Back from Mali, Going to....

I have been back from Mali now for almost 2 months. Transitioning back into "normal" life was so easy at first, it almost seemed as if I never left. But as I get deeper into life at home and further away from my experience I realize, things have changed, I have changed. When I first got back and even now it is hard to talk about Mali, not because it was a bad experience, but I just can't put it all into words; especially words that people would understand. What I've come to realize is that most won't understand, and that's hard. The people that I am closest to can't share in something that was such a major part of my life and that piece of me they can never fully understand. That has been one of the biggest challenges for me lately, just dealing with the loneliness and feeling out of place. My biggest support group of friends is no longer close, we are all spread out in different cities and states, so it's hard to stay in touch and really share our hearts. All of these things that I am experiencing and feeling are apart of re-entry shock, which is part of the normal process in coming back from a cross-cultural experience. It may be normal, but it is hard because it's a process of trying to figure out who you are and now how do you fit in. It will be a journey... 

I may seem a little bit crazy to plan another trip overseas so soon after I get back, but I know that God has called me to go. So, I am leaving in December to go to....

THAILAND!

I will be in Bangkok, Thailand for 2 weeks visiting and working alongside different ministries that work with women coming out of prostitution. 

About a year and a half ago I was introduced to the issue of Human Trafficking and the atrocities that happen specifically in Cambodia and Thailand. This was my first real exposure to the issue and my heart was wrenched by what I heard. I began searching and asking many questions trying to find out as much as I possibly could. God was touching my heart and prompting me to dig deeper. I started reading everything I could get my hands on and watched several movies that showed how these women and children get trapped in this slavery. 

Last October,  a friend and I presented on this issue for one of our chapels at Grace. God was using me to pray and spread awareness but at that time I had no idea if I was to be apart of this any further. The months after presenting, my heart was so heavy and Thailand was constantly on my mind. As I prayed about what to do with this burden I felt like God said it was time to go, time to see. Thailand is a major source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking.  800,000 children under the age of 16 work as prostitutes in Thailand, of which 200,000 are under the age of 12. This is a huge problem in this country and all over the world and there is need for people to love on these women and children, to show them that they do have worth and value and that there is a God who loves them and wants to heal and restore them. I am excited to get to be apart of that for this short time, but I know that my heart is not fully prepared for all that I am going to see and experience. Through praying about this trip, I know that God has something big in store and that this will really be a defining time for me and I will gain new direction. 

Please check out these links to the ministries that I will be working with!

http://www.nightlightinternational.com/  Night Light

http://www.rahabministriesthailand.com/  Rahab House

http://www.servantworks.com/well  The Well