like a styrofoam cup
there are 27 million slaves in the world today. what i can’t believe is that number is larger than all of the slaves taken in the trans-atlantic slave trade. a lot in other parts of the world, but also a lot in our part of the world.
free the slaves and not for sale share the alarming statistic that, on average, slaves can be bought for $91. there is a recorded story of an undercover journalist who in a half an hour and with eighty-some dollars bought two grown men as slaves. these slaves, these fellow humans, are described as being like styrofoam cups…grab one, use it, crumple it up, dispose of it and grab another one.
i can’t get this out of my mind. honestly, i’d much rather forget. it’s easier not to know about all this. because knowing this…how can i do nothing?
last evening, i was enjoying a sweet dinner with daniel and my girls. the girls were expressing concerns about being able to play with their friends in the morning. playing with friends and sharing toys are the biggest worries my girls have. i couldn’t hold the tears in as i thought about the concerns of some other girls, boys, men and women who have gotten trapped in human trafficking.
with $135 free the slaves sends modern day abolitionists into a child labor factory in india, sets the kids free and sets them up in safety and restoration. $135. that’s just a few bucks more than we pay for cable each month.
i’ve been teaching a missions class at church which is another post, but to say the least has been incredible on so many levels. our small class has given just over $800 which will result in six raids. because of our little class dozens of children will know freedom.
all that i know is…i can’t blissfully enjoy my blessed life while others are painfully suffering. proverbs 3:27 says that we are not to withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in our power to act.
i can’t do everything. but i can do something. and i will do something. i have begun to act…
woah. i’m loving your new look! when you come back, you COME BACK!
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if we all did the somethings we CAN do, everything would be covered.
thanks, friend! i’m glad you like it, i like it too!
i was almost disgusted with how “outdated” my blog was looking. you know me and rearranging…
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and yes, that is what i keep saying in the class, that if the whole body of Christ wakes up and realizes the darkness in the world – the unreached, slavery, AIDS, water – that the job could be done. He said His arm is not short that He cannot save, but in a way I think the church is handicapping Him by not obyeing His commands…since this ministry of reconciliation is OURS, not His.
Slavery exist, and has always existed, because one person sees another, not as a human being, but as property, a tool that they can use as they wish, like a styrofoam cup.
You, and the children in your mission class, are doing what you can. I commend you for the values you are teaching them.
Treating a human being like property can’t every be justified. To stop it we need to understand the reasons for it.
In many cultures it is a traditional way of treating different classes of people. Until this traditional way of thinking is changed slavery will continue to exist.
War and poverty leave some people in such desperate states that the only thing of value they have to sell is their own bodies. As long as we have war and poverty, slavery will continue to exist, in some form.
There are now hundreds, perhaps thousands, of organization world wide now fighting human slavery. I believe that shows that more people than ever before are starting to recognize the scope of the problem.
We can’t solve a problem until we see it. Up until perhaps last decade much of the world turned a blind eye to slavery. Organizations like Free the Slaves, and people like you, are forcing the world to open up it eyes.
You blow me away as usual! you are really messing me up! and i can’t begin to praise God enough for the wonderful gift from God you are and now with your wonderful hubby and kids, dad and i are blessed beyond measure and so very proud of you both. Thank you so much for all you are teaching me. I pray that each one of us from these classes always stays messed up, always seeking God for our one thing; our “on purpose living” purpose. I love you so much…thank you!
D-
Thanks for sharing your heart. It can seem overwhelming when opened up to the various needs throughout the world. However, it is refreshing to see others rise up and be a voice. I value your heart to train others to do “something”. What the world needs are more people like you and Daniel.
It is obvious that the laborers are indeed still few, just like in the days of Jesus. Keep up the great posts and continue to inspire and influence others.
Danielle- I love the new blog-you
This post is poignant. It’s powerful. It’s so unbelievably true. And, in my back-yard right now human trafficking is at an all-time high as people are bought/stolen into slavery to work as prostitutes for all of the 2010 world cup soccer players and tourists.
I’m proud of your action… and thankful for your missions-minded heart!
Oh girl… You are preaching here!!
Love, love, love, love, love your heart, girl. WOW. And love that banner up top. Beautiful.