I Can't Ignore It

A year and a half ago when I was at conference in Arizona, I watched this rockumentary that they were showing one night called "Call + Response." It opened my eyes to the horrible reality of modern day slavery like I had never seen before. I knew about it, but watching this reality was devastating and angering, causing me to hardly cease thinking about it and wonder what part I might play in raising awareness and bringing this tragedy to an end.

Four months after that, I went to the Passion Conference in Atlanta with my sister Emily and some friends. One of the main focuses of Passion is bringing justice to our broken world, which they call Do Something Now. All the students at the conference have an opportunity to learn about and support organizations doing Kingdom work around the world, showing the love of God by bringing justice and hope in His name. One of the many great organizations represented there was called Not For Sale. This particular cause caught my eye like none of the others. The reality of freeing young girls who have been violently forced into sex slavery was so beautiful to me, a picture of how Christ loves us and rescues us in our complete helplessness to do anything to change ourselves.

In the weeks and months and now year that has past, this cause has never ceased to be heavy on my heart. I always prayed and prayed but there was a helpless feeling in me that wouldn't go away. I've realized that the enemy wants to use this evil to depress me and make me angry, but God wants to use this evil to bring Life and Hope in Him.

I just recently finished a book called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, and it has brought this horrid reality back to life again, but in a beautiful way, just like organizations such as Not For Sale are doing. This novel is based off of the book of Hosea in the Bible, and this story is a beautiful analogy of the Father's unconditional love through a girl being brought out of prostitution and learning how to love and be loved. With this beautiful story always on my mind, I came across this blog and read this all too real account of someone who learned (only a very small fraction) of what it's like to be enslaved like this, which was an event put on by Not For Sale in effort to make this potentially "sad story" into a reality and make us see that this is REAL and happening RIGHT NOW. Sex trafficking is the third largest crime worldwide, and there are more slaves today than in any point in our history.

I wanted to share this because it's all too easy for me to hear a sad story and then think that feeling bad is all I can do. That not thinking about it will make it go away. That thinking because I can't change everything means I shouldn't change anything. That thinking it's ok to feel badly then lift my spirits by doing something that I enjoy.

The bottom line is, it's not ok. It's not ok for our hearts to not be broken for the things that break the Father's heart. This issue for me is the ultimate "Do to others as you would like them to do to you" (Luke 6:31). If I was in this position, would I not want someone to speak up for me, to bring me hope and freedom in this vicious cycle of death? This may seem like a foreign issue to some, but the reality is that one of the largest sex trafficking locations is right here in the US in the city of Denver, Colorado. How can I worry about if I'm having a good hair day or if my house is clean or what football team will win the Superbowl (which, by the way, the Superbowl is a major attraction for sex trafficking- read here). How?! How can I go about my easy life and completely ignore God's command in Proverbs 31 to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice."

"Maybe sex slavery still exists and will continue to exist because we're too comfortable and the thought of little girls being forced to have sex all day and night it too much for our delicate senses..."

So, I encourage you, don't turn away from this because it's easier and less painful to do so. I encourage you to pray for the perpetrators of this crime. Pray that their hearts will be changed and that they will seek justice. Pray for the victims, that they will be freed and turn to their loving Father who alone can turn their ashes into beauty. Support organizations working to end slavery such as The Restavek Freedom Foundation and Not For Sale.

"Wake up child, it's your time to shine, you were born for such a time as this."

Dad's Surprise 60th Birthday Cruise!!!

For the past 7 months, my mom had been preparing a cruise to the Bahamas for my dad's sixtieth birthday. It was really a double surprise for my dad- he found out we were going to the Bahamas when we showed up at the dock by the huge ships. Then a few hours later we were going to a "welcoming session" on the cruise where some of my family's closest friends from all over the map gathered to surprise him! We all had an awesome week spending time with each other. It was great for my family's friends to all meet each other and be able to put names to faces. Having everyone together really reminded me that we are blessed with some of the greatest friends in the world, andthat was only a small part of them! The only family we missed were Andrew and Jen who couldn't make it because their twins Rory and Bri were too little.... by about a week! :( But we still had an amazing time and were thankful for those who could make it. My dad was so surprised by all of it!

Dad and his brothers- older brother John and younger brother Tom

Nassau- Going to Atlantis!

Snorkeling at Great Stirrup Cay Island!

The last night of the trip, everyone gathered in my parent's suite to share a few words about Dad. Do we have some encouraging friends! Every word that our dear friends shared about him that night was so true and not only was it a blessing for my dad to hear, but also for the rest of us. Several people shared Scripture that reminded them of Dad, and each one was different yet so true about him. To all of my dad's friends, whether you were there for his sixtith or not- I'm so thankful for you!

