The sad sad sad statistics.

Did I say sad?

Nearly 2 million
Number of children trafficked each year for sex around the world. (UNICEF)

11
Average age of sex workers around the world. Some are as young as 5 years old. (CIA)

100,000
Number of children and young women who are trafficked in America today. They range in age from 9 to 19, with the average age being 11. (FBI/ABC News)

$32 billion
Amount of money generated annually by human trafficking. (International Justice Mission)

2nd
Ranking of human trafficking among all income-generating syndicates (after drugs). (Born2Fly)

I feel sick to my stomach. I want to kick something. I want to do something.

What about you?

Chances are. . .you don’t know what to do. Here’s one easy thing. Think about it. Pray about it. 

1. Have a yard/garage sale. On my website, I got a bunch of free resources to help you “save the girls.” Click the Save the Girls tab on my website and get your free Save the Girls Yard Sale Kit.

2. Hand out information sheets at your Save the Girls Yard Sale.

3. Promote Save the Girls by wearing Save the Girls tee shirts (if you like). Sell them too. They’re available at my store.

4. Donate a % of your proceeds to one of the anti-slavery charities at the Save the Girls page or another charity of your choice.

Ta-da! That easy.

If you have no plans for a yard sale or garage sale, consider talking to the youth leader at your church and hosting a Save the Girls car wash. Or do a lemonade stand. Or a bake sale?

Or?

Question: How can YOU make a difference?

You Are Amazing!

If you missed Day One, you can read all about it at Real Hurts, Real Hope, my other blog.

My vision for this ministry is for people to get mad and host a Save the Girls yard sale so that they happen all over North America and girls are rescued and cared for in the name of Christ, that they know true freedom in him and that you and I experience the compassion and mercy and justice of our loving God.

Here’s me, wearing a Save the Girls tee.

Allyson checks yesterday's blogpost.

JoAnna and Sarah sit among baby clothes, relishing the breeze.

You Are Beautiful, Lucy 

This is a horrible topic, and some of you won’t read past this sentence. That’s OK. I understand.

The thought that one human would use another human like a toilet sickens me. I want to look away. I want to pretend child sex slavery is a myth.

Now a confession: God gave me an idea to hold a yard sale and encourage others across North America to do likewise in order to raise awareness and funds to save the girls.

Have I? No. Do I feel bad? Kind of.

I had been excited about this venture. So simple, really. But then I put it on a back burner. What I don’t know: Was I rushing ahead with my plans, not God’s?

Please pray for this new ministry. A dear, dear friend and nationally acclaimed artist drew the logo for Save the Girls. Her name is Lynn Parker and she’s on Facebook. All I have to do is get t-shirts and yard signs printed.

Meanwhile, the crime continues. In fact, it’s getting worse.

So while I fence sit — uncomfortable! — support Purse of Hope, a nonprofit that sells purses. It’s SO much more. The owners have purchased a home in Uganda, where the freed sex slaves receive Christian counsel, health care (many girls have STDs, even HIV) and job training. When you go to their website, you may notice it isn’t overtly Christian. Why? The owners want to operate safe havens for freed girls in anti-Christian countries. I assure you, the girls receive biblical truth. They discover Jesus. They regain true hope. Next destination: India

Kristen Hendricks, founder of Purse of Hope, tapped these words on her keyboard to describe the sick reality of sex slavery:

Imagine walking past a cracked door and catching a glimpse of a small twelve-year-old girl curled up in the corner hugging her knees to her chest.

This child’s name is Banji and in a tiny, bleak, windowless room that is hardly bigger than her filthy mattress, she is forced to service up to thirty men a day.

Imagine the thoughts that must run through her mind. Imagine her anguish and her physical and emotional pain. Imagine how little the future holds for her.

Now imagine not just one room with one girl, but the millions of children in countless cities worldwide that are being forced to feed the insidious demand of the commercial sex trade.

Now, for just a single moment, imagine that one of those children was yours…

Whoa!

This is not a piece of fiction.

I wish it were.

Several years ago, Kristen and two friends started up a handbag business: funky, conservative, stylish; then she stumbled on a video about child sex slavery. Driven, she researched the topic. And soon found herself in Uganda, ministering to sex slaves.

God orchestrated her steps. Through Purse of Hope, she bought a home in Uganda to provide safety

and hope

and the love of Christ to the girls.

Every handbag sold by her company Juxtaposie helps the former sex slaves.

You can help fight sex slavery.

First, pray, pray, pray.

Second, tweet this post or put it to Facebook so more people know.

