Wow, this past month has been quite hectic. I will try and use that as an excuse for having not updated my blog (haha). As I have said in the past I need to become more deliberate in sharing with you all that is going on in the side of the world as there is SO much. It is really exciting!! The World Cup of soccer is almost here and everyone is amped up about it. Cars have South African flags on them, resturaunts and stores have flags hanging from the ceiling welcoming all the different countries that are coming to play and watch the games. It is really neat to see the local people take so much pride in what their country is hosting. They are proud and eager to show off their home. I am really happy to be here during this time so I pray that it goes over well. This will be South Africa's chance to show the world that they can handle this. So, despite all the hectic programs that I am helping with during this month I am really excited! The energy and excitement are contagious no matter what team you are routing for. So, I will be routing for one of the top 20 teams in the world....the USA!!!
On the other side of the excitement I get see both sides of the World Cup. Working with Justice ACTs does tend to bring out the more sobering side of the crime that big events bring to cities. I see both the petty crime that happens and also the crime directly against human lives. It can be so hard to bear on ones heart as you see the despair that some men and women are in and you think of the countless others that are hidden, waiting to be found. As overwhelming as it feels sometimes, we serve a good God who sees all. Being part of Justice ACTs who is a small team of 13 staff we are blown away by how God has mobilized churches, government, NGOs, law enforcement, and individuals to take part in the cause of fighting human trafficing. In just the last month we have seen thousands of people be trained in what human trafficing is, and be trained on how to fight it. The 13 of us did some of it but it was so encouraging to see others that we have trained from all over the country step up and run with it. We realized that this project was to big to stay in just Cape Town so different ones of us traveled to the cities, found key people to train and put it in their hands to see their areas become Traffic Proof. Working with everyone from government officials to people in the townships I really see how far the enemy's hand reaches but how much bigger God is. We encourage ourselves with victories that may seem few in number but we rejoice over the individuals.
It is the stories of the 5 South African girls rescued from a trafficer in Cape Town, the 21 Thai girls rescued from a trafficer in Johannesburg, and the prostituted women that we have befriended and seen give up their lives on the streets to get proper jobs and regain their life that we rejoice over. These are the lives that I would give my life for and who make it worth living in South Africa. There are more people waiting to be rescued and God sees them. Just as He has already rescued the girls listed above, I rest in the promise that He will rescue all of them. Isaiah 45:3
So, this is just one project that I am helping with during the World Cup time and beyond. I will tell you of the others soon. The others aren't quite as intense. :) But please be keeping us in prayer as we engage in the battle for the lives that the enemy has taken captive. We want to see them rescued and rehabilitated.
If you want to see more about Justice ACTs check out my links next to this blog under the title of 'Who I Work With'. They will lead you to all the different projects that I am involved in and share with you much more extensive stories than I am telling you. ;)
