I’m currently in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine. My team will most likely be traveling by train fifteen hours east, to live for the next three weeks in rural Ukraine (and/or Moldova/Russia). Once there, I don’t expect to have any access to the internet, so I’m rushing to post this update before I go. I also want you to know how you can pray for our ministry this month. Historically, the area of the Ukraine has been full of division, through wars, language, religion, and more. It is not surprising, therefore, that Ukraine’s name means ‘The Borderland.’ Even today, our contacts tell us there are serious and ongoing threats of division that permeate every facet of life. The churches, especially, are very divisive and legalistic, and not only between different denominations, but even from within the same denomination. Pray with us against a spirit of division in these parts. Pray that our teams remain unified in Christ and that our love for one another grows daily. And in these economically stressful times, pray especially that God will shake that which needs to be shaken, both in Eastern Europe and in the United States, so only that which cannot be shaken remains.
Since 1991 (Independence), an estimated 100,000 people have been trafficked from the Ukraine, and only around 5000 have been identified and helped. The most common types of human trafficking in Ukraine are as follows:
-Labor exploitation
-Organ trafficking
-Prostitution exploitation
-Domestic servitude
-Begging exploitation (have you seen Slumdog Millionaire yet?)
-Illegal adoption
-Physiological exploitation (surrogate mothers)
-Organ trafficking
-Prostitution exploitation
-Domestic servitude
-Begging exploitation (have you seen Slumdog Millionaire yet?)
-Illegal adoption
-Physiological exploitation (surrogate mothers)
-Mail order brides
My heart is specifically attached to doing ministry with male victims of human trafficking in Eastern Europe. After
talking to a United Nations worker, I discovered that men are as much
victims as are women, but they unfortunately don’t usually recognize
themselves as victims. Social stigma and gender pressures make it very
difficult to identify male victims, and they often suffer without any
hope of finding help. Male victims of human trafficking in Ukraine
usually have children and come from rural areas or small towns. Please
keep these men and women and the organizations and missionaries working
hard to help them in your prayers, as well. God bless.
talking to a United Nations worker, I discovered that men are as much
victims as are women, but they unfortunately don’t usually recognize
themselves as victims. Social stigma and gender pressures make it very
difficult to identify male victims, and they often suffer without any
hope of finding help. Male victims of human trafficking in Ukraine
usually have children and come from rural areas or small towns. Please
keep these men and women and the organizations and missionaries working
hard to help them in your prayers, as well. God bless.
