In one of my past blogs I wrote about how the Lord had a season in my life still left in Alabama before I move to Thailand. I was going to wait till the end of these month to share that with you, my faithful blog followers, but I woke up at 3 am this morning thinking about this Kingdom Dream of mine and couldn’t sleep until I wrote this down. I think the Lord wants me to share with you now, so that you can be praying on how you can be involved these next few weeks so that when I get back “home” your heart is already prepared.
For those of you who don’t know, human trafficking occurs right her in Alabama. It is a source, transit, and destination state. Run away girls are at high risk of being trafficked. Many girls are brought from South America to Atlanta and travel through Alabama to get there. I read an email about how a mother sold her daughter as a prostitute in Homewood. That’s right quaint little Homewood is not exempt from the evils of human trafficking. Before I left for this trip one of the officers that I know for work told me a story of human trafficking in Alabama.
He pulled over a van because the driver was swerving. When all the passengers had gotten out of the car there were 10-20 women that gotten out of the car. ( I don’t remember the exact number). The traffic told the officer that he was taking these women to Atlanta to sell. He was going to get $500 a head. At the time Alabama didn’t have a law against human trafficking and because of a lack of resources and space the officer had to let them go. there was no where to house these women. Bluntly put he didn’t want to go through all the red tape in Washington to help these women and didn’t have the tine. THIS IS NOT OK. Now don’t get angry at the office because sometimes when you don’t know what to do, it’s easier to do nothing. That’s why I want to do something. Here’s what that something looks like for me. See this story has haunted me the whole time I’ve been overseas.
While I was in Peru my small group and I realized that we were so willing to be a “missionary” oversea’s but not in our own country. I now saw this new truth in a different light- I am so willing and ready to go to Thailand and fight Human Trafficking, but it’s taking place in my own backyard.
The Lord has place in my heart to have a transition/ safe house for these girls who are/have been trafficked in the Greater Birmingham area. A place where they can be safe, learn English, get health care, etc, while they wait for their t-visas or a way to get home.
I’m not going to lie, I’m kinda freaked out right now. Just like the disciples were when they saw Jesus walking on water. But Peter had faith and he got out of the boat. I’m a little frightened, but I have faith and I’m stepping out of the boat and into the water. I’m gonna keep my eyes focused on Jesus and hopefully I won’t get distracted and sink. But if I do Jesus will be right there to pull me up.
I’m freaked out because I’m 24 years old. Starting a nonprofit was not part of “the plan”. According to the plan I was to be married by now. According to the plan- I was supposed to be winning Oscars by now. HA how funny high school Karina is. Starting a non profit was the last thing I wanted to do when I was studying business. The plan was for me to work for someone. See, when you work for someone you have the security in knowing where your paycheck is coming from.
The final realization that the Lord has given me is that my job in this dream was just that-to dream it. My life long calling is to be in Thailand. So someone will need to eventually take over this. I don’t know who. Maybe it’s one of the first girls who come through. Maybe it’s my parents after they retire. Maybe it’s you? So now that you know will you join me in prayer? Pray and ask how the Lord will use you in this Kingdom Dream. Maybe you are supposed to help me do research and learn how to get a nonprofit started. Maybe you are supposed to teach English, or life skills, or help with health care. Maybe you are supposed to be a counselor.
Also, I will be in Birmingham in just a few months and will need a job. Could you start praying for me in that? Last time I checked I had a few hundred dollars in my bank account, and a house costs a lot of thousands. In order for me to get a loan, I have to have an income.
In conclusion, I’m really excited! I was up for three hours this morning because I was so excited! Are you excited? If not maybe you should re read this blog and start praying on how YOU will be a part of abolishing Human Trafficking in Alabama.
I can not wait to see you and hear your hearts and what the Lord will reveal to you. I
