Hello friends! So much has happened in the last month! A few weeks ago, we hosted a Prayer Conference at the RIC and I was able to sit and listen to the teachings even amid all the work of hosting 100 people. Dishes sure do pile high! During the conference we were given an opportunity to practice what was being taught and we split up into groups to pray throughout Columbus. I was able to go on a prayer walk that targeted human sex trafficking. It was a cold and windy day and my group prayed for the ladies that were sold on the very streets that we walked. We felt a small taste of their plight as the wind chilled us to the bone. Many people have not been exposed to the facts of this tragic issue. I myself have just recently become aware. To name a few statistics:
-There are around 800,000 people being trafficked in America. 50% of them are minors.
-1% are being reached or helped in some way
-For every 2 girls you see on the street, 8 are being sold elsewhere (internet)
-These girls are trafficked 365 days a year at an average of 5-15 times a day.
These are just numbers, very sad numbers, and they represent people; someone's daughter, or sister or friend. I pray that God would break my heart for these girls. Some are younger than me. Why am I so blessed that I'm not trapped in sex-slavery? I don't know. But I know God loves them and has called us to do the same.
Recently, the staff at the RIC went on a missions trip to Flint, MI. We partnered with a lady named Lynette. She lives in a neighborhood full of darkness and shines the love of Jesus to the homeless and poor. Her family is afraid to visit her because of the high rate of crime, but she has no fear because she knows that God has placed her there. Her neighbor, Liz, is always drunk, but she knows that Lynette loves her and that Lynette also loves Jesus. While we were in Flint, we had the privilege of serving a meal to some homeless in her backyard. I even got to sing and play worship songs on a small keyboard which was awesome! We handed out some clothes and talked with a few of them about life. It felt normal and easy and I know God was blessing us as we put ourselves out of our comfort zone.
Every morning we'd do a devotional with Lynette. One morning, she told us a story that I won't soon forget. She told us that there was a homeless woman that she used to see named Scrappy. Scrappy always stood at the corner of the same street begging for money so she could buy more liquor. Lynette would always stop and ask her if she was hungry. Often, she ended buying Scrappy a sandwhich and a coke. One day, Scrappy went to a different corner across town to beg. Lynette would remember her every now and then and wonder how she was doing. Some time later, there was a murder. Scrappy knew some information about it, and for five bucks, told someone what she knew. The next thing that Lynette heard about Scrappy was that she had been murdered for telling. Lynette then told us of her regret. All those times that she had shared food with Scrappy, she had never mentioned Jesus. It made her realize how important it is to take advantage of every opportunity. Her story broke my heart. Have I realized this truth? It's not enough just to serve others with love, we must speak the name of Jesus. I have been challenged now. Am I willing to speak the name of Jesus in Columbus, Ohio? That's why Jesus called me here. I'm not here just to serve SEND ministries for a year and then go home. I want to be obedient to what He asks me to do. Please pray that we would be faithful as we shine our lights in the darkness.
Isaiah 61:1-4 -janae
