VOJ Summer 2018, Volume 4, Issue 2

em p ow er i n g

i n sp i r i n g

r el easi n g Volu m e 4, Issu e 2, Su m m er 2018

Sp o t l i g h t o n

Stories of Perseverance I n th i s i ssue:

Lance Tracy:

Relentless Bl ai re Frai m: A Heart of Perseverance Laura Page: Kids Helping Kids An d M or e!

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..."

Volu m e 4 Issu e 2* Edit or : Cin dy Pow ell Sim ple Fait h Pr ess * PO Box 1614 * Redlan ds, CA

contents REGULAR FEATURES Editor 's Corner

SPOTLIGHT SECTION pg 1

Relentless Lance Tracy

pg 15

Love Has a Face Andrea Aasen

pg 3

A Heart of Perseverance Blaire Fraim

pg 23

Exodus to Flourish Kezia Hatfield

pg 7

Kids Helping Kids Laura Page

pg 27

Freedom on the Frontlines Hallie Schaefer

pg11

Destiny House Restoration Center Lisa Mitts pg 31

Book Review : Radhika's Story Rachael Williams-Mejri

pg 37

Preventing Child Marriage Jenna Funkhauser

pg 35

edit or 's cor n er ?When climbing a steep hill, a man is often more conscious of the weakness of his stumbling feet than of the view, the grandeur, or even of his upward progress. Persevere, persevere.

Love and laugh. Rejoice.? ?from God Calling, March 31st tarting a new endeavor is typically fueled by the fire and adrenaline of fresh hope and vision. Filled with passion and conviction, you feel like you can take on the world! Then, when you?re finally on the homestretch of a big project, you often gain new strength when you get a glimpse of the finish line. When you sense victory is just around the corner, your will to finish strong propels you onward.

S

?Stories of Perseverance? is the spotlight theme for our Summer Issue. It is a familiar theme for most justice fighters. The journey to justice* is just that? a journey. Change rarely happens quickly or all at once.

Sometimes the journey is both long and lonely. Sometimes it feels like there is more discouragement than encouragement.

Sometimes you may even feel like giving up.

But what happens in the middle?

But please don?t. Your voice matters. What you do matters. Together we are making a difference. One day at a time. One breakthrough at a time. One life at a time.

That?s when you need to persevere. And persevere. And then persevere some more.

-1-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

Recently this theme has been personal. I?ve been facing my own struggle to persevere.

At times, I'm tempted to believe that much of what I do doesn?t have all that much impact. Some days I wonder if it even matters. Would anyone notice if I stopped?

I don?t relish these thoughts, but they are

echo through eternity. On page 15, we?ll introduce you to filmmaker, Lance Tracy.

Lance's film, Relentless, tells the story of a mother ?s relentless effort to find and save her daughter, but we?ll also tell you about the relentless effort behind-the-scenes to make the film! Then meet Blaire Fraim

real.

When I?m discouraged, most of the time it is because I?m asking the wrong questions. I?m

(page 23), a missionary serving the vulnerable and exploited of Brazil. Blaire understands that perseverance is a matter

focused on the wrong things. The most important thing isn?t how much impact I think I am or am not having. The real question is ?why?? Why am I doing what I?m

of the heart? and that the road to restoration is rarely seamless or smooth.

We?ll also introduce you to Tyler Page (in an article written by his mom, Laura Page on

doing? Why did I begin? What is the motivation of my heart?

page 27). Tyler started his organization, Kids Helping Kids, as a young boy and exhibited a level of understanding and

The 'why' is key. When your 'why' is clear, you can usually figure out the 'how' as you continue moving forward one baby step at a time. I?m not saying there isn?t ever a time

perseverance that would put most adults to shame. Although Tyler is grown now and exploring new ventures, his impact will endure.

to re-evaluate and change course if necessary, but those decisions should never be made from a place of temporary discouragement. And most of the time, discouragement is temporary.

So will yours. You are making more progress than you know. Keep doing what you do ? with perseverance.

But your impact in persevering is not. In fact, to quote Maximus from The Gladiator,

So let's not get tired of doing what is good.

At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.?

-Galat ian s 6:9

?What we do in life, echoes in eternity.?

In this issue we are privileged to tell the stories of several who have persevered? and the fruit of their lives will

Cindy Powell Editor, Voices of Justice

*Since encouragement to persevere is something we all need at times, Voices of Justice will be launching a new feature called ?The Journey to Justice." More information will be coming soon on our website and through social media.

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

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"Love has a Face? is a column dedicated to ending human trafficking through the realization of LOVE as the preventative solution. But love has a face! It takes a multitude of people, skill sets, ideas, ministries, and nations coming together to bring order in chaos and light into places of darkness. ?Love has a Face? will empower you to see your part in the solution to stop human trafficking and other forms of injustice before they start.

Bl essed ar e th e Peacem aker s a

had been tormented with physical illness

peacemaker? Wherever I am in

and assumed she?d want prayer for her

the world, it seems the most

body, but to my surprise, her response was,

sought after action, emotion, and position

?Please, pray for peace.? In fact, she didn?t

is peace. Isn?t that interesting? In a world

even mention her body or desire for

so overcome with turmoil and violence,

healing. Despite her situation, peace was

peace is the desired state of mind and

the ultimate cry of her heart.

circumstance. But if this is the case, why

Soon after, I noticed an increase in the

does the world look like it does?

number of persons who vocalized the

I?ll never forget praying for a young Khmer

same. Everyone wanted peace! This was,

woman. At that time, she was blind and

and still is, the case anywhere I travel. In

struggling with severe pain in her neck,

their personal lives, relationships, family,

back, and joints. As I met with her that day,

workplace,

I asked how she was doing and if she

desires peace. The irony is that, while most

needed anything. I knew full well that she

desire

W

hat

does

it

mean

to

be

-3-

city,

peace,

and

they

nation,

don?t

everyone

realize

the

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

numerous ways they are contributing to

peacemakers. We must learn to identify

the chaos and injustice in and around

with and seek to ?make peace? everywhere

them. Though they seek peace, they bring

we go.

destruction

But

through

their

words

and

actions.

peace

is

not

an

independent

consequence that spontaneously develops.

