Final Version from M on Vimeo.
A new documentary called “Our Lives to Fight For” exposes the harsh truths about prostitution and sex trafficking in Canada.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Documentary - Our Lives to Fight For
A new documentary called “Our Lives to Fight For” exposes the harsh truths about prostitution and sex trafficking in Canada.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Photo Blog of the Delilah Story
(beginning of the structure)
(Painting the walls)
(Outline drawing for outer wall painting)
Artist: Stephanie Webb
(Spiral downward - Need to be prettier. Need to be slimmer. Need to be better. Need to be smarter. Need to be more successfull. Need to ESCAPE.)
(The day arrives! We have setup on the sidewalk directly infront of Kiev City Hall)
(Entrance to The Delilah Story - the cycle of slavery)
(Abuse - Verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The end of innocence. Her identity lost.)
(Sculputure by Joan Kim)
(Painting by Pearl Sangster)
(Control - Abuse is an outward manifestation of inner pain.)
(Hardening - Numbing the pain. Masking the wounds. Only the strong survive.)
(Abuse and Confusion - The unraveling of the man's childhood tainted with abuse and confusion. His conflicting ideas of love based on the father figure in his life.)
(Love?)
Every child is born innocent. A daddy's girl, a mommy's boy. With dreams of a bright and beautiful future. This is Delilah's story.
(Exit view and comment wall view)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Delilah Project
Well the weekend has come and gone. After two weeks of intense work, we finally completed the Delilah Project (as we titled it, the name we use for one of the girls we came to love in Albania) at 10pm on Friday night and delivered it to downtown central Kyiv at noon the next day.
The weekend was amazing and a great success. We spoke to roughly 400 people the first day and in total, nearly 1000 people came through our structure.
So on the Thursday, Sue, Bekki and Wouter headed into the centre for some souvenier shopping time, as well with the intent of connecting with police officials to somehow get permission and their okay for our structure. They went into the police station and were directed to city hall, where all permits are issued. It took a while for them to find someone who spoke english.
They explained what we were doing and the lady who worked there said that if they wrote up a letter and got it back to her before closing at 6 p.m., she would sign and stamp the permit herself, right then and there. On top of it, when she asked where we were planning on setting it up, in response to the unknown, she encouraged to set up the structure right out front of city hall! How amazing!!! God is so amazing! It was evident that this project had Gods anointing on it and this was meant to happen. Here we are in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, a hotspot in Easter Europe for human trafficking and they've told us that we can do our awareness campaign right outside city hall!
But why not? Earlier in the week, during the YWAM base Monday morning intercession, this exact thing was prayed for - that the city itself would back up this project! God is so good!
So back to how the actual weekend went.
Transportation ended up working out, which was another huge prayer request. We had two different vans set up, one for each day. The first van was from our contacts church and the other from the YWAM base. Thankfully everything fit inside.
About an hour after arriving and beginning our setup, the police arrived and stuck around for the next hour and a half. We showed them our permit but at first that wasn't good enough. Sue ended up having to go with them to get a photocopy of it as they wanted to take our permit but it was our only copy. It wasn't until Kelly (our main contact) showed up with his family and began speaking with them about how we are only helping the officials out, working beside them for the good of the people, etc., etc., that they finally left. We found out later that there was a demonstration/protest planned for 6:30 p.m. on the Sunday, that they were worried about and thought we were a part of it (it actually ended up being a protest against family violence! How fitting).
As we continued to set up, curiosity quickly set in amongst those walking by and though we were not complete for sometime, people were already checking out and walking through what was ready. We had many positive comments and feedback and as to be expected but still sad, a few negative ones (this is not my problem, this doesn't effect me, etc). A number of our walls along the side of the structure, were set up to be comment walls and we had many people leave their comments. At times you noticed as they excited, tears welling up in their eyes. There were a number of emotional stories, though we will never know just how many who walked through were actually walking through their own life story, a few stopped to share. On the Sunday, one of the first women to go through, became very emotional, sharing with our translator that she knew this all too well, having grown up in the city's orphanage - the abuse, friends trafficked as they turn 18 and have no where to go but to trust the men that our outside waiting, promising good things. It was obvious she had much pain to deal with and the two of them exchanged numbers to talk again.
Some were offended that outsiders would come in and tell them what was wrong with their country (or so they perceived it to be) and others were amazed that foreigners would actually come and share of their time to help their country out, to spread awareness of this great problem. Often at the end, whenever there was opportunity, we would ask if the person had known about the issue of human trafficking, and often the answer is no. Even the ones that do still don't often realize the extent of it or that they themselves could easily fall victim to enslavement (as there are many kinds).
As a group, our prayer is that all those that had the chance to come through the Delilah Project, will feel a stirring in their hearts, a movement, a call to action, a need to know more and that the awareness can continue to spread in this city and that they will also begin to realize that the women they view as just prostitutes or druggies, really didn't have the choice that we like to believe they do, that there is a story behind the mask of every women, man and child and that in this day more than ever love is needed for all, but more specifically - God's love.
----------------------
On another note, when we arrived home we were met with shocking news that at first left us with many emotions and tears. We received an email from Julie in Pogredec, that Xhulio, the boy we had all grown to love so very much, had passed away that very morning. It was heartbreaking to hear that his smile would no longer be witnessed here on earth but at the same time, through tears, I think about the wonderful fact that he is now in heaven experiencing the most amount of love he could ever know from our heavenly father and running around on his beautiful legs that work. I'm so happy that he no longer has to suffer and be ill-treated within his own family but I pray for the three young sisters, who we also got to know, that are now left behind. Please keep them in your prayers as well as our group, through the many emotions that we are dealing with.
Thank you.
Installation Art Project Blue Print
Below is the blue print of the Delilah structure. I hope to add an entire blog of pictures shortly and possibly even a video that shows a walk through so that you will be able to have the full experience of what those here in Kyiv have had the opportunity to experience.
Creating an interactive installation art to be on display in a public space in order to raise awareness on the issue of sexual slavery.
Objective ::
To unveil the unseen reality of sexual slavery* through the journey of not only the female sex worker but also the journey of the male perpetrator, highlighting the fact that they are both victims of an unending cycle.
*Sexual slavery defines all instances of sexual servitude, whether by choice or by coercion.
Aim ::
For users to walk away with their eyes opened towards the unseen reality they encounter on a daily basis so much so that they will be unable to ignore the blatant sexualization and devaluing of females in society.
Project Specifications ::
Here is the initial blue print we came up with for The Delilah Project
Size – 7m x 7m
Materials – Plywood or Dry wall (1.5m x 2.5m each)
Project Breakdown ::
The project will be broken down into 7 sections as follows;
1.Innocence (of a young girl)
2.Abuse and sexualization
3.Victimization and choice
4.Slavery vs power
5.Harderning
6.Abuse and confusion
7.Innocence (of a young boy)
The first 3 sections will potray the journey of a young girl into sexual slavery whilst the last 3 unravel the confusion behind the male pepertrator. Section 4 intersects with the culmination of both journies as the two lives converge.
Each section will be labelled with a sheet on the floor and partitioned off by a curtain of some sort.
Section 1 :: Innocence (of a young girl)
This section potrays the innocence of a young girl, her dreams and fantasies as a child about meeting her prince charming, the purity of youth and the hopes of what the future holds.
(Narrative Wall)
Every child is born innocent. A daddy's girl, a mommy's boy. With dreams of a bright and beautiful future. This is Delilah's story.
When I grow up…
(Quotes on Wall)
When will my Prince Charming come?
I am beautiful?
Section 2 :: Abuse and Sexualization
Potrays the abuse that happens at a young age and the exposure to sexual material, warping the ideals and sense of worth of females.
When will my Prince Charming come?
I am beautiful?
Section 2 :: Abuse and Sexualization
Potrays the abuse that happens at a young age and the exposure to sexual material, warping the ideals and sense of worth of females.
(Narrative Wall)
Verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The end of innocence. Her identity lost.
Verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The end of innocence. Her identity lost.
(Quotes on Wall)
This must be my fault.
Did I do something wrong?
Is this who I am?
Section 3 – Sexualization
What is a woman? What is her worth?
Did I do something wrong?
Is this who I am?
Section 3 – Sexualization
What is a woman? What is her worth?
(Narrative Wall)
Need to be better. Need to be smarter. Need to be prettier. Need to be slimmer. Need to be successful. Need to escape
Section 4 – Escape
Potraying the desire to escape from the abuse (and the cycle) and taking the risk to pursue an education and/or job opportunity but ultimately ending up in sexual slavery. Emphasizing the question “Is it ever a choice to sell oneself?”
(Narrative Wall)
What is your choice?
Need to be better. Need to be smarter. Need to be prettier. Need to be slimmer. Need to be successful. Need to escape
Section 4 – Escape
Potraying the desire to escape from the abuse (and the cycle) and taking the risk to pursue an education and/or job opportunity but ultimately ending up in sexual slavery. Emphasizing the question “Is it ever a choice to sell oneself?”
(Narrative Wall)
What is your choice?
(Quotes on Wall)
My Way Out (exit)
Career (work/ job)
Marriage
Education
A great job. A unique opportunity abroad. They promise lots of money. But they take away your passport . And they sell you into slavery.
A handsome husband. What a charming man. He says he loves you. But he lies. And he sells you into slavery.
Good education. A bright future. But the costs are high. The circumstances don’t allow. You have no choice. And you sell yourself into slavery.
Is there really a choice?
Section 5 :: Slavery and Power
The intersection of two lives, one as the victim and the other as the abuser. Potrays the contrast of power, control and submission.
(Narrative Wall)
75% of sex workers attempt suicide
Section 5a – Slavery
My Way Out (exit)
Career (work/ job)
Marriage
Education
A great job. A unique opportunity abroad. They promise lots of money. But they take away your passport . And they sell you into slavery.
A handsome husband. What a charming man. He says he loves you. But he lies. And he sells you into slavery.
Good education. A bright future. But the costs are high. The circumstances don’t allow. You have no choice. And you sell yourself into slavery.
Is there really a choice?
Section 5 :: Slavery and Power
The intersection of two lives, one as the victim and the other as the abuser. Potrays the contrast of power, control and submission.
(Narrative Wall)
75% of sex workers attempt suicide
Section 5a – Slavery
(Narrative Wall)
10,000 Ukrainians have been trafficked abroad since 1991 – International Organization of Migration (IOM)
Section 5b – Control
10,000 Ukrainians have been trafficked abroad since 1991 – International Organization of Migration (IOM)
Section 5b – Control
(Narrative Wall)
Abuse is an outward manifestation of inner pain
Abuse is an outward manifestation of inner pain
(Quotes on Wall)
I beat her into obedience, until I get my money’s worth
Section 5 :: Harderning
Shows the hardening process of the man, and how he becomes the person that he never wanted to become but surcumbed to in order to survive.
(Narrative Wall)
I beat her into obedience, until I get my money’s worth
Section 5 :: Harderning
Shows the hardening process of the man, and how he becomes the person that he never wanted to become but surcumbed to in order to survive.
(Narrative Wall)
Numbing the pain. Masking the wounds. Only the strong survive.
