Saturday, July 24, 2010

Day 1

As a preface to day 1... 

I spent the afternoon of Monday the 21st traveling. I arrived in Miami and met Cory ( a long time friend and missionary with http://mission-haiti.org/ ) and Fritz ( a friend who traveled with me to Cambodia to do a documentary on a survivor of sex trafficking... See his work at www.fritzphoto.com ). We had about an hour to catch up before we greeted a youth group from Washington (they put together a cool video from the trip.. found here 

While I was traveling I was listening to an audio book called "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell. There was a part of the book that rang really loud with me. He was saying that the Bible says that Christ is in all things... So, he was asking the question... What does that mean to you? Is he really in ALL things? And after processing that he said, maybe we need to rethink the idea of missions... As an interjection here... I was not on a missions trip per se. I was there to help my friend interview different groups to find out what is being done in the area, and I was there to learn about the Restavek system. However, I apply the whole idea of "American Missions" to a lot of other behaviors that Americans tend to take with them while in other countries. 

So, Rob was saying that we tend to have this idea that we need to "take" Jesus to these other lands.... But what if we are supposed to just simply identify where Christ is, in the midst of the land that you are in? This became an over riding question for me... I don't want to claim to have it all figured out... I want to always be seeking... I want to ask, Where is Christ or truth, or nobleness, rightness, purity, loveliness, admiralty, or excellence in this place? 

I have since carried this question with me in every area of life. I think that people who claim Christianity miss out on so much of what God has, because we won't entertain things that don't fit in our religious or cultural boxes.... But that is a whole other blog :-) 

OK... So, I arrive in Miami, meet Cory and Fritz, meet the crew from Washington, one last meal at IHOP, a night of partial sleep on a hotel room floor and then onto Haiti... All while wondering what it was I was going to actually accomplish, and trying to find Christ in the midst of it all. 

DAY 1 

For each day I will post my notes that I took on that day and then expound... The notes are basic, simple and raw. In some ways I get more from them than in editing my expansions. 

NOTES 
Find Christ in Haiti
The lady with the breakdown and my numbness 
Haiti is a Hell Hole... How has the world forgotten it? 
Pam asks me to interview two families on possible Restavek situations 
Demon possessed girl at 3 

As I flew into the Island, I was blown away. From an arial view it was gorgeous! But then you hit the ground. I thought to myself, this place is a hell hole. I have been to multiple parts of the globe and seen a lot of the worlds poverty and injustices, but this was ridiculous. Maybe part of the reason was because I, unbeknownst to myself, really went in kind of cocky, thinking, this is gonna be no big deal, but I was wrong. It was definitely the hardest trip, emotionally and physically, that I have been on. But it was also one of the most rewarding. 

As we got off the airplane we were herded through what I think was customs, into a warehouse to pick up baggage and then out onto the street. We lucked out because the orphanage we were going to had a bus, for the 6 hour ride that lay ahead. 

As we were getting on to the bus one of the ladies from the Washington group just broke down sobbing. I assume it was because of the abject poverty and disaster that lay all around us. As I watched her sobbing, I was struck at my numbness and wondered why I wasn't also affected similarly. I still don't really have an answer, but it was one of those questions which I don't think necessarily need an answer... Maybe it is just supposed to sit there. 

The bus ride was pretty uneventful... More amazing scenery mixed with intense poverty, wreckage from the earthquake, people living in tents or houses with tarps for roofs, naked babies, people getting drinking water out of the ditches, etc... 

Finally after a long ride we arrived in Petit Rivier were the orphanage was... There were enough beds for the people already there and the crew from Washington but Cory, Fritz and I set up tents outside and quickly set up what was to be our "space" for the week. 

After a tour of the orphanage, finding where to pump our water, where to get rid of it (the outhouse) and where the showers were... I settled into a conversation with Pam ( Mission Haiti's director). She asked me if I would, while I was there, hike into the mountains to interview two families with possible Restavek situations. A Restavek is a child who is sold into slavery. The primary reason a family sells a child is because the family is not able to care for them. The usual transaction that takes place comes with a promise that if the child works (meaning is up before the family, goes to bed last, and does ALL the chores) then they will be provided food and allowed to go to school. There are some cases which this takes place, but mostly the child is neglected beyond belief. 

She also told me that there is a girl who has been reported to be demon possessed and asked if Cory, Fritz and I would be willing to go and pray for her.... This request sort of through me. I agreed but I had no idea how that was supposed to go down. Fortunately or unfortunately this particular meeting never panned out. 

At the end of day 1 my head was swimming. I laid down in my cot, meditated a bit, and then I was out....  