Teaching and mentoring others to be

Rather, peace is the long-term result of

peacemakers is a form of prevention. If we

perfect love. And contrary to what many

are to shape the world around us, we must

think, peace is not always nonthreatening.

be ones that demonstrate, carry, and give

Peace is also not always silent or passive in

peace. So, how do we walk in peace and

action. On the contrary, peace can be very

release it to others? I believe order and aggressive and

tranquility are established in our internal

Peace can

offend, because love can offend.

and external environments when we live as Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

intentional.

-4-

I am convinced that peace is completely

front of you? What would happen if we

dependent on love, whereas the two will

really understood that by loving people,

forever coexist. You cannot have one

even

without the other. When love is present

release them to do the same?

there will always be peace, and where there

What if the price of peace was love? Would

is an absence of love, there will always be

we desire it enough to lay everything else

uproar. So, while the desire of the nations

down for love's sake? Would we give up our

is peace, even deeper still, the desire is

insecurities, our offenses, our fears, and

love. Whether they know it or not, love is

any other perverted safe place to choose

the greatest desire of every man, woman,

love instead? What if the result was the

and child.

peace we sought after?

To have peace with each other and the

As

world around us, we must love. What a

encouraged by the shakings, for where

simple concept. Can you imagine what the

there are seeking hearts there will always

world

fully

be truth revealed. The global hunger for

understood this message? I often ponder

peace will change the nations, if we can all

why we complicate things. The world is full

learn to respond and posture ourselves in

of

and

love. Love is the only way to peace. Arise,

to

peacemakers ? now is your greatest hour to

would

look

committees,

organizations

like,

if

we

vocations,

specifically

intended

in

difficult

injustice

fills

situations, we would

the

nations,

I

am

shine!

develop mechanisms of and for peace. But

Love has a face.

what if it was as simple as loving the one in

Andrea Aasen is the Director of XP Missions / Extreme Love Ministries. She is a visionary leader with a heart to see justice released to the nations.

Andrea has a desire to see women and children empowered and walking in their God created destinies. She believes in the power of LOVE to transform nationsand individuals, and asa result, has developed various community, business, and advocacy models to support and protect victims of human trafficking, abuse, and other formsof exploitation.

-5-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

F R E E D OM GE N E R A T I ON HAS LAUNCHED A NEW RESOURCE TO HELP KEEP CHILDREN SAFE FROM TRAFFICKERS "Human trafficking is a horrid subject to address, yet so many children are victims. We don?t want to scare them, but we can?t ignore the realities."

-Caroline Pitout, Freedom Generation

To help address this need, Freedom Generation has developed an educational coloring book to help kids identify the common dangers of trafficking and provide them with simple and practical tools to protect themselves. .

Click on the video below to learn more:

Viist the Freedom Generation website at: www.freedomgeneration.co.za

"Exodus to Flourish" is a regular column that invites readers to delve deeper into the process of restoration for survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking and includes topics related to healing complex trauma, the church?s role, and the many questions that arise when journeying from Egypt into promise.

Loyalt y an d Ju st ice oyalty is an ever-developing revelation

and offense. Very subtly it can be woven

for me. Working for many years with

into the fabric of our organizations and the

survivors of sexual exploitation and

undertone of our messages. We can slowly

complex trauma, as well as being a mom,

sabotage our efforts as we confuse offense

daughter, sister, friend? the injustices are

with solidarity. Roots of bitterness form

very personal. Loving my enemies and

underneath the surface until, instead of

seeking justice can easily present as two

promoting healing connection, we are

opposing pursuits.

creating further division and even spiritual

When loving and aligning with people, their

defilement.

enemies and offenses can become ours to

Jesus said ?The blind receive their sight, the

wrestle through as well. Part of how we

lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf

advocate is by taking a stand against what

hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor

has been committed against them and

have good news preached to them. And

confronting

Survivors

blessed is the one who is not offended with

have often suffered years of being silenced

Me.? We may ask? how could anyone be

and hidden. We want to create visibility and

offended

amplify their

voice. Rightfully so. The

Could it be that society had deemed certain

problem is when we begin amplifying anger

categories of people as undeserving? Why

L

abusive

systems.

-7-

by people receiving healing?

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

was Jesus consistently challenged while He

learning how to hold tensions and engage

was doing good? Was it that He was

with complexities.

interfering with their current paradigms of

It becomes perplexing as we heal and grow

social justice?

in God. Our understanding of His ultimate

We he was sent to Nineveh, Jonah was

goals for restoration begin to challenge our

offended when God asked him to preach

definitions of loyalty. We are confronted

salvation to the inhabitants of that city.

with

Jonah didn't think the Ninevites deserved

offenses. We begin to see loyalty to God as

God's mercy. In the book of Joshua, before

being one with His nature. To emulate Him

the

and His desires rooted in love, justice,

Israelites

began

to

possess

the

what

we

thought

forgiveness,

were

justified

Promised Land, Joshua encountered the

humility,

redemption,

and

Lord. He asked if the Lord was for Israel or

restoration. These realities take on forms

for their adversaries. The Lord responded

we did not once expect. Yet He desires that

with ?No, but as the Commander of the

none should perish, but all to have eternal

Lord?s Army I have now come.? It seems

life. Our loyalty is identifying with Christ

God is less into sides and more into

and His desire toward every person we

salvation. He pursues redemption for all,

encounter. Often we will know we are

yet without violating loyalty or covenant to

growing when He begins putting this to the

anyone. There is mystery in this and we are

test.

invited to trust.

Stages of emotional development and brain growth show us that black and white processing is a feature of a young child.

They need rigid categories to determine what is safe, what is good, and what to trust. Typical thoughts are ?you are either for me or against me? or ?it is either this or that.? Polarized thinking is also a feature of

I personally never thought I would be

trauma and a dissociative mind, in which

sitting with Johns and extending empathy.

?all good? or ?all bad? can be a survival

The idea used to feel like betrayal. Now I sit

response. My belief is that both emotional

in session with a John one hour and in the

immaturity and trauma have contributed to

next hour sit with a woman who has been

our tendencies to view the world and

exploited. It

people this way. There is a process of Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-8-

does not

divide

me

or

contradict conviction. If anything, I sense a

truth and love. Those are standards that

greater movement toward my wholeness ?

remain

and the wholeness of God?s family. I'm

empathy. As many of you can closely relate,

sitting, as a broken-resilient person, with

I entered this field because I saw Jesus in it

other broken-resilient people who are the

and wanted to be with Him. The way He

focus of His desire. Every one has in some

sees and relates to people is far more

way perpetrated and has been victimized.

multidimensional and as long as there is

Every one hopes for redemption and

breath in someone's lungs to choose Him,

something

He can transform and heal. When God

more.

