Human Trafficking != Prostitution

I must say that the topic of human trafficking, specifically awareness part of it, has made leaps and bounds in the past 10 years. It has come from bunch of people trying to define & clarify what it is, to something that you see (if you are paying attention) on daily basis on the Internet news. The progress of it reminds me of the advancement on the front of domestic violence... the term was introduced in 1977 and now everybody knows, and most importantly agree, that it is something not justifiable.

One thing that concerns me, however, is that majority of the people who have heard of human trafficking, including law enforcement personnel, equate human trafficking as prostitution cases..... well.... it's not true. There are girls and boys who are traded for sex, but also there are people who are traded for agricultural work, factory work... picking tomatoes, cotton... just as the days of slave trade in the US. Unfortunately most of the people in the US believes that "That type" of slavery is only in foreign countries.

A friend of mine forwarded me the following article from The Columbus Dispatch, which talks about an Ohio nail salon owner who was arrested in human trafficking case.... yes, people are trafficked to work at nail salons as well.... [Article]

People ask me frequently on how they can help when it comes to the crime of human trafficking... and I say the same thing over and over (which usually I get an uninterested response)..."Get to know your neighbor, your office mates, your waiters from the restaurant that you frequent... your sphere of influence, and care for them as they are your friends"... there is a reason why this crime is called the invisible crime, and if you want to help, that is the only way that you will identify the victims... and to eventually, set them free.

URGENT: Christmas Cards needed for children in Compassion projects

I got this note from Dave Wells / Compassion International. Do you think you can help? Can you imagine the smile on the face of the child that your letter will reach?

Hey everyone – this is LATE notice but if you can participate and/or spread the word:

We can collect letters and Christmas cards for children in our projects that have never received a letter! Send them to:

Compassion International
Attn Candy Entingh
12290 Voyager Pkwy
Colorado Springs, CO 80921

BUT…they have to arrive at GMC by November 23^rd, in order for them to get into the system and arrive for each child to receive them BY Christmas.

There are over 1,400 children in HAITI alone who don’t yet have a sponsor! Just write out a card or letter leaving out any attempt to address a particular child by name and let them know you are praying for them and thinking of them this Christmas. Share your faith, share your words of love and encouragement – but be sure to share something! It will take just a couple minutes to write out a quick card.

Let others know and send as many as you can by this weekend!

For God’s children-

doug west
advocate relations - southeast
compassion international (http://www.compassion.com/)

Hilton Hotels responds to child-trafficking scandal

Over 10 years ago I went to a hotel in Thailand with my wife for a vacation. We stayed at a relatively nice hotel..perhaps 4 stars class with beautiful lobby, large room, restaurants, etc. As part of the foreign country adventure, we decided to go to the spa/massage center. We were each assigned a lady and on to a separate room...it didn't take too long until my massage got waaaay too uncomfortable, with various sexual advancement and I had to pretty much pay and run out.

I share this because I want you to know that child trafficking and brothel in hotel is not so uncommon in various countries in Asia. Sometime it's hidden, and sometimes very openly. I guess I was too naive to realize what kind of place I was entering.

This past June (2010), a Hilton Hotel in China got busted and shut down by the police indefinitely for prostitution (see article). After this news, there were public outcry by the anti-Human Trafficking community, and I know many people called and wrote to the hotel headquarter.

A friend of mine forwarded me a wonderful news today (issued 10.31) that Hilton is responding to the Child Trafficking problem by rolling out a new policy world wide.

"Hilton is moving forward with discussions with ECPAT-USA and other organizations about steps to prevent child prostitution and human trafficking, and we continue to engage in and evaluate methods for prevention" - Jennifer Silberman, Hilton’s vice president of corporate responsibility

Now, I do not know what type of policy they are issuing nor how they are going to enforce it... and understand that those are the real issues.... but never-the-less, I am happy to see that something we advocated resulted to an action by a large corporation... Thank you to everyone who responded to the call, and looking forward to the positive results that this new policy would bring.

Celebrating October 31st!