Posted via email from Join The Journey to... Seek Justice!

Intro

O.K. So, I am finally sitting down to process my recent trip to Haiti through blogging. To all of those (probably 2 of you) who have waited, thank you for your patience! 

As soon as I got off the plane I hit the ground running. I got home on a Sunday night around 11pm and had to be at work first thing in the morning. To make it more fun, I had some sort of rash all over and a pretty bad cold. I guess it is all part of the game. :-) 

So, this trip was by far the most intense trip I have been on so far. I was intending on writing a summary blog to sort of catch everyone up, but I am going to do a day by day summary, instead. This is probably more for me than the reader. A sort of catharsis, if you will. 

So.. This is the Intro... Of my Journey to Haiti, to learn, to spread justice and to learn about the down fall of making sweeping moral judgements. 

Posted via email from Join The Journey to... Seek Justice!

Photos From Haiti.. Courtesy of FritzPhoto.com

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The Eve

Hey all,

Thank you to all of you who have made this upcoming trip possible! You guys are all amazing! 

I just got back into town after spending the weekend with my ladies and some friends at an amazing beach house! It was time away that was much needed! 

Tomorrow I will get some work done with my day job, come home grab my stuff, and then off to the airport. 

I will be meeting the team in Miami and then we will head to Haiti on Tuesday morning. 

I am still unclear as to whether or not I will have wi-fi, so in case I do not... Just know that no news is good news. :-) 

After I get back I will take the next week to log pics and stories from the journey. 

In the mean time... If you guys would take a sec to click on the icon in this post and vote for Transitions Global... That would be awesome! Chase has an awesome contest to recognize non-profits and we have a chance to win $250k!!! 

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Thursday, June 3, 2010

New Stuff!

So... Today had some great news! 

Cory (my contact and traveling buddy) just got back from Haiti with his wife. On this trip Cory was able to shore up our itinerary plans... Instead of traveling in and around Port-au Prince, we will be working to the South West of the Island. This will be good because the orphanage/home base is there. This will give us a good starting point in the mornings and an easy place to return to before dark. It will also eliminate the hassle of getting around in Port-au Prince. 

There is a city about 30 minutes from Ti-Riviere (where the orphanage is) which is made up of mostly tents. This city has a population which numbers in the hundreds of thousands. I am still trying to wrap my brain around that. 

There are ten organizations in that area who are doing work, and we will be meeting with them as we develop a game plan for the discipleship/outreach program that Cory will be putting together. 

There is also some news of a potential human trafficking intervention that we might be a part of... I don't want to go into to many details right now... But I will update if things develop. 

ALSO... This is great!!! For some reason I totally felt that I should call my Cambodia traveling buddy, Fritz Liedtke, today and pitch the idea of going to Haiti... AND... He said yes! So, besides the great company, we are going to have some awesome photos and possibly video of the trip. 

Check out Fritz's work at http://www.fritzphotographic.com/ 

That is all for now. Good night! 

Posted via email from Join The Journey to... Seek Justice!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Crazy

Yesterday was crazy... 

Full of some pretty intense things... 

Got in an argument with someone about the border issues in Arizona. For the record I don't agree with what is going on down there. I don't think it is a black and white issue... There is so much gray that is involved in this issue. I am really tired of my conservative friends just jumping the bandwagon and not really thinking through all the issues. There is such a pervasive attitude that just screams, "Get out of my GD country... and God Bless America." What really irritates me is when Christians jump on the bandwagon and start spouting what they heard the super conservative-talking head say... They start in and they do not have any compassion for the people involved. 

When Jesus was alive, I am sure that Rome had immigration problems, as well as a whole host of political issues. However, he didn't focus on that... he focused on loving the people that he could love! In fact he chose to walk right through Samaria... Samaria was the equivalent of our modern day Mexico, except way worse. Samaria was a place that the religious people would choose to walk around, which meant and extra day or so to there trip. Jesus was concerned about the marginalized. He was concerned with the least of society. And he didn't let anyone tell him that the problem was so big that loving them would be a waste of time. 

So, this is how the morning started... I am all fired up and then... As I am driving away... WHAM! I witness this car get t-boned... Thankfully, everyone was all right but it was all pretty dramatic. 

Then 30 minutes later, I am on the phone with someone talking about the potential of doing some huge things in Haiti... Far and above what this first trip is slated for. More to come on that. 

30 min after that, I am having conversation about potentially life altering directions... 

The rest of the day filled with other pretty intense things that I can't get into, right now.... And then to end it all, The Suns lose by 2

So, things are shaping up nicely for Haiti... I have $450 more to raise, but I think with the matching grant that should be no problem! 