I

feel

even

more

empowered to advocate for justice and

and

protect

the

integrity

of

releases glory like that, it vindicates all.

After several years of experience with trauma and recovery, Kezia believeshealthy families are the linchpin to all human growth and restored design. She received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has worked exclusively with survivors of sex trafficking and their support systems, while also developing and overseeing a residential aftercare program. Through the adoption of her daughter,Kezia has seen Jesus?glory in family and the restoration He bringsthrough the process. Her desire is to nurture the healing integration of individuals, families, and communities? that what were once cycles of abuse are turned into blessings for futuregenerations.

You Can Do Something!

If everyone does something, we can change the world.

Click here for ideas

-9-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

E ight- year- old

Asha Nambawa lived a peaceful life in rural Uganda until a gang of armed men came and snatched her sister D embe away.

W hen she feels not enough is being done to find her sister, she sets out on her own. She gets more than she bargains for when an unlikely stranger picks her up along the way...

W ill she succeed in her mission to find her sister? W ill she ever make it back home?

Click h er e t o or der " Rest or ed" t h e secon d n ovel in t h e Rise ser ies

For ot h er book s by t h e au t h or , visit : h t t ps:/ / h alliesch aef er .com / book s/

Freedom on the Frontlines is a monthly column that highlights individuals and organizations who are making a difference on the frontlines of the war against human trafficking. t fifteen years old, Diane Owsley

everything she had just gone through.

was abducted from her home by an

Unfortunately, it was not so? back at the

abusive boyfriend. For several days,

man?s house, he and his group of friends

she was held captive in the woods by the

raped her. When they were done with her,

man she thought she knew so well. During

they threw her into a room in the back, with

a daring escape, she knew going home was

nothing but a blanketless bed on the floor.

not an option, so she decided to ?run to the

She told me, ?When that door closed, I did

streets? and try her luck out on her own as

not leave for two years.?

A

she had nowhere else to turn. Her family For those two years, a group of men

was mostly uninvolved in her life, she

guarded the door night and day; she was

couldn?t even go to them for help.

unable to escape. They kept her drugged According to fausa.org, most runaways or

and often withheld food from her, her

girls on the streets, will be lured by a

ragged body weighing as little as ninety

trafficker within 48 hours. Diane was no

pounds. Not only was she held captive in

exception; within those 48 hours, she was

that

already targeted.

numerous times a day for sex.

She met a man who made promises to help

The situation seemed bleak, and it was in

her, telling her that he would take her in

that hopelessness that she cried out to

and take care of her. This sounded like a

God. While she never had a relationship

dream

with Him before, one night she prayed that

come

true,

especially

after

-11-

house,

she

was

trafficked,

sold

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

her torture would end. Soon after, and for the first time in two years, the door to that horrible room was left unguarded. Without waiting, she fled, finally able to escape.

After her escape, she met with a pastor who took care of her and counseled her for three years. In that time she began a relationship with God and was saved. Diane is adamant that her relationship with Christ is how she overcame and healed from the horrors of being trafficked.

Diane?s story doesn?t end there. In the years since her escape, Diane went on to marry her wonderful husband of fifteen years.

Since his passing seven years ago, she now spends her time fighting human trafficking Diane Owsley

by speaking at colleges, high schools, and conferences all over the country, spreading awareness wherever she goes. When she is not doing speaking engagements, she is scouring the internet looking for human trafficking victims. She knew exactly what to search for as she looked through sites such as Backpage and Craigslist. Now that those sites have been shut down, Diane says that, unfortunately, there is no shortage of other places to look. She has worked closely with Homeland

Security

over

the

years,

reporting the leads she finds. She has even Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-12-

worked with the FBI at the Super Bowl,

When she?s not rescuing victims, she sells

watching

human

special bracelets to help raise money for

trafficking victims who are sold during the

other survivors. These bracelets are made

event. The FBI are involved once the victim

by human trafficking survivors, and the

crosses state lines, and during the Super

funds from the jewelry go to support those

Bowl, pimps bring in their girls from other

women.

states.

When I asked Diane what she believes the

Known by her colleagues as a ?Beacon of

average person can do to help fight human

Hope? and an abolitionist who ?Brings Hope

trafficking, she responded with a quote

to the Trafficked,? Diane has personally

from

rescued several girls, as well. One night at a

ch oose t o look t h e ot h er w ay, bu t you

hotel, she realized that trafficking was

can n ever say again t h at you did n ot

taking place right before her eyes. Boldly,

k n ow .?

she informed the authorities and stayed

awareness is one of the best ways we can

with the victim, keeping her safe until police

help prevent trafficking. She says that if

arrived. Another victim she found is now a

people understand what is happening and

close

the

know the signs, they can report it, which

human

could be the thing that saves someone?s

and

searching

friend

unimaginable

of bond

hers, of

for

sharing being

William

She

Wilberforce,

strongly

?You

believes

m ay

that

trafficking survivors. Diane was able to take

life.

the girl back to her own house, keeping her

If you would like to order one of her

safe. She says that Lindsey is now like a

bracelets, facebook messenger (click link)

daughter to her.

is the best way to contact Diane.

Hallie Schaefer is a freelance writer and web content creator from Indianapolis, Indiana. Earning her degree in Psychology from Grace College and Theological Seminary, she has combined her experience in counseling and love of writing to equip and inspire others. When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three small children, exploring all Indianapolishastooffer.

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Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

VOJSpotlight Section:

S t or ies of P er sev er an c e Given the enormous scope of the issue of human trafficking, answers rarely come quickly or easily. To be effective for the long run takes perseverance. In this issue of VOJ, we hope you are inspired by the stories of several committed individuals and organizations that have have pressed in to make a difference despite the obstacles they have faced.

RELENTLESS "REL EN T L ES S " Q&A w it h Film m aker

Lan ce Tr acy Lance Tracy is an LA based filmmaker who was recently introduced to VOJ though his partnership with The Abolish Slavery Coalition. Lance's recent film, "Relentless" helps benefit their abolition efforts. We're honored that Lance has taken the time to share a bit of his story with our readers.

