bur·den
n.
1. Something that is carried
2.
a. Something that is emotionally difficult to bear.
b. A source of great worry or stress; weight
3. A responsibility or duty
I don't think there has been another time in my life when I have really felt the weight of this word. There have been many real and relevant issues that have caught my attention at one point in time or another, but none that have captured my full attention as much as this one.
You guys, I am BURDENED for this whole issue of sex trafficking and sexual slavery. I am shocked and appalled at the reality of this issue, both in the US and around the world. I am thankful that it is being brought to light, even in national media, as the Super Bowl draws near. But it's not specific to Super Bowl weekend. Not at all, really. It just happens to be the nations biggest sporting event and with a crowd that size, your ratio of nasty-ness sky rockets.
I urge you to be praying about this issue and what you can do to be part of the solution. There are number of things you can do from the comfort of your own laptop that can help save a young girl's life. Here are a few of my favorites that are free or very affordable options:
1. Visit The Culinary Enthusiast on her blog and support Project Love Day. She explains it much better than I do, but basically, she is using the income generated from her cooking blog for the months of January and February and donating it to World Vision to help stop trafficking AND she's personally matching the amount. Need a recipe for a Super Bowl party or planning dinner for someone special? Click through her blog for great recipes. More clicks=More money.
2. Visit That One Guy (a.k.a. my hubby) on his blog. He has helped our friends, The Shock Family, get a techie jump start on the street ministry they started in Columbus. On his blog, you will find links for national media (like Fox News and MSNBC) reports on the issue, other organizations who are diligent about rescuing and recovering these children and adults, and instructions on to...(see #3)
3. Change your facebook profile pic to the She Has A Name logo to help raise awareness this weekend about this very real issue. Also on facebook is an event page, which does not mean you have to go anywhere to "attend", it just means you are standing up for these victims by raising awareness via facebook this weekend.
4. Check out The Shock Family blog. She Has A Name is their street ministry in Columbus and they have posted the story of how it began on their blog. It also provides you with a link to purchase a t-shirt. All money goes to support the ministry.
5. Get educated. Love146, Women at Risk International, World Vision, As Our Own, and Shared Hope International, are among MANY resources in educating yourself on the severity of this issue, as well as providing ways you can help. Yes. YOU. ABC News has also provided a resource list.
6. PRAY. This weekend, specifically, as we are eating our party food and hanging out with good friends, laughing at commercials, rooting on our favorite teams... what is happening behind the scenes is disgusting. Taxis are even being used as mobile brothels, as reported on one site (MSNBC). The numbers are staggering, but last year 50 were rescued. It may not seem like much out of the approximate 10,000 being offered, but it's 50 human lives being freed from a horrible bondage.
I cannot get this off my mind. It makes me both physically nauseous and mentally & emotional stressed to think about what is going on, not just "abroad", but here on our own soil. And next year, the previously mentioned largest sporting event will be held in my "backyard", so to speak. I cannot turn a deaf ear or a blind eye. Something must be done. What will God ask of me? I don't know. But for now, I am doing everything I can, seeking all opportunities large or small, asking Him daily how I can be used as part of the solution. Maybe my part is raising awareness. Maybe my part is giving financially. Maybe my part is helping a victim. Only time will tell.
Will YOU help be part of the solution?
You guys, I am BURDENED for this whole issue of sex trafficking and sexual slavery. I am shocked and appalled at the reality of this issue, both in the US and around the world. I am thankful that it is being brought to light, even in national media, as the Super Bowl draws near. But it's not specific to Super Bowl weekend. Not at all, really. It just happens to be the nations biggest sporting event and with a crowd that size, your ratio of nasty-ness sky rockets.
I urge you to be praying about this issue and what you can do to be part of the solution. There are number of things you can do from the comfort of your own laptop that can help save a young girl's life. Here are a few of my favorites that are free or very affordable options:
1. Visit The Culinary Enthusiast on her blog and support Project Love Day. She explains it much better than I do, but basically, she is using the income generated from her cooking blog for the months of January and February and donating it to World Vision to help stop trafficking AND she's personally matching the amount. Need a recipe for a Super Bowl party or planning dinner for someone special? Click through her blog for great recipes. More clicks=More money.
2. Visit That One Guy (a.k.a. my hubby) on his blog. He has helped our friends, The Shock Family, get a techie jump start on the street ministry they started in Columbus. On his blog, you will find links for national media (like Fox News and MSNBC) reports on the issue, other organizations who are diligent about rescuing and recovering these children and adults, and instructions on to...(see #3)
3. Change your facebook profile pic to the She Has A Name logo to help raise awareness this weekend about this very real issue. Also on facebook is an event page, which does not mean you have to go anywhere to "attend", it just means you are standing up for these victims by raising awareness via facebook this weekend.
4. Check out The Shock Family blog. She Has A Name is their street ministry in Columbus and they have posted the story of how it began on their blog. It also provides you with a link to purchase a t-shirt. All money goes to support the ministry.
5. Get educated. Love146, Women at Risk International, World Vision, As Our Own, and Shared Hope International, are among MANY resources in educating yourself on the severity of this issue, as well as providing ways you can help. Yes. YOU. ABC News has also provided a resource list.
6. PRAY. This weekend, specifically, as we are eating our party food and hanging out with good friends, laughing at commercials, rooting on our favorite teams... what is happening behind the scenes is disgusting. Taxis are even being used as mobile brothels, as reported on one site (MSNBC). The numbers are staggering, but last year 50 were rescued. It may not seem like much out of the approximate 10,000 being offered, but it's 50 human lives being freed from a horrible bondage.
I cannot get this off my mind. It makes me both physically nauseous and mentally & emotional stressed to think about what is going on, not just "abroad", but here on our own soil. And next year, the previously mentioned largest sporting event will be held in my "backyard", so to speak. I cannot turn a deaf ear or a blind eye. Something must be done. What will God ask of me? I don't know. But for now, I am doing everything I can, seeking all opportunities large or small, asking Him daily how I can be used as part of the solution. Maybe my part is raising awareness. Maybe my part is giving financially. Maybe my part is helping a victim. Only time will tell.
Will YOU help be part of the solution?
4 comments:
I gotta tell you, I can barely stand to give this a thought it so disturbs me. I forget the name of the movie that deals with this topic, but I was sick through the whole thing. It's the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING imaginable as a mother of a daughter. These are people's little girls!!! Ugh. I so appreciate you sharing this info and keeping it in the front of my mind. To be honest, I can't click on all the links because it bothers me so and I don't think I can deal with those emotions. I do promise to pray and tell others though. Thank you for being burdened and sharing your burden with all of us. Love you.
Agree with you. Mark's cousin works for Women at Risk and it's really amazing how twisted and prevalent it is. So sad. Thanks for writing about this and making all these sites prevalent!
You can add to your list bytavi.com... By purchasing items from these women, you help the women in Cambodia (preventing them from being sold into sex slavery).
it is disgusting if it is forced but if underage kids enjoy sex and it is their choice I see nothing wrong
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