Third, if you’re in the market for a cute handbag, buy one through Juxtaposie. Click HERE or on the Juxtaposie logo to the right. Twenty percent of a sale goes to support the girls at the Uganda home.

Finally, please share your thoughts here. I think I need a kick in the rear to jumpstart Save the Girls: A Ministry of  Message, Rescue and Care. Would you consider holding a yard sale to raise awareness and funds to fight sex slavery? I need ideas. I need encouragement. I need to trust God.

Thank you! 

You can change your world because Christ has changed you!

You Are Beautiful, Lucy

Imagine walking past a cracked door and catching a glimpse of a small twelve-year-old girl curled up in the corner hugging her knees to her chest.

This child’s name is Banji and in a tiny, bleak, windowless room that is hardly bigger than her filthy mattress, she is forced to service up to thirty men a day.

Imagine the thoughts that must run through her mind. Imagine her anguish and her physical and emotional pain. Imagine how little the future holds for her.

Now imagine not just one room with one girl, but the millions of children in countless cities worldwide that are being forced to feed the insidious demand of the commercial sex trade.

Now, for just a single moment, imagine that one of those children was yours…

Whoa!

This is not a piece of fiction.

I wish it were.

These words, written by Kristen Hendricks, open a website of a nonprofit called Purse of Hope. Kristen is a beautiful warrior; she reaches out to the needy.

And puts her money where her heart is.

You see, several years ago, Kristen and two friends started up a handbag business: funky, conservative, stylish. They’ve got ‘em.

Then Kristen stumbled on a video about child sex slavery.

Driven, she researched the topic.

And soon found herself in Uganda, ministering to sex slaves.

God orchestrated her steps. Through Purse of Hope, she bought a home in Uganda to provide Chistian counseling

and safety

and hope

and the love of Christ.

Every handbag sold by her company Juxtaposie helps the former sex slaves. She told me that Purse of Hope wants to open another home in India.

You can help.

First, pray, pray, pray.

Second, tweet this post if you’re on Twitter so more people know.

Third, if you want an extremely cute handbag, buy one through Juxtaposie. Click HERE or on the Juxtaposie logo to the right.) Kristen tells me that 20 percent of a sale goes to support the girls at the Uganda home. They’re are many styles for purchase. Make your money count.

Fourth, acknowledge the truth that you — yes, you — are a beautiful warrior for Jesus!

Be the difference today.

You can change your world because Christ has changed you!

You Are Beautiful, Lucy

God has a sense of humor.

You see, I detest garage sales. I don’t like going to them. I’ve never had one. Never.

Now I’m beginning a ministry named Save the Girls, and garage sales are a vehicle to help make it work.

Save the Girls offers hope for girls ensnared in the global commercial sex trade. Those who escape or are rescued face a difficult physical and emotional recovery process. World Vision, a highly respected Christian nonprofit organization, ministers to girls (and boys) who were sold into sex trade, sometimes by their parents. Human trafficking ranks #3 on top money-making crime list, surpassed only by illegal drugs and gun sales.

If you’re getting mad, good. Get mad! Then do something!

You can change your world because Christ has changed you!

As I pondered how to Save the Girls — recognizing I’m only one person — the proverbial lightbulb blinked on. Garage sale! Three reasons I believe this is God-inspired is:

1) I really do detest garage sales. I can think of a hundred things I’d rather do than have or go to a garage sale, and scrubbing grout is one of them. Just hand over you old toothbush and I’m good to go!

2) I am excited to have one this May. How weird! This past week my husband has inquired about my mental state. I assured him I’m sane. And joy-filled! I am having a garage sale with COMPASSION and a PURPOSE!

3) God deeply values girls. Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

A chunk of the money my family takes in at our first ever garage sale — and at my kids’ lemonade stand — will be sent to World Vision to save the girls. I so love the fact that I know World Vision workers will share Jesus with them. They will proclaim Christ!

Lord, may the day you give us be beautifully sunny, so many come and thirst for lemonade and you!

My kids, hubby and I will hand out flyers informing people of this crime. I plan to get publicity from the local news outfits too. And, the best for last:

On this blog, I will post promotional materials for you to use at your garage sale to Save the Girls: flyers, press releases, and so on. Check back in a few days and they’ll be available to you. I’ll also set up Pay Pal in case you want to make a donation through Save the Girls. Of course, you may donate directly to World Vision. 

Let’s do this together, my precious sisters in Christ. Save the Girls!

A beautiful warrior reaches out to the needy.

Next post: A book review of bestselling novelist Brandilyn Collins’ latest thriller, Dark Pursuit.

You Are Beautiful, Lucy