C

an

you

abou t f ir st

t ell

us

you r self

an d

becam e

a h ow

in t er est ed

lit t le

currently work on the CBS streaming

you

service, CBS All Access, on an on-going

in

basis. Riding the balance of my active

f ilm m ak in g?

Christian

faith

with

working

industry

has

in

I?m originally from Seattle. I grew up in the

entertainment

80?s in the birthplace of a lot of famous

on-going

grunge bands that led me into music

professional challenge.

myself. That

music

How did you becom e aw ar e of t h e

videos, which then turned into filmmaking.

issu e of h u m an t r af f ick in g? Was t h er e

I?ve been a professional filmmaker for 20+

an yt h in g specif ic t h at in spir ed you t o

years

f ilm Relentless?

now

eventually led

through

to

feature

films,

intentional

and

been

the an

strategic

international documentaries, commercials,

Human trafficking is a modern term for

music videos, and faith-based films. I also

moving people for the purposes of slavery.

helped brand the Olympics for NBC, and

And slavery is as old as human history. I -15-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

formed my company, ?Human? back in

government.

2005 and when we started focusing on

research the subject of human trafficking

narrative feature films I decided I wanted

in Cambodia, the more I realized that

to tackle a social issue in every film with

Cambodia had a very serious issue ? more

some sort of solution to it. Films take a lot

than many countries, in fact. But what

of sacrifice, finances and human energy so

became peculiar was that the Cambodian

we might as well do something that helps

government wasn?t publicly addressing the

others.

issue. It turned out that some officials in

But Relentless didn?t start with the idea of

the Cambodian government were involved

human trafficking. My first objective was

in a trafficking ring. That?s when my

to

my

contacts said that they wanted to help but

experience,

couldn?t because they would lose their

make

a film

international

overseas.

documentary

With

The

more

I

started

and

humanitarian

funding if they got involved with my film.

documentaries I had lots

of experience

I

making

faith-based

hired

a

screenwriter

and

had

to

a

shooting overseas and figured this would

Cambodian-centric first draft but had to

make

completely scrap it. I decided to write an

Relentless

different

than

most

American independent films.

entirely new Relentless myself as I was

I wanted to shoot a feature in Cambodia, a

beginning to

place I?ve shot in before and I wanted to

wanted to tell.

tell a story around this special geography

My second country of choice was El

and history. I started to put feelers out in

Salvador. I had shot documentaries and

Phnom Penh. Somewhere in this initial

videos

development phase the idea of human

dangerous and violent country, but their

there

understand

several

the story I

times.

It

is

a

trafficking came up. I decided if I was going to address this topic then I wanted to connect it to the U.S. somehow so that Americans, who are very capable of helping, would find themselves in the story.

But things started to go south. My contacts

were

part

of

an

organization in Cambodia that was partially funded by the Cambodian -17-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

government

is

very

humble

and

forthcoming about their issue with human trafficking (it is a hub for trafficking in Central

America).

My

contacts in

El

Salvador were very excited and said they?d do anything to help us make this movie there.

Kn ow in g w h at you k n ow n ow , is t h er e an yt h in g you w ou ld h ave don e dif f er en t ly in t h e pr ocess of m ak in g t h is f ilm ?

I went into this with very little money.

Relentless should have cost about $12-15 million to make in a traditional way. We shot it for under $500k. I knew it would be difficult. And I knew we?d need a lot of help. I hired an American Line Producer and the two of us flew to San Salvador to

interview potential co-production partners, production companies located in San Salvador that could bring on crew, equipment, permits, etc. We quickly realized there was no film industry in El Salvador, but there were commercials being produced.

We went with the commercial company, Meridiano 89, a very capable and connected group who proved to be a great fit for this film. They were able to help make deals with the government that gave us free helicopters, police, soldiers, security, transportation, etc. I look back wondering what I would have done differently knowing what I know now and recalling the enormous challenges we all went through to get Relentless on the screen. I don?t think there is an easier way that would have allowed the film to get finished. It was a very ambitious story with a big cast, spread throughout Central America, Mexico and the U.S. Wh at h as su r pr ised you t h e m ost as you ?ve delved deeper in t o t h e issu e of h u m an t r af f ick in g?

Before doing the research for this script, I wondered how traffickers actually kept their victims from escaping and/or just going to the authorities. The violence I uncovered that inspired many of the scenes in Relentless, was shocking. People were either being violently abducted from their homes or tricked into traveling

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-18-

somewhere for a job and then being physically captured. If someone in the group of victims disobeyed the captors or tried to escape, they were made into an example by being burned alive, or killed with a baseball bat, shot, beheaded, etc.

Then there are those victims right

"Keep in mind that awareness about an issue is one thing, but being the person who actually does something with that awareness is another."

here in suburbia, U.S.A. that are

Bartolotta came to the screening and was

forced into selling themselves sexually

moved by the film. She arranged to show

while living at home with their unaware

it

parents. How is that possible? I heard a

Harrisburg,

story that captors meet their families,

passage of a human trafficking bill. I was

posing as boyfriends, etc., and then tell the

very proud of that experience as many

victims they will kill their families if they

legislators were inspired to start initiatives

don?t comply. Imagine

in their districts.

being

in

that

situation!

before

the to

House

and

promote

Senate the

in

speedy

When I was in Harrisburg at the House and

Can you t ell u s abou t som e of you r

Senate screening, I learned that the $5,000

su ccesses? w h at k in d of im pact h ave

donated in Pittsburgh was just spent by

you seen w it h t h e f ilm ?

The Abolish Slavery Coalition to save a

Two incredible stories come to mind, and

Texas-based

they?re connected. This film partnered with

trafficked. He was lured by a false promise

The Abolish Slavery Coalition to raise

on social media to come to Southern

awareness and funding for them. I was

California. The traffickers said they would

particularly interested in the fact that, with

help him with his music career. So he

very little money and overhead, The

went.

Abolish

parents were sent a photo of him, beaten

Slavery

Coalition

continuously

rescues victims and rehabilitates them.

Through our publicist, Lynda Schneider who is based in Pennsylvania, we did a screening in Pittsburgh. An anonymous donor gave $5,000 to The Abolish Slavery Coalition.

State

Senator,

Camera

teen

boy

from

being

The next thing you know, his

and bound with a ransom demand. The $5,000 was directly used in the process of finding the boy. When authorities closed in on the residence where he was being held, they found two more missing kids.

