26 August 2009

Thailand

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Many of you know, I recently went on a trip to Pattaya, Thailand. I didn’t go for fun. I went with a group of awesome Christian women who felt called to go and see the problem of human trafficking up close and personal. I know…we are crazy. The trip was in May and I haven’t been able to post anything about it until now. The trip rocked me to the core and even as I type this now, I have tears in my eyes.

We met women who desperately wanted OUT of the sex industry but had no other option. We visited an orphanage that made me happy to see the kids safe and well-cared for, although, I was sad and disgusted when we realized why there were hardly any girls there. (the girls are sold to brothels instead of taken to the orphanage) We played with children from the slum who are HIGHLY at-risk of being sold. And we walked over the place where the little children who have been kidnapped or sold are kept and raped multiple times a day. The most evil place I have EVER been to. If I could forget that place, I would.

I’ll share details in a later post. For now, I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

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If you made it this far, and you want to do something to END child trafficking, please consider signing up for Pictures for a Purpose on October 10th. I’ll be one of the photographers as well as five other highly talented women. Check out this video to see some of the photos from last year’s event. Your child’s smile COULD save a life.