I'm learning so much......

The more I learn about trafficking, the more my heart breaks. My mom and I attended W.A.R's day of prayer on July 11. There were about 200 people at the event in a banquet room of a beautiful golf course. We were able to hear from W.A.R. staff and a lady from homeland security. Here are just a few statistics I learned from homeland security:

In 2009 a man was arrested for selling 89 children in Detroit Michigan.

Atlanta, Georgia has 300 children for sale each month.

Los Angeles, California has 3000 children for sale a month!

Florida residents sold a 14 year old at a sleepover for $300,000 on craig's list.

Middle class neighborhood girls start recruiting other young girls for prostitution.

"Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss": Leigha, 15 says:'The youngest girl I recruited was 10. I didn't care. I'd just bring in all these stupid little girls.'

The sex industry has grown so much in the US that MSNBC started hosting" Sex Slavery in the Suburbs"

The average age of entering prostitution in the US is 12 years old!

There are about 100,000 prostitutes in the US between the ages of 9 & 19.

The face of USA trafficking is underage...beginning in the cradle. Even here in my home state of Michigan!

Live feeds are the hottest trend for pedophiles. This includes infant bondage. Horrors beyond what anyone could even dream up!

A man in California posted a live feed of a rape of a 6 month old baby.

This is an outcry! This is in the land of the free. Why are we letting our children fall into this? We have become immune to the sex abuse here. How many times do we turn on the news to hear of a parent beating or molesting their own children? Or teachers? Why on earth was the case of Mary Kay Letournea glamorized? This was a teacher who had a baby with her 13 year old student and after being released from jail they later married. This is awful! Why do we allow predators to marry their victims and go on with a "normal life".

When I first got involved with W.A.R. my heart was so heavy for the young girls in Asia. It still is. But now it is also breaking for our children who suffer in silence. Even when we hear about abuse in the media, it's so common we almost just shake our heads & say "what a shame" For now all I can do is get on my knees and pray. I know prayer is so powerful and I beg you to join whenever & wherever you can. Pray for the precious helpless children suffering all over the world. Not only are their lives at risk of being trafficked, but they will be likely to repeat the cycle when they grow up.

Thank you Lord for precious children. Hold them safely in your arms...........

Here's to the good times and the hard times......

Had another jewelry party at my sister's house. We raised over $1900! Thank you for women who love to shop & not only do they walk away with something beautiful, they also support the rescued girl who made the precious piece they bought. My heart was so heavy the day of the party. I had just gotten an email re: a precious friend who is being persecuted for her faith and ministry. I felt so distracted I was sure it was going to be a flop. God is so faithful though and the girls weren't there to hear me, but to support a great cause. We were also able to sell a few more goats!

Saturday I was able to catch up with a precious consultant who also went on the circle tour this past February. It was great. Even though it was just for like 45 minutes in the mall parking lot, it was so good to see her and be encouraged by her. She has such a heart for wounded women. She also does photography & donates a portion of her earnings to Women At Risk. I just get so excited to hear different stories of women all over using creative ways to support W.A.R.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was able to go to an open house for a girl who went on the Circle Tour. There were several girls from the trip there and 2 ladies from Bangkok! I was so thankful to see them again and spend a few precious moments catching up with these beautiful ladies! But my heart is still heavy. I had a bit to catch up with Becky (she is the founder & president of Women @ Risk & also lead our circle tour) She was encouraging when it came to our dear friend. Our friend is strong & she is not afraid. Becky said going into missions is like a Cop choosing to be a Cop. There is a known risk involved but the passion is greater than the fear of that risk. Of course I have heard stories about persecuted and threatened missionaries, but have never had a friend face these same threats. I know God is in control. I also know there may come a day when we all may have to face persecution for our beliefs. I love my sister and know she is safer in Gods hands than anywhere else. It's still hard.

Dave and I are taking the first few steps in the next chapter of our life. I found out in the 45 minutes spent in the mall parking lot that my friend is starting the same chapter!! We spent sever giddy minutes laughing about this and about our friend's reactions! We are ready though. We are excited and ready.

So here's to the good time. The hard times and the times to come. And we place them all in our Father's loving hands.

