Inspiration Station.

I can't believe the last time I sat to write was Easter. These past few weeks have flown by unusually quickly and I feel like I need to catch up a bit! I haven't neglected the writing due to lack of inspiration, quite the opposite actually! So much has changed lately that I feel a bit overwhelmed and don't even know where to begin. I suppose the biggest change is that I now feel settled in a new Church. I've already made some great friends and am enjoying getting stuck into life with those guys. I feel my heart shifting towards this new place, with this group of people and am excited about where the next few weeks might lead me. Check them out here. They are involved with lots of great community stuff, and this is the place where CAP (Christians Against Poverty) all began.

The main thing that has prompted me to write comes from a book I am reading at the moment. I was finally persuaded to pick it up as I was looking for something that was bound to inspire and stir me up. So far, it has passed that test as I knew it would, with flying colours! The book is called 'Undaunted' and is written by Christine Caine. After reading one of her previous books; 'Stop acting like a Christian and be one,' I fell in love with her honesty and uncompromising style. It's just so refreshing. I actually started reading Undaunted right before a shift at work and found even the first chapter left me heart broken and totally distracted all day.

You see, we all have dreams dont we? As i've said before, i'm a real daydreamer. I sit and think about when I will have my first youth work job, getting paid to do what I really love. Maybe i'll have my own office. Or then i'll be able to have my own home...full of trinkets and bedspreads (as I seem to have a weakness for bed linen.) Or marriage, family, future holidays or places I'd like to travel to. I know we all do it! Imagine if one day, somebody came to you and just offered you your dream. A fresh start, a new country, provision for your family, your dream job - but more than that - a HOPE that you didn't think would ever come to you. Imagine you are feeling hopeless, like you've given up, you're trapped, you'll never get out of this situation. In a dead end job, with little money, a house you hate or in a place you can't stand - and someone comes out of the blue to offer you a way out of that. How likely would it be that you would at least consider it? That glimmer of hope?

Say, you go for it. You trust that person. You move, ready to start your new adventure, a better life that secures a brighter future for you and your family - only to be trapped. It's not the place it was supposed to be. You were moved under false pretences, lied to, beaten, abused repeatedly. Trafficked. 

You may have guessed why this book left me distracted. This is the fate of so many people today. 27 million. Even as I write this, or as I continue to read the book this is happening. People are being SOLD. Trapped in shipping containers as if they are a product. Men, women and children. Forced into labour or the sex trade. Slavery is so REAL. It's happening right here, in my community, in my town, in my city and likely in yours too. This issue is bigger than ever before. We need to speak out! We need to educate, to spot the signs, to intervene, to rescue, to act, to pray, to speak out, to END IT. We musn't ignore it, or make it feel distant. This doesn't just happen in far away countries, poorer than ours.  You don't have to look far in the news to find it. These people; mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers - are being BOUGHT and SOLD. Human beings, just like you and I. We can no longer sit back  and pretend like this injustice isn't taking place day in, day out. Because it is!

I have blogged about the A21 Campaign before, and the author of this book is the freedom fighter behind this amazing Charity. Even if you aren't a Christian, I would recommend you read even just the first Chapter. It's actually on offer at $2.99/£2.99 as an E-book at the moment so now might be the time to snap it up. Christine writes with much more conviction than I do, but also has real life experiences in rescuing women from trafficking, which are heart breaking accounts - but a necessary read. There are also other great campaigns that speak out - The End It Movement, Restored For, Stop the Traffik, Hope for Justice, MTV Exit and Walk Free.

I think it's important that our hearts break for issues such as this, that we are moved to do something to eradicate it once and for all. Fundraise, talk about it, raise awareness, sign petitions - get involved. Freedom for all is something we must fight and keep on fighting for...

Much Love xxx

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This Weeks Roundup.

If you know me, you will be aware of my strange obsession with cowboys. I don't really know what started it all, I guess it must have been my first trip to Arizona about 7 years ago. The sites I saw in that state felt like another world to me. The obsession grew after my second trip, where we went back to Tucson but also explored Utah - which you can read about here. Anyway, a friend 'tweeted' me this week to tell me about an exhibition in a museum in a city close to us that had my name all over it. The exhibition is called 'Wild West Outlaws' but there didn't seem to be that much going on inside the museum, it was more what was going on outside! Today, they had a live gunfight - which nearly gave everyone a heart attack as they started it off by shooting a rather large shotgun without warning. Everyone was in costume, and there was a Chuckwagon where they were cooking stew on a dutch oven. Here are some pictures:

The Gunfight.

Right before the majority of the cowboys were 'shot.'

The Stew Cookin' Coffee Brewin' Cowboys.

Me, with my Cowboy Coffee.

Inside the Museum.

I love this photo!

I cannot get enough of these things.

We were a bit early to watch the films they were showing so we had a bit of lunch and then walked into Leeds. I went in Cath Kidston and managed NOT to buy a single thing. I hate being sensible.

