Bracelets

Hey friends.  As you already know, we set off for Cambodia on November 3, so our team is in the final stretch for fundraising; thus, the bracelets.  I'm selling these cool, colorful leather bracelets for $5 each.  100% goes towards our trip.  Yes, I made them myself.  They look really cool layered with a watch or another bangle.  Let me know if you are interested.  I'll be selling them at Newtown Park on Saturday, and possibly Sunday in the AM.  Stop by and say hello.  Thanks. :)


Micah

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our car wash yesterday.  We really appreciate the support!  We were able to bring in some extra funds to help pay for supplies to be used at the Cambodian soldier camp.  We plan on purchasing stickers for all the kids at the camp, along with globe "beach balls" and beaded cross necklaces that will act as an activity and a gift.  Women and children that live in the soldier camps are at high risk for trafficking because of the low wages paid to soldiers.  Cambodian soldiers have to fund their own uniforms, weapons and food - slightly different from the American army.  So what happens is women and children are sold as slaves for extra cash.

We do however, have to be careful about handing out "gifts" to people, because we are a Christian organization.  Cambodia's Ministry of Cults and Religions has stated that it is prohibited in Cambodia to use materials to convince someone to follow a different religion.  So, for us to hand out stickers to kids, could be seen as a potential lure towards Christianity, and away from Buddhism.  Once we learn more about this law, I will let you know.


Micah

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/18750/cambodia

The Road of Lost Innocence

In preparation for this trip, we were given a list of reading materials. Among them, was Somaly Mam's The Road of Lost Innocence. This book forced me to dig deeper into human trafficking and it how it affects me personally.

When a lot of people think about human trafficking, they don't think of it a relevant issue - it's an issue happening over there, on the other side of the world. False. It is an issue taking place EVERYWHERE, including the United States. In fact, Atlanta is the U.S. hub for trafficking. Scary, huh? For a lot of people, it takes a relatable name and/or a face to fully comprehend this issue and how it may affect them. If we saw children being trafficked on a daily basis, we would probably be more prone to do something about it. Right? But because this issue seems so far away, it sometimes takes a back burner in our minds.

Read Somaly Mam's The Road of Lost Innocence. It takes a global epidemic, and filters it through the eyes of a young, Cambodian girl (Mam). It is difficult to read sometimes, I know. But it is a valiant success story. You can't read her book and not be moved; you can't read her book and not want to stand up and join the fight against human trafficking. I would love to meet her one day.

DID YOU KNOW?

• One in three girls that run away from home will be picked-up by a pimp within 48 hours.
• 14 years old is the average age for girls entering prostitution.
• Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry.
• It is estimated that 100,000-300,000 women and girls are victims of human trafficking within the United States every year. This does not include 17,000-20,000 that are brought in from other countries.

(Statistics from the Hosanna Freedom Foundation, Atlanta, GA)