If you want to donate, please click the chip in button... 

Also, please subscribe to the blog... This way you can keep up to date with other blog post, videos, and pics.... I am planning on posting A LOT... when I am down in Haiti. 

Much Love! 

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Sunday, May 23, 2010

The 31st is coming quick

If this is your first time reading this blog, be sure to check out my other entries! 

But... to catch you up to speed... I have been invited to go to Haiti and help mission-haiti.org set up a Social Justice program. Mission Haiti started as a christian orphanage and are in a region where they are the only NGO around. This is awesome, because it means they have a huge opportunity for impact! 

I will go and work with one of their staff for 5 days, at the end of June. During that time we will meet with other organizations on the Island to get a good sense of what is already going on... No sense in reinventing the wheel, and there might be possibilities for good partnerships. 

Once back in the states we will evaluate all of our findings and create best practices to effectively implement the beginnings of a Social Justice component into the culture of Mission Haiti. They are already doing an amazing job with the orphanage, but we also want to look at issues like; Human Trafficking, Education, Water, Food, Land, Medicine, etc... All of these things are included when we speak about Social Justice. 

I am super excited about this opportunity, but I need your help to do it! Please join me in this adventure by making a donation, now! 

I need to raise this money by the end of the month, May 31st. In order to arrange for my airfare, lodging, etc... 

Just click on the "chip in" widget and you will be able to make a donation through Paypal. 

Thank you so much to those of you who have donated, and to those of you who will donate! You all are amazing! 

Posted via email from Join The Journey to... Seek Justice!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

New way to donate

Hey Guys.. 

I have set up a new way to donate. So that all of you who are comfortable donating on-line can... And those of you who are not comfortable can email me and I can send you my address. 

The new site for donations is http://sendseth.chipin.com/send-seth-to-haiti

If you want my address to send donations to... please email me at sethjohnson78@gmail.com


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Monday, May 10, 2010

Haiti

Hey All,

I am sending this out as a blog, but I will be emailing friends and family over the next week. I just figured this is the quickest way to let everyone know what is going on, and a good way for you to stay up to date! 

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to go to Haiti. 

The invitation was from a friend who has been working with http://www.mission-haiti.org/ for about 6 months or so. Mission-Haiti's primary focus is an orphanage. They have a great model set up, so as to create a homelike environment. I love this model! 

My friend Cory Grimm is (amongst other things) working to set up a discipleship program. The idea is to give accessible education, in regards to the Christian faith, to people who would not otherwise receive it. 

You see, even in Haiti, if you do not have enough money or have the right clothes... You are not granted the same opportunities to learn about your faith. 

Cory has asked me to come to Haiti to consult with him on how to integrate a Social Justice component into the program. 

He and I are firm believers that, "You Do What You Believe." So a Social Justice component is vital to any sort of theological training.  

Haiti is a nation that has many challenges and struggles facing it. Among them, the nation has a strong past associated with slavery. It is estimated that there are 250,000 slaves in Haiti, today.  

Cory and Misson Haiti feel that with my background and knowledge in Human Trafficking, I would be a great asset to their journey in mobilizing Haitians to serve each other and the world around them. 

I will be in Haiti June 23rd-27th. Cory and I will be meeting with other organizations to learn about best practices in the area. The last thing we want to do is to implement an American theology or ideology of justice. 

I have to take a moment and be honest with all of my readers... I really, really, love to travel! I love to see the world and it's people! I love helping others! I love to love others! 

So, when I am presented with an opportunity for another adventure, my first inclination is always, Yes! I love to go! However, I am also aware that, most of the time, I am receiving funds from friends and family who love me and care about whatever particular humanitarian issue has come across my path. So, I really try to be cautious and make sure that, if I am going to go, I will actually be useful.. and that I am not just taking up space and wasting oxygen. 

Honestly, I was having second thoughts about this particular adventure. I kept asking myself things like, "Are you just doing this because of the recent Haiti fad?", or "Are you just doing this because a friend wants you to go?" Then the other day, I met a man from Haiti at one of the car lots that I work at. I found myself watching, in fascination, as he was (in broken English) selling a car to a Chinese man, who spoke even less English. After the deal was finished, he and I started talking about cars and general shop talk. I then asked him where he was from.. When he told me I sort of unloaded on him about what I was thinking about doing in his homeland. I thought surely he would be excited, but he wasn't. He just looked at me and said, "That is a very noble thing you are doing." 

It was at that moment that the light came on for me. Even a man from Haiti who now works in the US and probably makes more than I do, needs to be reminded, encouraged, invited into the fight for the human condition. There are so many around us in this ever shrinking globe who are marginalized, and who desperately need help. It is so easy to overlook those who need us. We all get involved in our day to day and our own fight to eek out an existence. Yet, it is when we start to serve others that we become alive. 

