"You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know."

THE STORY

I had the pleasure of working in the design world for about 7 years, helping amazing organizations and ministries tell their stories. It was in this time that God had been preparing my heart for a new chapter in my own story.

About a year ago, after learning of the mind boggling atrocities of human trafficking (20.9 million are enslaved today), I moved to Thailand to join the fight against the exploitation of and price tags placed on human beings.

I live in Pattaya, the world's largest hub for sex tourism. Last year I taught English to kids rescued from horrific circumstances and women choosing a life of freedom from the bars through an educational beauty program.

THE WORK

Humbled and thankful for these opportunities, I simultaneously found my heart breaking daily for the men and women still working and trapped in the bars around me - many with no other known opportunities to carry the cultural obligation of caring for their families.

As I continue to work in Pattaya alongside Shear Love (the beauty school program), I've connected with an incredible ministry that provides vocational training, relationship and the opportunity for a future out of the bars called Not Abandoned. We partner with women still working with no strings attached and a desire to see them find true hope and freedom while empowering them to provide for their families in a dignified way.

Our Educational Employment Center offers vocational training classes (English, baking, computers, customer service, etc) and recreational learning opportunities, and our center in Centeal Thailand provides a place for healing and restoration should anyone desire a fresh start. I'm looking forward to working alongside the team to watch our programs expand to reach more women in Pattaya.

I stand by my coworker when she says, one enslaved is a reason to fight. The Gospel compels me to love, and the men and women I've met motivate me to serve. I'm daily thankful for the opportunity to work here, and constantly count the ways God is providing and bringing light into this dark place.

"Behold, the former things have come to pass, and NEW things I now declare..."

THE NEED

As a full-time volunteer, I am supported 100% by the generosity of donors like you. I currently need about $550 per month to take care of my cost of living.

For a rough breakdown of my costs, click HERE.

Would you consider joining my team by:

   1. Praying - This.Is.Huge. The weight of injustice weighs heavy and working alongside extreme brokenness calls for strength beyond what my flesh can carry. I desperately need and covet your prayers.

   2. Giving - Due to my full-time commitment with ministries, I'm unable to work secondary jobs to cover my costs. I can't do this without you and while I am completely undesserving of your generosity - I'm asking for your financial support to fight against sexual exploitation and trafficking in Thailand.

{You can also write a check and mail it directly to me - message me for an address}

   3. Educate & Get Involved - I was heartbroken to learn how significant the industry is in my own backyard of Southern California. Take a stand and use your voice, your time, your means to fight against this atrocity and bring hope & healing to those affected by it.

//Trafficking is an estimated $150 billion worldwide industry
//The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally.
     >> 68% are trapped in forced labor.
     >>26% are children. 
     >>55% are women and girls. (The Polaris Project)
//Thailand is on the TIP Report Tier 2 Watch List with an estimated 200,000 people trapped in the sex industry.

Your support helps bring freedom, education and restoration to survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation. The epidemic of trafficking and slavery is great, but the need for hope is greater.


ABOUT SHEAR LOVE
Shear Love International is designed to educate and empower people by providing an education in hair design.
    //Website
    //Instagram - @shearloveinternational



ABOUT NOT ABANDONED
Restoring hope by intervening in the sex industry to provide practical options and accessible programming to victims and families.
    //Website
    //Instagram - @not_abandoned


Thank you - from the bottom of my heart- for joining me on this journey of serving, teaching and ministering to the men and women in Pattaya, Thailand.

"But above all these things, put on love..." Col 3:14