Other things I did this week were:

I Baked Cupcakes - Vanilla with hidden raspberry jam.

Make my first ever batch of fudge (needs perfecting.)

Saw Die Hard 5 - AMAZING.

I also read a VERY interesting article that I wanted to share with you all. Follow this link to read it. Though the content may not make a lot of sense to my American readers - the message is still important. To fill you in - this week, one of the big scandals in this country being exposed by the media is that companies have been selling some frozen foods disguised as beef when they actually contain horse meat. Though I do agree that it is outrageous, there are more pressing hidden secrets in the food supply chain. I'm so glad someone has taken the time to right this article, because it is not only the content of the food that should be honest, but also the way in which it is produced - are people being paid a fair wage? Are they being forced to work? Are they being treated correctly? Were they brought to this country under false pretence? Human Trafficking IS modern day slavery, and it exists in many different forms. Here is a clip from the article:

'More people will probably have to die before slavery becomes as urgent an issue to politicians as the horse meat affair. A pity, because it is by far the greater scandal.'

What can we do to put an end to it?

Much Love xxx

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KEY2FREE

Today (October 18th) is Anti-Slavery day. The A21 Campaign (see previous post) are getting involved by hosting the 'KEY2FREE' event. The idea is, that everyone wears a key around their necks to mark a sign of freedom for those who are trapped in modern day slavery. I would imagine this will be quite a conversation starter! The A21 Campaign's online store sell official necklaces which wouldn't come in time for this event but will be great for everyday wear!

Here is mine:

I will be wearing this all day today in the hope that I can help raise awareness!

You can also get involved by doing these things:

- Watch this - for a better explanation of what this campaign is about.

- If you're a tweeter, tweet today using the hashtag #KEY2FREE

- If you're a fellow Instagram addict...post photos and use the same hashtag - #KEY2FREE

- Check out the Facebook event by following this link.

- Spread the word, talk to your friends/colleagues/family members about the campaign

- Think about what we can do to help others live in freedom

- Attend an event or host a last minute one! It can be in a coffee shop with some girlfriends or in your own living room!

- Look up some websites that will educate you on what you can do to help raise awareness of this issue.

We are the key to unlocking someone else's freedom...

Much Love xxx

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'Now that I have seen, I am responsible...'

I love that line. ^ Listen to this. 

Last night, a few of us gathered to watch a film called Nefarious. It speaks of the reality of human trafficking, and the impact it has on the lives of individuals who are trapped in this terrible, degrading business. We had a break half-way through and we were all stunned to silence. As we watched more and more unfold, I began to feel a sense of hopelessness. The scale of this industry just kept growing and growing and I started to think, how on earth could anything that I do have an impact on this? How would anyone know where to start? 

Then, as we continued to watch - hope began to grow. There are so many organisations and projects out there that are on 'the front line' of sex trafficking. The ones who are opening safe houses, rescuing girls, convicting traffickers, lobbying governments, saving children (it is not just women who are trafficked, it is children too) and many other things. They are also involved in trying to restore the lives of the ones they have rescued. It seems this is not a quick process. 95% of women who are forced (nobody chooses this life) into prostitution have suffered some form of abuse in their early life. They are broken down and treated like animals, they are dehumanised. It takes a long time to restore someone like that. But we must. Just to be clear, this doesn't just happen in far away countries. It happens ALL OVER the world. It is probably happening near you and I.

Where does this leave you and me? Well, the film offered some helpful suggestions that allow anyone to join in and support the cause. 

1) Pray. That's free and can take a long time or a little time. You could maybe pray as a group or as an individual that these places would be exposed and that new laws would be introduced that would prosecute not the women, but the users of this 'service' as it is in Sweden. 

2) Raise Awareness. My favourite part of this documentary was a quote right at the very end that will stick with me for the rest of time I would imagine. 

"You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know." William Wilberforce

How true is that? Now that you know the truth and reality of this situation you have a choice to make. Do you ignore it and carry on, or do you accept some form of responsibility and do something to help the cause? Wilberforce was an incredible inspiration. He didn't give up the fight against the injustice he saw, but he had to rally the troops to get on board and stand with him. Slavery has now taken on a new form and it is Sex Trafficking. Whoever you are, wherever you are from, whatever your Faith - we all need to stand up against this and stop these terrible atrocities. We are all responsible for making this world a better place. 

3) Give. There are loads of organisations involved with rescuing, restoring and convicting. 

The A21 Campaign

Exodus Cry

Stop the Traffik

Are just a few places you are able to donate to or get involved with their events. You could as we are, host your own fundraiser. There are loads of easy ways to raise funds with local community groups, friends, in the workplace, at school/college/uni or at your Church if you go to one. Don't be afraid to start small, the more awareness is raised, the more people know about it and the more can be done to stop it.

Will you turn away from this, or will you do something?

Much Love xxx

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