(Quotes on Wall)
I Don't Care. Why Me? My life is worthless. I give up. I can't do this. I feel numb
Section 6 :: Abuse and Confusion
The unraveling of the man's childhood tainted with abuse and confusion. His conflicting ideas of love based on the father figure in his life.
(Narrative Wall)
I Don't Care. Why Me? My life is worthless. I give up. I can't do this. I feel numb
Section 6 :: Abuse and Confusion
The unraveling of the man's childhood tainted with abuse and confusion. His conflicting ideas of love based on the father figure in his life.
(Narrative Wall)
Statistics prove that boys growing up in abusive homes are more likely to also become abusive.
(Quotes on Wall)
Love?
Mommy and daddy love each other
I will never be like him
Section 7 :: Innocence (of a young boy)
Encountering the innocence of young boys, their dreams and hopes and their love for their mother. Drives in the fact that even the pepertrators are victims themselves.
(Narrative Wall)
Love?
Mommy and daddy love each other
I will never be like him
Section 7 :: Innocence (of a young boy)
Encountering the innocence of young boys, their dreams and hopes and their love for their mother. Drives in the fact that even the pepertrators are victims themselves.
(Narrative Wall)
Every child is born innocent. A daddy's girl, a mommy's boy. With dreams of a bright and beautiful future. This is Delilah's story.
(Quotes on Wall)
I love you mommy
I want to be strong so I can take care of Mommy
~*~
(Outer walls)
Who is Delilah?
It could be your sister, your mother, your child, your friend, your neighbour. It could be you.
Ukraine provides one of the largest supply of slaves in Eastern Europe. The youngest rescued victim is 3, the oldest is 74 - IOM
An estimated 27 million people are currently enslaved worldwide. 88% of that are women and children.
1 million children are forced into sexual slavery each year
2 children are sold every minute
I love you mommy
I want to be strong so I can take care of Mommy
~*~
(Outer walls)
Who is Delilah?
It could be your sister, your mother, your child, your friend, your neighbour. It could be you.
Ukraine provides one of the largest supply of slaves in Eastern Europe. The youngest rescued victim is 3, the oldest is 74 - IOM
An estimated 27 million people are currently enslaved worldwide. 88% of that are women and children.
1 million children are forced into sexual slavery each year
2 children are sold every minute
JAMM in Kyiv
(Please note this is a past blog update by fellow leader Sue, written a couple weeks back).
We made it to Kiev last Friday, July 7 and got settled into our apartments. Sorry for the lack of update. Internet cafes aren't cheap.
Though our hearts are still broken for the kids in Albania, we're pressing through and channeling that energy into our work in Ukraine. While we're here we'll be doing everything in our power to make an impact on the counter-trafficking movement in Ukraine. We're gathering all the information we can, interviewing people every chance we get, and brainstorming like crazy hoping to pull it all together in some sort of documentary and installation art piece.
Here is our vision:
We have no idea what this portion of the outreach will be like
For Sure it will be different from the first half
But in many ways also the same
In Pogradec we learned.
We learned way more than most of us wanted to know
We learned way more than most of us know what to do with.
We are a Justice Arts Media and Music DTS
All of us have expressed, in some way, the desire to tell a story through our gifts
And we all have gifts.
This may be the most gifted team that has come through I.Net
We have packed into our minds the tragic, yet somehow hopeful stories of 30 some kids that we all have fallen in love with
Stories that, I believe, have determined in some way, the destiny of each of our lives
Let’s begin to tell their stories using our God given inspiration.
I fell strongly that Ukraine will be the time that we step into our JAMM title more fully
In Pogradec, we had Judy to bring us into the story of the kids and give us incredible insight into their unjust realities
Her we will mostly have ourselves
This will call for an extra measure of iniative and boldness to step into the dark places
To ask the hard questions in order to gain insight into the story of trafficking in Ukraine
This is why we came
It’s our Go given responsibility to tell the story
I am thinking Victor Malarek style
We have Emma, Bekki who edit video
Steph and Audrey who are gifted in multimedia and graphic design
Kate, Janet and Kyle who take emotion capturing photos that tell a story of their own
We have Ben who is a gifted writer
The Dutchies who have a unique boldness about them that make it easier to meet the right people
I am learning the art of asking the right questions to find out the necessary info to tell a story
Lizzy tells stories through her songwriting
Pearl just needs a canvas to portray beauty through the brokenness of a victim
Joan can articulate in great detail with her sketches of people and places
Christina will bring a prophetic edge to whatever message we have
And all of us have proven that we have nothing for hope for the oppressed
Perhaps this month can be about focusing on how to best tell the stories
The stories of Gino and Demir and Dezi
And the stories we will seek out here
The stories of real names
Real faces
Real people whose lives are the injustices we read in books
Let’s live up to our JAMM name and tell the story of God’s justice as we’ve found it in Eastern Europe
We never know far it might travel and what ears might hear it
We will knock on the doors of NGO’s, orphanages, police stations, night clubs, brothels in order to find out what we need to know
It’s our chance to be part of their hope
So let’s disrupt the rhythym of evil here in Kyiv so that imagination can breathe!
(written by Sue V.).
"I have many people in this city."
We made it to Kiev last Friday, July 7 and got settled into our apartments. Sorry for the lack of update. Internet cafes aren't cheap.
Though our hearts are still broken for the kids in Albania, we're pressing through and channeling that energy into our work in Ukraine. While we're here we'll be doing everything in our power to make an impact on the counter-trafficking movement in Ukraine. We're gathering all the information we can, interviewing people every chance we get, and brainstorming like crazy hoping to pull it all together in some sort of documentary and installation art piece.
Here is our vision:
We have no idea what this portion of the outreach will be like
For Sure it will be different from the first half
But in many ways also the same
In Pogradec we learned.
We learned way more than most of us wanted to know
We learned way more than most of us know what to do with.
We are a Justice Arts Media and Music DTS
All of us have expressed, in some way, the desire to tell a story through our gifts
And we all have gifts.
This may be the most gifted team that has come through I.Net
We have packed into our minds the tragic, yet somehow hopeful stories of 30 some kids that we all have fallen in love with
Stories that, I believe, have determined in some way, the destiny of each of our lives
Let’s begin to tell their stories using our God given inspiration.
I fell strongly that Ukraine will be the time that we step into our JAMM title more fully
In Pogradec, we had Judy to bring us into the story of the kids and give us incredible insight into their unjust realities
Her we will mostly have ourselves
This will call for an extra measure of iniative and boldness to step into the dark places
To ask the hard questions in order to gain insight into the story of trafficking in Ukraine
This is why we came
It’s our Go given responsibility to tell the story
I am thinking Victor Malarek style
We have Emma, Bekki who edit video
Steph and Audrey who are gifted in multimedia and graphic design
Kate, Janet and Kyle who take emotion capturing photos that tell a story of their own
We have Ben who is a gifted writer
The Dutchies who have a unique boldness about them that make it easier to meet the right people
I am learning the art of asking the right questions to find out the necessary info to tell a story
Lizzy tells stories through her songwriting
Pearl just needs a canvas to portray beauty through the brokenness of a victim
Joan can articulate in great detail with her sketches of people and places
Christina will bring a prophetic edge to whatever message we have
And all of us have proven that we have nothing for hope for the oppressed
Perhaps this month can be about focusing on how to best tell the stories
The stories of Gino and Demir and Dezi
And the stories we will seek out here
The stories of real names
Real faces
Real people whose lives are the injustices we read in books
Let’s live up to our JAMM name and tell the story of God’s justice as we’ve found it in Eastern Europe
We never know far it might travel and what ears might hear it
We will knock on the doors of NGO’s, orphanages, police stations, night clubs, brothels in order to find out what we need to know
It’s our chance to be part of their hope
So let’s disrupt the rhythym of evil here in Kyiv so that imagination can breathe!
(written by Sue V.).
"I have many people in this city."
Sunday, July 18, 2010
These are the days of ACTS in Kyiv
It’s been well over a week now since we arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine and it’s been quite the time again. Unsure at first, exactly what we would be doing in this new location then discovering God had much planned and ready for us here. Our few contacts resulted in more contacts and many more ideas.
Instantly recognizing the intensity of sexualization of women in this city and knowing that Ukraine has a high trafficking rate we found ourselves surrounded and in the middle, identifying the many connections between this issue, alcohol and drug usage and the fact that Ukraine has the fastest growing infection rate for HIV.
One of the outreach ministries that we are connected to here is with Teen Challenge. Every Tuesday they go out, first to a Methadone Clinic (well, outside the clinic, as they are not allowed in) and then to the main train station for the purpose of building relationships, providing of limited medical care and handing out invites to addicts and the homeless for a coffee house Teen Challenge puts on the following night. The purpose of the coffee house is to share of God’s love and salvation for all and as well in hopes of helping men and women with their addiction through their own rehab centre.
We also have the opportunity to tag along with our translator and visit a women she has befriended, who has sadly contracted the virus of HIV through her lifestyle as a prostitute. She is currently 47 years old and only this year through a friend, came to accept that Gods love is for her as well. She recognizes that it is only through God’s strength that she has been able to quit many of her habits, including selling of her body for money. She noted that in her past there had been many times where, if she could have, would have left this industry and stopped her addiction to drugs.
These are just a couple ministries that we are connected with here.
One of our biggest excitements, that ties everything together, is our combined vision for Kyiv and for Albania – to spread awareness of Human Trafficking. We are a group of many talents – art, design, media, photography, and music and a heart for those effected by injustice. It is our hope and plan to use all these things, to research and investigate as much as we can about this issue here in Kyiv and combine it all into a presentation to present to the people here in Kyiv and to each of our own contacts and Churches back home in our many countries.
I am so excited about what God is doing in this group, in this city and in this vision. Before arriving we were not sure how we would fill our days and now the time is flying by with our many activities and brainstorming sessions.
I’m especially excited about the idea of an instillation art design piece in the main centre of Kyiv to put on display during the final weekend we are here, as well as a final documentary of all we have learned and experienced, sharing of the many personal stories we have encountered.
We have less than 3 weeks left already and they are going to fly by. Please continue to pray for the group, for strength, courage, boldness and for patience. Pray for open doors and please pray for a blanket of safety and protection over this group.
Til’ the next time, blessings ☺
Instantly recognizing the intensity of sexualization of women in this city and knowing that Ukraine has a high trafficking rate we found ourselves surrounded and in the middle, identifying the many connections between this issue, alcohol and drug usage and the fact that Ukraine has the fastest growing infection rate for HIV.
One of the outreach ministries that we are connected to here is with Teen Challenge. Every Tuesday they go out, first to a Methadone Clinic (well, outside the clinic, as they are not allowed in) and then to the main train station for the purpose of building relationships, providing of limited medical care and handing out invites to addicts and the homeless for a coffee house Teen Challenge puts on the following night. The purpose of the coffee house is to share of God’s love and salvation for all and as well in hopes of helping men and women with their addiction through their own rehab centre.
We also have the opportunity to tag along with our translator and visit a women she has befriended, who has sadly contracted the virus of HIV through her lifestyle as a prostitute. She is currently 47 years old and only this year through a friend, came to accept that Gods love is for her as well. She recognizes that it is only through God’s strength that she has been able to quit many of her habits, including selling of her body for money. She noted that in her past there had been many times where, if she could have, would have left this industry and stopped her addiction to drugs.
