I wanted to share with you something that has been on my heart lately. Recently, I was asked to join with The Exodus Road and share their mission.
I jumped at the chance. And I wanted to share with you what we’re doing in South East Asia.
Every month you’ll see a special blog post from me. It will be in regards to The Exodus Road, human trafficking, and the child sex trade. I’ll share stories from the men and women on the ground in south east Asia. They’re doing great work freeing those who have been brought into slavery.
The topic isn’t easy to think or write about. Yet we need to bring this to light and realize this horrible tragedy is happening.
I hope you’re willing to help us to help end this terrible injustice that is happening. Read the story below and consider donating to the cause. Don’t worry if you can’t donate a lot. Any donation will help end the suffering of those caught in human trafficking.
How Did Exodus Road Start?
The Exodus Road: Fighting to End Child Slavery from Justin Lukasavige on Vimeo.
“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.”
―Abraham Lincoln
Story From The Field
“We met Sarah in a brothel in Cambodia.
There was a line of prostitutes behind a glass wall, a fishbowl they call it. They were sitting on high bar stools, with heavy make-up and short skirts, numbers pinned to their shoulders, displayed for the customers on the other side of the glass.
And then, they brought in Sarah. She was “fresh,” the pimp had told our lead investigator over the phone. Sarah was dressed in street clothes, head down, hands fiddling nervously with a napkin. She was 15 and had been sold by her mother in a neighboring country several days before to work off a debt which her mother owed. Sarah’s virginity had been sold three days prior for $600 USD.
Sarah could not speak the local language, was kept under close watch daily, and had no access to a cell phone or any communication from the outside world. She had been slipped illegally across borders by a system of traffickers that has become a global highway of modern day slaves.
With covert cameras, our investigators were able to record the sale of Sarah for the night, capturing valuable evidence that could be passed on to the trusted authorities in hopes of the pimp’s prosecution. Later, behind a closed door, our operative was able to call a social worker who spoke Sarah’s language. He explained that he was there to help her, not to hurt her, and that he could aid her escape if she wanted. Unfortunately, Sarah was too scared to run, too scared to trust a stranger, understandably.
The following day, our investigator returned to visit Sarah in the brothel, just blocks away from a crowded local market. She scribbled a note, “Please Rescue Me,” on a bill and slipped it to him.
She wanted out, but didn’t know the way.
Immediately, our investigator gave his testimony and video evidence to the authorities and asked the government to conduct a raid on Sarah’s behalf. It was believed that 10 or more girls were also being held against their wills at the same brothel where we found Sarah.
And so she waits. And suffers.
But what Sarah doesn’t know is that rescue is coming.”
– Laura Parker
“I strongly believe that love is the answer and that it can mend even the deepest unseen wounds. Love can heal, love can console, love can strengthen, and yes, love can make change.”
―Somaly Mam, The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine
The Statistics
Human trafficking is the third largest crime industry in the world.
Women and children are the most trafficked
Human trafficking is not just an international problem
What You Can Do To Help
Did this story touch you? If it did, there’s a few things you can do.
- First, share the story you’ve heard. Let others know this terrible thing is happening. But also let them know that there is hope. There are men and women reaching out to the victims of these crimes against humanity. They’re going into parts of the world we’d never dare to go near.
- Second, pray for those caught in the human trafficking. Pray that God will comfort them and rescue them. Then pray for those going in for the rescue. The situations are dangerous and they risk their lives getting these girls out.
- Third, consider a donation. Once again, you don’t have to donate a lot. Every little bit helps. If you can give a dollar, give it. If you can give $20, give it. If you can give more, give it. Your donation is going to help get these children out of the sex trade.
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.”
―William Wilberforce
How You Can Donate
The cost to fund one raid is $1,400. This may seem like a lot of money and it is for one person alone. However, there’s more than one person donating to this cause.
My goal is to raise $2,800. Enough to fund two raids and rescue girls from the horrible conditions they’re in.
If you’d like to join me in raising the $2,800, please donate by clicking here.
Instead of ending this post with a request for a comment, I’d like to instead ask you to share this post with your friends and family. Ask them to consider donating to The Exodus Road and changing someone’s life. Why you do this?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.