It seems like everybody is celebrating the Halloween. I see so many picture postings on Facebook, people dressed as any silly thing they can think of. Growing up, I did go trick-or-treating. We used to live near several high rise apartments and we would go to the upper most floor, start knocking on every door and spiral all the way to the lobby. It was a great day of the year to get candies, run around with friends at night.... and I graduated celebrating it around 6th grade.

I never realized that it was a nationally celebrated holiday until I came to this country. Apparently grown up adults (with or without kids), children and their pets plan and look forward to this extremely silly holiday.

What makes it even more silly is the look of people when you tell them that I don't celebrate Halloween. They look at you with a look of horror (yes, I see the irony here) and have no idea why I choose not to 'celebrate' a day that has nothing to 'celebrate'. - but that's another blog if you don't know why dressing like a cartoon character and celebrating the day with misguided witches is not an idea of fun for me.

Now, if you want to celebrate the October 31st with something, and I'm not talking about a cheap substitution by calling your Halloween party a 'Fall Harvest Party', then we should go back and celebrate the day that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences to the door of the Castle Church. Imagine the boldness and courage that was needed to stand up to the religious authorities that seemed as if majority of the people agreed or didn't want to go against. We should celebrate the beginning of the day that we got the earthly freedom from corruption and false doctrines of the Church. Wouldn't you rather celebrate someone's bravery and bold action based on true faith rather than running around dressed up like a cartoon character?

Lately, I have met several people who are thirsty to see reformation in the body of Christ in the US. Most of people that I have met who believe in the basic tenants of Christianity would tell you that US church is pretty much dead. It is time, once again, that people of God would stand up, break the barrier of apathy, complacency and christian institutions that are operated solely as a business institution. I am hoping that another reformation will come, perhaps in my life time...

What is God to me?

I wish I could hear how you have come to know God in your life. I started thinking I would love to share about God in my life.

Without God I know my life would be in shambles, if I would be alive at all. God has been everything to me in my life. As a young child I grew up in an abusive home. A home where I didn't feel safe. My parents gave me food and I do have some good memories of growing up.. but the abuse really reached my core. Each time I was beaten, I was a broken mess. As I became so broken and bruised, I cried out to God. I prayed that He would help me. And I know He did. I prayed that I would survive this time and that God would help me make it through college and be able to leave this life of abuse. God helped me each step of the way, bringing people in my life, holding my hand.. even when all felt completely dark. Today I am a mother of 3 wonderful children, married to my a knight in shining armor. I have hope, I have God, who has carried me through much darkness and continues to show me his love each day, in unexpected ways. I hope if you haven't already, you will find the God of all comfort and Hope in your life today. He is waiting for you.

What is Love?

If someone asked you this question, would you talk to them about a romantic feeling that you have when you see someone you love, or a happy feeling you have when you see your child do something cute? Or a feeling of pride when someone you are close to does something special? Or would you go further and say you have to be forgiving and patient to really love. Or maybe you have read 1 Cor. 13 and memorized it, but are still trying to work it out in your life. I know I am. When I read this passage, I started asking myself... What does this passage mean when it says "..[Love] .. rejoices with the truth. What does the Bible mean when it says truth. And what does it mean to "Love" as God means it, not in the way we use it today.

So I am starting to realize my main problem is my definitions are incorrect. In order to understand Love, I need to understand what does God mean when he says it? How does He love? God put every evil of our world on his own precious son, his only son. He not only gave up his son, but he was sacrificed. He watched him be tortured and killed. And God asks me to love my neighbor? What am I willing to sacrifice for my neighbor, to show him love. What sacrifice of time or care can I show to my friend so that I can be love to her.

Our society is full of people looking for love. Wanting true love. Are we willing to be love to show this True Love to those who are around us? Try this week to show love to someone. Someone who may have done nothing to stir up loving feelings, but who still needs love.

Miracles?

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe God can work in our everyday life today? Do you think God can change your life?

Can God bring hope to our desperately seeking world by touching us where we are? By showing up in our everyday life.. just to show us He loves us.

It seems everyone these days is looking for the supernatural. As Christians we have the ultimate power source. Let's call on God to show up. He is waiting for us to cry out to Him.

I would love to hear about your miracles.