The following is a true story.
At 1:21 pm CST, I’ll be hopping on a plane that will take me to DC.
Then another plane that will take me to Zurich.
Then another plane that will take me to Vienna.
And then another plane that will take me to Kishinev, which is the capital of the very small eastern European country of Moldova.
I assume at that point one of my four travel-mates from Children’s Hope Chest will place my jet-lagged body and suitcase on a luggage cart and throw me into a taxi and we’ll all arrive safely at the place we are staying for a few nights.
I haven’t talked much about this trip yet because in some ways, I’ve been in denial. Don’t get me wrong – I am very much intrigued to see a side of humanity I’ve yet to experience up close before – the world of sex trafficking.
At the same time, the very nature of this trip triggers some really dark memories for me.
A few weeks ago, I alluded in a post to the fact I was sexually abused in high school by a youth pastor who was an acquaintance (he wasn’t my youth pastor). I never really talked about the relationship until a decade later – because in my mind, it wasn’t abuse. It was me, an all-grown-up sixteen year old in love with an older man.
I started working with teenagers when I was twenty-five, and that’s when the reality of the situation hit. I went to see a counselor, and ended up having to talk to some lawyers and a variety of other people about the situation due to the nature of this person’s then-career, still within a faith-based setting.
Anyway, all this “reliving” of the abuse happened in late 2007…just a couple years ago. It’s still too fresh.
When I’m in Moldova, we’re going to encounter some really difficult sights. Moldova itself is pretty heart-breaking.
- The average income in Moldova is around $100 annually.
- Moldova is the main source in Europe (60%) for women and girls trafficked in Western Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. At least 20% of Moldovan females will be trafficked at some point in their lifetimes.
What happens here is so many girls live in impoverished rural villages. So, they go to the city looking for work, get lured out of the country at the promise of a job, have their identity and papers stripped from them, and are forced into prostitution – often having to “service” up to 40 men a day.
If they don’t (and sometimes if they do) they get beat, raped, and drugged.
If a girl happens to escape, when she returns home, she is typically banished from her family and is unable to marry. And it’s tragic that Moldova has the 18th highest suicide rate in the world.
However, while we’re there, we’ll also be visiting orphanages and transitional housing (or safe houses) so we can see the other side of this very dark world – the hope.
The prevention. The education. The recovery.
Later in the week, on Saturday (Friday night for most of you), we’ll head from Moldova to some areas around Moscow and see the cycle all over again.
It’s my plan to blog as much as possible during this trip (which ends on April 16), but like most of my trips, that all depends on internet accessibility. I’ll be twittering as well, when I can anyway. If you follow me there, you’ll be able to see snapshots of our trip as they happen.
Sex trafficking isn’t an issue that the world has decided to talk about very much, so any awareness we can give it will be incredible.
Because where there’s light, darkness can’t live.
Pray for us?
—
Comments
35 responses to “I’m Leaving for Moldova & Russia in Five Hours”
Have a safe trip! I’m praying for changed lives as a result of your trip.
Sex trafficking breaks my heart – but it seems so big and overwhelming that I don’t know what I can do to help. So I’ll be thinking/praying for you as you travel – thanks for having the courage to do this, even with your fears.
.-= Janet oberholtzer´s last blog ..Taking a Break =-.
Hi Janet,
Here is a group where you can learn how to fight Human trafficking in your home town and all over the world
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org or http://www.projectak47.com
best,
Rebecca
Thanks for the links, Rebecca.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
.-= bondChristian´s last blog ..How an introvert is becoming a missionary – with David Knapp =-.
Anne the Brave,
Praying for you and the team. You are one amazing blessed lady. Thank you for going on this journey, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
xoxo
Heartbreaking what is happening over there. It’s so sad. I’ll be praying for your trip.
.-= Kaira´s last blog ..All Smiles =-.
thanks in advance, Anne, for the heightened awareness your trip will bring to this very ugly side of our broken world…
I will absolutely be praying for you and your companions as you travel, and as you share the story of these girls with the rest of us. Thank you for going!