So, you might have noticed the web address for this blog is, "Send Seth." I constantly encourage everyone to roll up their sleeves, find the cause of their choice and help those around them. But sometimes that is not possible. Not all of us can, "Go." Honestly, I cannot go, without your help. 

I am asking you all... If you care about the marginalized of society, if you care about Haiti, about people in slavery, about people who want to learn to do right, but are not afforded the education... If you care about these things, and just don't have the time to carve out of your busy life to, "Go." Then "Send." 

I need your help to make this trip happen. I need to raise $1200.00 by the end of May. 

Will you please consider joining me with your hard earned finances! 

I am not going as part of a church organization or as part of Transitions Global. I am going independently. So, unfortunately, I will not be able to give you a receipt for your taxes. And I will have to work extra hard this year to pay the taxes on the money that you, "gift" to me. These are all just logistics and I believe they can be overcome! 

If you would like to join me in this, please email me at sethjohnson78@gmail.com I can give you information for sending your money! 

Thank you all for considering being part of this journey with me!  

Posted via email from Join The Journey to... Seek Justice!

Haiti

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Quick thought

So tonight I was mowing my weeds/grass... (this picture is for effect and is not my yard. If it was, I would be paying someone to mow it) and we have neighbors who never mow their weeds/grass. 

While I was mowing, the verse came to my mind that I am always preaching... James 4:17 "Do the good you know to do. If you do not, that is sin." 

I am always throwing this verse around (along with Isaiah 1:17) when it comes to huge atrocities like Human Trafficking, or feeding the poor, or water for the thirsty, etc... 

But suddenly, I "encountered"  a moment that I could put my beliefs into action on a small scale... 

My neighbors are in a home for the elderly and sick... I am pretty sure that they could not mow the yard themselves and the guy who is taking care of them probably doesn't care... Maybe he does and maybe I need to work on not judging others, but that is a whole other blog :-) 

Anyways I did it... I mowed their weeds/grass... And as soon as I started, I felt this overwhelming sense of, "what are you doing?" You are crossing into their property! You are forcing your beliefs that grass should be cut, onto them! What if they don't want their weeds/grass mowed! What if they come out and yell at you???? And other crazy thoughts... 

I quickly got over it and kept mowing... I even blew their driveway and walkway off and just took care of business...

While I was finishing my yard I was reflecting on why it was so hard for me to do that... Why was it so hard for me to get out of my comfort zone?? I mean it was just a simple thing... I think culturally I have been taught to "mind my business," to "take care of my own,"  to "be better than my neighbors," etc, etc...  Even in evangelical churches we pump up the idea of going overseas on mission trips... and we pump thousands of dollars into "sending" and trying to convert others.... 

Jesus told the lawyer (Luke 10:27) that the most important thing was to love God and to love others.... 

I wonder what would happen if we all shattered our cultural norms of minding our own business, got out of our comfort zones, and just loved others like ourselves. No hidden agenda, no concern for if they will eventually believe like we do... Just love! 

In the end it doesn't matter what we say we believe, it matters what we do. 

I don't write this to pat myself on the back, but to share my personal struggles, and to encourage everyone to stretch yourself, get out of your comfort zone and love others. 

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Newsletter

This is an excerpt from a newsletter, from the in country Therapy Director in Cambodia who works with http://www.transitionsglobal.org 

For more about Summer and her work, check out her site entitled "Jehovah Rapha" 

"This Sunday at church we read the story of Mary Magdalene pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, six days before Passover (which we now know was about a week before Jesus’ death). As is often done with this passage, our pastor used his sermon time to
compare Mary’s extravagance when she poured the perfume (worth a year’s wages!) on Jesus feet, with the extravagant love of God. I’ve heard people make this comparison before, but this year I definitely thought about it in a different way. I began to consider God’s extravagant love in the context of what I encounter every day here in Cambodia.

What does extravagant love mean to you, in the context of your own life? I actually have a hard time with that question. I don’t come from a very wealthy family (my father was a priest!) but I was never left wanting anything as a child. Sure, I didn’t always get what I wanted for Christmas, but I always went to a good school and had enough food to eat. What’s more, I grew up in a family with parents who showed me what love feels like and taught me about the great sacrifice that God made out of His love for me. I don’t have a hard time answering that question because nobody has ever told me about God’s extravagant love. I have a hard time answering that question because I’ve never known a time when that truth wasn’t real to me.

