Christianity Oasis Forum

[Jenn Lupka]

You see this title and are probably thrown back a bit but this post is about exactly what it sounds like. The story of a modern day slave. Please take the time to check this out. You may just be able to make a difference!

Modern day slavery is known as Human trafficking and yes, I am a survivor. Here are some facts first then I will share a bit of my testimony and tell you what you can do to help!

Human trafficking, also known as modern day slavery, is any kind of forced labor. A victim of Human Trafficking is controlled by someone and exploited, or treated unfairly, for his or her work. there are more than 4 types of human trafficking, some of which include sex trafficking, child trafficking for sex or hard labor, domestic servitude, and debt bondage. Mostly women, but also some men, are tricked into bondage with seemingly harmless job offers or are kidnapped or sold. Children are kidnapped and/or sold easier than adults because they are usually more gullible and are somewhat easier targets. Victims, especially the younger ones are sometimes sold to Human Traffickers in order to pay off a debt. They try their best to work off that debt so they can be free, but usually have extreme difficulty doing so. Human Trafficking has existed and still currently exists in 6 of the 7 world continents. We may here stories of human trafficking in other countries and think that it will never happen anywhere near us. However, Human Trafficking is a problem in the United States as much as it is anywhere else. In fact, it is estimated that roughly 14,000 to 18,000 people are trafficked each year in the United States alone.There are roughly 32 million victims all over the world today. That is the largest number of victims of Human Trafficking ever recorded. Considering that there are a little over 7 billion people in the world, that means that almost 4% of the world is in bondage.Human Trafficking is actually illegal in the world today, but it still occurs all over the world.The people most subject to Human Trafficking are those who live in poverty or are in debt. They get tricked into taking a loan from the Traffickers and are promised work that will help pay off their loan. They soon find out though that the job they get is not the one they were promised. Whatever work they are forced to do is a lot harder, more abusive and involves very poor conditions.

Now I know that is a lot to swallow, I have been living this and doing research since the day I got out, trying to raise aweness and get the word out. I promised you my testimony and what you can do to help so that is next. For me God literally saved me from certain death. I will try to keep it short though. A simple testimony from a heart that has fallen for an amazing God. It all started when I was three. My grandfather started sexually abusing me. Then he started selling me to his friends so they could do the same. It continued until I was 11. After that it was foster care. Group homes, foster parents,one place after another never knowing where how was or what it meant. I got really depressed and was struggling with a lot. Anxiety, eating disorders, self injury and addiction just to cope. I was on deaths door when God found me my senior year of highschool. After that God started healing and turning that hurt into anger and that anger into passion. Now I am free of all addictions. I am a worship leader, and I am working my way into missions and childrens ministry. Two years ago if I had continues on the path I was on I would have died. My God rescued me just as I was hitting rock bottom. From the bottom to the top my God saves and restores. Please be encourages. You are never beyond reach and God will save you!

Now for what you can do to help!

First pray! Prayer may not seem like a solution but we are going to the person who knows how to fix this awful problem when we pray.
Next raise awareness! The more people know the more likely they are to reach out, to help out, to make a difference.
Buying Fair Trade and LOGOFF! These are two separate programs and they are amazing

Fair Trade is a method of doing business with justice and morality. It helps small-scale farmers participate in the global marketplace without being exploited, and gives consumers product choices that are in line with their values. Fair Trade requires:
Guaranteeing farmers a fair price based on their cost of production, cost of living and the quality of their product
Supporting development by paying an additional “social premium” that gets invested into community projects
Working with democratically-run organizations that give members a voice, the power to negotiate better prices, and the ability to ride out hard times
Providing up-front payment or affordable credit, which lets the farmers invest in equipment or materials to improve their production
Following labor regulations so that children are not forced to work at the expense of going to school
Adhering to strict regulations that protect natural resources for future generations
Fair Trade is more than just business: it proves that compassion and integrity in world trade are possible. It highlights the need for change in the rules of conventional trade and shows how a successful business can put people first.

LOGOFF is an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship initiative. this short video explains LoGOFF. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... Ev9rmV87jE

Please choose to make a difference!

[Dora]

Don't become a victim of Human Sex Trafficking. "Victims are overwhelmingly girls, and the pimps sometimes entice them with compliments or asking whether they want to make some money. The girls become trapped in a cycle that can involve drugs, physical abuse, even torture," says assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigative division to NBC News.


http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07 ... -says?lite