These are just a couple ministries that we are connected with here.
One of our biggest excitements, that ties everything together, is our combined vision for Kyiv and for Albania – to spread awareness of Human Trafficking. We are a group of many talents – art, design, media, photography, and music and a heart for those effected by injustice. It is our hope and plan to use all these things, to research and investigate as much as we can about this issue here in Kyiv and combine it all into a presentation to present to the people here in Kyiv and to each of our own contacts and Churches back home in our many countries.
I am so excited about what God is doing in this group, in this city and in this vision. Before arriving we were not sure how we would fill our days and now the time is flying by with our many activities and brainstorming sessions.
I’m especially excited about the idea of an instillation art design piece in the main centre of Kyiv to put on display during the final weekend we are here, as well as a final documentary of all we have learned and experienced, sharing of the many personal stories we have encountered.
We have less than 3 weeks left already and they are going to fly by. Please continue to pray for the group, for strength, courage, boldness and for patience. Pray for open doors and please pray for a blanket of safety and protection over this group.
Til’ the next time, blessings ☺
Friday, July 16, 2010
Farewell, for now, Pogredec
Well, we’ve been in Kyiv for almost a week now. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to write a final blog on Pogredec. Internet is very limited here, to the point of sitting in a restaurant for their free wi-fi if you order something…but that also means you need a computer, which for me this is not so. I hope to still be able to blog once a week but it may not be so scheduled as before.
We had an amazing final week in Pogredec. All the seminars went really well, even though attendance was small, I believe those that came were very impacted. I sat in on the one for the Roma girls and it was a very emotional time for one of the girls. At first she held it in, uncomfortable with some of what was being said, as these are not things you talk about out-loud or with others. It was so important for us to speak utmost love into this beautiful child of God. To be honest that we realize that her life is not easy, that some of her deepest hurt has come from some of the closest people in her life, but God will never hurt her, he will never leave or forsake her and though we may not be with her physically, she will always be with us in our heart and we will always be praying for her.
That same final day, we walked one last time throughout a number of the neighbourhoods of our children to say final farewells and give one more hug.
That evening we talked about the fact that there are a number in the group that feel a lasting connection to Pogredec and though at this time we don’t know what that means or how that looks, it will be a continued conversation amongst us, of figuring it out.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A Women's Worth
How many of us women at some point have felt worthless? Sadly, I think that is all of us. How many of us have felt unimportant or degraded as a person or our opinions not heard because of our gender?
This week our group has been holding a number of seminars on the value and worth of a women. In a culture where women are unvalued, used as punching bags or objects to have sex with - self worth is a thing of the past.
In total we are holding 6 seminars for the following age groups:
1) Albanian Church women
2) Albanian Church teens
3) Roma Women
4) Roma girls
5) At risk Albanian women
6) Roma Boys - to encourage them to see the value of women as God created them.
Each seminar has been geared to each group personally but include the same foundational information which touches on identity, what it means to be a women and what it doesn't mean, talents and gifts, love - what it is and isn't as well as abuse, trafficking and begging.
Today we shared with the Roma women. In the end, unfortunately, only 3 women came but this session touched the depth of my soul. The three women were all mothers of children that were a part of our summer camps and who we have formed relationships with from our neighbourhood visits.
The one women, we'll call her Litina, is a mother of five beautiful, vibrant children whom we just can't get enough of. The eldest, we'll call Johno, at 14 years, has a different father from the rest. He has grown up watching a man that is not his father, continually beat up his mother Litina. Some times to the point where her face has been almost unrecognizable. Only God knows how she has survived. The life of abuse is reality for most of these Roma women. Despite what the children of this mother have grown up with, they all are kind, loving, always smiling and laughing, being goofy and just acting like kids. Latina is a Christian women and thankfully knows pieces of God's love for her and shares it with her children.
The two girls, Pearl and Audrey, leading this particular seminar entered into the description of what love isn't:
Being emotionally hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being physically hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being sexually degraded or humiliated is NOT an action of love.
It was at this point my world once again crumbled as Litina interrupted and spoke up.
"I'm 28 years old and I have five children and my life is over. I live my life for my kids, I endure the beatings for them. If I leave my husband, they will end up on the streets. Now we have a home at least."
I...am 28 years old. ME, Stephanie...28 years old. As I write this sentence, tears once again come instantly to my eyes. Sure I am close to my thirties, and though it gets joked about I am still told again and again how young I am, how I have so much ahead of me still and here...here is Litina, the SAME AGE saying her life is over. That her life no longer matters - yes for the reason so that it won't be over for her children, but still - over?! How do we allow this world, how do we allow men - to define us this way! God created us for so much more.
God created man and women. Man and women - equally out of his continual love and he calls us to follow in these ways of love. The honour of being able to bear and raise children, of being the heart of a home, of bringing love and care into these children's lives, to be models for them - this is what it is to be a women of God. To be a protector and provider, yes, to be strength and light, to bring a consistent flow of love to them, but it is not a job. These women are not just an object, a slave, with no rights or dignity. They deserve so much more, women deserve more. We are all individuals, each with a unique identity, every part of our being was God designed and hand-crafted. We are all special and beautiful beings that Jesus died for.
Latina is no different than I, we are both women created by God. Neither of us deserving to be degraded or abused and yet, at this moment, one of us is. This knowledge of knowing what she lives within each day is heartbreaking and tears at me inside. I am so thankful to know that still she understands God love is for her too. I am thankful that she knows God hasn't abandoned her and that he has a special place waiting just for her.
Latina also shared a story about her sister, who at age 13, was sold into prostitution. Actually, many women are brides at these early ages - 13, 14, 15. The family lied as to where she was, saying she was in a hospital for an accident far away. Latina continually prayed for her sister, never giving up. Today she could share with us that now, her sister is married, has one child and has a good paying job and is no longer having to sell of her body. Latina recognizes the importance of prayer and that it does make a difference, even if for whatever reason, she is still in her own circumstances.
I don't know where to go from here exactly. I am thankful for the relationships we have made with these women, I'm thankful for all who have had a chance to share of God's love to these women. To encourage them again and again and to remind them of their invaluable worth. God has been putting thoughts and ideas on my heart. I don't know what they all mean or where they might go, but I pray that perhaps, this won't be the last time I see these women.
For now, however, they are in my prayers, my heart and my mind. I will miss them so much, as I will miss the children too.
This week our group has been holding a number of seminars on the value and worth of a women. In a culture where women are unvalued, used as punching bags or objects to have sex with - self worth is a thing of the past.
In total we are holding 6 seminars for the following age groups:
1) Albanian Church women
2) Albanian Church teens
3) Roma Women
4) Roma girls
5) At risk Albanian women
6) Roma Boys - to encourage them to see the value of women as God created them.
Each seminar has been geared to each group personally but include the same foundational information which touches on identity, what it means to be a women and what it doesn't mean, talents and gifts, love - what it is and isn't as well as abuse, trafficking and begging.
Today we shared with the Roma women. In the end, unfortunately, only 3 women came but this session touched the depth of my soul. The three women were all mothers of children that were a part of our summer camps and who we have formed relationships with from our neighbourhood visits.
The one women, we'll call her Litina, is a mother of five beautiful, vibrant children whom we just can't get enough of. The eldest, we'll call Johno, at 14 years, has a different father from the rest. He has grown up watching a man that is not his father, continually beat up his mother Litina. Some times to the point where her face has been almost unrecognizable. Only God knows how she has survived. The life of abuse is reality for most of these Roma women. Despite what the children of this mother have grown up with, they all are kind, loving, always smiling and laughing, being goofy and just acting like kids. Latina is a Christian women and thankfully knows pieces of God's love for her and shares it with her children.
The two girls, Pearl and Audrey, leading this particular seminar entered into the description of what love isn't:
Being emotionally hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being physically hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being sexually degraded or humiliated is NOT an action of love.
It was at this point my world once again crumbled as Litina interrupted and spoke up.
"I'm 28 years old and I have five children and my life is over. I live my life for my kids, I endure the beatings for them. If I leave my husband, they will end up on the streets. Now we have a home at least."
I...am 28 years old. ME, Stephanie...28 years old. As I write this sentence, tears once again come instantly to my eyes. Sure I am close to my thirties, and though it gets joked about I am still told again and again how young I am, how I have so much ahead of me still and here...here is Litina, the SAME AGE saying her life is over. That her life no longer matters - yes for the reason so that it won't be over for her children, but still - over?! How do we allow this world, how do we allow men - to define us this way! God created us for so much more.
God created man and women. Man and women - equally out of his continual love and he calls us to follow in these ways of love. The honour of being able to bear and raise children, of being the heart of a home, of bringing love and care into these children's lives, to be models for them - this is what it is to be a women of God. To be a protector and provider, yes, to be strength and light, to bring a consistent flow of love to them, but it is not a job. These women are not just an object, a slave, with no rights or dignity. They deserve so much more, women deserve more. We are all individuals, each with a unique identity, every part of our being was God designed and hand-crafted. We are all special and beautiful beings that Jesus died for.
Latina is no different than I, we are both women created by God. Neither of us deserving to be degraded or abused and yet, at this moment, one of us is. This knowledge of knowing what she lives within each day is heartbreaking and tears at me inside. I am so thankful to know that still she understands God love is for her too. I am thankful that she knows God hasn't abandoned her and that he has a special place waiting just for her.
Latina also shared a story about her sister, who at age 13, was sold into prostitution. Actually, many women are brides at these early ages - 13, 14, 15. The family lied as to where she was, saying she was in a hospital for an accident far away. Latina continually prayed for her sister, never giving up. Today she could share with us that now, her sister is married, has one child and has a good paying job and is no longer having to sell of her body. Latina recognizes the importance of prayer and that it does make a difference, even if for whatever reason, she is still in her own circumstances.
I don't know where to go from here exactly. I am thankful for the relationships we have made with these women, I'm thankful for all who have had a chance to share of God's love to these women. To encourage them again and again and to remind them of their invaluable worth. God has been putting thoughts and ideas on my heart. I don't know what they all mean or where they might go, but I pray that perhaps, this won't be the last time I see these women.
For now, however, they are in my prayers, my heart and my mind. I will miss them so much, as I will miss the children too.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
A 'RESPECT'ful Rollercoaster
Week two in Albania had it’s trials and was certainly a rollercoaster week. For myself personally, I started it off with being sick – only a cold but still finding myself sucked of energy that was certainly needed. However, I wasn’t the only one this week. After a few days a few more of us caught various ailments with one from our team being out of commission for a couple of days. Thankfully on the whole we have all found healing as the week came to an end.
Our theme for this week of camp was on ‘Respect’ with a side of love and compassion. It certainly was a needed theme as it was something we dealt with in various ways during the week. For some reason this week, things were definitely more chaotic, children extra hyper and not as attentive. We changed the layout of our day twice, trying to fill in any extra time that found us standing around, which coincidently happened to be when things became most chaotic. A few personalities changed, we were certainly out of the honeymoon stage – within our group and for the children as well.
