Run:4Justice

Many of you known that violence against children and women has been an interest of mine for a while now. I have been a crime victim advocate where I have educated teens and adults about domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and child abuse. In college I have done a lot of presentations and papers on this topic as well.

Human trafficking is another form of violence against children and women that has been popping up in the media in recent years. This is not a new form of violence..it's been going on for many, many years that not only occurs overseas, but in your community as well.

Our church: 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas is hosting a 5k run/walk event called Run:4Justice on October 27, 2012 that will benefit International Justice Mission, a human rights agency that rescue victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violence.  

Our lifegroup that consists of six couples are raising money for this cause. Our goal is to raise $1,000 by October 27th. We are asking for your help. We have taken a stand, will you?

Please check out our fundraising page and consider making a donation. 

http://ijmfreedommaker.org/account/1198/Our-Life-Group-is-Running-4-Justice

 Below is an article from International Justice Mission describing what children and women are subjected to. Please take a stand and say no to to this form of violence. Thank you.

Injustice Today

"Today, millions of lives around the world are in the grip of injustice.

More children, women and men are held in slavery right now than over the course of the entire trans-Atlantic slave trade: Millions toil in bondage, their work and even their bodies the property of an owner.

Trafficking in humans generates profits in excess of 32 billion dollars a year for those who, by force and deception, sell human lives into slavery and sexual bondage. Nearly 2 million children are exploited in the commercial sex industry. The AIDS pandemic continues to rage, and the oppression of trafficking victims in the global sex trade contributes to the disease's spread.

In many countries around the world, pedophiles find that they can abuse children with impunity. And though police should be protectors, in many nations, their presence is a source of insecurity for the poor. Suspects can be held interminably before trials, imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

The land rights of women are violated on a massive scale worldwide, but with particular ferocity in Africa, leaving widows and other women in vulnerable positions unable to care for themselves or their children. Around the world, women suffer the double trauma of rape - and seeing their perpetrators face no consequences.

Often lacking access to their own justice systems and unable to protect themselves or their families from those more powerful, it is overwhelmingly the poor who are the victims of these brutal forms of abuse."

Taken from International Justice Mission. http://ijm.org/our-work/injustice-today

A Birds Eye View

I recently took a trip out to Oregon to visit my family. I worked all summer chasing toddlers just to buy a round trip ticket for one week. I love to travel, but flying is not exactly my favorite thing. You have to deal with TSA, the hustle and bustle of getting to your gate on time, dealing with the possibility of your luggage being lost, sitting in seats that are too small and often times sitting by people you rather not...oh, and two words: crying babies. You also get this weird feeling that you had either gained or lost hours in a day and that only a few hours prior, you were half way across the country.

I got lucky this time. I either had a seat or a whole row to myself and I didn't have to worry about my luggage being lost because I just brought a carry on and there were well behaved adults and children on my flights.

I don't fly a lot, but when I do, I like the window seat. My husband thinks the aisle seats are better, but I disagree. When I fly, I like to look out the window and marvel over God's creation..Earth. Seeing Earth from a plane in my opinion is one of the most amazing things you can see. Think about it. Everyday, most people get into a car, truck or bike and see the land at feet level. People often don't stop and look at the beauty that is around them and appreciate what has been created.

When I am flying, I get to see land from another perspective. The desert in Arizona and the Cascade Mountains look different at 35,000 feet (give or take) than on foot. You get to look down on clouds than look up at them, and those big buildings look tiny from where you are sitting.

On my flights, I would see individuals, mostly business men sitting and typing away on their laptops and not even bothering to look out the window. I would think, is work really that important to not take a moment to reflect on what is around you and look how beautiful the scenery is outside? But maybe they are like my husband who flies often and are too familiar with what our Earth looks like from a birds eye view? Or perhaps they are afraid of heights? :)

When I see something beautiful, I reflect on it. I thank God for his design. It brings me back to reality knowing that I am just a small person on this huge planet and that I am vulnerable and fragile and that any moment, my life can end.

My one wish as I was flying was to see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco, California from the air. I have been to the bay area many times, but San Fransisco is one of my favorite cities. Which is why I chose to have my layover there. As we took off, I had my eyes peeled and was looking to see if I was sitting on the right side of the plane. The plane turned and there it was!!! It was a sunny day and I could see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the whole city itself. It was picture perfect, except I didn't have my camera available *sigh*.

Another interesting experience was when I was flying back to Texas it was daylight, but in the horizon, I could see night. Within minutes it went from sunset to darkness. The moon was bright and lit up the sky. The stars were brighter and seemed at an arms length away. With images like these, how can you not stop for a second and appreciate the beauty of what God has created?

So the next time you find yourself sitting on a plane, possibly surrounded by screaming kids or stinky people, just look out the window and reflect on what you see.

What are some of the amazing things you have seen while flying?

My First Texas Summer

In March when we made the announcement we were moving to Texas, one of the first comments was about how hot it get's in Texas and how miserable it will be. When we arrived in Texas and started meeting new people, one of the first comments was how we would hate the summers. In the back of my mind, I knew those people were wrong. I mean really, I haven't had a summer in the last 4 years while we lived in Portland. My hubby calls me a lizard because I love to be warm and be in the sun. I get grumpy and depressed when I'm not seeing sunlight and having to dress for winter...especially in the "summer" months *sigh.* I HATE being cold. So I was looking forward to my first Texas summer.

Recently someone asked me how I was handling the summer months. I replied that the heat hasn't bothered me yet. I got a surprised reaction....

It has been summer like since we got here in March. Today's high is supposed to be 103 degrees-the 33rd tipple digit day of the summer season. Most people can't wait until cooler weather, I on the other hand is not looking forward to cooler days that are ahead.

 I love how I don't have to wear layers. I love how I don't have to brace myself as I walk outside to the cold or the rain. I love how I don't get soaked while walking to the car or inside a building (true Oregonians don't use an umbrella). I love how I can sit outside or go the pool and soak up the sun and get natural vitamin D (I actually stopped taking the supplement version). I have even noticed my dogs laying in the sun (while they had the option for shade). I have appreciated the warm..and hot sunny days that I have experienced thus far. I don't take it for granted because I know what it is like to be deprived of summer type weather.

So everyone who thought I wouldn't like the Texas heat..I LOVE it. Summer has been great, but I might be thinking differently if we didn't have air conditioning. :D