We are staying together in close quarters (3-high bunks and 2 showers for 30 of us!) in the safely barred gates of this old house. We donʼt leave after dark and walk everywhere in groups when we go by day. If we werenʼt close before, we are now! Upon arrival at The Joseph Project, the director warned us of the spirit of independence in the city and that we have to pray against it creeping into our team. Weʼve definitely
experienced some of that and have been making intentional efforts to move in the opposite spirit - to support one another as we spend our last two weeks together, and be a part of solidifying and encouraging one anotherʼs growth in our new identities in Christ and making what weʼve learned real in every part of our lives.
In the mornings, several members of our team have been going to local schools to raise awareness for human trafficking. The World Cup is just a few weeks away, and The Joseph Project is in walking distance to one stadium and a short ride away from several more. Thousands of travelers from all over the world will be pouring in soon!
There is SO much excitement around South Africa for the 2010 World Cup - countdowns, t-shirts, flags, and anything and everything you can think of. The whole continent is excited. Imagine how the capital of South Africa feels!
I wish I could give you a picture of the emotions Iʼve experienced since being here in Joburg and meeting many of the children. Iʼm overwhelmed by the excitement and some of the painful realities behind the excitement. Africa is vulnerable. And with the nations flooding in, there is so much more at risk. The
children will be out of school for the five weeks of the World Cup - left to wander around unsupervised and create their own fun.
Weʼve spoken to 2,600 students in the past week. They hadnʼt heard of human trafficking before. One group showed up at a school only to find out theyʼd had a child kidnapped the day before and there was another girl kidnapped a week before.
We tell the children what human trafficking is - people selling children into slavery to use for pornography, prostitution, to sell drugs, to work on farms or factories, and to sell their organs. We tell them how real it is right where they live - that 600,000 African children are trafficked each year.
And then we tell them they were created in the image of God, unique, precious and designed to dream and to be free. We teach them about human rights, give them tools to protect themselves, empower them and practice with them. We even perform a drama for them to help them understand. (hope to post a video soon)
Every single time I have to manage my emotions and not let my mind wander to the possibilities. Every single time at least one child comes up to us at the end and tell us a story of someone trying to traffic him or her. When we pray with the students at the end, we feel a real need and a real presence of the Holy Spirit.
Weʼve learned about the growing and oppressive demand for child slaves with the World Cup approaching. There are already brothels being set up and tickets being sold... TICKETS... promising patrons tickets to a few games and then a few children after to meet their needs in whatever way they see fit. TICKETS to these fearfully and wonderfully made images of God.
There are more stories and more devastating statistics everyday.Throughout this process, Iʼve loved working with the Justice ACTS material and doing my part in the Kingdom for now by educating and empowering the
children. Itʼs been a gift to be a part of His work.
Itʼs also weighed heavily on me.
Godʼs been teaching me about His freedom. He created us in with abundant and unconditional love - to be free. Jesus came and paid the price for full freedom and full grace. It doesnʼt matter what our stories are, where weʼve come from or what we see when we look in the mirror. We all are given and designed to experience the same freedom and grace.
There is so much “land” in my life that Iʼm not enjoying - places Iʼve not letʼs Godʼs grace and freedom flow through. Why do we let Truth only flow into parts of our lives? God is good all the time. And He has a heart for justice.
“Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving
you the land. You will see the wicket destroyed.” - Psalm 37:34
I believe God is calling me to live abundantly, to live in the freedom He already died for.And from that freedom comes more heart, more room and more ability to be a part of bringing His Kingdom to earth.
“Follow justice and justice along, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord
your God is giving you.” -Deut 16:20
Iʼve struggled a lot in the past week with feelings of oppression, doubt and fear as Iʼve wrestled with the reality of human trafficking all around me, heard stories of people hurting one another and divided houses back home. And Iʼve asked God, and Iʼm asking you to join me in praying to help me to move in the opposite spirit of oppression... Tolean into, walk in and delight in Godʼs freedom. Itʼs already been done.
Heʼs showing me, in a two-steps forward-one-step-back kinda way, that even if Iʼve been enslaved, even if spiritual attack is coming from every angle... Godʼs love is still free and it never leaves. Even if I was a slave, I could be free in Him. And Iʼm choosing that.
Please join me in prayer for the children of Joburg and all over the world. Pray against oppression, enslavement and for freedom and grace.
I have so, so, so many more thoughts and stories about this and hope to blog more
about it later. Please pray.
We need your prayers here. Start with awareness, and make a night of it. Get your family and/or friends together to watch the movie Trade and pray for human trafficking.
A prayer from a book Iʼm reading:
Father in Heaven,
Teach me more about Your heart for Your people. You are might to save. You are brave and wonderful. And You have Your eye on me. Help me, Lord, to walk in the kind of bold faith that pleases You. Help me to fully embrace the truth of who I am and what Iʼm called to. May I have the courage to face the reality of our times, to stand in the gap, and to speak the truth even when it costs me, because thatʼs how You lived. Thatʼs how You loved. And I want to be like You.
And now, Lord, I pray for the 27 million slaves in our world today. Dear Father, bring justice and freedom to these people! Bring the truth of their imprisonment to light and provoke those in authority to put an end to this crime! Give your people the courage to stand in the gap and to prayerfully and financially support efforts to secure the freedom of these precious souls. Show me what my part is and then help me to do it.
In Jesusʼ name I pray,
Amen
Mobbed at the primary school! Can you find my white face... sinking into a crowd of children!?!
kacy, one thing i always notice in these beautiful pics you post, is you are always smiling and happy when talking to these children. you are such a blessing to me.
ReplyDeletemuch love, susan kelley