It made you really wonder what was happening at home for some of these children. One of the boys who were so helpful last week seemed to have a massive amount of ants in the pants, rarely finding him able to sit for a moment, running this way and that, screaming and rarely following direction. On Friday, another one of our boys (Gjino) strongly acted out, slapping another child and kicking another, meanwhile in the girls group his sister was clingy, emotional and just not at all her smiley self. We found out after one of our guys and our contact had a sit down with the boy and he told them about the horrible nightmare he had gone through the night before. There are 5 in the family and Gjino, the oldest, is the only one with a different father. That night he was on night patrol – trying to be protector, trying to keep his family safe – no sleep for him. His step-father had come home drunk and beat his mother to a pulp. Here is a boy having to watch his mother get beat up by a man that isn’t his father and yet he can do so little. It is so hard to hear and see the consequence of these times in these beautiful children. Gjino is a good boy and so far he has not become completely hardened from his childhood but it could be a matter of time before that changes. I pray not.
On Thursday afternoon, on our way back from camp we sadly came across four of our students already out at the graveyard across the street, having probably been sent out as soon as they arrived at home by a parent or family member. The purpose of being there? To beg. It is cultural practice here when someone passes away that you are suppose to give to the poor, so often children can be found outside of the gates waiting for the families to leave and give of their ‘good deed’. It was so heartbreaking to see our children there. At first we were so dumbfounded we didn’t know how to react, finally making up some sandwiches and just spending what would have been our down time to relax from the long day with these beautiful children. It was certainly worth the trade-off. I gave one of the sandwiches to a girl named Sona, who is not from our camps, gave her a hug when she appeared receptive to it and then found her locked to my hand and side for the next hour. She was so shy at first but as we began playing games of Stella-Stella-Ola and thumb wars, she came alive.
Friday evening we headed into the mountains to visit another area where one of the families lived. These three girls only started coming to camp this week and already I have fallen in love with them. So shy to start as well they too are quick to give and receive a hug and smile. The family they come from are considered to be the bottom of the barrel and they know it too. They are the poorest of a certain collection of related families and it was rather apparent as they hadn’t had a bath in quite some time. One of our team helped give them bathes and pick out the many lice that had found home in their tossled hair. The area where they come from is quite the walk away and has no running water and only two porta potties for 6 families (in the past there were 20 families). We visited in their ‘house’, which was a room no larger than a typical classroom inside of a large concrete building with very few working windows to keep out the cold. I was somewhat surprised and thankful to see that this room wasn’t as awful as I had imagined it could be but to say the least, still completely unsatisfactory for living standards. They did have a number of couches that were their beds as well. Not sure how they were able to afford them (outside of begging) but am thankful to know the girls are not sleeping on the ground. Another gave a short testimony, we shared a time of prayer, thanked them and were on our way.
Today, on our day off we had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to Macedonia and enjoying the beautiful town of Ohrid. What a great day, though I am thoroughly exhausted now. It was so wonderful to experience this vibrant place, of many contrasts to Pogredec and only approx. 30 km away. It was wonderful to see, smiles and laughter all around, men and women together, hand holding and just plain respect for one-another. Surprisingly, many spoke English as well, which was helpful. I’m thankful to God how he has blessed us to see the many good things amongst the not so pleasant.
We only have one week left of camps, two weeks left total. Tomorrow we will be moving out to a different spot as others are arriving Sunday night to stay where we have been. It will be sad to move from this spot as we have gotten to know the faces of the people of this area, grocery shopping amongst the same store owners each day. We will be clear across town near to where we hold camps, so I doubt we will find ourselves out this way too often again, unless we have an urge to go to the gypsy market which is right around the corner and of course the neighbourhoods we visit are out this way too. Well, I guess we will see
Thanks again so much for your continued support in prayers and in love. I hope you are all doing well at home too. Love you all!
Our theme for this week of camp was on ‘Respect’ with a side of love and compassion. It certainly was a needed theme as it was something we dealt with in various ways during the week. For some reason this week, things were definitely more chaotic, children extra hyper and not as attentive. We changed the layout of our day twice, trying to fill in any extra time that found us standing around, which coincidently happened to be when things became most chaotic. A few personalities changed, we were certainly out of the honeymoon stage – within our group and for the children as well.
It made you really wonder what was happening at home for some of these children. One of the boys who were so helpful last week seemed to have a massive amount of ants in the pants, rarely finding him able to sit for a moment, running this way and that, screaming and rarely following direction. On Friday, another one of our boys (Gjino) strongly acted out, slapping another child and kicking another, meanwhile in the girls group his sister was clingy, emotional and just not at all her smiley self. We found out after one of our guys and our contact had a sit down with the boy and he told them about the horrible nightmare he had gone through the night before. There are 5 in the family and Gjino, the oldest, is the only one with a different father. That night he was on night patrol – trying to be protector, trying to keep his family safe – no sleep for him. His step-father had come home drunk and beat his mother to a pulp. Here is a boy having to watch his mother get beat up by a man that isn’t his father and yet he can do so little. It is so hard to hear and see the consequence of these times in these beautiful children. Gjino is a good boy and so far he has not become completely hardened from his childhood but it could be a matter of time before that changes. I pray not.
On Thursday afternoon, on our way back from camp we sadly came across four of our students already out at the graveyard across the street, having probably been sent out as soon as they arrived at home by a parent or family member. The purpose of being there? To beg. It is cultural practice here when someone passes away that you are suppose to give to the poor, so often children can be found outside of the gates waiting for the families to leave and give of their ‘good deed’. It was so heartbreaking to see our children there. At first we were so dumbfounded we didn’t know how to react, finally making up some sandwiches and just spending what would have been our down time to relax from the long day with these beautiful children. It was certainly worth the trade-off. I gave one of the sandwiches to a girl named Sona, who is not from our camps, gave her a hug when she appeared receptive to it and then found her locked to my hand and side for the next hour. She was so shy at first but as we began playing games of Stella-Stella-Ola and thumb wars, she came alive.
Friday evening we headed into the mountains to visit another area where one of the families lived. These three girls only started coming to camp this week and already I have fallen in love with them. So shy to start as well they too are quick to give and receive a hug and smile. The family they come from are considered to be the bottom of the barrel and they know it too. They are the poorest of a certain collection of related families and it was rather apparent as they hadn’t had a bath in quite some time. One of our team helped give them bathes and pick out the many lice that had found home in their tossled hair. The area where they come from is quite the walk away and has no running water and only two porta potties for 6 families (in the past there were 20 families). We visited in their ‘house’, which was a room no larger than a typical classroom inside of a large concrete building with very few working windows to keep out the cold. I was somewhat surprised and thankful to see that this room wasn’t as awful as I had imagined it could be but to say the least, still completely unsatisfactory for living standards. They did have a number of couches that were their beds as well. Not sure how they were able to afford them (outside of begging) but am thankful to know the girls are not sleeping on the ground. Another gave a short testimony, we shared a time of prayer, thanked them and were on our way.
Today, on our day off we had the wonderful opportunity of traveling to Macedonia and enjoying the beautiful town of Ohrid. What a great day, though I am thoroughly exhausted now. It was so wonderful to experience this vibrant place, of many contrasts to Pogredec and only approx. 30 km away. It was wonderful to see, smiles and laughter all around, men and women together, hand holding and just plain respect for one-another. Surprisingly, many spoke English as well, which was helpful. I’m thankful to God how he has blessed us to see the many good things amongst the not so pleasant.
We only have one week left of camps, two weeks left total. Tomorrow we will be moving out to a different spot as others are arriving Sunday night to stay where we have been. It will be sad to move from this spot as we have gotten to know the faces of the people of this area, grocery shopping amongst the same store owners each day. We will be clear across town near to where we hold camps, so I doubt we will find ourselves out this way too often again, unless we have an urge to go to the gypsy market which is right around the corner and of course the neighbourhoods we visit are out this way too. Well, I guess we will see
Thanks again so much for your continued support in prayers and in love. I hope you are all doing well at home too. Love you all!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
An Emotional Week in Albania
Well, we’ve just finished our first week of summer camps and it has been quite the week on so many levels. Emotions run with joy, love, compassion, hope but sadly mixed with anger, frustration, and sadness.
As you know, myself along with two others, have come to Pogradec, Albania (which borders on Macedonia and Greece) leading 12 students. This past week, we have had our realities turned upside down, our ground shaken and our hearts completely broken by a group of 24 Roma and Albanian children who come to our day camp from 9 in the morning till 1:30p.m every day.
Perhaps part of it comes from the fact that we are so blessed to see the same children each day, getting to know them more and more, having the opportunity to feed into their lives God’s love and our own. Possibly from knowing a little of where they are coming from and yet at awe that over just a short matter of time, the trust many of them have built up with us seen as they run towards us when they first arrive, ready for great big hugs and a smile. It’s enough to bring tears to your eyes – often – which is what happens to most (then having to try and hide it right away).
Several of the children that have come to our camp have been children of special needs. One boy is Xhulio. He has a brilliant and alert mind, the most beautiful smile, but his deteriorating body imprisons him. Save a miracle, muscular dystrophy will take his life in 2 years or less. He loves to watch the boys play futbal and often we throw a green ball back and forth as it just fits in his palm perfectly. He loves to spin the globe with his tiny hands, pointing at Canada and Albania. A few nights ago, Sue dreamt that he was running.Klyde is 24 years old but has the mind of a young boy. We have been paired up three of the days this past week and already I have a strong fondness for him. He can be rather intimidating to a few in our group, due to his large physique and powerful clap and voice but he really is just a big teddy bear with a great sense of humour. He loves giving me high fives and big smiles. His footing is a little off so as we walk to the park to join others, with our hands and arms interlocked for just an added balance and guidance. I have had the pleasure to also meet his mother, who runs a little ‘convenient shop’ and they look so much like each other.
Desi is a tomboy. Her first day she joined us in the boys group and had a ball but by the next she found herself with the girls, pouting when the boys run off to play futbal and she has to stay and do crafts (I DO feel for her!). She is wonderfully theatrical and uses her limited but improving English to constantly entertain us. Desi’s mother has left her and her 3 siblings to marry another man and start a new family. Somedays, Desi shows up talking about how her brother wants to take her to Greece. We all know what happens in Greece, and so does Desi. It is a situtation that has caused much stress and upset in our group as we have become so fond of Desi.
Sheila’s (pronounced like Swalla) mother is in town, which means high alert. Her mother is a working lady, a victim of trafficking. Sheila has 10 aunts and uncles and 6 of them are working the streets. Grandma is the trafficker. What is the point of awareness campaigns and educating potential victims when grandma is the trafficker? Sheila found a way out when she was just 3 years old when a loving family adopted her. The reality, however (and what really hits hard) for the rest of the children, is that they just might not show up for the next days camp.
There are so many more children and so many more stories to share. I have been with the boys group this whole week and have just fallen in love with them, despite their hardness or roughness as it is so evident that there is a little child who just wants to be loved and appreciated behind the front. I think of Gjino, a 14 year old who has a tendency to throw a ‘fake’ punch but knowing full-well he has to be on his best behaviour or he won’t be allowed to come back and he is. Everyday I receive a smile and a big hug from this child who tries to act like a man. Marius, the singer, Dorione, the helper, little Klaidi who is just so adorable, Franco the dancer and the list goes on.
