Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart as Guest Speaker at Anti-trafficking Community Forum Wednesday June 17th, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Tom Dart on Human Trafficking: ‘Let’s make it where there’s less Johns calling for those services’

Do you have questions with all the buzz around trafficking at the Super Bowl? Do you have questions on how our city's law enforcement strategically cracks down on traffickers? Join us and bring a friend!

Take Action!

When you come to the forum sign our Congressman Cards to make a difference or go online and click the Act Now tab!

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Pre-Conference Anti-Trafficking Justice Stream at The JUSTICE Conference 2015 in Chicago on June 5. REGISTER NOW

https://www.facebook.com/thejusticeconference?fref=photo

India Rescue, Restoration & Justice – Through a Mom’s Eyes, Part 3

Becky Morris is a “soccer mom” who also works part time at Freedom Firm, one of our ministry partners. She graciously agreed to allow us to post excerpts from her own journaling about the trip, which have shared in three installments. In this final installment, she shares about her trip to a Red Light District, a visit to a Freedom Firm workshop and what the trip has impressed upon her heart:

The Red Light District in Pune

Shital (a Freedom Firm case worker) and I get into an auto rickshaw and head to the Red Light District. The rickshaw driver drops us off in one of the most crowded places I’ve seen on this trip so far. We walk quickly and Shital pulls me down a narrow alley. “See the girls with too much makeup on your left? Over there, do you see them in the doorway? Do you see the men on the right?” Brothel after brothel on my left with girls clumped together in the doorways. Staring at us as we walk by - blank stares, no smiles. It isn’t dark; it is 4:30 in the afternoon. There are no shadows to hide in. The right side is lined with men. Some seem to be standing alone; others seem to be with a buddy. As though this is just another recreational activity – like going out to eat or grabbing a drink with the guys. The men are smiling and at ease as they leer across the alley to choose the one they like.

We emerge into the shopping area, grab another rickshaw and we’re done. It’s over. My first visit to a Red Light District in India is complete. Although it was sad to see it firsthand, nothing about it shocked me.

But after meeting the girls in the Ooty workshop, I see them differently. They aren’t nameless trafficked girls or prostitutes in the Red Light District who may be rescued out of this life one day. They have names and potential and I can see the hope that they can’t even fathom! Every one of those girls deserves to be free. And that is why Freedom Firm is here.

Kolkata Workshop

Zeenat, the Ruhamah workshop manager in Kolkata, leads me down a narrow sidewalk wedged between a half-wall and the building that is our workshop in Kolkata. I hear and see the chaos of 8 beautiful young ladies. They all greet me with warm smiles and are talking to each other excitedly.

I get to tell them how beautiful their creations are! I tell them about our booth at the Global Leadership Summit in the Chicago area every year and how our booth is always the busiest. I compliment their pieces in very specific ways hoping that they can fully grasp the quality of their work and how proud they should feel! They smile and their eyes are beaming. I silently pray, “God, please let me be a light to them. Please let them know they aren’t nameless to you and I. Please let each one feel SEEN and CARED FOR when I leave today.”

These young women have been through more than I can possibly imagine in their lives and yet they sit here with hope and purpose and laughter radiating off of them. I know there are hard days and conflict and heartbreak for our staff as they watch girls make bad decisions, but today is not like that.

As I get into the taxi to go to the airport, I am filled with joy and appreciation. Joy at the hope I saw today; and deep appreciation for Zeenat and Rinku. It is obvious that these 2 women have built true relationships with these girls and earned their trust.

How do I accurately express what God is doing through Freedom Firm in India? Pictures are helpful. And I can tell our supporters the facts. But I sense God is asking me to do more than that. He wants me to carry these experiences in my heart and tell my stories. Share my experiences. And He wants me to come back changed. Permanently.

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While Becky’s experience took place in India, these same experiences are happening right in our own backyard. As Becky has shared, change is happening, lives are being restored – the work does matter. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation will persist – both here and abroad – unless those who are called to do so rise up against it. Come; join us in bringing light and hope to those in such desperate need.