The reality in our world is that a great majority of God’s children know nothing about the extravagant love of God. There are millions of people literally living in slavery throughout the world, and millions more in a figurative bondage as a result of issues like extreme poverty. There is a 13 year old girl held like a prisoner in a brothel in Cambodia. There is an 8 year old boy working as a slave on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico. There is a 23 year old woman living as a slave in the basement of a wealthy home in Manhattan. There is a 56 year old man who has spent his entire life making bricks in India. And none of them know that God loves them so much that He sent His son to die for them. They have no idea.

In the story about Mary Magdalene, we can watch Jesus’ reaction to her extravagant display of love. We can also watch the reaction of others. Judas accused her of being wasteful and irresponsible, but Jesus did not. He blessed her for her sacrifice and declared that it would be used as an example of faithfulness in any place the Gospel is preached throughout the world.

As members of the small percentage of the world that DO know about the extravagant love of God, I believe that we have a job to do. We know that we’re called to make disciples of all nations, and we know what it looks like to do that through church planting and discipleship. But what about that 13 year old in the brothel in Cambodia? Or the young woman living as a slave in the United States? They’re not going to come to your new church plant or meet for coffee so that you will have an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. Fortunately, our God is not only a loving God, He is also a just God. And He is calling us to be agents of that justice in the world. He wants to break our hearts for the broken hearted around us. He wants us to cry out to Him to “rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 82:4) He wants us to act in extravagant ways to show those who do not know Him, just how incredible His love is.

So this coming Easter, as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, my prayer is for those that don’t know Him, for those who have never celebrated that joy. Please join me in prayer, that God would reveal to us, His body, the depths to which He is calling us to respond to those in the darkest corners of our world."

Photo by Kent Truog 

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hope

This is a note that a friend of mine wrote after visiting the future Transitions Global site in India. I love what he has to say and wanted to share it with others! 


Hello Friends! 

So typically when Catie and I get back from India (or Cambodia) I feel the need to write so that I can try and process what I’ve just seen. The poverty, the human suffering, the reality that young girls (and boys) are sold in to the sex industry and continually raped against their will by hundreds, maybe thousands of perpetrators. I’ve been in the brothels where evil forces have a stronghold, interacted with the girls who have not yet been rescued, and rubbed elbows with those who keep them in bondage. I’m typically pretty confused and depressed when I get back and wondering, ‘what the hell is wrong with the world I live in, and what do I do now?”. Folks….I’m here to report that HOPE blindsided me in Mumbai. And if HOPE can gain a foothold in Mumbai, then it can grab a foothold anywhere. 

I’m not naïve. I’m aware that this world will not be made ‘right’ until the day of Judgment, but scripture tells me that my job is to bring a piece of the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. I saw this happening in one of the darkest places on this earth last week. One of our dear friends who traveled to Mumbai over the summer said this: “If going to Mamelodi, South Africa is as spiritually refreshing as having water dumped on your head, then Mumbai is equivalent to digging your own well through concrete to get to water. You get water both ways, the latter is just much more exhausting.” RP….it appears as though God has busted out His jackhammer since we were last there! 

Is there still crushing poverty in Mumbai? Yeah. Did I see dead bodies on the side of the road again? Um, yeah. Are there still hundreds of thousands of women and children being violated sexually everyday? Unfortunately, yes. But God has given me a choice: I can say this is the way it has been for thousands of years and just hang out in West Chester, Ohio worrying about my 401k and the next home improvement that will add ‘value’ to my home…..or I can surrender my earthly desires to Him and be His hands and feet like He has told me to be. So my family has chosen to listen to Him (sorry little baby Colten….Mommy and Daddy already made this decision for you) and the following accounts from our trip are a testimony to Him and His plan. (My fingers are just warming up, so get cozy!) 