Though a rest this weekend was very much needed it is hard to not see their faces, praying throughout that we will see each one of them again come Monday. That they won’t be thrown out on the street to beg, the girls won’t have been trafficked or stolen away.
Our theme for this past week was identity, talking about how special they are, how they each were created by a loving father and good Shepherd who if even one of his sheep disappeared would stop to search till it was found and then celebrate. We talked about destiny – what we want to be when we grow up. For us, it is a fact that we have the pleasure of dreaming big, knowing with effort we can reach those dreams, but for these kids, they aspire to be a taxi driver at best, but in reality, most will beg, dive in dumps, or worse, become the traffickers themselves.
What I have shared with you may seem hopeless, something we have struggled with and talked about this a fair bit in our group. Again I am so thankful to know our God, to know him as loving and compassionate, as the Great Shepherd who looks after his sheep. We have hope in what God is doing in this area already and trust in that there is more to come in the future. Sadly, it may not come in the time that we wish for but it will come. The lost won’t be lost forever; this is God’s promise to us. Since our contact here first arrived over 10 years ago, already Christian schools have started, camps and women’s seminars. You can see change already. My hope is that as we have the opportunity to feed love into these children, that perhaps this next generation as they begin their own families, won’t be so quick to continue the tie of abuse. That is my prayer for them, that there will be love and respect between men, women and children.
As a group, we understand that every minute that these children are with us, they are NOT being beat by their fathers, they are not begging on the streets, and they are not being shipped across the borders. This knowledge of knowing that by serving them, by persuing whole-heartedly for the protection of their innocence, that for one more day they can be the children they are meant to be. It is the best we can give them for today. It is my hope.
As I wrap up for this week, I kindly ask once again to keep these children in your prayers, the children of Pogredec, of Albania and please pray for our group, for strength to continually live out God’s love, despite our hearts being so broken for these children.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Pogredec, Albania
After a few days here I thought I would share a few observations:
• There is a big lake here and is considered the tourist town of Albania (more so for Albanians) as there is little pollution here…however, that doesn’t include the lake that we have been advised to sadly, not swim in. Why? Well apparently that’s where ALL the sewage pipes drain into…sigh!
• Between 6-7pm, people come out for there evening beach front stroll
• After an evening out walking along the beach front and sitting to enjoy our first Albanian meal, I observed that there were many men and very few women about. So where are the women? Apparently at home preparing house/food for the men when they come home. Women, sadly, are not held with high respect here and are mainly for keeping house and children. Also horribly sad, family abuse is the norm.
• You will rarely, if ever, see a women and man walking together. It is either men with men, women with women or women with children.
• Girls (and children) go missing often, though more so outside the town out in the country, many Roma women and children.
• Widowed women are required to mourn for an allotted amount of time (can’t remember exactly how long) and you will notice many older women wearing all black. This is because as a widow they are required to wear black for the rest of their lives.
• As a team, we mostly travel in threes at a minimum, as you can never walk as just one man and one woman as to the Albanian people that declares that you are married.
• It is not wise to climb a mountain in the middle of the day…or at least make sure you have more than enough water, lol. The view however, of the town is spectacular! And at the top is a great place to pray over the city.
• YWAM has done a lot in Albania but as things that have been around for awhile (since the borders opened 15 years ago), even though still just as important as when it first started, have a much harder time finding funding for the ever so important projects, like Christian schooling and church plants and orphanages. People get bored, they want something new and exciting, its sad, but its how we are.
• I’m incredibly excited for our time here and for our day camps. I look forward to sharing this time with you and sharing many more stories. Please pray for us in this week that we can be loving servants and the face of Jesus to these children. Pray for patience and flexibility as well.
Breakfast in Amsterdam, Dinner in Ukraine (quote spoken by Sue…first)
It’s been nearly a week since we departed from Toronto and I can easily say that it was actually one of the best weeks of traveling I have ever encountered! God is good, no joking around this time We prayed for smooth sailing and that is exactly what we had – and more!
We caught all our connecting flights and our only hiccup (as far as hostels go) worked for the better.
Arrived in Amsterdam and connected with friends and family – first my friend Alef (from my DTS) arrived about an hour after we did and then an hour after that family, Ab and Henny arrived and we all spent a few most enjoyable hours (even through only having slept for 2 hours during our short night).
From Amsterdam we flew to Ukraine, grabbed three taxi vans (at cheaper price and quicker transportation than the bus/train) and headed to our first hostel for our 24 hour stay over in Kiev. To our discovery they had no reservation for us, but God has sent us an Angel in our one driver – who bluntly told us, this was not a good area anyhow and helped us find a much better host…Centrally Located! Not only was that the name of the hostel but it was and it was even 2 Euros cheaper/person. It was beautiful, our view reminded me of my stay in Argentina. From our driving what we saw of the city has made us excited for our return.
After a great nights sleep, we headed back to the airport (having reserved our previous drivers for a scheduled time pickup) and flew to Budapest.
Having a 6 ½ hour layover, we gave the choice to the team to head out and enjoy the city. Nine of us chose to go in (well the others enjoyed the time to sleep some more and use the wireless internet) and we grabbed two taxis at 25 Euros/car/one way - not bad at all! It was amazing to be back in Budapest, having been there just 10 years previously (Ukraine as well) on my Summer Missions Project trip with CRWRC. What an anniversary It was so great to see the many familiar sights. We had 3 wonderful hours to spend in this amazingly old, historical architecturally city. We also had the chance to enjoy a true Hungarian dinner – pickled cabbage and Gulash with bread and for dessert – the amazing ice cream I’ve remembered all these years. What a treat!
We arrived back at the airport with plenty of time to catch our final flight that took us to Tirana, Albania. We were instantly met by our contact Sherry outside of customs and were swept away to our stay (for 2 nights) at the “Hope for Albania” missionary foundation housing. It was a late night, or rather early morning when we finally went to sleep, waking up nice and late for a TRUE DUTCH breakfast! Another treat. The couple of the house is from Holland and often receive food shipments of Dutch cheese and chocolate sprinkles and peanut butter. What a great way to wake up!
We spent the day in Tirana, Sherry was kind enough to take us on a tour of the city and to tell us her story as well as her part in YWAM arriving in Albania many years previous to spread the gospel and to plant a Church.
We were absolutely mesmerized by the city’s beauty and European feeling. What a beautiful place, everybody comes out in the evening, enjoying the slightly cooler weather at that time, and enjoy some drinks in the square or games of soccer, or other activities in the surrounding grassy areas or just each others company.
On Friday, at about 11am, we finally left for our final destination – Pogredec! It would be approx. 3-4 hour trip…through the MOUNTAINS! And here I was thinking how I missed my summer last year in BC. The scenery was gorgeous! However, it was not without a little nausea for a few, including myself, though it was not too bad. There were many twist and turns and FAR down drop offs that were definitely enough to make anyone’s stomach turn, at least a little.
We finally arrived and were greeted by our contact here as well as the couple who are house managers of the Bible college that we are staying at. Orientation followed and a brief tour of “The Nest” (school where we will be leading daily children’s programs) and of the city.
We certainly were truly blessed this past week and I just praise our God, the Creator of this amazing World. The ultimate Artist, thanks be to Him. Thank you as well for your prayers this past week for our time of travels, as you can tell, they definitely made for a great week.
We caught all our connecting flights and our only hiccup (as far as hostels go) worked for the better.
Arrived in Amsterdam and connected with friends and family – first my friend Alef (from my DTS) arrived about an hour after we did and then an hour after that family, Ab and Henny arrived and we all spent a few most enjoyable hours (even through only having slept for 2 hours during our short night).
From Amsterdam we flew to Ukraine, grabbed three taxi vans (at cheaper price and quicker transportation than the bus/train) and headed to our first hostel for our 24 hour stay over in Kiev. To our discovery they had no reservation for us, but God has sent us an Angel in our one driver – who bluntly told us, this was not a good area anyhow and helped us find a much better host…Centrally Located! Not only was that the name of the hostel but it was and it was even 2 Euros cheaper/person. It was beautiful, our view reminded me of my stay in Argentina. From our driving what we saw of the city has made us excited for our return.
After a great nights sleep, we headed back to the airport (having reserved our previous drivers for a scheduled time pickup) and flew to Budapest.
Having a 6 ½ hour layover, we gave the choice to the team to head out and enjoy the city. Nine of us chose to go in (well the others enjoyed the time to sleep some more and use the wireless internet) and we grabbed two taxis at 25 Euros/car/one way - not bad at all! It was amazing to be back in Budapest, having been there just 10 years previously (Ukraine as well) on my Summer Missions Project trip with CRWRC. What an anniversary It was so great to see the many familiar sights. We had 3 wonderful hours to spend in this amazingly old, historical architecturally city. We also had the chance to enjoy a true Hungarian dinner – pickled cabbage and Gulash with bread and for dessert – the amazing ice cream I’ve remembered all these years. What a treat!
We arrived back at the airport with plenty of time to catch our final flight that took us to Tirana, Albania. We were instantly met by our contact Sherry outside of customs and were swept away to our stay (for 2 nights) at the “Hope for Albania” missionary foundation housing. It was a late night, or rather early morning when we finally went to sleep, waking up nice and late for a TRUE DUTCH breakfast! Another treat. The couple of the house is from Holland and often receive food shipments of Dutch cheese and chocolate sprinkles and peanut butter. What a great way to wake up!
We spent the day in Tirana, Sherry was kind enough to take us on a tour of the city and to tell us her story as well as her part in YWAM arriving in Albania many years previous to spread the gospel and to plant a Church.
We were absolutely mesmerized by the city’s beauty and European feeling. What a beautiful place, everybody comes out in the evening, enjoying the slightly cooler weather at that time, and enjoy some drinks in the square or games of soccer, or other activities in the surrounding grassy areas or just each others company.
On Friday, at about 11am, we finally left for our final destination – Pogredec! It would be approx. 3-4 hour trip…through the MOUNTAINS! And here I was thinking how I missed my summer last year in BC. The scenery was gorgeous! However, it was not without a little nausea for a few, including myself, though it was not too bad. There were many twist and turns and FAR down drop offs that were definitely enough to make anyone’s stomach turn, at least a little.
We finally arrived and were greeted by our contact here as well as the couple who are house managers of the Bible college that we are staying at. Orientation followed and a brief tour of “The Nest” (school where we will be leading daily children’s programs) and of the city.
We certainly were truly blessed this past week and I just praise our God, the Creator of this amazing World. The ultimate Artist, thanks be to Him. Thank you as well for your prayers this past week for our time of travels, as you can tell, they definitely made for a great week.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The JAMM Team
Two of our students will also be writing a blog once a week to give updates on what the group is up to. You can check it out at:
http://jammdts.blogspot.com/
JAMM Cafe - 'Sold' movie
For our JAMM Cafe, our media group filmed and put together a short video clip on the issue of Human Trafficking. Just as a warning, it again is not suitable for young children, but I hope it shows you why we have such a passion for human trafficking especially in sexual exploitation of young women and why want to spread awareness about this horrific issue and be a voice for those whose voices have been silenced.
