When I first became aware of Child Sex Trafficking, I wept. And wept. And started to wonder if I could stand it for another second. My heart broke at the thought of a little innocent child “servicing” a man 10, 15 times a day. Forever. Or at least until they were used to much, battered to hard, or broken into to many pieces. Until they grew up. Why, God? How… I know how. I don’t understand how. I don’t know how there can be such evil in the world. That someone would abuse a fearful, scared, helpless child. Who is going to stand up for this child? Not her abuser, not her pimp. Who is going to say “stop!”
How can we break the cycle of abuse? To teach a child her worth, her beauty, to protect her and keep her from harms way? Will I teach her? Will I stand up for her, and shine a light on the filth that we have turned a blind eye to. “Its to dark in there… I’m to scared.”
Sometimes I get so bogged down by the darkness, the enormity of it, the stench of it, the sick feeling it leaves in the pit of my belly. I want to vomit. I want to send it out, away. I want it to leave me alone. I want it to be gone. And then I see her. Sitting, hiding, curled in a ball. Wondering “why me? When will it stop. Will it ever stop? Why me? Why? I am so alone. So scared. No one will help me. No one hears me. No one cares. I am alone.” “I hear you!” I yell. I see you. I am listening. I am coming!
And I must. I must come. I can’t pretend it away. I can’t imagine it away. She is real. She is alone, and she needs help.
I wish I had the time, the resources, the perseverance- to devote my life to these children. To offer them a chance to live, to dream, to heal. To laugh and dance, and imagine joyful things, as a child should. These are not just numbers, not just stories, these are lives. It could have been me. It could have been you. It could be my son, or my daughter. I thank God every day it isn’t. But could you even begin to imagine?
Did you know that 2 children are sold every minute? I have 2 children. God help us.
I want to challenge you to learn more about this issue. To share with others, and to shine the light into the darkness that is child sex trafficking.
In November of 2010 myself, my husband Matt and my 7 month old son travelled to New Haven CT to attend a conference called the Collective Shout. We were shocked, horrified and inspired. Children are enslaved, but children are also being rescued. Lives are being restored. It was so eye opening to me to attend this event- to learn about the abuse that a pimp will enforce to control someone, to make them his slave. All for money. Sex sells right? I was challenged in my own views and tolerances- the things I teach, the music I play, the clothes I wear. What I allow to be culturally acceptable, after all, this is my generation? What will we be known for? Will we be remembered for the booming sex tourism industry? The many brothels, massage parlors, and porn sites? Or will we be remembered as the generation that set the captives free? The generation of victims who became empowered and turned into survivors. Heroes.
You have an opportunity to take a step. Attend Raise Their Voice: The Trafficked & Exploited. Learn and never look back. Let your heart be changed. Live a life that will restore lives. For many taking that step means, driving 10 minutes, or 2 hours, or hopping on a plane. I know, it will be worth it.
Sometimes its hard to take a step. It’s hard to burst our bubble, and let the shit hit us right in the face. But, we can’t start to clean things up without getting our hands a little dirty.
Raise Their Voice: The Trafficked and Exploited.
When: evening of April 15, all day April 16
Where: Scott Block Theater, Red Deer, Ab
How Much: $75 early bird until March 31, $99 after that
visit www.RaiseTheirVoice.com to register and learn more, or feel free to comment on here or email me at ashlea@raisetheirvoice.com I hope to see you in April, to hear you say “I am listening.”
Sex trafficking involving children is terrible and devastating. It not only robs the innocence of a child but also destroys a child. That is not all, does make me question why would some people dare to buy and sell a child in sex trafficking as if it is no big deal. Makes me wonder how do these people sleep at night and still have the guts to dine with their own children in their warm little homes while the kids they victimise suffer. Child sex trafficking shows the evil and ugly side of adults exploiting and destroying children.
No doubt, the exploitation of children, or any person for that matter, is quite unimaginable. It is such a complex issue, with many strings attached. I am learning that it takes courage to stand up against a form of thinking that has invaded the minds of too many as to what is acceptable and tolerable. I can only hope that the more people who have the education in their hands as to what is happening, and as we as individuals affirm the value of all human life, we will begin to see a change for those that are held in bondage today.