Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Human Trafficking: The Movie... Click here to watch.

You can watch this whole movie on YouTube. I suggest you do so. What else are you gonna be doing?

late notice, but COME.

Come to this human trafficking awareness outreach. I'll be there.

CLICK HERE for more information!

What else are you gonna be doing?

BSHOP.

Hello!

I'm talking a bit about my trip at the Bridge Street House of Prayer tonight at 8:00.

We're meeting at the Pavillion across the street from the house.

You can also go at 7:00 for some fellowship and prayer.

1055 Bridge Street, Grand Rapids

Click here for a map.

Hope to see you there!

home. for a bit, at least.

Sorry about the lack of update. Somehow I got so caught up in traveling the globe that I couldn't find time to sit down and write a few paragraphs. Funny how that happens.

I'll start where I left off. Kyiv.

The first few days were difficult for most of us, as our hearts were still with the kids in Albania, but instead of dwelling on that, we used it as inspiration to learn and do as much as we can about the counter-trafficking movement. The first week we were there we met with IOM (International Organization of Migration). We learned more about trafficking and aftercare facilities, and gained some contacts for future use. Then the planning began. We wanted to do something out of the box - something more than just handing out anti-trafficking leaflets. After stirring together all of our brainpower and creativity that only comes from the Lord, an installation art project was in the making. The art piece was a large walk-through structure that took you through the cycle of abuse and sexual slavery. Click here for a video that Christina Bender made that explains more about the art piece. Only by the grace of the Lord, we got a permit to display it right in front of City Hall. About 1,000 people walked through within the two days it was set up.

Reactions from the public were mixed: angry, surprised, upset, convicted, confused, and thankful. Some were ashamed, yet thankful, that foreigners had to come into their country to tell them about an issue so huge. On the other side of the spectrum, we were asked how we had the nerve to do such a thing.

The ignorance (naivety, maybe?) of the general public wasn't necessarily shocking, but a little disheartening. Some had never heard of the issue, others were in denial, others thought it would never happen on their own land. But instead of being discouraged, I'm excited to keep doing stuff like this. Who knows... maybe Grand Rapids will soon be seeing an art installation piece...

Now I'm back in 'Merica.

Not much to say about it, other than leaving the other DTS students and leaders (and the environment in general) hasn't been easy. But, I really have missed Grand Rapids. This is a good city.

As for what is next... I don't know. And I kind of like not knowing.

So God,

where next?

An update...

COMING SOON.

stealing internet.

We've made it to Kiev.

I'm basically living out my dream at age 18.

Two years ago I had a dream that I was making a movie to raise awareness of human trafficking and expose the horrors of the reality of it. And guess what we're doing this month in Kiev?

Just that.

God is good.

ezekiel 34.

Since internet time either costs money or is cutting into my much needed nap time, I'll update with some snippits of an email I sent home about two weeks ago.

I'm loving it here. Culture shock is definitely setting in, but I'm handling it well. It's unreal. Pogradec is pretty undeveloped, compared to Grand Rapids, at least. I constantly feel like I'm going to step in donkey crap or in an uncovered manhole. There's dust everywhere. I shower like twice a day on average. And for me that's kind of a big deal.

I don't know if I told you what we're doing here, but we're helping out at a day camp with some of the kids that are at highest risk for being trafficked. It's... difficult. Not because they're bad kids, but because you never really know if they'll show up the next day because they might be shipped to Greece or not allowed to come because of abusive situations at home.

The kids have stolen my heart completely. Literally the minute I looked into their eyes I could feel my heart breaking. Through loving these kids I am getting glimpses of how God loves us. I've heard people say that God calls each one of us His favorite, but that never made sense to me because I viewed favorite as being able to have just one. But when I look at these kids I think, "You're my favorite!" Then I'll look at the next and feel my heart fill with even more love and think, "You're my favorite, too!". I never knew I was capable of loving so much. This love is coming from something so much greater than myself. I know that I couldn't do it on my own. Because with love comes pain. And leaving this kids will be painful.

Everything that I doubted about "short term missions" is gone. I have realized that some of these kids never get hugs, and if I can hug them for three weeks of their life to let them know that they're aren't repulsive, I'll do it. Even if that means getting headaches from their body odor... or getting lice.

We aren't building a well or a new school. We aren't guaranteeing these kids a safe life. We aren't taking away the bruises and scars all over their bodies. They're lives are still going to be crap after we leave. They'll still get beaten up at home. They may even be trafficked. But if I can let them know that they're special and worth it and love them with everything I have and all that I am just for these three weeks, I'll do it. Because they ARE worth it. I can't help but love them.

God is good.

God is so good.

and God is love.

i won't forget that.