JAMM Cafe
Well, today was our final JAMM Cafe presentation. I'm so proud of all of them, they put together such a great service filled with urgence to action, love, and hope amongst a difficult issue as Human Trafficking. Below I have included a few of the speeches given by the students on the topic. Enjoy!
What is human trafficking?
Written by Kate Guther (student)
The United Nation defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labour or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery.”
This is also known as the stealing of a humans dignity.
Many of us shudder when we hear the word “slave.” Slavery did not end a hundred years ago. Today we are witnessing the most thriving slave trade in all of history.
Internationally, slave trade is the Third largest illegal business after arms trade and drug trafficking and generates approximately $32 billion a year to put this into perspective:
Apple made $4.8 billion for the year of 2009 which means that the sale of humans generated five times as much profit.
An estimated 27 million people are currently enslaved worldwide. The international labour organization estimates that there are 12.3 million adults and children stuck in forced labour and of those at least 1.39 million are in sexual servitude and most of them are women (wimin) and girls.
2 children sold every minute
Trafficking is right in our backyard.
It's tragic. It's horrific. And it's happening along the quiet 720 kilometers between Prince George and Prince Rupert, a stretch now gruesomely dubbed the Highway of Tears, the place where 510 aboriginal girls have gone missing or murdered since 1980.
More than 500 of the cases have not been fully investigated. Perpetrators remain unpunished
The United Nations have warned Canada to do something about this.
In August 2008, a 17 year old girl and two 16 year old girls, were rescued from an apartment in Gatineau Quebec, one girl was held captive for a year, the other two girls for six months. All three were continually sexually exploited, drugged, beaten and raped throughout their ordeal.
The first person in Canada convicted of human trafficking involving a minor, received a three year sentence for the trafficking of a 15 year old girl but was credited 13 months for pre-trial custody. He made over $350,000 sexually exploiting her over two years before she was able to escape. Essentially he will spend less time in jail than he did exploiting her.
As Kevin Bales author of “Slave Next Door” writes:
"In a country that believes in liberty and justice for all, how can we as Canadians tolerate slavery in our backyard?
What is wrong with our country that it allows slave masters to live - and flourish - untroubled among us? What more can we as citizens do to fix this problem? And what will it take for our government, which serves at the will and for the good of its people, to dedicate the needed resources, both money and personnel, to destroying this evil?”
Hope
Written by Sue Van Daalen (staff)
Have we lost hope? Have we lost hope in making a difference? We certainly do not lack the power, the compassion, the courage of the knowledge…no we lack the hope. But we, we the church have access to a hope that can change everything. This is the same hope that drove Martin Luther King Jr and William Wilberforce; the hope that changes nations. We have hope in a God who hates injustice, who defends the orphan, cries with the widow, walks with the weary, bleeds with the beaten and is captive with the slave. However this hope is not cheap and it’s not easy. But in it’s purest form it has the power to contend with even the most horrific of injustices, the hell we see on earth and in the darkest brothels of our city.
We are beginning already to see glimmers of hope in the thick darkness right here in Toronto. Timea Nagy, sold from Budapest to Toronto, is a survivor and a passionate abolitionist. In partnership with local law enforcement, she has rescued 23 trafficking victims this year, who are all on their way to freedom and rehabilitation.
This is a sign of God’s hope still prevailing.
So let us not become the unwitting hoarders of hope. No! Let us embrace our inheritance of hope. Hope in a God who never becomes numb to the pain and the suffering who hears every cry. For what good is hope if we hide it in the dark corners of our heart?
We put our hope in a God who does far more than sympathize with us, wish us well and be on His way, yes we put our hope in a God who suffers alongside the oppressed.
Translated from Latin, compassion literally means, “To suffer with”; Psalm 146:5-10
Hope in a God of compassion moves us to action! Feed the hungry, clothes the naked, bandage the beaten; free the slaves, fight injustice with injustice!
How
Written by Janet Bulle (student)
Our group will be traveling this summer to Albania and Ukraine, which are two main source and destination countries for victims of human trafficking. Women and girls from Eastern Europe are at the highest risk of being trafficked. Poverty stricken, unemployed and desperately trying to care for their family, what woman could turn down a job opportunity in the west? We will be serving alongside organizations and individuals who have dedicated their lives to preventing the most vulnerable from being victimized such as the Roma Gypsies and orphans. We also hope to raise awareness through media presentations about this issue in their country. We’re going to get first hand exposure and be broken by the things that break God’s heart and be filled with the hope in the same God who suffers with the oppressed. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, love mercy and walk humble with our God.” Please join us on our journey as we learn to seek justice, and love mercy in Albania and Ukraine.
What is human trafficking?
Written by Kate Guther (student)
The United Nation defines human trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labour or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or slavery.”
This is also known as the stealing of a humans dignity.
Many of us shudder when we hear the word “slave.” Slavery did not end a hundred years ago. Today we are witnessing the most thriving slave trade in all of history.
Internationally, slave trade is the Third largest illegal business after arms trade and drug trafficking and generates approximately $32 billion a year to put this into perspective:
Apple made $4.8 billion for the year of 2009 which means that the sale of humans generated five times as much profit.
An estimated 27 million people are currently enslaved worldwide. The international labour organization estimates that there are 12.3 million adults and children stuck in forced labour and of those at least 1.39 million are in sexual servitude and most of them are women (wimin) and girls.
2 children sold every minute
Trafficking is right in our backyard.
It's tragic. It's horrific. And it's happening along the quiet 720 kilometers between Prince George and Prince Rupert, a stretch now gruesomely dubbed the Highway of Tears, the place where 510 aboriginal girls have gone missing or murdered since 1980.
More than 500 of the cases have not been fully investigated. Perpetrators remain unpunished
The United Nations have warned Canada to do something about this.
In August 2008, a 17 year old girl and two 16 year old girls, were rescued from an apartment in Gatineau Quebec, one girl was held captive for a year, the other two girls for six months. All three were continually sexually exploited, drugged, beaten and raped throughout their ordeal.
The first person in Canada convicted of human trafficking involving a minor, received a three year sentence for the trafficking of a 15 year old girl but was credited 13 months for pre-trial custody. He made over $350,000 sexually exploiting her over two years before she was able to escape. Essentially he will spend less time in jail than he did exploiting her.
As Kevin Bales author of “Slave Next Door” writes:
"In a country that believes in liberty and justice for all, how can we as Canadians tolerate slavery in our backyard?
What is wrong with our country that it allows slave masters to live - and flourish - untroubled among us? What more can we as citizens do to fix this problem? And what will it take for our government, which serves at the will and for the good of its people, to dedicate the needed resources, both money and personnel, to destroying this evil?”
Hope
Written by Sue Van Daalen (staff)
Have we lost hope? Have we lost hope in making a difference? We certainly do not lack the power, the compassion, the courage of the knowledge…no we lack the hope. But we, we the church have access to a hope that can change everything. This is the same hope that drove Martin Luther King Jr and William Wilberforce; the hope that changes nations. We have hope in a God who hates injustice, who defends the orphan, cries with the widow, walks with the weary, bleeds with the beaten and is captive with the slave. However this hope is not cheap and it’s not easy. But in it’s purest form it has the power to contend with even the most horrific of injustices, the hell we see on earth and in the darkest brothels of our city.
We are beginning already to see glimmers of hope in the thick darkness right here in Toronto. Timea Nagy, sold from Budapest to Toronto, is a survivor and a passionate abolitionist. In partnership with local law enforcement, she has rescued 23 trafficking victims this year, who are all on their way to freedom and rehabilitation.
This is a sign of God’s hope still prevailing.
So let us not become the unwitting hoarders of hope. No! Let us embrace our inheritance of hope. Hope in a God who never becomes numb to the pain and the suffering who hears every cry. For what good is hope if we hide it in the dark corners of our heart?
We put our hope in a God who does far more than sympathize with us, wish us well and be on His way, yes we put our hope in a God who suffers alongside the oppressed.
Translated from Latin, compassion literally means, “To suffer with”; Psalm 146:5-10
Hope in a God of compassion moves us to action! Feed the hungry, clothes the naked, bandage the beaten; free the slaves, fight injustice with injustice!
How
Written by Janet Bulle (student)
Our group will be traveling this summer to Albania and Ukraine, which are two main source and destination countries for victims of human trafficking. Women and girls from Eastern Europe are at the highest risk of being trafficked. Poverty stricken, unemployed and desperately trying to care for their family, what woman could turn down a job opportunity in the west? We will be serving alongside organizations and individuals who have dedicated their lives to preventing the most vulnerable from being victimized such as the Roma Gypsies and orphans. We also hope to raise awareness through media presentations about this issue in their country. We’re going to get first hand exposure and be broken by the things that break God’s heart and be filled with the hope in the same God who suffers with the oppressed. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of us? To do justice, love mercy and walk humble with our God.” Please join us on our journey as we learn to seek justice, and love mercy in Albania and Ukraine.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Thank You!
Well, today was our final day of lectures in this JAMM DTS and next Monday, June 7 finds 15 of us flying off for outreach. How time has flown by these last 3 months. I still feel like I just came back from my own DTS and now I am already moving out of Port Credit.
We are a group of 12 students (3 guys) and 3 staff heading to Albania for our first month and to Ukraine for our final month. When we leave on Monday we will be traveling nearly 4 days to get to our first destination, which may even include sleeping overnight in an airport in Kiev, Ukraine. Please pray for safety and that we will catch all are connecting flights.
We will be staying in Pogradec, Albania and will help run a day camp out of 'The Nest', a home for Roma Children (some rescued from trafficking clutches), the nearby park and the area school grounds. This will put our team in daily contact with some of the most vulnerable kids there. A few other items we will also be involved with are: prayer walks, leading open air evangelism, home Bible studies with Roma families, Art Therapy lessons, etc.
Our second month will be in the capital city of Ukraine in Kiev. Here we will be bringing with us an awareness program, collaborating with a group that is already building up a program to bring awareness to young women about Human Trafficking and how to keep from getting trapped into the web of this nightmarish issue.
Two of the students (Richard and Ali) and one staff (Heather) are heading off to Vancouver for their outreach time as they are unable to leave the country at this time, due to applying for permanent residency and refugee status in Canada. They will be working with Missions Adventures in the heart of Vancouver. They will be sadly missed as they are a big part of our group but we wish them a great time and will keep them in our prayers as well.
Finally, I just wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU ALL who have been such a great support to me over these last couple of years and have followed along on my journey that God has called me into. Your constant prayers have made such an impact on my life in so many ways and I just thank you so much for continuing to keep me, and those I am with, in your prayers. Also I thank you for your cards and words of encouragements. I am only able to do what I do when I am inline with Gods calling and also the support of my community. Each are an equally important element. So again I THANK YOU! May you be blessed as you have continually blessed me.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Too Busy
Life . . . is busy.
It makes me wonder, however, what is it busy with? Have I made the most out of my busyness, have I used my time for myself, to make things better for myself or did I use it to serve others?
It hit me this morning, while reading my devotions. I feel like I hear the words "too busy" so often. From myself, from students, from friends, from people in the Church . . . I think from pretty much just about anybody.
