Human Trafficking...coming closer to home - Part 2

January 11 was Human Trafficking Awareness Day.   Just about an hour after I received a text informing me of this, I got an email from Pastor Tom* (introduced in my January 15 blog) telling this incredible story.  This first part was written by a friend from the US who is currently ministering with Pastor Tom.

"The Lord spoke to Pastor Tom and told him to go to a certain city on the _____border with _____which was a 5 and a half hour drive away. So he and his beloved wife left Saturday morning in obedience to the Lord.  As they arrived they found many, many people, but very few pastors or believers. Slums and much need and what was brought to their attention was the human trafficking that is there and the young girls that are there and  with child and they have no more value. One young girl gave birth to her baby and wanted to give it away but as she nursed it for three days the love of a mother took hold of her and with tears crying out where would she be able to go. A local pastor took her in, a pastor that has next to nothing. Later Pastor Tom and Susan were taken to a small hut with I think Pastor Tom said there were six other women in the same situation. Pastor Tom also found out from the pastors that this city is the hub of this in this part of Asia... "

Here is the latest from Pastor Tom received yesterday that he wants me to share:

                "The trafficking of women and children is reaching epidemic proportions around the world and especially in South Asia. _____ and ______ border  hides a sinister market of sexual slavery. Deceived and hopeless, young women are huddled in dirty shacks or chained behind bars while they await being forced to do things they shouldn’t even know about. Many of those held captive, sold  are between the ages of 12‐16. They don’t think of the future because they don’t think they are worth it, their only value is what the customer is willing to pay. They don’t know they were created in God’s image, they don’t know you can’t put a value on life, they don’t know they are priceless.

            God is passionate about the broken, and because we too have been broken, we are humbled to follow Him to the darkest corners of the world in pursuit of those whom He loves. We (desire to) provide a residential program to young mothers and their children who have been living in or rescued from sexually exploitative situations. We seek to love them in a way that provides protection, restoration and empowerment through love in action. They are the Kingdom, they are the children of God. They are very precious."

I am overwhelmed - how are we to respond?

*Names changed and specific locations omitted for "Pastor Tom's" security