Resigned

I'm about to embark on a new journey in life...one that I've always known that I wanted but never knew how exactly it would play out. I've resigned from my job and will be staying home full time with my kids.  I have one more day of work...one more day until I step away from what I once called my dream job.  One more day until I say goodbye to some of the most amazing people I know...the people that call me their counselor.  Those that allow me the privilege of journeying with them through the most difficult seasons of their lives.  I'm not sure I can stomach it...it's just so hard to say goodbye.  I've learned so much about myself, my career, and about God through this job.  I can't quite imagine my life without it.  Why am I leaving such a great situation?  God told me.  (I actually hate when people say that). How did he tell me?  Was I hearing voices?  Did I have a dream?  No, I asked him.  Then I waited for a few weeks...and stressed...and cried...and prayed...sought wise counsel...and then I had peace.  Yep...just like all of those other testimonies you hear in the church.  What does peace look like?  Well, it feels better, it is clear, it doesn't contradict scripture or Godly counsel, it is patient, you just know.  God told me to go home...and raise my babies.  He told me to go home and support my husband.  God told me to focus on ending sex trafficking.  He told me not to worry about losing a part of my identity for a time...that it would all be worth it when my babies look into my eyes and say "uv you too nonnie" or when my husband walks into the house and says "you are the best thing that ever happened to me".  This is truly one of the most difficult decisions that I've had to make...not because I don't want to stay home, but because I want BOTH!  I love what I do.  But...there is a little spark inside that keeps me going...knowing that God is doing something crazy again...I can feel it.   For now, a piece of each client will remain in my heart always...and someday it would be a such an amazing blessing  if our paths could cross again.

4 ways that you can end slavery

Want to end slavery?  Here's how:


1. Educate yourself-take a class, attend an upcoming Abolition U, read books like Everyday Justice, Half the Sky, A Crime So Monstrous, The Slave Across the Street, Amazing Grace, Not For Sale.

2. Donate!  Find an organization that is doing something that moves you.  Here's a few that I've been moved by:  As Our Own (this Christian group adopts children directly out of the brothels of India and raises them...as their own children...they pay for college, weddings, and the kids return for holidays...amazing picture of adoption).  Doma International (this Christian group journeys with survivors of sex trafficking in COLUMBUS OHIO).  I got to see this in person...amazing.

3. Refuse to participate. Yes, it is easy to participate in sex trafficking.  Stop looking at pornography, stop laughing at the pimp culture, respect women and children, change the way you view prostitution, buy as much as you can from fair trade organizations that refuse to pay anything less than what workers deserve and/or donate proceeds to anti trafficking efforts: Jewelry/Clothing:  Stop Traffick Fashio n, Makeup/Skincare:  Radiant Cosmetics, Coffee:  Just Love Coffee, Cards:  Sanctuary Spring.  A great resource to learn more is the book Everyday Justice by Julie Clawson.

4.Talk about it to everyone you know-Don't be annoying...but we have been unaware for too long!  What one generation ignores, the next embraces.  One way to rid of sex trafficking is to create a culture of awareness and intolerance of slavery.  It's happening in our comfortable suburbs...Don't be afraid...FIGHT!

So excited that my stomach hurts!

Thirty-three people were present at a class on Human Trafficking yesterday at our church.  I was begging God for at least TEN so that our speaker would feel encouraged.  WOW!!!  I am so excited that my stomach hurts!  I started my journey in the abolitionist movement (yes, HT is modern day slavery) last summer and have attempted to do a number of things that fell flat on the ground and just...well...failed!  I realized last night that perhaps all of those "failures" were God's way of saying..."just trust me, I know what I'm doing and it will happen in my time."  I've been getting calls all weekend asking for more information.  So many people want to do something about the problem of HT in our cities.  So, stay tuned.  Our next project is Serve Elyria which will include a project directed toward ending HT in our area.



If you're interested, check "other" and list "SOAP" in the box on the sign up sheet.  If you want to stay updated about what we're doing, reply to this post and I'll add you to my contact list.

What do you know about human trafficking?