Please listen to the song above while you read this story, thank you.

This blog was written by my amazing teammate, I'm reposting it b/c I want you to get an idea of what we have been confronted with this month and what goes on in the far places around our world. If you would like to read more of his stories or see what God is doing in his life check out his blog at kentcranford.theworldrace.org
Enjoy

 


 
Pretend for a minute… 
 
…pretend you're a mother or father who can't provide for your family.
 
You see the houses around you that are being built and added on to because those parents made the choice they did. You see the clothes they wear get a little nicer. You see more food on their table than on your own…
 
So you make a choice.
 
You take an offer on the table.
 
Do you choose to look the man in the eyes as he hands you the money?
 
Do you watch as he carries off your oldest daughter for the weekend?
 
How do you feel?
 
Can you look at the picture of her hanging on the wall in your bedroom and not see the innocence and purity that is about to be stripped away?
 
As she walks off in the distance and gets in the car, the understanding that you may never see her again doesn't hit you. It's only for the weekend, right? Two days and she'll be back home in your arms…

From kentcranford.theworldrace.org
 
…but it'll be different.
 
The innocence. The joy. Those things won't be there anymore.
 
Where there was light radiating from within, it'll be covered by darkness.
 
One weekend will turn into two..and three…and then more than you can keep count of.
 
Each night, ten or more men will have their way with her. For the weekend she'll have to endure over thirty men treating her with zero respect. Each one leaving her with a stained kiss on the cheek and a quick, “Thanks”…
 
A new week starts and a man brings you the money your daughter made. $36. You take it saying this will be the last time. Greed and selfishness takes over. The same man from before notices that you have another daughter.
 
He offers double for her.
 
She's only eight you say.

From kentcranford.theworldrace.org
 
Money isn't an issue, so he triples it.
 
Despite hesitation, you take it.
 
 
As you stare at the money in your hands and he carries your middle daughter off in the distance, you look back and see her stuffed animal laying on the wood floor.
 
It hits you.
 
Just like the daughter before, you'll never see her again…
 
You'll see only the remains of the child who she was.
 
She'll be forced to grow up faster than others her age. The images and experiences she has will be replayed in her mind for a lifetime.
 
A year later the man comes back.
 
He says your oldest daughter has died of disease and that you'll have to pay the rest of the money she was due to bring in.
 
You've spent everything.
 
The bill has to be paid.
 
Your mind races searching for an answer. Nothing comes to mind.
 
As he gets ready to speak again a baby cries from inside the house.

From kentcranford.theworldrace.org
 
Moments later, the house is empty.
 
The man who was in the doorway is driving off in the sun.
 
Your bill is paid.
 
And in your hand is $26.

From kentcranford.theworldrace.org
 
While the story above is pretend for you and me, it's reality for countless parents in Thailand. Each day they are faced with the scenario I wrote about. Each day parents say goodbye to their children to never see them again. And sure, I wanted to write a blog explaining my heart and where God has me at this moment, but I can't. I'm still processing. I'm processing the idea that my past sexual sin has helped aid the industry I'm trying to stop. I'm processing and wondering how a mother can sell her daughter for $26. I'm processing the idea that this month is going to be a launching pad for something bigger in my future. This month has screamed restoration and refinement. Now it's up to me to keep going with it…

Just like my teammate, Kent, I've been processing things this month and it has been hard to put it down on paper.  We have heard numerous reasons and situations that cause a child to be sold.  This story is just one example of what happens in villages all around this world, where people are exploited by others preying on the weakest and most desperate.  I have more blogs in the works for this month so check back soon, thanks.