Stop Human Trafficking

Did you know that today over 27 million men, women, and children are held as slaves?  Yes, modern day slavery exists.  Until last year I had no idea.  I live in a bubble.  I take my kids to school, I go to the grocery store, we go to church, and I don't know what goes on in the world around me.  It's shameful.

Last year a group came to our church to sell fair trade goods.  I'd never heard of fair trade goods.  Why would someone need to sell them at my church.  That's when I first hear about human trafficking.  I bought some gifts for family members, got a cute purse, and went on my way.

Several months later I went to another fair trade sale to pick up some more items and saw a booth where they were selling bracelets for $3.  $3, now I can hang with that.  I went to check it out and found out it was The Red Thread Movement.  I found out they help stop women and children from being sold into slavery in Nepal.  I found out that it is estimated that 30-40,000 women and girls are being trafficked from Nepal to India every year to be sold into sexual slavery.  WHAT????  How did I not know this?  How did I not realize this was happening?  I bought my bracelet and several other things and felt a little better.

Then I came home and started doing some research.  I found out nearly 2 MILLION children are exploited in global commercial sex trade.  2 MILLION!  This is heart breaking.  Oh, and it's not just happening in far off countries.  It's estimated that over 100,000 children are exploited here, in the United States.  That is sickening.

Here's a quick fact for you:  After drugs, human trafficking is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world.  That's huge people!

The more I read, the more I researched, the more sick and angry I became.  Then I was at my parents and something came on the news about human trafficking and my dad said, "I don't get it.  What is this?  How are people trafficked?"  That's when I realized that it wasn't just me that didn't know about it.  There are tons of people in the world that are unaware that people are sold into slavery every single day.

Well, I'm sick of it.  I'm sick of sitting by and feeling helpless and praying that God will send Jesus to take us all home so that all this will end.  I'm sick of feeling like I sit in my bubble and can't do anything.  I can't do it anymore.  It's time for me to fight.  It's time for me to get passionate about something that breaks my heart.

So, this year I've resolved to do something about it.  I won't sit by while people are sold into bondage.  Apparently, the President agrees with me.  President Obama has declared January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  There are so many ways to get involved and you're going to start seeing lots of them here on my blog.  Start by checking out International Justice Mission.  They've got lots of good resources and ways to get involved.  Stand up for people that can't stand up for themselves.  Make a difference.