Wow, where to begin! My last week in Ecuador....
After I left Riobamba, I traveled to Latagunga to meet up with a team from Minnesota at one of the orphanages there. The team was dope, and so were the kids there! I got to see a lot of the kids that were there last time I was there in October--so it was good to see them again. We had an awesome day with the kids: we went to the mall, got them ice-cream, and rode up and down the escalators (the kids had a blast)! The rest of the week, we went to two more orphanages (one that I had been to before), as well as a street ministry! It was an awesome experience for me to watch how the team loved on the beautiful children at each place.
I've honestly learned so much in Ecuador for the month I was there; way too much to even put into words. Whether it was changing diapers, feeding babies/toddlers, changing their clothes every time they got something dirty on them (especially the toddlers that were in the potty training process), taking toddlers to the restroom every 5 seconds, trying to keep babies/toddlers busy so they wouldn't get bored and roam all over the place (which they still did), chasing them, holding sick babies to try to make them feel better, etc. I've learned a lot from the kids, tias, caregivers, directors, and missionaries. This trip has forever changed my life and I will never forget it. Thank you, again, to all who supported me; whether it was financially or if you prayed for me while I was there. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
THE Exciting News
Even while I was in Ecuador, God began to open up so many doors for me! One particular door He opened, was the nonprofit my best friend and I have been in the process of starting since 2013: The Sozo Project! Sozo is Greek for to rescue, keep safe, heal, deliver, restore, etc., and that's exactly what God wants this organization to be about! The Sozo Project will be an anti-trafficking organization that will bring justice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and restore the lives of the broken. Our goal is to have a safe house for victims of sex trafficking to get the care they need to have their lives rebuilt.
As soon as I got back home, we had meetings scheduled to get this up and going! We have no time to waste; especially since Sozo women and children in Southeast Texas right now, that are needing our help! So as of right now, we are in the process of getting our 501(c)3, and we should be done with all of our legal work within the next few months. Please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this journey to abolishing modern day slavery!
Some Statistics:
- There is an estimated 27 million slaves in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.
- Slavery generates $32 billion for traffickers each year.
- The average age of a trafficking victim is 12 years old.
- 1-2% of victims are ever rescued.
- Some women/children are forced to sleep with anywhere between 8-20 customers a day.
- Sex trafficking has been found in a wide variety of venues of the overall sex industry, including residential brothels, hostess clubs, online escort services, fake massage businesses, strip clubs, and street prostitution.
- Houston is the 2nd largest hub for sex trafficking in the US
THE PROBLEM
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purposes of forced labor and sex trafficking. As the world’s fastest growing criminal industry, it affects every nation across the globe. Every thirty-seconds, someone is forced into this type of bondage—modern slavery. As long as people are willing to pay for sex, human beings will be raped and exploited for profit.
LET'S BRING CHANGE!
With love,
M.C.F. :)
