HI Friends…..

I am eager to announce that to help raise funds for my trip I am selling these awesome bracelets that Help fight Human Trafficking

As the picture shows they come in many different colours and they only cost two dollars. Of your two dollars…. One dollar will support my Wold race trip… the other dollar will be returned to the Philippines to  help give women in the Philippines a job that otherwise turn to prostitution…

Here is a blog from a woman who recently worked in the Philippines with Threads of Hope……

Jesus Wouldn't Do This, But Hell, Ashley Would

Posted in General Posts by Ashley Auman on 1/7/2011

I hate to admit this, but I’m in paradise.

 
Breathtaking scenery, beautiful people, serene ocean and towering mountains… what more could you ask for?

This month, we’re working with Threads of Hope. This ministry was started by Alex: an American missionary who lives with his family in the Philippines. A couple years ago, their family began to take vacations to Mindoro Island. While they were there, they began developing relationships with women selling handmade bracelets on the beach. However, they noticed that each time they came back, more women seemed to disappear. They were informed that a lot of women couldn’t make ends meet just selling bracelets, so they turned to prostitution.

So, Alex bought a hundred bracelets and took them back to America to sell. To make a long story short, now Alex ships 20,000 bracelets per month all over the world. These bracelets are sold as fundraisers, gifts, etc… and half of them profit is returned to Threads of Hope ministry. The profit is used to order more bracelets from island women, giving 350 women a sustainable living without having to turn to prostitution. Bracelet makers are also required to attend a Sunday morning and Wednesday night services at Pastor Al’s, (our ministry contact), church. If you want to know more about Threads of Hope, visit www.threadsofhope.com.ph.

This is the part of this blog where I don’t know how to begin with the emotions of my heart. I am enraged, overjoyed, and numb all at the same time. It started with a simple walk down the beach…

I decided to go on a beach run yesterday, but it was short-lived. Soon beginning my run, I was stopped by a young woman trying to sell me a bracelet. Instead of brushing her off like I normally would while running, I asked her name: Heidi.

Okay Heidi, what’s your story?

Twenty two years old, two children… the youngest being three months old with a very bad rash. Being the curious young scientist I am, I ask if I could see the baby. Heidi leads me into her mother’s house with a thatch roof and bamboo floors about 50 yards from the water. I take a quick look at the baby’s rash, chat for a while and tell her I’ll be back tomorrow with a camera and some yarn to make a bracelet.

The next day, Emily accompanies me to Heidi’s home. But, on this day, the circumstances were different. As soon as we approached the door, I knew something was strange. There was an air of… creepiness. We enter, and I cannot believe my eyes.

“Ashley, this is my friend, Hermot. He’s from Germany.”

Oh my gosh. My head is spinning. What do I do? Do I run? I think I need the next plane home.

I stick out my shaky hand. “Hi.”

I sit down next to Heidi as Emily makes conversation with the 65 year old, white-haired German. Heidi gives me a jokingly disgusted look as they talk, and tells me he is staying at the resort with his Filipino girlfriend and her children.
A couple minutes later, he rises from his chair, hands her a wad of cash and leaves down the beach.

I’m stunned. Suddenly I don’t have anything to say to her. I want to run after this creep-o, tackle him and freaking strangle him with my bare hands! No, Jesus wouldn’t do this, but hell, Ashley would.
 

But, my aggressive urges are distracted when Heidi pulls out a handmade bracelet she started the night before with the letters, “A S H…” “I made this for you. If you will stay for 20 more minutes, I can have it finished.”

I left Heidi’s yesterday feeling all sorts of emotions and not knowing what to think. I have been so blind. There are women all over the world being sold for sex, and at least one of them is my new dear friend. I found out that Heidi used to sell bracelets for Threads of Hope, but she doesn’t anymore. She claims since she had her youngest baby, it’s too hard to get to the church services. I don’t know what to believe.

Please pray for discernment and clarity as I (and my team) is faced with sex trafficking and prostitution every day. Please pray for our relationships with these women, especially Heidi, that they may be God-centered and God-breathed. Pray that my brain won’t explode as my eyes are continually opened to the world we live in.

Please contact me HERE if you are interested in a bracelet …. 

Or If would like to partner with me in this journey… click here … 

TO see all my blogs click here 

If you would like more information about Threads of Hope, visit www.threadsofhope.com.ph.