The most powerful moment for me came on Friday, our last day in the aftercare homes. It happened in the aftercare home where I met Jesus through the eyes of a girl who lived there exactly one year ago. Transitions Global (more on them later) has been interviewing girls at this particular home as possible candidates to move in to their Transitional Living Center that will be up and operational shortly. I was told about one particular conversation they had with a girl I was familiar with. The name I knew her by was Nina (not really, but if I told you her real name I’d have to kill you). Nina is beautiful. Nina is from Bangladesh. Nina holds a place in my heart forever. However, Nina is not her real name. Nina is the name her pimp gave her years ago…..Nina is her slave name. She told Transitions Global that her real name was Marianna (again, I’m not in to killing anyone so just roll with it). So Friday when I arrived at this aftercare home to spend a day of loving on these girls, along with the rest of our team, the first thing I did was to seek out “Nina”. I approached her and said, “You will no longer be Nina to me, I will call you Marianna”. Words cannot do justice to the look on her face……I’m actually getting choked up writing this. If you can imagine the most gorgeous sunset you have ever seen, that is what her face looked like. One person calling her by her real name gave her back her identity. That is the name that my dear friends at Transitions will call her as well. I ate lunch with Marianna. We talked about Bangladesh and her family. We talked about her future. She tailored a shirt for my wife…in like 2 minutes! I prayed over her asking God to heal her and give her an opportunity for a new life. And the crazy part is, God willing, she will have an opportunity because of our Community……that is 8000 miles away in Cincinnati. As of today, Marianna is one of 9 girls that Transitions Global is looking to take in once they get all the final approvals in India (I ask that you pray for this process to go quickly and smoothly). As I left this aftercare home on the last day, there were 4 girls that I had really grown close with, and we hugged, and cried, and hugged, and laughed. It was beautiful. The difference between this year and last year is that I wasn’t sure last year if I would ever be back to this home. Now I know I’ll most certainly be back, again, and again, and again. As I walked out the door Marianna grabbed my hands and we talked some more about the opportunity that lay ahead. She wouldn’t let go. I could have stayed in that moment forever. HOPE had just blindsided me. 

On a side note, the girl whom I met Jesus through one year ago has run away from this home. The reality of the situation for her is not good. It was a harsh reminder that this work will leave scars, but I’ve never been told that chasing after Jesus was easy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. And it’s the path we’ve chosen. 

365 days ago today, I was sitting in a hotel conference room in Mumbai listening to members of IJM (www.ijm.org) talk about the work they do…..and thinking to myself, “what the hell am I doing here?”. I didn’t know slavery still existed, I absolutely hated Mumbai, and James Pond (Director of Transitions Global) was some guy I knew nothing about (except for the fact that he had an absolutely awesome name). Oh yeah, I had no clue who Jesus was either. 

Within one year, I have developed relationships with survivors, aftercare workers and heroes all over the globe, I find myself longing to be in Mumbai (did I just say that?), we are intrinsically involved with Transitions Global, and we’re chasing after Jesus big time. 

Transitions Global (www.transitionsglobal.org) has purchased a home, hired an amazing in-country director (Ramona and her amazing husband Keith) and in a few months (with the support of Crossroads and it’s people) they will begin the intake process of 9 girls who are survivors. And that is just the beginning of huge things to come. This has happened in 365 days folks……that is not humanly possible. Thank you Lord for creating HOPE. 

Perhaps the most encouraging time we spent in Mumbai was at the government run aftercare homes. Whenever a woman is rescued (whether she is over or under 18), she automatically goes to a government run aftercare facility (aka prison). Last year when we visited these homes, we left with a sick empty feeling. These homes may have (and I stress the ‘may have’ part) been a step up from the brothels. The government staff is paid little, they care even less than the salaries they make, and the girls and women typically try and escape at first chance……and they certainly don’t stay longer than they have to. Our team was to be at the government run aftercare home (the one for those women over 18) for two days doing photography and arts and crafts with the women. I was told by many that this home was by far the worst in terms of despair and living conditions. There were several mentally handicapped ladies there along with much older women. Needless to say, I was nervous. There are anywhere between 70-100 women (along with many of their children) living in a complex with 2 rooms. The whole compound is probably the size of the lot I live on (which ain’t much). Think of an army barracks, but nowhere near as nice. So we walk in, meet the ladies…..and within 10 minutes there is dancing, there are hugs, and there is love…..freakin’ everywhere. We were at this home for two days. We took pictures with them and printed them out onsite (with printers that we brought). We made picture frames, we danced some more, we had the ladies do henna on our arms (check out my pics), I made a 4 yr old little friend who most likely never met his father……and called me uncle. There were solo singing performances (by the women not us), there was government staff with smiles on their faces and interaction between them and the girls (this is NOT common!). When we left, there were hugs, and tears, and more hugs, but most importantly……there was HOPE. 

I’m not going to sit here and act like everything was perfect…..it most certainly wasn’t. While we were there a 17 year old girl at our favorite home ran away. No one has heard from her since. The poverty still breaks my heart, probably even more than last time. The challenges are immense. But God is mobilizing his troops in Mumbai……IJM, Transitions Global, Crossroads, and we know of some more organizations coming to Mumbai as well. We’re just taking the next step. 