Hearing this story was one of the proudest moments of my life.

-19-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

themselves in a cause that affects them so much emotionally and spiritually that they can?t properly function. I believe we have to observe proper boundaries and make sure we are healthy enough to function in a position of influence in this life to be able to help others. I?m always trying to walk that line by the grace and wisdom of God. Do you h ave an y advice f or ot h er cr eat ives w h o h ave been t ou ch ed by t h is issu e bu t w h o f eel t h ey don?t k n ow w h er e t o st ar t or h ow t o m ak e a dif f er en ce?

David Castro, LanceTracy, and Martin Chavez at theEast Coast Premier of Relentless

Wh at st eps do you per son ally t ak e t o st ay h opef u l an d solu t ion -f ocu sed w h en f aced w it h t h e r ealit ies of t h is ver y dar k issu e?

Have you been on an airplane and heard the flight attendant say at the beginning of the flight that in the case of cabin depressurization, to make sure to use the oxygen mask first before giving it to your children and others. They say that because they want to make sure you are conscious and cared for so you are able to help others. I think this applies to my life as well. I have to stay balanced in my relationship with God and my ministry, my family, my church family, my career, hobbies and causes. I?ve seen people lose Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

As creatives we can help to raise awareness through our various platforms and influences. Also, keep in mind that awareness about an issue is one thing, but being the person who actually does something with that awareness is another.

Giving to anti-human trafficking organizations like The Abolish Slavery Coalition, through time, talents, and money are a great way to help. And as a benefit, I?ve experienced a tremendous joy in helping others that I don?t get by just creating art.

How can r eader s best su ppor t t h e f ilm an d h elp get t h e w or d ou t ?

Watch the film on Red Box or Amazon or one of the many of the platforms found at www.relentlessmovie.com. Sales of the film support The Abolish Slavery Coalition.

If you are moved by the film, share it on social media and get involved at www.abolishslavery.org.

Holding fundraising screenings for Abolish Slavery is something we love to support. Get in touch with us at -20-

contactus@humanllc.org and we?d be happy to help set something up.

Do you h ave an y f u t u r e plan s or pr oject s you w an t t o m ak e ou r r eader s aw ar e of ?

I?m in development on a new film called ?Special Interest Agent?? a globe-trotting thriller about ISIS which takes place in Syria, Greece, El Salvador and all over the U.S. It spends a great deal of time high-lighting the Refugee Crisis in war-torn Syria. Over eleven million people are displaced either in Syria or in surrounding regions. These are people like you and me who one day are living in their house or apartment with their family and then they are forced to leave in order to survive. It?s a tricky situation for many reasons? one of which is that, mixed in with some of the refugees are extremists who are bent on war, so it is difficult to tell them apart.

My hope is that, like ?Relentless? this film will entertain and educate an audience and also move them to help with this crisis.

An y addit ion al t h ou gh t s or ideas you ?d lik e t o leave u s w it h ?

I appreciate the balance Voices of Justice strikes between helping each other ?s physical needs and their spiritual needs. "Setting the captives free" as described in Isaiah 42 has a double meaning, and command for God?s people? we are to help set people free physically and spiritually, and you get that.

Thanks for all you guys do to help people.

Editor?s Note: Thank you, Lance, for the encouragement and for all you are doing to set captives free! .

-21-

Lance Tracy is a strong producer-writer-director with an incredible knack to mix commercial ideas with quality people.

His last film, "Relentless" won ?Best Thriller? and ?Best Director? at its Breckenridge Film Festival world premiere. Sundance deemed his last documentary ?an accomplished film?.

With years of experience in high-end marketing and advertising, he has developed an international, commercial sensibility. Often called on by NBC/ Universal and CBS Interactive, Tracy has helped to brand the Sochi and London Olympics as well astheCBSstreaming service, "CBSAll Access".

He started as an in-house dramatic films director, making short narrative films, distributed in 155 countriesand 15 languages. Herehewassensitized to an international audience while earning 12 writing and directing awards. He has directed projects in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Cambodia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico City, Belize, Honduras, Moscow, St. Petersburg and theU.S. He is currently in development on ?Special Interest Agent? a globe-trotting topical thriller about ISIS, highlighting the Syrian refugee crisis, scheduled to lens2018.

Lancelivesin LA with hiswifeand twokids

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

Wat ch on Am azon or Redbox!

RELENTLESS

KNOW THE FACTS

Graphs and statistics provided by US Army

A HEART OF PERSEVERANCE

by Blair e Fr aim ?I will run the course of your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart.?

-Psalm 119:32

he had relapsed again. Just before

comprehend; I only knew that my heart was

Christmas, Shay had gone back to

broken. I wondered if she would survive

the warmth of the manholes under

this relapse; dark thoughts crowded in as I

the bridge, selling her body for $10 in order

feared that death would be the only peace

to buy her next hit of ?the rock? as she

my friend would know.

called it, or crack cocaine. This wasn?t the

For those who work in back alleys with the

first time either, I?d been down this road

addicted, exploited, and vulnerable; we

with her four times already, each time

know that rarely is a story as simple as:

helping her get into a detox, then a rehab

?She was rescued and lived happily ever

program, then

own

after.? In fact, I?ve never encountered that

apartment. Months of sobriety, the safety

story? instead I?ve known the cycles of

of her apartment, the security of a job,

shame and trauma that often look like one

would be thrown away in a moment when

step forward followed by two steps back. In

the traumas of

life would come

the moments when she takes two steps

flooding in. It was too much for me to

back, I?ve come to cling to the truth that

S

a job, then

her

her

-23-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

shame or addiction is never the end of the story.

Love is the end of the story, because love never fails. Yet in the midst of the story God is writing, when we?ve yet to see the breakthrough we know will come, we must be a people of perseverance. ?I will run the course of your their disgust with the perpetrators, etc.

commandments, for you will

In the low moments, like with my friend

enlarge my heart.?