Here are a few qualities of my dad that I'm really grateful for:

- My dad is the picture of calm in the midst of chaos. With nine children (currently ten with our foster son) six grandchildren, and his busy life that he has to manage which has him all over the map on a regular basis, he somehow keeps his calm, even when others around him freak out, he has a way of staying peaceful, being a constant example of how God desires us to live.

"Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace." -Psalm 37:37

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:1

- My dad's patience is amazing. When it should be so easy to lose patience with so many things going on at once, he is an example patience whether it's with nagging and bickering little kids, frustrating older kids, or any other number of circumstances and people that life brings him. I lose my patience in a flash, and this is something that I'm really trying to work on! I'm thankful that I have Dad's example to look to.

"Love is patient, love is kind...." -1 Corinthians 13:4

- The grace that my dad has is something that I'm always encouraged by. When I'm scared to tell him something, I always realize after the fact that I shouldn't have been. Instead of being angry at me when he so easily could be at times, he thanks me for coming to him and encourages me in ways that we can solve the situation. What a Christ-like example that is for me to see. It encourages me to keep moving forward, and to show grace to others.

"It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace....." -Hebrews 13:9

"But He gives us more grace. That is why the Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" - James 4:6

- I never hear my dad complain. No matter how much he is wronged, he keeps graciously moving forward. The most profound time when I saw this quality in him was three years ago (but I didn't fully realize it until much more recently) when he was paralyzed and had to re-gain all of his leg strength and learn to walk again, which was a long and hard journey. Not once did I see him go to "why me?" After all, my dad is a hard-working man who is always looking out for the best of others and has active children and grandchildren and desires to be a part of their lives. He was the last person in my opinion who should've been "punished" with this trial. But looking back on the situation, I see God's purpose in it. My dad can walk better now than he could've before the injury. He was a living example to all of us to never complain but to keep you head up with a positive attitude because God has a plan, even if we can't see it. When I broke my ankle eight months ago, something so minor in comparison, I was constantly able to look at my dad's example when I just felt like complaining at its inconvenience.

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation'..." - Philippians 2:14-15

-Dad always puts the needs of others before himself. He joyfully serves those around him without ever thinking what he wants or will make him the happiest. He could have chosen to live an easy and carefree life, but he and my mom chose to pour their lives into us (their kids) and everyone else God has placed in their lives. When it's easier to just say no, Dad chooses to take the harder path because he's not looking to satisfy what he wants, but rather how he can help those whom God has put in his life. He sees the bigger picture. He's storing his treasures in heaven. He gets it. My dad really gets it.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:10

Happy 60th Dad. May God bless to with many more years to be a light and encouragement in the darkness.

Antsy

I can't sleep tonight. As I was just laying here thinking and praying into these wee hours of the morning, trying to calm down, my mind just kept racing, and even though I know that I need sleep and I wish that I could be snoring away like my sister next to me and my little brothers and sisters down the hall, it seems like the more I try to sleep, the more I keep thinking about these things, on top of the thousand other thoughts and prayers that I already have about the people of the world, this is what's going on at this particular moment.

• For one, it is my first night in Sanibel in a year, and I can't wait to wake up in the morning and go for a run in the beautiful weather WITHOUT ice and snow and WITHOUT wearing three layers and gloves and a hat! I know I need good rest for a good run, but this is obviously a little too exciting!
• Two, tomorrow we go to Miami for my dad's surprise 60th birthday present. and since it's a surprise, I can't say what it is until it happens! But that is the main reason for my lack of sleep- I'm so excited for it!!!
• Three, I left my camera's memory card reader back home in PA, so I am really bummed that I won't be able to download pictures from the Philadelphia Flower Show that I went to with some of my siblings and relatives the night before I came here and all the rest of the pictures that are to be taken here until I get home. Unless Abby comes to save the day and has brought hers. I just wish it was morning so I could ask her!
• Four, I really miss Ace. I've never been in this house without him, and it's just weird. Everything here oddly reminds me of him. Sabibel is great and all, but I don't like it as much without him and even though he's only a dog, I'm finding it very hard to sleep without him and am being reminded of all those freezing cold night in Guatemala when I just wished that I could magically turn one of my pillows into him.
• Five, I'm reading a really good book called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's one of the best books I've ever read, and I'm not normally a fan of novels. But I'll tell you what, I think you should read it! I'm at a really good point in the book and I can't stop thinking about it what going to happen next!

Before I started writing this, while I was laying here trying to lay aside my thoughts till morning, a line from a song that my mom always used to play for us at night when we were kids came to my mind: "He will keep you in perfect peace, perfect peace, perfect peace. He will keep you in perfect peace, if you keep your mind on Him."

Just focus on Him, and He'll take care of the rest.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

-Isaiah 26:3