Finished with my morning routine and clutching my phone, coffee, and keys, I ran out the door, rounding the corner of my apartment and carefully stepping through the grass to get to the parking lot. I pulled my badge for work out of my armrest console and put the car in reverse. With a swig of caffeine and a heavy sigh, “right on time!” I began the drive through the gates of my apartment complex.
The morning AM talk radio kicked on and I was off to the races for an ordinary day. Little did I know I was about to hear a story that would impact me in the days and weeks to come.
The music for the Glenn Beck program played and the familiarity of the road before me gave me a moment to clear my mind. The segment began and my ears perked as Glenn and his colleagues began discussing Operation Underground Railroad. Their website, OurRescue.org, states that they exist to rescue children from sex trafficking.
Glenn and his head writer/researcher Jason Buttrill had recently taken a trip to Bangkok, Thailand to witness undercover operations with O.U.R.
As they began to lay out the horrors of human trafficking they witnessed there, I was moved to tears.
I couldn’t have imagined the scenes they were describing, and my heart was shattered for these children half a world away. Here I was, on an ordinary day, feeling sideswiped by Evil and broken I haven’t done anything to stop it.
Something that was said during the program resonated with me. Many people have asked them why, with so much going on at home and happening here in America, why we should dedicate our time, money and energy to something going on so far away? I don’t fault those who ask that question. We don’t want to think about this happening, but this is a real Evil and Americans leave that place and bring it back here, and even in some cases far worse.
Slavery is in America, and Americans are purchasing children and their innocence at a price too.
I couldn’t shake the stories all day. Or the next. Or the next. Or the next.
I thought about the little girl laid out before men on drugs so she will withstand what is coming next. I thought about the little girl, with too much makeup and too little clothes clutching a teddy bear. I thought about the little boys being stripped of their dignity and too often overlooked in the human trafficking discussion. I thought about the aftercare these children must desperately need and the lack of awareness in my own community.
For a week I sat in my thoughts, doing research, desperately searching for an organization close to home I could get involved in. The more I learned, the more I felt the weight of how much bigger than me this war is to fight.
One evening as I was contemplating all I had heard and all I had read, I felt the Holy Sprit move me to pray. Before I do anything else, pray. Ask God what He wants to do with this. Ask Him to guide and help those fighting against human trafficking. And pray for those little ones to be rescued. Pray for a miracle for these boys and girls. Pray for those precious children to know Jesus.
As I wrestle with all of this and find where I can best fight this war, I hope you will be moved as I have, to join Red Tent Living and A-21 as a Prayer Warrior. Prayer is the most simple and most powerful, effective weapon we have in this world.
Jesus made it possible for us to have unrestricted access to our Father, to the presence of the Living God. May we all join together in His name to fight Evil wherever innocence and dignity are threatened.
Remember, one ordinary evening, the veil was torn between God and man.
One ordinary morning, a tomb was found empty.
One ordinary day, Jesus walked among his friends once more and reminded us that those that believe will perform miracles.
We can all be a part of the miracle a child in your city, your state, or halfway around the world is waiting for.
To Join the Red Tent Prayer Warriors, please find us here.
To read more about O.U.R. and the undercover operation in Bangkok, you may find the story here.
Just very sad that anyone can subject children to this abuse.
I know….my mind can’t wrap my head around it. But there is always hope…. so many have been saved and there so many that are waiting on our faith. I know we can win if we work together. Thank you Think the Belle for your deep-feeling heart.
Anna, your words are moving and I join you in prayer. Thank you for the call to pray and your courage to take a stand. I love the truth you name…”We can all be a part of a miracle”… Yes!
Thank you Ellen! I dream of being part of the miracle and I know it is possible!
Anna, thank you for being obedient to God’s call and a voice for children caught in sex traffic. I remember the despair as I walked the streets of the Red Light District in Amsterdam alongside a woman committed to reaching out to those behind the windows. Just this week a man was charged here in Atlanta with housing 8 young girls behind the locked doors of a million dollar mansion. Fortunately he is in jail, the girls are freed and a process has begun to offer them the long-term care they will need to heal. Thank you for your passion and for what you do. love, Valerie
Valerie, your words put such a personal picture to what we can be a part of fighting. Thank you for sharing such a real and raw picture of what is happening in the world. My heart is that we will not be afraid in speaking the truth of these stories. Thank you for being a Warrior along side us!
Thank you for the invitation to prayer and reminder that even though it’s all I can do, it is everything to the ones I am praying for. Joining you in your tears and in the fight.
Jenn, thank you for reminding us that prayer is EVERYTHING to the ones you are praying for. They are not forgotten; they are not a footnote or political pawn. I so appreciate your words that give gravity to the situation and the knowing that prayer speaks louder than anything else. <3
Dear Anna,
Our peaceful ordinary days sound so impotent standing alongside the examples of extraordinary days you gave. While we calmly use our time to think of what we’ll do on our next vacation, these precious children are being wounded emotionally & physically during their ordinary day! Thank you for throwing a spotlight on this evil situation. Prayer is a wonderful way to begin this journey with Jesus. May He encourage you & me to listen for His gentle leading on this. Blessings sweet spirited one.
Thank you Anna for sharing how a holy disruption in an ordinary morning woke you to Evil and roused in you awareness and action. Your obedience in both prayer and calling are truly inspiring. May your words awaken the same obedience in me and in others.
I have written a book concerning human trafficking. It’s available now.