Okay, many of you saw the title and looked at todays date and figured I was a little off on this one. However, June 12th is Independence Day in the Philippines. On this day I am flying the Philippine flag in my room (okay its always hanging up in my room). There is something about holidays that I like. Currently my calendar shows both USA and Philippines holidays so I know whats coming up. In a few short weeks we here in the United States will celebrate our Independence Day.

We have all seen the news, and currently a massive recovery effort is underway in the central Philippines. The international community has responded greatly, by sending people to help remove the damage, rebuild, provide food and water, and rescuing those trapped. The work after Typhoon Yolanda, as know in the Philippines, will go on for years. The lives of the survivors will forever be impacted, unfortunately many are still in harms way.

The other day I received a text from a friend. They had found out the ABC Nightline was going to air something on Human Trafficking in the Philippines. Being a person that is going to the Philippines to set people free and fight to end Human Trafficking the story got my attention. I went to find the story and video for it and was just shocked by the title. “Americans Targeted for Allegedly Running Underage Prostitution in the Philippines” (click title to be taken to the story). 

I was deeply upset from reading this article. How could anyone do this to another person? Where are your morals, you conscience? The man in the article was from America, and many people here in America know it is wrong to have sex with a 16 year old, let alone sell her to other people, and as this man talks about it on hidden camera he is laughing about it. I am very happy to see the Filipino authorities and American law enforcement working together to bring this guy down and set those girls free. 

It is stories like this that make me want to go to the Philippines, to fight this injustice that is being done, to set people free from this nightmare that at times they don’t even know they are in. These ladies are trapped in a never ending lifestyle, sold for sex each night, so they can eat or take care of their families. They are owned by these bar owners, unable to leave. This is why I am called to the Philippines, to bring hope. To let them know there is a way out, to set them free from this slavery. Bring them into a place a safety, empowering them, and showing them the love Jesus has for each of them.

I want to see the end of these heart wrenching stories of human trafficking. I want to see that number of 27 million victims get smaller. I want to set people free. I want to help people start a new life in freedom. Will you join me in saving a life?

I have spent today looking through a lot of information concerning human trafficking. The numbers are just crazy. As I look at these numbers my heart sinks. So many lives have been destroyed by human trafficking. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) over 21 million people are now trafficked (1). That is roughly the population of not only the City of New York but the surrounding suburbs as well. Men, women, and children are taken from their homes and forced into labor or even worse into the sex trade. 

As I look at the information, read the stories, or watch the videos I feel more and more empowered to do something about it. It is a desire to help those in need and to provide a safe place for people to live. God had called me to the Philippines to do just that. 

In the next few days I hope to add a page to this site with some of the facts I have found concerning human trafficking. Please check back to see that. If you would like to help me in the fight against human trafficking in the Philippines please check out the Donate page for ways you can help.
 
(1)International Labour Orginazation