Jewelry Consultant

I am now a Volunteer Jewelry Consultant for Women At Risk. I officially went through our "training day" last week. I have done a party for my Grandma's church, assisted Becky McDonald at a home party and just hosted my own home party on Monday night. I had a great turn out! We were crammed in my little house. We had a great time! We cried tears of pain for the victims. We were filled with Hope that only comes from our Father! And we shared in LOTS of Laughter over some of the silly things from the W.A.R. chest and the goat project! I sold 8 goats that night!! We now have goats out there named hope, love, joy, gammy, yaya, otis, papa, & dad. The girls had just as much fun naming the goats as we had pigging out over all the food! I am so thankful for this ministry. I am thankful for the bond I share with my sisters in this ministry! I am thankful for the opportunity this ministry brings to give hope to the wounded & lost & to share Christ with everyone. I do NOT like public speaking, but somehow this has come with such ease & comfort. It's such an incredible cause that so many long to learn more about & do what they can to help. I am excited for my next party next week! What girl doesn't love girl time, food, fellowship, jewelry, supporting a great cause?? I absolutely LOVE what I am doing! It doesn't feel like volunteer work (although lifting these huge heavy tubes is more of a workout than I have ever done!!) It just feels great to love what I am doing and know it is something with a great meaning! Thank you Father for giving me this opportunity!

The POWER of PRAYER

I have been learning different ways to pray. I just the love the fact that I can come to my Father so intimately. Depending on my mood & request I come to Him in different ways.

Praying the names of God:
El Elyon: The God most High
El Roi: The God who sees
El Shaddai: The All Sufficient One
Yahweh (Adonai): The LORD
Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD will provide
Jehovah-Rapha: The LORD who heals
Jehovah Mekoddishkem: the LORD who sanctifies you
Jehovah-shalom: The LORD is peace
Jehovah Shammah: The LORD is There
......Of course there are so many names & you can google different ways to pray (I only have 30 of them & their meanings)........

Biblical Virtues to Pray for your Kids
Salvation, Growth in Grace, Love, Honesty & Integrity,Self-control, Love for God's Word, Justice, Mercy, Respect (for self & others & authority), Biblical Self-esteem, Faithfulness, Courage, Purity, Kindness, Generosity, Peace-loving, Joy, Perseverance, Humility, Compassion, responsibility, Faith, Contentment, a Servants heart, Hope, Prayerfulness.........

Alphabet Prayers:
A. He is All-sufficient, Almighty, Awesome
B. He is Beautiful,
C. He is Comfort, Counsellor, Creator........
......
Z.

Praying the Attributes of God:
Holy, Sovereign, Loving, Gracious, Alpha & Omega, King of Kings, The Bread of Life, Merciful, Faithful, Wise, Lamb of God......................

Praying the Armor of God & Warfare prayers.

Praying Scripture

(thank you Becky McDonald who gave me the guides to prayer on our women's' retreat October 2007. Also, The Power of a Praying Parent & Power of a Praying Wife (by Stormie Omartian) are great books & I just finished Becoming a Women of Prayer by Cynthia Heald)

So, I wrote this post because I have been agonizing for a while over the chicken farm in Cambodia. This is a village in Cambodia that is basically one big brothel. I'd seen a special on Dateline & heard Oprah talk about it over a year ago or so. It's called the chicken farm b/c you can pluck a child like you could pluck a chicken there. No consequences. There are girls you can buy time with as young as 5 years old. This is a big attraction for pedophiles from all over the world to come visit.

On Saturday, July 11 Women At Risk is holding a day of prayer specifically for the Chicken farm. For those of you who would like to go, call W.A.R's office & reserve a spot. If you can not make it, please join in prayer from where ever you are.

These are little clips of the children who are caught in this tragedy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/4037134#4037134
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azBVHFGzHkU&feature=related

Unfortunately when I was looking for pics & videos to show I stumbled across a horrific site. This was disgusting & vulgar. It was a how to guide for picking up kids in Cambodia. He told the best & worst places to go & even rated the girls on looks & performance. It was all I could do to not throw my computer out the window. I was so sick to my stomach that I have this ache in my heart even more than ever for these precious victims! I feel like I can't get low enough on my face before God as I cry out for help for these victims all over the world! How can we allow this to happen to our children??? This is a plea to pray! I am begging you to get on your knees & pray for traffic victims all over the world-even here in America! There are so many children being forced into sex slavery every day here! I believe in the Power of Prayer! We need to be an army of prayer warriors!

this past month

this has been a VERY crazy month! my oldest graduated from his young fives, my youngest turned 3. he has officially been potty trained through the night now for almost a month!!he still thinks it's hilarious to pull his pants down, get on the coffee table & "sprinkle" our living room. (yes he gets spanked, yes i have since rented a rug dr to thoroughly clean the carpet) he has also become a dirt eater. this is very recent so for his 3 yr check up his dr ran a full lab on his blood b/c eating dirt is a sign of anemia or lead poisoning. his iron was a little low, not enough that he ought to eat dirt as a supplement. i think he's just a bit crazy & driving me there with him! but the trick that about pushed me over the edge was when he painted himself & our walls with lipstick then tried to clean his hands on the carpet. i was outside planting & he had to stay inside (punishment for eating sand out of the sandbox) i was only out for about 15 minutes & he made a disaster of a mess!