On a side note, I, too, spent a few years trying to convince myself that as a young teenager I “dated older guys” rather than “was abused by pedophiles”. It’s a tough truth to swallow, painful to process, and all the more reason to step in and help women and girls who are being subjected to the horrors that are occuring in Moldova and all over the world.
Many prayers headed your way from Costa Rica!!
.-= Jamie, the Very Worst Missionary´s last blog ..This is about surfing… but not actually. =-.
Praying for you and the team!
Oh yeah, and I’m nervous to read your posts. Honestly. Because of the things you mentioned above. Oh, I spent my years in counseling too. But it still hits a raw nerve. But sometimes it’s better when we shove these things away, right?! Not really. So, I’m nervous. But I’m excited. I have Hope. I’m proud of you for going. And I’ll read all of you posts. And pray for you lots. Love you friend! I admire you courage!
Wow. This is going to be a lifechanging trip. Stay strong and keep your eyes open. I’m praying for you.
.-= Jacklyn´s last blog ..Weekends are for (food)lovers- That’s My Kind of Vegetable =-.
I will be praying for you as you enter into this dark world. May your light shine brightly before all men and may the hope of Jesus be shared through you.
For those of you who need a little glimmer of the hope here ‘locally’, I am linking a post that I wrote a while back on “Washing The Feet of Prostitutes” http://tiachristina.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/to-wash-the-feet-of-prostitutes/.
For current testimonies of some of what God has been doing here in Dallas, you can look up Vickery Meadow Ministry on Facebook. In the discussion page, there are current testimonies.
A glimmer of hope in the midst of pain and darkness. May Jesus bring freedom, justice and healing to many.
Blessings.
.-= Christie´s last blog ..A Sweet Interlude =-.
I’ll be praying for you as you travel this journey, both physically and emotionally. God’s doing amazing things through you.
Anne,
It’s time for our hearts to be broken for the people in these situations… they’re not statistics, they’re people, they are God’s children, just like you, just like me, just like all of us.
Given my past, it will be very difficult to read, but I want to, I want to know, I want hope.
“Where there’s light, darkness can’t live.” I’ve been a Christian for most of my life but only this past Good Friday has this become Truth for me – my deepest Truth. Where Jesus is, darkness cannot be.
Amen! I am praying for you and the women you will meet, too.
I admire your courage! I’ll be praying and following your tweets.
.-= Reading Rosie´s last blog ..A Tulip Tree =-.
Wow. Awesome! That’s all I can say.
I’m soooo looking forward to reading about your trip. I pray for strength and courage for you and your team. This can’t be an easy thing. I pray that through you and what you see/witness others eyes will be opened to this tragedy and hearts will be motivated to end it.
I feel like you should be hugged about 10,000 times before you get on that plane so this is me hugging you from Chattanooga and saying “God be with you on this journey.”
.-= Chrystal´s last blog ..Pro’s and Con’s… =-.
Anne, I hope you’ll read an amazing book when you get the chance called “Half the Sky”. It talks so much about the plight of women and gives an inside look into sex trafficking. I think it would be a helpful read for you.
Praying for you as you go. Always.
.-= Jan Owen´s last blog ..Take Time to Trust in the Work of God =-.
I’ll be praying. I know you guys will be used in a really big way.
.-= Lauren´s last blog .. =-.
Anne,
The fact that you’re going in and ‘doing this’ is a testimony to the healing power of Jesus. And I truly believe that this trip will bring about MORE healing for you. Yes, it may be hard and painful, but ultimately, as you minister to others you’ll come to know the redemption of Christ in a deeper, more intimate way. Thank you for sharing your story, for being brave in your honest, because I KNOW that your story opens the door for many, many others to find healing.
I’ll be praying for you on this trip, and for all you encounter.
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Beautiful Unfairness of Easter =-.
Still signed in as thriveafrica.org from the pimp post… ooops.
