Several weeks ago, a man was arrested for running a prostitution ring at the Terrace Motel in Elkridge, MD. The report states that "the 37-year-old was forcing women to perform sex acts in several states," and this man faces "three counts of human trafficking."
This motel is perhaps 5 minutes away from my house. Right down the street, children of God are being turned into currency to satisfy another's lust. Often, when I drive past this motel and the others dotting Route 1, I pray that God would break these chains of slavery. At the present time, I know of no local way to get involved in rescuing these people from this injustice, but I know that prayer is the foundation of whatever action is taken.
When a friend of mine invited me on a mission trip to serve at the YWAM Nehemiah House this upcoming April, I gave some thought before agreeing to go. This home serves women who were trapped in similar situations, helps them get on their feet, reminds them of their infinite worth, and speaks the love of Christ into their hearts.
The Nehemiah house is in the Philippines, in a city called Cagayan de Oro.
Why travel all the way across the world when the same exact need is in my zip code?
A change in place + a change in pace = a change in perspective. We get stuck in our patterns and forget to see what is in front of our faces. Sometimes we need a jolt, a new context, to tear down walls in our hearts and give us a better view on things.
This trip will be a mix of service and retreat. We go as servants, ready to do whatever they need at the Nehemiah house - help in the garden, maintenance, spending time with the staff and women, whatever. We go also to rest, pray, read scripture, and listen to God. We go to recharge so we can come back to our communities and workplaces with a renewed spirit.
Jesus is building a Kingdom of every tribe, tongue, and nation, where every culture is valued and all people know their worth. He is at work in the Philippines, transforming lives and changing hearts. Howard County, Maryland, America is not the center. Jesus is the center; Christ is the cornerstone. This trip is a chance to broaden my perspective - and yours as well! We are all more nearsighted than we can fathom.
After this thought and prayer, I committed to go to the Philippines for one week of service. We will have a team of 5 going to serve, open to whatever God has in store. Learn more about our trip here. Contact me if you want to partner with me financially and/or in prayer. I hope to add updates to this space over the next months before and after the trip!