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!

Welcome to Beautiful Warrior WEDNESDAY!

Diana Scimone is making history into her-story and your story and my story and, most important, their story.

Their story? A true tale with rarely a happy ending. A tale of deception and coercion and – sick sick sick – forced prostitution of children. This is NOT the movie Pretty Woman.

Far from it.

This is rape.

And beautiful warrior Diana Scimone is doing something about it. She began the 09-09-09 campaign to raise $81,000 to print and distribute illustrated books all across the world. All she asks you to do is give $9 — the cost of two Happy Meals — to her nonprofit: Born 2 Fly. And she asks you to tell nine other people about 09-09-09.

Send an email or blog it or nine of your best Facebook friends. Join the campaign here. If you want to win prizes, give your $9 on 09-09-09. Right now put the reminder in your cell or write it on a calendar. This date is exactly one week from today.  

Several years ago, while traveling in a far East country, Diana saw something that churned her stomach. She saw children IN A CAGE. Some were very, very young. . .think Kindergarten age. . .others a bit older.

I repeat: in cages in cages in cage. But why?

At the start of the “grooming” process — systematic abuse is more accurate — these caged child sex slaves learn what was expected of them and what happens if they fought back: beatings, starvation and worse. To their owners, they were money money money.

Disgusted? Me too.

A journalist and a Christian, Diana knew she was no comando chick, busting in like a Charlie’s Angel, shooting bullets, busting heads, and freeing the little ones. She had another weapon: her keyboard. She not only began writing and tweeting about child trafficking, she also worked with an illustrator to develop a book to tell parents of the tricks slave owners use to lure children and young teens from their homes and into brothels, all but guaranteeing an early death due to injury or disease. Yes, AIDS.

A common ploy is promised employment as a nanny or a secretary or a model. The parents want to give their daughters a better life, so they encourage them to go. Some moms and dads even get “thank-you” money. If only they knew.

Diana’s book lets them know and protect their children and

never ever ever live in a cage or forceably raped.

Never.

Please pray 09-09-09 into her-story and your story and their story.

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1

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