Shay, I too was tempted to grow bitter, to

-Psalm 119: 32

feel completely defeated when I wasn?t Early in my journey of working with exploited

men

and

seeing her change. Many of us will face

women, the Lord

these moments in our life, moments that

brought me to this verse and has become

call for perseverance. A perseverance that

vision for my life: I want a big heart. In a

doesn?t merely dig in its heels to keep

movement championing justice, I began to

fighting,

see that many peers who were fighting

bring about their version of justice. Hearts shriveled

up

because

of

their

own

disappointed expectations with the people they serve, the apathetic government, or

a

perseverance

that

surrenders to the only One who can save.

alongside me were bitter, disappointed, and striving in their own humanistic zeal to

but

In our pursuit of justice there is a tension we must walk: to take action and advocate for the oppressed, loving them through the messiness

of

their

pain,

but

also

surrendering their lives and future into the One who holds them in the palm of His hand.

The pressures of life, the disappointments, and the betrayals will invite us to protect ourselves? to insulate ourselves from the pain of another. We will be tempted to grow

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-24-

cold

and

uncaring.

In

truth,

would be saints who have run the course

"For those who work in back

set before them, who have not loved their

alleys with the addicted,

lives unto death, and who have great big

exploited, and vulnerable; we

hearts? with eyes shining, who still weep

know that rarely is a story as

over the poor and oppressed of the earth!

simple as: 'She was rescued and lived happily ever after.'"

This is our inheritance, this is our promise.

Shay survived that relapse. She survived a few more after that, too. Today she is living

self-preservation is second-nature and yet the gospel calls us to a compassion that causes us to enter into the suffering of another. This can only be sustained in the place of prayer and in beholding the Servant King Jesus who will not fail and who will not be discouraged until He brings forth justice (Isaiah 42). When He is our motivation, our strength and our hope, He gives grace for the journey. He provides

independently, working hard at her job and beginning to rebuild her relationship with her estranged children. She still struggles, drugs are still a strong temptation that she must work on daily. Yet in the community of people around her she is beginning to run the course God has marked for her, and she too has a heart that is rising out of the ashes, that is growing bigger and bigger every day.

everything we need that in the end we Blaire has served in the non-profit sector for 9 years, lending her leadership and experience to build Christian communities in the praxis of social justice work with marginalized and vulnerable persons. She has mobilized awareness and intervention campaigns in Brazil that saw more than 500 churches across the nation participate in reaching out to 2,000 exploited persons. She hasauthored an Intervention Manual for Christian Communities that gives a step-by-step look at how to develop and sustain outreach to exploited persons in their community. After years of direct work with exploited women and their communities, Blair desires to see growth and transformations sustained through the Body of Christ and the beauty of families. She and her husband currently livein Brazil asmissionaries.

To learn more:visit: www.fraimsinternational.com

-25-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

Coming in our Fall 2018 issue!

spot ligh t on

St or ies of

B REA K T H RO U GH We are NOW accepting submissions for our Fall 2018 edition!

In our Fall 2018 Edition (to be published Sept.1) we'll be focusing on stories of breakthrough. Being on the frontlines in the fight against human trafficking can be heartbreaking, but then there are those wonderful moments when we actually get to see the glimmers of restoration and change that make it all worthwhile.

Whether small steps forward, or giant leaps that exceed all expectations, it is always encouraging to see the fruits of our labor. That's why we need to share these stories so others can be encouraged as well.

If you, or someone you know, has a story or testimony of breakthrough, we want to hear from you. In addition to our Spotlight section, we are always accepting submissions for our our regular features, as well as any articles that fit within our overall mission to empower, inspire, and release voices in the fight against human trafficking.

For more information, visit: www.voicesofjustice.org/submissions/

KIDS HELPING KIDS The Inspiring Story of a Young Boy?s Desire to Help Trafficked Children on the Other Side of the Globe

M

by Lau r a Page

ost fourth grade boys can be found playing video games and

riding bikes or

catching lizards, not

planning their next fundraiser to save children from forced labor in Africa. Tyler Page was a regular kid who loves Star Wars, baseball, and pizza ? any day of the week. He has a fondness for cafeteria chili Tyler with a group of children in a small villagein Ghana

and once paid his friend Joey $20 for an extra bowl. But after watching a story on

weeks later he and a handful of his

TV about child trafficking in Ghana, West

buddies had a car wash that produced

Africa, where children just like him were

$1,175.00

being forced to fish for 14 hours a day with

amazement by the amount raised, which

only one small meal, his young life

greatly surpassed his initial $240 goal,

suddenly became a mission to save the

Tyler who was exuberantly jumping up an

world, and ?Kids Helping Kids? was born.

down in celebration, asked, ?How many

Heart broken by what he had seen on TV,

kids does that save?? After calculating the

backed with determination to raise $240

numbers and finding out the result was

which he learned would keep one child out

4.7, enough to support nearly five children

of slavery for a year, he immediately drew

for an entire year, Tyler suddenly stopped

a picture of a car wash, wrote a letter and

cold, looked his mom square in the eyes

took it to school the next day to invite his

and asked, ?How much more do we need

friend and classmates to help. Three short

for the fifth child?? ?Seventy dollars? his -27-

in

donations.

In

utter

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

month?? he said. Amazed by the success and support he received, Tyler decided to set

an

unprecedented

goal

to

raise

$50,000. Big dreams and high hopes were mocked and poked fun at by some of his peers and family members for his bigger than life plan, but Tyler persevered and learned an early lesson about the limits Maddison Bach-Lehmer, Tyler &* Laura Pageheading toGhana

society places on people. His first taste of adversity was met with an unexplainable humility and purpose beyond his years, setting an example for all to follow.

Within 8 months Tyler not only reached his goal but also started his own nonprofit, Kids Helping Kids Leadership Academy, Inc. where his initative inspired hundreds

Thefour rescued children

of other youth and adults to reach beyond their own limiting believes and even join his cause, or started their own. The effects of

Tyler ?s

untainted

nine-year-old

connection to integrity started a chain reaction whose effects probably won?t truly ever be measured in its?totality.

One fundraiser bled into the next, creating Therescueteamand therescued children

opportunities and connections beyond his

mom replied, and his young mind started

comprehension and before he knew it

to spin.

