I know I’ve organized a 5k, but I wonder what else I can do.
These girls need love.
I read an article about a girl named Danielle Douglas who
was forced into trafficking in Boston. The article said that trafficked girls –
prostitutes – are told that the pimp is the only person who will love them now.
It is pounded like a nail into their minds.
Nobody loves you –
Bam.
Except me.
Bam.
You are worthless!
Bam.
The only thing you do
for money is this,
Bam.
and do you think
anyone could love you now?
Bam.
The only love you’ll
get is from me.
Bam.
It’s as if each time they raise their hands to strike their
girl, they’re holding a hammer. A hammer pounding lies. But even a crooked nail
can get fiercely embedded in wood. And even pulling a nail out leaves a scar.
People need love to live. It’s a life-nectar straight from
heaven – flowing thick and syrupy through all of scripture. Love is so
prevalent in my life. My dad started my car this morning. My coworker grinned
cheerily and exclaimed that she “gets to work with [me] Friday AND Saturday!”
Love is why I hug Mom before I leave, and why I give Leah dancy-hugs and why I
try to make Christa laugh, and why I pray that all my friends who leave will be
abundantly, explosively happy in their far-away places even when I miss them.
And love is what these girls live without.
Even law enforcement – those we hope would protect these
girls – doesn’t love them.
In a trafficking situation, there are three participants. A pimp controls the prostitutes, whose services are purchased by Johns. If the police happen upon the situation, the prostitute is arrested. WHY?! WHY would
you arrest a helpless girl? Would you pull up a marijuana plant and chop it to
pieces, and then apologize kindly to the grower/seller/purchaser?
NO!
Ooooh how I ache for this situation. They don’t just need our help: they need our love. I don’t know how this will look yet.
Yes, I’m organizing a 5k Freedom Run this year, and the
funds will be used right here in Minnesota to erect a safe-house for girls
brought out of trafficking. But how else can we
love them?
I honestly don’t know the answer. I know part of it lies in
awareness, and I know part of it lies in prayer, and so I have a challenge for
you.
How much do you know about trafficking? I challenge you to
find out more. Research trafficking in your state. Research the different kinds
of trafficking. Research WHO is trafficked (be surprised and broken.) I challenge
each reader to find out 5 facts about trafficking that you did not previously
know.
I also challenge you to prayer. Take one new fact, or all of
the facts you learned. Take a friend, or a group of friends. I want us to pray
for 27 days, starting February 1st, that God will use us to bring
justice to our world, country and state. And city.
Finally, if you have an idea of how we can greater love God’s
children trapped in slavery, please share it with me here on my blog, or my Facebook
inbox.
Here’s a few resources to get you started:
Slavery stats: www.enditmovement.com
Article about Danielle
Douglas, and Superbowl trafficking article.
To find our 5K on Facebook, search "5K Freedom Run: Fighting darkness One Step at a Time.
To find our 5K on Facebook, search "5K Freedom Run: Fighting darkness One Step at a Time.