It’s kinda weird, but I feel God talks to me most clearly through music. A lyric that I constantly here in my head comes from a Matisyahu song (seriously, if you don’t know of him….check him out. He’s a Jewish rapper/reggae artist): 

I’m the arrow, you’re my bow 
Shoot me forth and I will go 

The last year has been crazy, and when I listen to what God has to tell me I sometimes feel like a freakin’ arrow flying through the air not knowing where the hell I’m going to land…….but I know He is the bow that has shot me forward and I’m totally at peace with that. Last week he shot about 35 arrows over to Mumbai, India and guess what the arrowheads were filled with? You got it, they were filled with……HOPE. 

Love you all…..I’m off to shovel my driveway! 

tb 

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Sunday, January 31, 2010

AFP: Haiti holds US citizens suspected of child trafficking

Haiti holds US citizens suspected of child trafficking

(AFP) – 9 hours ago

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haitian police were holding 10 US citizens Sunday on suspicion they tried to slip out of the country with 31 Haitian children in a trafficking scheme, a government minister said.

Haitian Social Affairs Minister Yves Christallin said the police arrested five men and five women with US passports, and two Haitians, as they tried to cross into the Dominican Republic with the children Friday night.

He said two pastors were also involved, one in Haiti and one in Atlanta, Georgia.

"This is an abduction, not an adoption," said Christallin.

Christallin said the US citizens did not have the proper documents to take the children out of Haiti, nor letters of authorization from their parents.

The children were aged two months to 12 years and had come from different places, he said.

"What is important for us in Haiti is that a child needs to have an authorization from this ministry to leave the country," he said.

US embassy officials were not immediately available to comment on the case.

Haitian officials have voiced fears that child traffickers will take advantage of the chaos after Haiti's massive January 12 quake to slip out of the country with children in illegal adoption schemes.

There is also concern that legitimate adoption agencies may rush to take earthquake orphans out of the country before proper checks have been conducted to confirm their parents perished.

Haiti's quake severely crippled government agencies and pitched the country into a communications morass.

In an interview with NBC news, a family member of one of those arrested said the Americans believed the matter was a misunderstanding over documentation. They were identified by Christallin as members of an Idaho-based charity called New Life Children's Refuge.

Haitian police chief Mario Andresol said the Americans were being held at the Judicial Police headquarters in Port-au-Prince and that the children had been transferred to a facility north of the city, in Croix de Bouquets.

He said an investigation was underway to determine how the children came into the Americans' custody.

"Now it's up to the Justice Department do to their job," Andresol said.

A document posted online by the group asks for donations to bring 100 Haitian children to safety in the Dominican Republic and for volunteers to take care of the children during two-week stints.

Under the heading "Purpose," it reads: "Rescue Haitian orphans abandoned on the streets, makeshift hospitals, or from collapsed orphanages."

It says the group has leased a 45-room hotel in Cabarete as a temporary shelter for the children.

It also includes a prayer request "for God to continue to grant favor with the Dominican government in allowing us to bring as many orphans as we can into the DR."

Christallin said it was "too bad that it was Americans who have been implicated in this affair, because they are helping us (with earthquake relief), as many countries are."

The United States has urged citizens moved by Haiti's earthquake to show patience in adopting children, as reports emerge that some children have fallen prey to human traffickers, or even misidentified as orphans.

Haiti said its prime minister will have to sign off on every minor's departure abroad for the time being.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

This is a perfect example of what happens when people who want to do good, but have no experience and do not follow the laws of the land.

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Friday, January 8, 2010

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Targets Human Traffickers

Human trafficking is a major problem for Florida, ranking third in the country for the crime. JSO Lt. Mike Eason said Jacksonville is an attractive spot for traffickers.
"Not only is Jacksonville a port city, but also the fact that it is a major highway hub with I-10 and I-95," Eason explained.
Trafficking is not just international, they are also working to stop domestic, often underage sex, trafficking.
"Primarily these pimps target habitual run away females and have them prostitute for them," Eason said they are working two such cases right now.
They are trying to make you more aware of the danger signs so you can report potential trafficking to them.
"Anything that looks like it is out of the ordinary. People who seem like they are not doing what they are doing willingly," Eason said.
Also lots of people in a small place with one spokesperson are another warning sign.
Since this trafficking is behind the scene and often un-reported it is hard to get an exact figure on how much human trafficking passes through the area. Eason said it is a problem and getting more the public involved will help them fight the traffickers.

The Sheriff will hold a Monday press conference to discuss their plans more.

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Obama: Recommit to end human trafficking

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a time to recommit to stopping human traffickers, U.S. President Barack Obama said.

"The victims of modern slavery have many faces. They are men and women, adults and children," Obama said in a proclamation Monday declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. "Yet, all are denied basic human dignity and freedom."

Even though the "dim years of chattel slavery" in the United States ended by President Abraham Lincoln's actions and the Civil War, Obama said "the darkness and inhumanity of enslavement exists."