Tyler had not only raised over $250,000

?What was I doing spending twenty bucks

but his innate spark to right a wrong was

on a bowl of chili when the money could

the catalyst to a wide variety of impacts

be used to support a children for a whole

including:

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-28-

· Sending 500 backpacks filled with school

· Launching a global pen-pal program

supplies to the rescued children in Ghana

between American and Ghanaian students

· Raising thousands of dollars for 5 local

· Starting a leadership academy for K-12

children in need of medial attention

youth to teach passion based service

· Sending 6,200 zip-lock bags filled with

learning

candy

Now, at

to

the

troops

in

Iraq

and

21, Tyler

says his greatest

Afghanistan

accomplishment in his Kids Helping Kids

· Sending children?s books to remote

journey, was taking a team of 7 to Ghana

villages in the Philippians

in 2012 where they were able to see

·

Hosting

a

celebrity

fundraiser

in

Hollywood raising $8,000 for displaced orphans in Haiti after the 2011 earthquake · Feeding

the

homeless and

hungry

firsthand the issues related to trafficking and rescue 4 children from forced labor.

He says giving these children (no different than himself) a chance, a taste of hope, has made the journey well worth the

children in Russia and Haiti

ridicule, hard work, and sacrifice. ?Sadly,

· Walking the streets of San Francisco at

Kwadwo, one of the four precious children

Christmas to connect with the homeless

we rescued passed away just a few months

population and offer them a backpack

after being rescued through complications

filled with supplies

related to forced labor.? According to Tyler,

·

Delivering

200

stuffed

animals

hospitalized children on Christmas

to

eleven year old Kwadwo?s light was bright, his strength and endurance supernatural

Thefirst KidsHelping Kidscar wash

Shanewasfirst helped by KHK for hismedical needs, then later worked toraise$200 for therescuemission

-29-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

and his care and compassion for others in the midst of adversity? saint like. Tyler says had he known what his outcome was going to be he would have take Kwadwo home with him.

Tyler feels incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to connect with inequity on a level that meets basic humanity. ?At age 14, I got to travel to Africa and save 4 children from a brutal life of forced labor. How many other kids can say that? If I was in their situation and

Tyler Pagetoday

didn?t have a voice or the choice, who

story, his actions and compassion have

would save me?? He said he feels lucky, ?It

impacted thousands of lives. He has

made me realize what I have and what I

accomplished more in his young life than

am capable of doing and becoming.? He

most people do in their entire lifetime.

said, ?Poor Kwadwo didn?t have a choice, someone who I believed could potentially become the president of Ghana, had his life cut short due to circumstances outside of his control.?

Tyler is quick to point out that while he has received most of the credit for this work, ?none of it would have been possible without my family?s amazing support and belief in me. It has been a collaborative effort by all who selflessly shared their

The profound insights from a young man

time, money and human spirit for the

raised

collective good to make this world a better

in

an

upper

middle

class

neighborhood, is a breath of fresh air. His

place. I am truly the lucky one.?

Laura Page's professional journey has been fueled by a life-long passion for igniting and empowering youth to see themselves as valuable, unique, compassionateand connected individuals, asinnovativestrategists, and ethical leaders. Laura says, "Throughout my life I have been fortunate to have had influencers who helped define the characteristics which drive transformative experiencesin organizational development and innovativeprogramming."

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-30-

Pressing in for destiny...

DESTINY HOUSE RESTORATION CENTER

by Lisa M it t s The mission of Destiny House Restoration Center is to provide a transitional housing facility incorporating a holistic, measured-results, data driven treatment program entitled "H.E.A.R.T.S.? (Healing, Education And Restoration Treatment for Survivors) for the healing and restoration of female victims of sex-trafficking ages 18 and over.

W

e began and founded Destiny House

coalition

with

Restoration Center in June of 2012

Prevention to both educate and create

with a very small team from our

advocates among youth especially in high

church and became an IRS 501C-3 non-profit

schools,

organization the following year. I volunteered

sex-slavery.

in a leadership position until September of 2014

when

I

became

the

Director

of

Fundraising and Administration. While we continue to raise the needed funding for this vision to become a reality in the greater Seattle area, we provide resources and advocate for survivors connecting them to qualified

residential

programs

in

the

nation.We also provide educational seminars

for

Washington

the

purpose

Trafficking

of

ending

I have worked hard for three and a half years to raise the necessary funds to finally purchase a property and open our full time program with the necessary qualified staff.

This has included active fundraising with big events, increasing partners and corporate matching fund

programs,

interviews on

many radio shows and online magazines, and establishing a program for artists like myself

to the community and have aligned in a -31-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

to donate a portion of sales whether through music, handmade jewelry or other creative arts. While we have made great strides, we still have not raised nearly what we need. In the meantime, we have also helped place several survivors with qualified residential programs and have advocated for others to

One of the most difficult things we have encountered besides the actual fundraising, is

just

the

sheer

determination

and

perseverance to keep going after 5 years of working towards a goal and not achieving it yet. There have been many times I have thought, ?Maybe we should just stop?? or ?is it really worth it?" "Are we really making a

empower them for healing.

difference?? But then, inevitably, we either We have also worked diligently to establish connections and good relationships with other anti-trafficking organizations, as well as provide education and resources for the community

about

the

realities

of

sex-trafficking in our backyard. Our most recent community event was in partnership with several anti-trafficking organizations in the Puget Sound area for the public screening of the Netflix documentary, ?I am Jane Doe.?

The film focused on the true story of two young girls who were trafficked through Backgpage here in the Seattle area, and their

get a call from a survivor needing help, or an unexpected donation, or from someone who wants to volunteer and help us at our next fundraiser? and then we know we have to trust God and believe quitting is not an option. If we can help even one more survivor get the healing and help she needs, it?s worth it; if we can bring awareness and create advocates among families and youth to prevent even just one more girl from getting lured and groomed into sex-slavery, then it is worth

all

the

work

and

even

the

disappointments.

parents? fight to shut them down with the professional help of a local attorney, Erik

can joyfully say that last year was our biggest

Bauer.

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

While we are not where we want to be, we

-32-

breakthrough year ever in so many ways. We have been blessed to connect with some amazing partners and volunteers including business owners who have opened their entire beautiful store to us both last year and coming up in September for our Annual Benefit Auction Fundraiser. We have more volunteers now for our event than we ever had in the past and we have stronger relationships anti-trafficking

with

leaders

and

organizations

other

in

the

community than ever before.

who had no idea about the work we are doing.

If you would like to make a difference and

Personally, I continue to share about Destiny

help us reach our goals this year, please go to

House

www.destinyhouserc.org

and

the

sex-trafficking

at

performances

and

mission every

of one

concerts,

ending

and

click

on

of

my

?Partner ? or ?Donate?. You can also contact

which

has

me at lisa@destinyhouserc.org and I will write

helped spread the message as well to people

you back.