Is busyness crippling? Is it a result of our individualistic nature that we find ourselves so embedded in? Everything seems to be all about 'me' now. We are fed this line everywhere we go. It's about what makes 'us' happy, what fulfills my wants, desires, needs. We are a hardworking society, which is not all-together a bad thing but if it is on account of sacrificing relationships or having time to help those around you . . . well . . . what do you think?
"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave" (Philippians 2:5-7, NLT). Paul tells us what our attitude should be; "Don't be selfish . . . Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too" (Philippians 2:3-4, NLT).
Over the last few weeks, our group has often talked about how yes we stop to talk to a homeless person in Toronto, handing them a bagged lunch, but all of this is during our alloted outreach time each week. What about outside of that time? Do we find ourselves stopping in the same way to sit and just chat for a bit? or are we headed to our destination in haste having no time to take a moment for another. I know I, myself, have done this many times. We all have our excuses as to why we don't have enough time . . . but it makes me think that God is bigger than our excuses, he sees right through them and though he does not condemn us in them, he continues to encourage us to walk in his ways, to love our neighbour as ourselves to the point of putting their needs ahead of ours. Anything less, simply put, would be unchristian and disobedient.
I like this one paragraph in my readings this morning, that really ties in that I would like to share with you:
"I think of how Jesus lived. I've heard many a sermon on what a busy man Jesus must have been. I'm not so sure about that. He had many demands pressing in on him from every direction, but he wasn't busy in the same way we are. He wasn't running from meeting to meeting or from practice to practice. He very well might have spent many nights sitting with a group of friends over dinner, lingering for hours and hours, just talking about life. By today's standards, that might even be called lazy and self -indulgent. But what mattered to Jesus was people - listening to them, loving them, and helping them. He was busy with the slow work of taking time to care for people. He was never too busy to stop and help someone" (A. Van Schooneveld, Hope Lives, p30).
That is my prayer, that I will learn to never be too busy to stop and help someone in need. This is part of my journey in following Jesus and his call on my life. To put aside my own wants, to put aside the ways of western society that have dictated my life for so long, so that I can follow God to the fullest. This is a process, one that he will continually help me with and through and there will be many times still that I will fumble and fall short but thankfully God is patient and he will continually encourage me and help me in this. What a wonderful Father we have, that Jesus might come and be like one of us to show us the true meaning of relationship and the utmost importance it has in our lives and in the lives of all our neighbours.
I encourage you . . .
Don't be too busy!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Constance
As we are preparing for our first JAMM Cafe this coming Sunday, going through various information and facts on Human Trafficking I remembered back to one of the projects I worked on with my group and presented on my DTS. In it my group discovered a music video entitled, "Constance." We instantly found it incredibly moving and wanted to include it in our presentation. It shows a 'closer to home' side of human trafficking.
Watching it again and sharing it with the girls in my room, I felt I wanted to include it in my blog. Constance is a story about a girl in the Philippines victimized by Human Trafficking. It was created by Mr. J Medeiros. It has inspired an international human rights movement called the "Constance Campaign." Mr. J spearheaded the movement, and has partnered with Non-Profit's like XXXChurch and HumanTrafficking.org.
Though the video doesn't show anything, it does elude to things that may be uncomfortable and not suitable for young children.
Lyrics:
1st verse:
An old man vacationing, he stands patiently
under a hotel sign that blinks vacancy
he’s thinking maybe he’s too late to make the drop off
till a truck coming his way breaks and stops short
and now he's out of sorts and you can see he’s sorta nervous
walking to the passenger door to meet his ordered service
this is someone’s daughter working blames his conscience
when the driver says “she’s my youngest, her name is Constance”
he comments “and its only 6 dollars per visit
just don’t leave any marks on her, it hurts business”
thought for a minute and he confessed “that’s fair”
since it was three dollars less then his cab fare.
“how old are you honey” she says “I’m thirteen.”
her nose was runny, its raining in the Philippines
he handed over the money in a chilling scene
the truck drives off and now he’s on the hunt to kill her dreams
the sign reads no vacancy, he leads Constance to a room
he has rented for taping see,
he’s about to turn six into six thousand
and all you have to do is click on your web browser
its not illegal to use raping as cash crop
as long as it says she’s 18 on your laptop
the sound of rain is her backdrop laying there
like she’s waiting for somebody to say they care
while the tears of God fall down the window pain
she feels unholy like her Father doesn’t know her name
Marry Magdalene and the Woman At The Well
He knows everything that happened and in His arms she fell.
hook:
repeat x2
in his arms she fell
will you stay with me
2nd verse
He’s 21 and all alone in his household
he’s tempted by the quiet he feels and the mouse he holds
the silence of his spouse is cold
so he’s about to help that man get his six thousand gold
one click and now she’s sold
withholding his conscience scrolling through the comments
there she is looking confident a picture of Constance
in a series of video clips, “adult content”
the title blinks in bold letters like the vacancy sign
its his time to go get her
its like his mind doesn’t know better
her soul is crying out “let me go” but he wont let her
he got her trapped inside his media player
held captive by his need to replay her
its a matter of he being here and she being there
that’s why he doesn’t feel the need to care
guilt is in the seed he bares
spilling his shares of the profit
on a 500 million dollar market
where children are regarded as product
and traded like stock tips
and raped for the sake of our pockets
his lap top sits like a window into Constance room
where he exits cause its almost noon
and he’s expecting his wife home soon
with new clothes for the baby
she’d be angry if she saw his new lady
a thirteen year old Filipino named Constance
trust me girl God has not forgotten
He knew Marry Magdalene and the Woman at the Well
He knows everything that happened and in His arms she fell
hook:
repeat x2
in his arms she fell
will you stay with me
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Walk With Me Fundraiser
Part of our focus for this particular DTS is on Justice issues but Human Trafficking in particular.
On Thursday, April 15, our group had the opportunity to serve at an awards fundraiser given by the organization Walk With Me. One of the other staff was heavily involved in putting together this fundraiser, along with a women named Timea. Timea Nagy is a sex trafficking victim who was trafficked into Toronto, in 1998 and started this organization.
(If you want to read more about her story you can read about it at: www.walk-with-me.org).
The purpose of the ceremony was to thank a number of people who have been really involved fighting human trafficking, going above and beyond their job descriptions.
A number of law enforcement officers, police chiefs, vice units,rcmps, detectives, all with incredible and inspiring stories of the difference a few committed people can make.
Joy Smith, who is a member of parliament was there. She is a strong advocate and voice for justice issues, currently trying to pass a bill in parliament (C268) for a minimum sentence for trafficking children.
(To see more on this: http://www.albertalawreview.com/index.php/alr/supplement/view/Bill%20C%20268%20Minimum%20Sentences%20for%20Child%20Trafficking
http://www.joysmith.ca/index.asp?ID=76&cat_ID=1)
In addition, there were a number of trafficking victims there who spoke. Jessie Fosters - a Canadian girl, trafficked into the states a couple years ago and still unable to be found - her mother was there. Her case has brought a lot of light from the media on human trafficking.
It was an amazing evening to be a part of and incredibly inspiring and hopeful as well. There is so much need and so many different ways to fight and get involved. A number of the attendees in the room, simply had opened up their houses to taking these girls in after they had been rescued. They treated these girls with the love and respect they were very much in need of.
Human Trafficking is an issue that can't be swept under the carpet anymore, here in Canada. It is an issue that we need to start spreading awareness of. To open our eyes to the fact that this isn't just an issue 'out there' but rather right here in our own areas, in our own towns! First natives have been stolen and trafficked for years but you rarely hear of it. Women from Eastern Europe and all over are being trafficked right into our strip clubs and brothels. They have been mixed in with those who 'choose' this profession but it is hard to tell the difference as they all 'look' the same and put the same fake smile on - but they have no choice, they know what will happen if they don't. Please continually keep these women and children in your prayers and spread awareness of this issue and pray that we can start protecting these victims in our Country by encouraging our Gov't to put bills in place for minimum sentencing on the Traffickers.
(If you want to read more about her story you can read about it at: www.walk-with-me.org).
The purpose of the ceremony was to thank a number of people who have been really involved fighting human trafficking, going above and beyond their job descriptions.
A number of law enforcement officers, police chiefs, vice units,rcmps, detectives, all with incredible and inspiring stories of the difference a few committed people can make.
Joy Smith, who is a member of parliament was there. She is a strong advocate and voice for justice issues, currently trying to pass a bill in parliament (C268) for a minimum sentence for trafficking children.(To see more on this: http://www.albertalawreview.com/index.php/alr/supplement/view/Bill%20C%20268%20Minimum%20Sentences%20for%20Child%20Trafficking
http://www.joysmith.ca/index.asp?ID=76&cat_ID=1)
In addition, there were a number of trafficking victims there who spoke. Jessie Fosters - a Canadian girl, trafficked into the states a couple years ago and still unable to be found - her mother was there. Her case has brought a lot of light from the media on human trafficking.
It was an amazing evening to be a part of and incredibly inspiring and hopeful as well. There is so much need and so many different ways to fight and get involved. A number of the attendees in the room, simply had opened up their houses to taking these girls in after they had been rescued. They treated these girls with the love and respect they were very much in need of.
Human Trafficking is an issue that can't be swept under the carpet anymore, here in Canada. It is an issue that we need to start spreading awareness of. To open our eyes to the fact that this isn't just an issue 'out there' but rather right here in our own areas, in our own towns! First natives have been stolen and trafficked for years but you rarely hear of it. Women from Eastern Europe and all over are being trafficked right into our strip clubs and brothels. They have been mixed in with those who 'choose' this profession but it is hard to tell the difference as they all 'look' the same and put the same fake smile on - but they have no choice, they know what will happen if they don't. Please continually keep these women and children in your prayers and spread awareness of this issue and pray that we can start protecting these victims in our Country by encouraging our Gov't to put bills in place for minimum sentencing on the Traffickers.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Life as a YWAM staffer
Well, its been quite awhile since I have had a chance to write on my blog. Life has been very busy these past 6 weeks since I arrived in Port Credit and came on staff with the JAMM DTS here. As is typical YWAM style it has been a roller coaster ride, with each week being different from the last. It's been so great to get to know the 14 students that have come from all around the world. So much to learn from the variety of cultures!We started the beginning, getting to know each other and hearing testimonies. I have to admit, that is the one thing I hate about YWAM - your reality comes crashing down. You begin to really realize all too often how much we put on happy-go-lucky faces when we walk into Church and pretend everything is all right. I always new this in part but hearing of peoples stories on my DTS and again now amongst this group, the sadness that is in some of their pasts, the SEXUAL abuse that is in MANY of their pasts, its revolting and disgusting and especially just plain sad. We think being within the Church that we should be immune from some of this but it seems as though there is just as much, if not more of these issues within our circles. The only difference is we try to pretend it isn't true and it is not there. There truly is so much brokenness in our homes - thank-goodness though we have such a loving God who is faithful and loving and forgiving and who gives hope in life.