During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, "we acknowledge that forms of slavery still exist in the modern era, and we recommit ourselves to stopping the human traffickers who ply this horrific trade," the proclamation read.

Obama called on the global community to provide safe havens to victims and to prosecute the traffickers.

"With improved victim identification, medical and social services, training for first responders, and increased public awareness, the men, women, and children who have suffered this scourge can overcome the bonds

of modern slavery, receive protection and justice, and successfully reclaim their rightful independence."

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month culminates in National Freedom Day Feb.1, Obama said.

"I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery, and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities."

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Global human trafficking news roundup (January, 5, 2010)

NORTH AMERICA

North Carolina: Greenville mayor proclaimed January as a month of human trafficking awareness. North Carolina, according to the report, is particularly vulnerable to human traffickers because of the major highways and  a large agricultural industry. 

Texas: Austin police arrested two men for holding six illegal immigrants against their will. Police discovered almost a naked man who was bleeding on the street last week. According to the affidavit, he broke the window and escaped from the apartment complex that he was imprisoned with other five smuggled people.  The report also states that police department in Austin receives 25-30 human trafficking cases every month. 

Florida: A man accused of sex trafficking his underage wife was freed after the alleged victim recanted her story. The victim  and her children are currently under the state custody. Meanwhile, the federal authorities, according to the report, are still investigating the allegations. 

Washington: The legislators around the country are pressing laws to assist runaways and child prostitutes. The new bills include improvement on early intervention, social services, runaway track downs by the police.    

Maryland: A 42 years old man was arrested for pimping on four minors. The prosecutors said that he met these girls on the street of Washington and Maryland and prostituting them in downtown, D.C. When the man began prostituting them, the girls were in the age between 12 -16. The victims lived with the man, his children, and two prostitutes. 

ASIA

Azerbaijan: The authorities revealed the 80 facts of crimes connected to human trafficking cases in 2009. According to the report, 21 criminal groupings have been neutralized and 91 victims have been revealed on these facts." Also,  54 victims of human trafficking have been placed in the shelters for further assistance. 

Australia: Two Sydney men face 300 child sex charges. They were arrested for molesting boys in the age between 10 and 18  as well as prostituting them. 

AFRICA

South Africa: The Thai woman who was charged with trafficking women from Bankok was denied bail last week. According to the report, the court concluded that her bail would place on the risk of fleeing the country to evade trial.  

Niger:  A local NGO in cooperation with UNICEF help young women build economic power. Child labor is a big problem in Niger. Children are expected to work as early as five on the street. To meet their family needs, children are placed at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation on the street. Sometimes, children enter prostitution to make a living. The program helps them learn new skills to better themselves and help their family. 

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

My Journey in the Anti-Slavery Movement - Beth Klein

My Journey in the Anti-Slavery Movement

In 2009, I have seen the anti-slavery movment grow from boutique gatherings to events that involved tens of thousands of people who want to do something to end this evil. Images of child slavery, child soldiers, child sex slaves are in the consciousness of millions more people today than a year ago. This is a movement in which people want to take action, and not simply buy a t-shirt. Every day, I receive more and more requests from people who are inspired to volunteer in rescue operations. But, we also need to focus on stopping the problem before it begins and to ensure that rescue operations are doing a good job.

I took a journey with a delegation from World Pulse to Cambodia in February. It was a gathering of extraordinary, smart and dedicated women. At that time, I served on the Board of the fastest growing anti-slavery organization in the world, raising funds and awareness to end slavery. Our World Pulse journey showed me what works and what fails in the rehabilitation of survivors. I'd like to share some of these top three ideas:

1. Invest in rescue operations that are real. Make sure that there is a functioning operation. Some websites have pictures of buildings that are "to be purchased." Ask questions, and reach out to people in the movement that know whether operations are real. This year, inflated claims that slavery was ended in the cocoa industry were publically refuted by showing that the rescue operation was an empty building.

2. Invest in operations that provide opportunities for job training and placment beyond third world manufacturing and personal care. Ask what language and education services are provided. Make sure that you are not supporting transitioning women from slavery to sweatshop. That is not real, sustainable progress. If you have skills or knowledge, volunteer as an educator.

3. Invest in operations that provide true mental and physical health care. Some operations will not test or treat sex slave rescuees for HIV or other disease. Insist that these basic care needs are met.

Ending slavery - is, in part, about creating lasting opportunities through education and creation of markets. Hold
rescue operations to basic, common sense, standards. Making a difference is a good start of a conversation, but hard work and measurable results are essential.

Beth A. Klein
www.lawcolorado.net

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