Alex was trafficked in sex trade in the United States. She became an informant for raids led by the FBI in July this past summer. She has an inspiring story. Please take time to watch her story HERE. Her words will pierce your heart.
For more inspiring stories and ways to help Exodus Road in their quest to end human trafficking, go HERE.
I seriously love the people who read this blog. Yes, you. I love you.
Since I posted Daniel’s well, the response from my readers has been overwhelming.
You gave us your spare change, savings jars, and your pop cans. (You should have seen our van – full to the middle seat with bags of pop cans! What a blessing!) Every Sunday our church mailbox has another baggie of coins in it. And we are so thankful there are so many people out there who want to help.
And we made it!
(This is the face of one overwhelmed and excited little boy!)
We have reached our goal for our well, thanks to all of you!
Our grand total is $161.00. And we are so thankful for all the support from YOU and our loved ones.
Being able to buy a village a well that they so desperately need is humbling. It reminds me of all the things I have that I take for granted. It reminds me that I have the power to do so much more to help others than I do. It convicts my heart of how self-centered I truly am.
Hopefully, this experience will help Daniel (and all my kids) think outside of themselves a little bit more. So that giving and loving becomes a normal part of their lives. I know this first comes by modeling, so I also pray it changes me. I spend a disproportionate amount of time worrying about how I will get the camera I want. Or what color I want to paint my living room. Or even what I’m hungry for. I am very ME centered. I know it is hard to live in this culture and not be self-centered. But I really don’t want that to be my excuse. I know people with a giving-spirit and they are far happier than I have ever been. They also have everything they need and so much more. I want to be like that. I want to trust God that his way is the best way.
We’ll be purchasing our well through Water Aid . Check out their website, there are many other water “gifts” you can give. And they have the power to change someone’s life. Pretty amazing.
My former social justice slackitude stemmed from my belief in super heroes. “Those people” do this stuff, not me. “I’ll just leave them to their supernatural business and check in on them every once in awhile.” However, I now see them simply as ordinary people who have followed God, one harrowing step at a time. They didn’t start out as superheroes. Back alley brothels and hidden cameras only entered the story after a long series of small choices stepped them toward the bat cave. It’s the same for all of us. After the smallest pause and question, “What now?” What Next?” is always an invitation. It’s a Jesus invitation. “Follow me.” Steps which obediently follow inevitably lead us to love God or love people in powerful and unimaginable ways.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
One turn at a time. One seed of holy unrest, watered. One humble step. One choice to say “Yes” to the One true God who has a heart to rescue us all, one soul at a time.
Start small. Water the seed. Let it grow.
Be a hero in this larger story.
Join the rescue.
Kelley J. Leigh lives in a quirky little mountain town in Colorado. At mid-life she decided to leave behind full-time marketing and consulting work to focus on writing. The rest of her time goes to her husband, four sons, and the recovery of lost car keys. Someday she hopes to own an old scooter and embarrass her sons by wearing the very dorky helmet around town. Read the rest of the article, HERE.
My 5 year old Daniel and I were talking in the car the other day about wearing only one outfit for our whole lives. (I’m not sure how that topic came up. Maybe he notices that I wear the same yoga pants day after day. Anyway, I went with it.)
“Some people do only have one set of clothes because they don’t have a lot of money,” I said.
“Yeah, like people who live in China,” he said.
“Well, maybe. And other places too. It’s really sad, isn’t it? You know what’s even sadder?”
“What??” he asked.
“When people don’t have enough food or clean water.”
I explained, while his eyes widened, that kids can get sick and die because of dirty water. That they have to scoop up water from the dirty rivers and then their tummies hurt because of the germs.
“We should help them!” he exclaimed.
And now I’m getting excited, because one of my hearts desires is to have my kids want to share with others. I want them to have compassion. And I was just reading about World Water Day here and was relishing the chance to actually impact my kids with the information.
“We can, buddy! We can raise money for them to get a well in their village! Would you like to do that?” I offered.
After I explained what a well was, he whole heartedly agreed.
“YES! And we can get Grandma and Grandpa to help, and my friends, and Ryan and Makayla!”
And twelve days later, he is still excited. He asked Grandpa to help us raise money when he came over. He found a nickle on the floor and lit up saying, “We can use this for our well!” He asked our friends if he could add their spare change to his well jar. And at bedtime he asked Ryan if he’d like to join us in our quest. He even put all of the chore money he earned straight into the jar.
This is what we have so far.
I can’t wait for the day when we have enough, and he gets to feel the satisfaction of doing something of huge impact. And I can’t wait to tell him about all the little kids drinking a clean cup of water because of him.
We will be donating through Water Aid. Check out their website for information on how you can help as well! Such a fun project for families to do together! Thank you to aboutproximity.com for getting us excited about water!
Honestly, I have asked that question. Injustice has a way of never ending.
But after watching this video, and reading this beautiful blog post by a dear friend, I am so ashamed for ever asking myself this question.
If I feel this way about pursuing justice for the suffering, I am too detatched.
I am too far removed.
I have not put myself in places where I will build relationships with the suffering.
I am guilty.
And I don’t want to be anymore.
I am now praying that God will put suffering people in my life so I can make them MY OWN. And in turn, fight to bring hope to them.
This is a dangerous prayer.
Dangerous because it will require me to act, not just ponder.
It will require true love and sacrifice, not just observation.
It will require me to get my hands dirty, not just watch from the sidelines.
It will probably be tiring and hurt my heart sometimes.
I am ready.
Are you?
What are the obstacles you face to making the oppressed “your own”? Did anything in the video tug at your heart?
You can connect up with The EXODUS ROAD to learn about making victims of slavery more closely your own.
Remember those things that break my heart? Well, I am so excited to announce that I have joined the Exodus Road Blogging team! Exodus Road is an organization that works to rescue victims of human trafficking. (You can read Anna’s powerful story of rescue here.)
Being a member of this team means I get to keep you updated on human trafficking issues, and the rescues that this organization is doing.
“You can choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.” – William Wilberforce, politician largely responsible for abolishing slavery in the British Empire
I want my children, my grandchildren, to say of me that I showed up. That I did something. That my heart didn’t just break, but that it moved me to action in defense of the innocent.
Prayer is the greatest work.
We will start there.
And then we will let God move us in the directions He chooses.
His heart is for the suffering.
And He will move our hearts to help.
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There are so many ways you can help. Exodus Road has many ways you can get involved. Pray, and help as you feel led.
my five freds 