Another thing I have began to understand a bit more in the last while is on the topic of Spiritual Warfare. I came face to face with it a few times on my DTS, it is not fun, it is instills fear. Once a week, every Wednesday, our group heads down to Toronto for outreach. We have linked up with Project 417 out of the Salvation Army building in Regent Park area to hand out bagged lunches. After the first week of orientation, where Joe (the Director of P417) walked us around the various areas around Regent Park to orient our group to Toronto, a number of the students became rather fearful of outreach. Our second week going out, this fear came out in another effect. After finishing the sandwich runs, 2 of the 3 teams were waiting in the Tim Hortons - our meeting spot. A man walked in, walked around and straight through our group and back out the door and a few seconds later came right back in and charged at Joe and punched him right in the face. Everything was all so very sudden, Joe quickly pinning the man down and two of our guys helped holding him. A few of the students were definitely shaken up at first by the events. We even found ourselves giving of witness testimonies as to what had taken place. We discussed it later and again the next day in class, what is Spiritual Warfare and how did that relate to the evening. The man had obvious mental issues and possibly had stopped taken his meds, it seemed very much that there were issues or demons inside and when he passed through our group something just triggered. There was no connection between him or Joe, it was random... Just to note the students are doing better and our last run went really well, but it really makes you more aware. When you are in circles, learning about our Lord, Satan is going to take any and every little fear and spin into something bigger to distract us and pull us away.
I was talking with a friend who made a very good note. Often we stick our children in Christian schools so they have a good Christian upbringing and well, lets face it - we think a safer experience. BUT are we deceiving ourselves to think that wouldn't Satan be all the more in that place? He doesn't want us to learn about God and he is definitely going to do everything in his power to keep us from our Heavenly Father.
Anyhow just a thought.
Well this coming week is definitely going to be an interesting one that I can't wait for. We will be moving out of our 'cozy' apartments here in Port Credit and moving down into a Church on Parliament and Bloor area for our lesson week on "Jesus in the City", where the speaker will be using various exercises of seeing and revealing Jesus in the context of Toronto. It will be a good lead up to our main outreach as it will be interesting to see how the students react to this week. Some of the luxuries of having TV, Internet and a phone at their fingertips won't be available.
Please pray for our group in this week and that they may continually be open to all the God has to share with each one of them.
Friday, March 19, 2010
In Gods Time
So I am moving to Port Credit today. Where is that you say? It's a small town inside of the Mississauga area, right on Lake Ontario. It's cute, it's quaint and it is going to be home for the next few months.
Through a number of stories and events (feel free to ask me some time) God showed me that sometimes things don't happen the way I hope them too or in the time I hope them too. Sometimes we understand and sometimes we don't. I had a missed opportunity (due to being sick) on the outreach that was devastating for me but at the same time I was incredibly thankful my team had the chance to have the experience as apparently it was a pivotal moment on outreach. They had the opportunity to go to a brothel and to witness God's love and to witness a women giving her life over to God there. How wonderful!
Some of my fellow peers, knowing my hearts desire, shared words of encouragement that they knew God would use me still . . . Not in my time, but in his time.
Well, I never imagined that time would come so quickly but God is all powerful and all mighty and he loves us and knows our hearts desires.
While in Barbados I made connections with two people - Anderson, the director of the YWAM in Toronto and Sue, one of the staff there - who also has a heart for those trapped in Human Trafficking.
Once I was back home, I reconnected with them - first finding out about an organization that is in its grass roots to connect Ontario organizations against Human Trafficking, which I later attended a meeting and new this was something I was meant to be a part of. Secondly, I found out that they were still in need of another staff as they were about to begin another DTS school.
And that's how I am ending up in Port Credit! I will be joining their JAMM (Justice, Arts, Music, and Media) DTS as staff, alongside a great team! I'm so excited for this next step that God has put in place for me. I'm excited to be challenged (yes actually I am) in this new way, to step into a discipling leadership role and to be a part of these next students lives (all 15 of them, funny that's the same number as my DTS :) ). We are a staff of 8 and 3 of us, including myself, will be leading this group on their outreach to the Ukraine and Albania for 8 weeks come June. Of course, even more so, I am excited to once again answer Gods call on my life and to walk in footsteps of servanthood.
So that's a little update of what God is doing in my life! God is soo good.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers as well as my team and these next set of students.
Thanks for your continued support!
Through a number of stories and events (feel free to ask me some time) God showed me that sometimes things don't happen the way I hope them too or in the time I hope them too. Sometimes we understand and sometimes we don't. I had a missed opportunity (due to being sick) on the outreach that was devastating for me but at the same time I was incredibly thankful my team had the chance to have the experience as apparently it was a pivotal moment on outreach. They had the opportunity to go to a brothel and to witness God's love and to witness a women giving her life over to God there. How wonderful!
Some of my fellow peers, knowing my hearts desire, shared words of encouragement that they knew God would use me still . . . Not in my time, but in his time.
Well, I never imagined that time would come so quickly but God is all powerful and all mighty and he loves us and knows our hearts desires.
While in Barbados I made connections with two people - Anderson, the director of the YWAM in Toronto and Sue, one of the staff there - who also has a heart for those trapped in Human Trafficking.
Once I was back home, I reconnected with them - first finding out about an organization that is in its grass roots to connect Ontario organizations against Human Trafficking, which I later attended a meeting and new this was something I was meant to be a part of. Secondly, I found out that they were still in need of another staff as they were about to begin another DTS school.
And that's how I am ending up in Port Credit! I will be joining their JAMM (Justice, Arts, Music, and Media) DTS as staff, alongside a great team! I'm so excited for this next step that God has put in place for me. I'm excited to be challenged (yes actually I am) in this new way, to step into a discipling leadership role and to be a part of these next students lives (all 15 of them, funny that's the same number as my DTS :) ). We are a staff of 8 and 3 of us, including myself, will be leading this group on their outreach to the Ukraine and Albania for 8 weeks come June. Of course, even more so, I am excited to once again answer Gods call on my life and to walk in footsteps of servanthood.
So that's a little update of what God is doing in my life! God is soo good.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers as well as my team and these next set of students.
Thanks for your continued support!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Porto Velho - Resseca Community
Well here is the first of a number of entries I hope to make on the various places we visited and on the many things I learned about them. One of my hopes and goals was to learn as much as I could about each place to be able to share what I have learned with you so that you may have ideas of what God is doing in South America. In our final week in Porto Velho, our group had the opportunity, along with a few staff from the base and a few students of Missions Adventures, to go into the Amazon and live alongside the river community people of the Resseca Community. It was quite an amazing experience in that week and I don't think any of us will forget that time...along with the crazy ferry ride that took us to and from. They certainly do pack you in in hammocks on those things. The boat is shorter than I am and they stack you 3 people on top of each other. It definitely made for a fun but long ride :)
We had the opportunity to work with the children there. They are amazing and so beautiful. As well we had the opportunity to help them prepare to redo the roof on the school house. We went deeper into the Amazon jungle to help cut down these specific type of palms they would use for the roof. We split up into many groups, each going with a man from the community and would drag the many branches to our meeting spot and then it was another 30 minute hike back to the little canoe boats we took in, carrying 5-7 palms at once. In total they needed 750 palms for the roof and we actually made this goal in the two days! These were an amazing but extremely exhausting two days. We learned so much, saw into the lives of these people and worked hard and got super muddy!
Louise and his wife are the missionary couple at this community and they have been there working for the last 7 years, arriving in 2003. Over the time there has been many positive changes and advancements in this community. For one, malaria is a big issue in these places and in 2005 they tested 180 people for malaria, a staggering 160 were positive. Since then they have been able to setup a malaria lab, which the community has been a part of and they themselves have become educated in and in 2009 when they tested for malaria, they only had 15 cases the entire year.They held a microscope school in 2009 which included 6 people. At the end they took 3 to look for jobs in the city. 4 people have previously completed this school and found jobs. This is huge for them to have a job in the city, especially in healthcare fields, as those in the river communities are known for their lack of education.
In the last 7 years they have started a Malaria lab, a Pharmacy and even have a place for a Dentist and Doctor. Currently, however, the Dentist only pulls teeth if there is a problem. Their hope is to have some one come with equipment who can actually fix and prevent as well as do fillings and put on braces. The Pharmacy is the best on the river (that starts in Columbia and approximately 150 + communities along) as it has the most medication. There is a Doctor that works in the pharmacy and every 45 days he goes down along the river to check on the people and to attend accordingly and administering medication as needed. They do still need more Doctors and Aid female nurses are definitely needed.
Catholicism is big, sometimes prohibiting their kids from coming to the Christian school they built. They try to work alongside but it doesn’t always work, but the health care has helped to reach them more. God told them to work only with little kids with alphabets even though they may be prohibited to go to church things. They now have 30 members in the church, and the pastor of the church is right from the community and this is huge. He did YWAM and has no previous schooling but studies about parasites and works in the lab as well– and all this is with almost no schooling. Gods work in all ways here.
There are approx. 50, 000 river communities in this place on 3 connecting rivers (black river, wood river and ??). The obstacles that get in the way here are the same as in the big city – prostitution, abuse, drugs, adultery.
There are usually no teachers for the pre-school age and until last June there was only one guy in the clinic. They need doctors, teachers, and economics, those to work with young kids so they don’t get into drugs, and the need for people to come and live here and help. Churches in the area don’t get involved because the communities are too small and therefore not enough to be converted.
Average children for a river community family is 9-10/family as children are gift from God but the problem is there is not enough planting space as the area becomes more built up for these large homes and then not enough food is grown. The young ones have to leave and go to the city. Girls of 16 years already are going into the city into prostitution. Also there are no stores or shopping places anywhere around. The closest one is over 2 hours away or the 9-13 hours to Porto Velho. They grow what produce they can and then have to go into the city to sell and at the same time buy all their necessities to bring back to their communities.
Average children for a river community family is 9-10/family as children are gift from God but the problem is there is not enough planting space as the area becomes more built up for these large homes and then not enough food is grown. The young ones have to leave and go to the city. Girls of 16 years already are going into the city into prostitution. Also there are no stores or shopping places anywhere around. The closest one is over 2 hours away or the 9-13 hours to Porto Velho. They grow what produce they can and then have to go into the city to sell and at the same time buy all their necessities to bring back to their communities.
Louise shared two visions they have for the future. The first being they want to be able to build a water system, which would be built away from the community into the jungle, approximately a 50 min walk to higher level land, where it does not flood. They would need pipelines built that go directly to the housing so that even in flood times (which I believe can last around 5 months) there will be clean, drinking waters. They pretty much lose their clean water during the flood season and end up having no choice but to drink the same water that they use to shower in, pee in, clean with, etc. Thus the reason for the many illnesses. Thankfully though because of the pharmacy they are able to give the children medication against worms twice a year.
Another vision they have is for a school for trades and higher education. A school that would be so great that people from Porto Velho would come for training. They were given this vision 2 years ago and were told that someone would come to help start this school. Well the amazing part of this story is that it appears as though God brought Alef (one of the members of my group) to this community to fulfill this vision. Alef began talking to them as he saw a need for a school there and as he is a teacher and also had begun the process of starting a school in Africa, felt God calling him to do the same for this community. It was truly amazing to see how Alef has been used in this and how excited and amazed the community was to have hope that this vision was now able to begin that process. The goal is to have something started in 2 years time. Please pray for these people and for Alef and for all who are a part of this project. God can and does work and use anybody and everybody to put together his plans for his people.
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