Today marks the first day of December. Thinking about Christmas in Cambodia fills me with a very different mixture of emotions.
On one hand…
It’s Christmas in Cambodia. What? This is amazing! I get to celebrate with my squad and this is going to be incredible. We will get to celebrate this day the way it was intended and have so much fun bringing our traditions to other parts of the world, as well as being influenced by others.
On the other hand…
It’s Christmas, and I’m not home. I don’t have my family and comfortable traditions to cling to. It won’t feel, look, smell, taste, or even sound the same because we won’t be surrounded with it. I can’t do all the things I would normally do at home, or even join the same volunteer projects I am normally a part of.
This year may be different, but I know I am where the Lord wants me. So, this year I am embracing the change and seeing where it takes me.
What I’m doing:
Instead of my normal volunteer projects this year, I have become an advocate for the Dressember Campaign. Dressember is a movement that began to give all women the opportunity to make an impact to end human trafficking. It is an opportunity for women to advocate on behalf of those that are exploited and forgotten, and raise funds for the organizations IJM (International Justice Ministries) and A21 Campaign that are bringing women out of human trafficking situations every day. So many women don’t have a voice to reach out and share their need or their impact stories of how these organizations have rescued and restored them by bringing them out of those situations and placing them under the covering of the Lord. We are here to be their voice and help them get what they need.
How it works:
Advocates agree to wear a dress every day for the month of December while being a sounding board for women around the world. I have set a goal of $1,000 that I will be raising with the Dressember Campaign. That money then goes towards the organizations of IJM and A21 Campaign that are directly in the workings of rescuing and restoring women.
How you can be a part:
1. Become an advocate yourself. Agree to be a voice for these women. Take the Dressember Challenge and help build support for these organizations. If you are interested, visit www.dressember.org and join the team.
2. Support the cause by giving at https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraiser/857348 These organizations are only able to save these women by the help and support of all of you. Take part in this movement to bring an end to human trafficking. Let’s see what happens when the full body of Christ is operating together to make an impact.
My prayer for now is that you all would take part in this somehow. The only way that we can be effective is when we are moving as one body and all parts are active. I pray that the Lord touches your hearts for the women that can’t speak for themselves. I pray that He gives me a peace in this season and helps me to be this voice for women around the world.