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Get Connected:

Contact Cheryl Csiky at: ccsiky@willowcreek.org

Upcoming Events:

New Name Call Center – Pray for women as we offer resources and outreach over the phone to women posted on online ads. June 3rd, 7:30-8:15 pm at Willow Creek Community Church in the Link (F Lot Parking)

Book Discussion Group: We will be discussing God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey Into Sex Trafficking and Rescue, by Daniel Walker. Join us on Saturday, June 13th, 9:30-11:30 at Willow Creek Community Church (room to be determined). Please contact Holly at: hkoehler@ameritech.net for further details.

Scarves for Outreach: Do you knit or crochet? Help us meet our goal of 200 hand-made scarves by August for our out-reach teams to distribute in the fall. We have had 55 scarves donated so far! Please contact Holly at hkoehler@ameritech.net for more information.

Save the Date:

June 17th Forum at Willow Creek Community Church – Guest speaker Tom Dart will be speaking on victim rights.

June 27th “Guts and Glory” Awareness Challenge: Participate in the largest community movement this summer! Register for free here!

Click on the Calendar of Events tab for the full year calendar!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

India Rescue, Restoration & Justice – Through a Mom’s Eyes, Part 2

As we approach Mother’s Day, we wanted to share one mom’s journey to India to see first hand the work being done there by one of our partner ministries, Freedom Firm. Becky Morris is a “soccer mom” who also works part time at Freedom Firm. She graciously agreed to allow us to post excerpts from her own journaling about the trip, which we are sharing in three installments. This week, in the 2 installment, she shares about her trip to an aftercare home:

PUNE

Traveling from Ooty to Pune is anything but quick or efficient. Evan Henck, the director of our western region for Freedom Firm, has graciously offered to have me travel back to Pune with him, his wife and 2 young daughters. It takes us 2 days of travel that includes: 3.5 hours in a taxi, a 2 hour train ride, another taxi ride, an overnight stay in Bangalore, 2 more taxi rides and one flight. It’s an exhausting trip, but we make it to their home in Pune safely.

I find out that I will be spending the day with Shital (a case worker) and Natasha (director of Aftercare) visiting a government aftercare home, the Ruhamah workshop and the Red Light District. I’m excited for today. I know a lot about these places. Surely I’m prepared for this day. Right?

We arrive at the government aftercare home and go up the stairs of a building that looks like a prison. I never would have imagined what I see in front of me now: a long narrow hallway with doors to large bedrooms lining the left side and prison-like windows (open air, no glass) with bars lining the right side. And that’s it. Nothing else. No activity rooms. No classrooms. They sleep 15 to a room I’m told. “What do they do all day?” I ask. Shital looks at me and says “Eat and sleep.” My heart can’t bear to take in all that my eyes are seeing. How can they live like this?

I meet several young women who have been here for 2 months, another just got here last week. The most petite of the girls has a bold and feisty personality and tells me she has been here 11 long months. Something is holding up her case. Eleven months? I don’t know if I’d be strong enough to last 11 days here.

After spending time talking with the girls and looking around, we head back over to the office building. I turn back to see the girls all lined up along the windows with their arms stretching out through the bars waving at us. I turn around and wipe tears away, determined not to cry here. The Parole Officer wants to know what I thought of the home. What do I say? Do I tell her I feel like sitting on the floor, hugging my knees and crying for the girls in her care? “The girls were wonderful to meet. I really enjoyed my time with them.”

I pepper Shital and Natasha with questions, and I learn about the reality of the situation. Is it sad? Yes. Would it be great if the girls could go outside and run and play? Yes, but they would run away and most likely be trafficked to the Red Light District again. Can’t they have classes or activities? Freedom Firm has come in and offered some hobby and literacy classes for the girls. We are doing what we can. Why don’t local churches get involved? People in the churches work during the week and the home is closed to visitors on the weekend. Can we get them released quicker? We have to work within the legal system and we don’t want them released hastily because that will lead to danger. There are no simple answers here. None.

I ask Shital and Natasha about their jobs. They share with me how difficult it can be to do this work. “What is the best part of your job?” They look across the table at each other and make eye contact. They look at me and both say “What I do matters. I get to see lives changed.”

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Becky's story will continue next week with the final installment as she shares her experience of visiting a Red Light District and another Freedom Firm workshop.

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