Where it all starts.

In the line of work that I do, I often talk about the excitement of sex trafficking prevention, giving children a second chance at life, and giving families hope. You as a reader have heard about the desolate conditions in villages that cause parents to even consider "selling" their child for a better life, the beginning of sex trafficking, but I have seen these conditions first hand. I've seen parents sitting on their door steps with babies wrapped around them. I've seen shoeless children with mismatched clothes chasing each other with sticks as toys. I've seen children play checkers with rocks. I've seen children walk right up next to you and hold your hand for comfort. I've seen hope shining is little dark brown eyes.

Yesterday, I was immersed in the Lahu way of life. 

She walked around with this knife all day

The story behind this house is found here

Typical homes have one room, which includes an area to cook

 

  

The passing of candy and the reaching of hands

Theres that knife again

  

The Lahu people believe they originated from squash.

The visit to this village was truly humbling. Coming home, all I could think about was how blessed I am and how I have to use what God has given me to help those less fortunate. The most amazing thing I heard on the trip was that when our children go back home to their villages for school break, parents and other tribe members see a difference. Our children go back to their homes with love and excitement radiating off of them. Not many people have the opportunity to go where it all starts, to see with their own eyes why sex trafficking could ever be an option. These parents aren't bad people, they are people with little to no choices left. 

The only way to stop sex trafficking is to start at the source of the issue, poverty. When parents are given the opportunity of a choice, they choose right. Every single child in our 7 homes in Thailand is proof that change is happening. How exciting is it that we're all a part of it!