soccer season is quickly coming to an end for eddie. then it's golf lessons! he is very excited about this! he went to avalanche bay with friends over the weekend (an indoor water park) and learned how to surf! he is excited for summer for sure!

i finished training today to be a jewelry consultant for women at risk. i have worked one party and assisted becky at another party. i will be hosting my first party next week and consulting another the following. it was a great day. we learned so much more about the ministry background and a breakdown of the money that the jewelry brings in. here is something i learned today:

90% of the profits made on the jewelry goes directly to the girls. the other 10% is for handling & administration costs. of that 90% here is how it works: the girls get paid for working 8 hrs a day. they earn as much working on the jewelry as a male college graduate earns. they get paid to work for 8 hrs a day however they only work for 4 hours a day. the other 4 hours are spent in counselling, praise & worship, education, on the job training. the safehouses provide healthcare for the girls & their children, education for the girls & their children, food for them. this is just an incredible program! so, if you love jewelry you should think about hosting a party! it's fun & the products are beautiful! OR if jewelry is not your thing, you can purchase a GOAT! yes, you can buy a goat for $50 for someone in africa or nepal. this gives the women a bigger status and helps provide for her family. you will be able to name the goat & get a certificate about your goat. this is a great project for families-save your change & buy a goat & name it after your family!!

there will be a day

Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced
To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing….

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face There will be a day, He’ll wipe away the stains, He’ll wipe away the tears, He’ll wipe away the tears…..there will be a day.

(from there will be a day by jeremy camp)

last friday my friend lost her mom. she was out for her daily walk and was hit by a car. i did not know her but i know she was an incredible woman just by her legacy.

i went to visitation sunday and was about 15 minutes early and the home was already packed! christina was doing well. she is so precious! her concerns were not for herself or her family. she said we'll be fine. we know my mom is fine. she was worried about the lady who hit her mom. that's where all of her concern was focused. no bitterness, just love for this woman.

Lord, we don't know how much time we have here, but thank you for every precious minute we have with our loved ones. I pray to leave a legacy like jan. Comfort both families involved in this tragedy. use it to bring glory to you alone. thank you for HOPE!

God's faithfulness

The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! (Psalm 103:16-18)


Our God is so good. He is so faithful! This has been a wonderful weekend. We celebrated Good Friday-the ultimate sacrifice that our precious Jesus gave-HIS OWN LIFE FOR OURS!!!

We were going over this again Saturday in preparation for RESURRECTION Sunday with our precious boys. Eddison (will be 6 in July) and Henry (will be 3 next month). Dave was finished talking and after a moment of silence Eddison said "Dad, I have been ready for like 600 years to ask Jesus to come in my heart and thank Him for taking my sins and mom keeps putting me off." A LITTLE exaggerated to say the least. He HAS asked me several times if he can ask Jesus in his heart. This started around Christmas. We were in the car and he said he was ready. I was so excited and said "Let's talk about this with Dad. He would LOVE to be a part of this special decision with us!" So, Dave got home from work and asked Eddison about it and he said he wasn't ready. For a minute I was disappointed and then relieved that I didn't rush him through this right away when he first asked. I figured, when he is REALLY ready, he will be ready when Dave is around too. I didn't want it to be a now or never moment. Several other times would come up-in the grocery store, at a restaurant, during craft time......but a few hours later when Dave would get home Eddison decided he didn't want to talk about it after all. We have been praying though and our Father is so faithful. Eddison took this precious step on Saturday night. We told him we were happier that night than when he was even born!

Understand therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Our boy made the life changing decision to lay his life down and give it up to our Father to be his Lord & Savior. He said he wants to do what Jesus commands and he wants to make Jesus happy. I knew God would bring our boys to Him in His time. They are, after all, HIS children He has entrusted to us while we are here on earth. What an honor. Thank you Lord!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:7-10)


We told Eddison we were so proud of him! Henry kept hugging him saying he was proud & he was ready to have Jesus in his heart too (yes, I think he is too young so we just told him in a while when he gets bigger he can give his life to Jesus) He hugged his big brother and said "I hear your heart beat. I can hear Jesus talking in there. "

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. (Deuteronomy 5:10)

We are reaping the rewards of God's promises! Thank you Father for sending your Son! Thank you Jesus for loving us so much you suffered and died in our place. Thank you for NEW LIFE!!!!