Lisa Mitts received her B.S. in Journalism and Communications with a minor in Music Performance from the University of Florida. Together with her husband, David, they founded One New Man Healing Center both in Seattle, WA aswell asin Tiberius, Israel for the time they lived there (7/ 2006 - 12/ 2010). Lisa also launched her music career with her first professional recording in 2009 and established Lisa MittsMusic.

Much of her performances in the last few years have been for the purpose of bringing awareness and change to the horrific reality of sex-trafficking, especially the rising numbers here in the United States.

She is a recognized artist with IJM (International Justice Mission) and has devoted half of her proceeds from the sale of her newest album, Songbird toDestiny HouseRestoration Center.

-33-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

______________________________________________________

PREVENTING CHILD MARRIAGE

by Jen n a Fu n k h ou ser

"Every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her interests and skills, and the knowledge to live a healthy and positive life within her family and community."

hile in Tanzania this spring, I asked a village school administrator, ?How young are girls in these communities commonly married??

W

?How young is seven?? he replied. ?How young is eight?? ?The more they stay in school, the safer they are.?

You see, child marriage is technically illegal in Tanzania. But in Maasai communities where tradition reigns and poverty means the struggle of another mouth to feed, it is common for girls to be married to a much older man before her tenth birthday. These parents often feel they are doing the best thing for their child by providing her with a home. What they don?t realize is how harmful an early marriage is not only to their daughter, but to their entire community.

Studies show that ?the younger the bride, the more likely she will experience

domestic violence, contract HIV, develop complications from pregnancies, or even die during childbirth.? (www.one.org.) Early marriage is also shown to have a negative impact on the educational opportunities of her children, continuing the cycle of poverty, abuse, and exploitation in continuing generations (www.GirlsNotBrides.org ).

These partners I spoke with have persevered for years in their attempts to protect and rescue these girls from the harm of an early marriage. Their most effective project began twelve years ago when they opened a small school in a village called Engikaret.

If a girl is enrolled in school, suddenly the government officials have a way to track -35-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

electricity. Many of the teachers and staff have lived with their families in one or two rooms since the school opened. Others commute several hours back home to their families on the weekends, just because they believe so strongly in the mission of educating children so they have the same opportunity and protection in life.

Every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her interests and skills, and the with the progress of a young Maasai girl in the middle of the African bush. Later, if she

knowledge to live a healthy and positive life

is taken out of school to be married off, this gives the authorities notice and proof to step in. Through this small school, hundreds of girls have been educated through eighth grade, or about age 14.

They dream of someday having a secondary school open so these girls can continue to learn and realize their full potential.

The journey hasn?t been easy. Robert and Catherine, two school administrators I

within her family and community. These local champions are persevering in the work of justice to create a healthy and hopeful future for those in their own backyard. ?The changes I see keep me moving,?

Catherine told me. ?That is what makes me love to work here. I am not working here because I receive a lot of money, or because I love this place--not at all.

Physically, I would not choose to be here.?

spoke with while in Engikaret, were honest about the challenges they have faced to come up with sustainable funding and basic needs such as clean water and

?What is making me love living here, it is because of what God is doing here, every day.?

Jenna Funkhouser livesin Portland, Oregon with her husband and a handful of mostly alive houseplants. She studied Creative Writing at Corban University and loves exploring the power of storytelling in giving dignity and advocating for change. She currently works in communications for local anti-trafficking nonprofits.

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

-36-

B OOK

REV I EW

by Rach ael William s-M ejr i

RADHIKA'S STORY ave you ever wondered if there

act like a brother to her. This brother was

could be something more horrific

kind enough to find her a job with a

than being trafficked for sex? It is

wealthy family living in the city. After a

hard to believe that someone could live

round of medical checks, the young girl was

something more atrocious, or that anything

accepted and even pampered by the family.

could possibly compare to such barbarity.

She was even more excited when she

Yet a little girl from Nepal has experienced

learned she was to go on vacation with

just that ? the horrors of sex trafficking

them to India.

alongside other cruel ventures that have

After waking up in an Indian hospital, she

left her scarred for life.

soon

Radhika grew up in the Nepal countryside,

trafficked for her organs. The horrific

a member of a humble, yet high caste

ordeal was not soothed by the amount of

H

family. As a young teen, she left for Kathmandu to work selling flowers in a modest

stand

among the throngs of

people. Her charm and beauty not only drew those who wished to buy flowers, but

learned

she

had

actually

been

money paid to her, as she calculated the shame it would bring on her family.

However, she had little time to think of her family as she found herself married into the very family who had helped cut out a part of her body and soul. Her abusive

also others who wished to buy and sell far

husband stayed very little time with her

more.

before fleeing their home and leaving her

The

unsuspecting

girl,

raised

in

an

with his mother and their new child.

extremely conservative home, accepted the

Although Radhika had already experienced

attentions of a young man who wished to

far more than most people would in a -37-

Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

lifetime, her journey was only beginning.

The story of young Radhika is one that

Even though she was back in Kathmandu,

challenges one to push their thoughts to

and had even connected with her older

the very height of what is unthinkable.

sister, she would soon find herself back in

Does such cruelty exist in the world? Can

India, experiencing the horrors of the sex

someone actually survive such atrocities

industry. A long ordeal would play out that

and live? I hope her story will inspire you to

included love and rescue, brutality and

also be a voice for justice for all the

violence,

innocent

evil

humanity,

and

a

final

perseverance that would eventually lead

lives

that

desperately

need

someone to protect and accept them.

her to see her homeland again.

Yet Radhika, exhausted from the grotesque use of her body, and still without recovery from

her

operation,

had

still

more

mountains to climb. As a member of one of the highest religious castes in the country, she had been forced to marry someone from a much lower caste. Would

Click on

t he pict u r e t o pu r ch ase Radhika's

the shame of her arrival, and her ?tainted? son cause the unthinkable rejection from

Story

her own family?

Rachael Williams-Mejri is the founding editor of Grace as

Justice (now Voices of Justice) and remains a regular contributor. A fierce freedom fighter with a love for the written word, Rachael continues to educate and inspire our readers with reviews on a vast array of books related to the subject of human trafficking. You can catch one of her insightful reviews in almost every issue.

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Voices of Justice, Vol 4, Issue 2

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