I cannot take credit for that blog entry! :)
.-= Steph´s last blog ..Beautiful Unfairness of Easter =-.
Good for you. I’ll definitely be praying for you and the girls.
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Easter Recap =-.
Thanks everyone for the prayers, hugs, and encouragement. Headed to the airport now!
.-= Anne Jackson´s last blog ..I’m Leaving for Moldova & Russia in Five Hours =-.
As always, I’ll be praying for you, the people you contact, and “the hubs.”
.-= Joe Sewell´s last blog ..Taking the Bible Literally =-.
Bless your work! I work with a non-profit that focuses upon Eastern Europe–so your trip to Moldavia and Russia has special significance for me. I will pray that your trip will start a ripple of God’s grace and redemption that will touch many lives.
I will be praying for you and your team Anne!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Sermon Synopsis 4/4 – What if Jesus didn’t rise again? =-.
Praying like crazy….
.-= Josh´s last blog ..Friday’s Quote of Note =-.
Praying, Praying, Praying.
.-= Prudence´s last blog ..After Lent =-.
My daughter-in-law is from Eastern Europe(Latvia), so I’m pretty familiar with the challenges in that part of the world. But I had no idea about the sex traffic over there. I think you are very brave, yet, I know God has a plan for your trip or else you wouldn’t be going. You will be in my prayers. Blessings… T
Anne, I’m praying for you guys. I’m mostly praying for you…specifically your heart and mind. As someone who feels deeply like I know you do, I can only imagine the processing this will require of you…and so soon after being in Haiti. Thank you so much for all you do, and for sharing it with us.
.-= Charity Landis´s last blog ..40 days =-.
Anne,I am really looking forward to learning along with you. A friend started an org last year working with the legal aspects of human trafficking and other injustice issues, he is now in Bangkok where they see a lot of women from Uzbekistan. I have also learned that Portland, OR is probably the leader of human trafficking in the US and have been starting to learn about the root causes of why people get caught in this system and how to help them recover once released.
Praying for your time, your healing and the health of your heart/emotions, and your voice of compassion to educate and grow those of us who can’t travel with you. May you be blessed and be a blessing!
.-= Sherie´s last blog ..The choice is ours, the grace is His =-.
ABSOLUTELY, I’ll be praying for you. Have already begun!
When I saw Moldova in your post title, I knew exactly what you were going there to witness … just last week, as part of my work, I was reading about a woman who has been doing a lot to uncover the sex trafficking world, and the article said Moldova was the hottest spot for it. The stories I read about what she has seen broke my heart and made me shed tears. I wish the reality weren’t true. But I’m glad someone with a heart as big as yours is going there to see, to give voice, and to love.
International Justice Mission is having their Global Prayer Gathering this coming weekend. I know all the concerns of human and sex trafficking will be lifted up in overflowing measure during those days, even more than usual.
Be safe. Love well. xoxo
.-= Christianne´s last blog ..The JTN Vision: What Do We Believe Can Happen? =-.
I too work for a non-profit, actually a religious non-profit, and we regularly send people to Moldova to help minister to the community.
Our organization is also involved in bringing the harsh facts of traffikking to light, but it’s a huge battle.
The fact that you are going to minister to others that have been hurt as badly as you have been is already a testimony to your healing.
For some in your shoes the healing is as quick as giving their life to Christ, for others, even those who are Christians, it is a process, and for some, healing never comes.
Through all you do, and what you’ve already been through, may God continue to bless you, heal you, and wrap you in arms of love that will never hurt or abuse you.
Many blessings in your travel & ministry.
.-= Carol´s last blog ..Day 8 – beginning of week 2 =-.
Anne–I’m “one of you.” Different circumstances, but same abuse. Undoubtedly many of the same after-effects. So grateful you are going to bravely shine light into the darkness. THANK YOU. Praying!
Sorry I have been away from my Google reading, but know that I am praying for you and your trip! I hope you open eyes up and get people to acknowledge this is going on so that action can be taken to put an end to this horrible situation!