012

Number:	WI AB 136 - Updated (Status 01/13/2012)
Title:	Mandatory minimum sentences and extended supervision eligibility for persons who commit certain crimes against children and providing penalties.
Sponsor:	Mason
Status:	Asm.Public hearing held - 10/19/2011
Abstract:	This bill changes the classification of the first crime to a Class A felony and changes the sentence for both sexual assaults to lifetime confinement in prison without the possibility of extended supervision. Under current law, a person who is convicted of the crime of intentional homicide is guilty of a Class A felony, which has a penalty of life imprisonment. Under this bill, if the victim was under the age of 18 years old, the sentence is lifetime confinement in prison without the possibility

This bill would INCREASE the risk of engaging in sexual exploitation (which I talked about earlier this week - the low risk for traffickers is a reason why it is so widespread).

We need laws, which will keep traffickers from doing what they are doing, and we also need law enforcers to hold them accountable. 

Finally today, I would like to leave you with a familiar verse that I read today. Philippians 4:13 says, "¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Even when the problem seems so big, we can rest in the fact that God has everything under control and he will equip us to do his work here on earth. 

Day 14. Happy Valentine's Day.

Today is Valentine's Day.

Today, I talked to the fourth grade students about Fair Trade. I showed them a video on the story of Divine Chocolate, a Fair Trade chocolate company out of Ghana, West Africa.

Here is another video of a life that was changed because of Fair Trade.

Learn more about Divine Chocolate here.

This is the information I gave my students on their Valentine's, along with a piece of Fair Trade chocolate. I asked them to tell one person about what they learned.

Over a decade ago, initial reports from this region described how children worked for long hours on cocoa farms performing hazardous work like using machetes, carrying heavy loads, and coming into close contact with toxic pesticides.

The Payson Center at Tulane University, in its 2009 Assessment of Child Labor in the Cocoa Supply Chain in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, found that children are frequently involved in weeding, plucking cocoa pods, gathering and heaping cocoa pods, and other cocoa growing activities. They also reported that 15 percent of children surveyed reported forced or involuntary work in the past twelve months. In addition, they found that nearly 50 percent of children working in cocoa farming in Cote d’Ivoire and over 50 percent in Ghana reported injuries from their work in the past year. (http://www.raisethebarhershey.org/why-cocoa/)

At the heart of Divine’s heavenly tasting chocolate there is a unique story. Not only do the Kuapa Kokoo farmers’ receive a Fair Trade price for their cocoa, but they also own 45% of the company, and therefore have a direct influence over how the company is run and share in the profits from the chocolate. Owning Divine gives the farmers of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative not just additional income, but also knowledge and power. (http://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspxhttp://www.divinechocolateusa.com/default.aspx)

The talk went really well. My students responded to what they learned and had a lot of questions about it. I am excited I got to share this with them and that they are now more knowledgeable about injustice and what they can do to stop it.

Take a stand against modern-day slavery and fight for freedom for the child slaves used to make our chocolate. There are many ways to do this: 
- Boycott chocolate specifically on Valentine's Day and follow up by only purchasing fair trade chocolate products.
- Share this information with friends, family members, and colleagues. Post information to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. Encourage your schools and workplaces to boycott chocolate that is produced through slave labor. 
- Join the anti-slavery movement. 
- Write, call, or visit your Senators and prompt them to enforce international child labor laws. 
- Be creative. Look for opportunities to help in the fight against modern-day slavery. 

Happy Valentine's Day! Love God. Love people. Love the World. 

Day 13. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day.

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow. Consider supporting Love 146 and sending a Valentine's Day card to someone you love. Click here to find out more information. 

What is love? 

1 Corinthians 13 says, 

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

How can I best love those who are experiencing injustice? How can I best love those who are inflicting injustice on others? 1 Corinthians says that I can give all I have to the poor, but it is not significant if it is not done in love. 

I don't have a complete answer to this, but here are some of my ideas. Please feel free to send me more. 

How can I best love those who are experiencing injustice? 

-Becoming more aware of what is going on around the world. 

-Giving money to organizations who are fighting injustice

-Going to a place where injustice occurs and learn about what is being done or what can be done to fight against it. (short term or long term)

-Making others aware of injustice and talking with others about what we can do to help. 

-Purchasing items that are made ethically and not purchasing items that are not. 

-Helping those experiencing injustice or circumstances beyond their control right in your own backyard. 

-Advocating for government aid for the poor and those experiencing injustice. 

-Praying for change. 

How can I best love those who are inflicting injustice on others? 

-This is a tough one. It's hard to love those who are subjecting others to heinous crimes. But they are creations of God too. They are broken people in need of a Savior, just as much as me. God calls me to pray for my enemies, and they need prayer too. Pimps and traffickers can be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

-Seeking ways for justice to happen. I don't know what that looks like exactly, but I am praying to become more aware. God tells me in his Word that he will take care of those who inflict justice. I trust that he will do this, in his perfect timing. If there are ways that I can be involved in bringing justice here on earth, I pray that he would show me (and that he would show you too). 

I was talking with some students at recess today, and they asked me if I was going to wear the same dress, even on Valentine's Day. I told them that I'm wearing this dress to show love to people by making others more aware of how they can help people who need it. I can't think of anything else I would rather wear on Valentine's Day. 

I am going to leave you with a quote from Mother Theresa. She said, "I have found the paradox that if you love others until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." I am praying for a lot less hurt and a lot more love this Valentine's Day. Please join me.