During the month of April, my team (all the guys) and I partnered up with Remember Nhu in Thailand. Remember Nhu exists to prevent the exploitation of children in the sex trade industry throughout the world. To say this month changed our lives would be an understatement. It completely reshaped my view on not only the living God, but also restored so much of the joy I've lost over the years (I wrote THIS BLOG as a thank-you).
In the majority of the world, and especially Thailand, most victims of trafficking are victims of sexual exploitation. Mostly women, and many of them are children. Some sold into prostitution by their own parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, or uncles. Some lured away from their familes on the pretext of a much needed job elsewhere. And some are simply kidnapped. Their fate all the same: they are sold as mere livestock and treated worse than animals.
…but we can't allow ourselves to do it anymore.
We need have to change the way we are thinking. We need to change the mentality of boys and men so they no longer find it natural to mistreat and abuse women to look differently upon those who represent what they themselves could have been.
The victims need us ALL to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Because they have to keep silent to survive, because they may not know that they have rights — or because it's already too late.
I strongly believe that love is the answer and that it can mend even the deepest of unseen wounds. Love can heal, love can console, love can strengthen, and love can make change. When you see the pictures that follow, open your heart. See the love radiating in the faces, and feel the same love stretching from the tips of their fingers that I felt during my time with them.
The boss.
Yeah. She's really that cute…
Intense game of UNO
Elephant riding with Gabe Bedford
Cultural dinner
Patty Mayonaise
Ma Nim, Ma Nim, Ma Nim!
The champ is here…
Definition of pure joy
My BFF (Nong Sao #1 – Little Sister)
We got to send up lanterns into the sky our last night at one of the houses
…
Yup.
Nong Sao #1, #2, and #3
In my heart forever
Not goodbye, just see you later Thailand
It's my prayer, that the pictures above touched your heart. That you realized more through the images that beautiful faces like those are stripped of their innocence on a daily basis. It has to stop. The thought of it happening, breaks me to the core. I thank God that He allowed me to experience something as powerful as my time at Remember Nhu. It is forever etched into my heart and I know I left Thailand a changed man. A softened man. A man with a heart to fight the injustice that this world still offers for so many. To each supporter (financially and prayer), I want to say THANK YOU. Without you, none of this would be possible. Without you, I would not have been able to show every ounce of love I could give to those children. Simply put, it's made me new.
If you would like to continue to partner up with me, or do so for the first time, now would be the PERFECT chance for you to do that. I'm still just a little short of my next deadline of $11,000 and I need to be fully funded ($15,500) by the end of June. If just 50 people donated $100, I'd be fully funded. If you feel lead to donate, you can do so by CLICKING HERE. Each and every donation will continue to go a long way in helping me share the love of Jesus with those I encounter!
I need YOU!
