Sex Trafficking/Female Genital Mutilation

Being here at YWAM has already changed my perspective of life just in the matter of one week. I am doing the Discipleship Training School for PhotogenX. Most people don't get the concept of how you can do missions and photography together... and i didn't really completely get it either, till today. The issues going on overseas, and even here in the United States will absolutely blow your mind. Things that have been revealed to us in the past two days has completely made me NEED to live my life differently. There is no way i can go on living my life working a normal job, making money, buying tons of things that are absolutely worth nothing to me, while knowing such things are going on as they are. My leaders, Paul and Susi Childers have been to so many countries, and they have seen almost everything. They gave us their entire testimony today, on hearing the voice of God and obeying, and it was absolutely amazing. God led them to start the program and now it's a book and video type thing called "Voice for the Voiceless". Susi got this phrase from God and she had no idea what it was for, then her husband told her they needed to go to North Africa. They obeyed God, and while there, they were in a place where every girl had to be circumcised. The girls gave their hearts out to Susi, explaining the pain that they are in. The female genital mutilation is so big there, and every female is required to get it, or they are not allowed to get married. A female's wedding night and the day of the birth of their children are one of the most painful and horrible days for them. Also sex trafficking is extremely big over there and also in other countries such as Cambodia, India, Thailand, Amsterdam, and Ethiopia. Over 27 million people are sexually trafficked, a year. Being trafficked and prostitution are two completely different things. Trafficking is when you are literally forced or abused into being sold into sex slavery. You make no money, but you are under authority and have no choice but to follow their leadership, and have sex, or they will kill you. The way they get younger kids is they lure them in by offering them a better lifestyle, a job, money, a stable marriage, a house, etc. This way, the girls fall into it, and then after the men have control over them, or go through the marriage ceremony, they sell the girls into the trafficking system, leaving them with nothing. With prostitution, the girls willing (most of the time) choose this lifestyle for them. Alot of girls involved in prostituion have been abused as a child or involved in trafficking, leading them to this being the only lifestyle they know. It's up to us to make this issue known nationwide, and do something about it. It is such a serious issue in our world, and hardly any one even cares about it. While we are here in America complaining about the weather or us not having enough clothes or not enough food, kids and women around the world are being sold into sex slavery, being forced to have sex with 20-30 men a day, getting nothing from it. America hears about it, but thinks its just overseas and there is nothing they can do about it, so they dont, and they go about their lives. Think about it, and act. To learn more you can go to:http://www.photogenx.net orhttp://photogenx.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=93

Human Trafficking

Tonight we learned deeply about human trafficking and sex and money. That is the entire reasoning for PhotogenX which is the DTS im a part of. Wherever we go on our outreach, we will be working with these types of issues, through photogrpahy and ministreing to them. This is a huge issue, please wacth this video, it will greatly impact you. Thank you.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjEFtjVMCHY

Hear and Obey God's Voice.

This week in lecture, we are learning how to "Hear and Obey God's Voice". Some of the different things we have learned is that one we hear His voice, we need to go beyond it and act upon it. Even if you do not know the outcome, or how everything will fall into place, God does and he will provide. Hearing God's voice enables us to live our lives in submission to God, self sacrifice, live with purpose, walk with confidence, and break out of our natural way of thinking. Some things it will not gaurantee are as follows: immediate success, pain-free life, financial success, good reputation, and that God's word never changes. If we doubt what God tells us the first time, it might cuase confusion and not allow us to understand that God's first answer was the right answer, which is normally is. Another thing we have learned is that God communicates. It says over and over in the Bible how often and the various ways that God communicates to us. God is so amazing and if we truely listen and obey Him, he will provide everything. I still do not have hardly any money for my outreach and i still would like to have 2 more lenses for my outreach to get various pictures and such during my mission part of this jounrey. After YWAM i would like to use the photos i have taken to hopefully do a type of ministry, but God knows, and once again, He will provide. Thank you all again so much, for everything.

God Is Good

Being at YWAM in Kona, Hawaii, God's presence is everywhere imaginable. He is so good and is definitly beginning to do some amazing things here. Corporate worship in the open Ohana court is ansoltley breath taking. No one cares how you worship God, everyone is there to spend one on one time with God, not for others. God connects with us on a personal level and truely reveals himself to how good He really is. Since yesterday was still the beginning of all the classes and such, so we had the afternoon free. Most people went to the beach or to town, which sounded like a good idea. I felt God telling me I needed to rest and spend time with Him. We have whats called a "prayer room" where its a room near my room where you take off your shoes, enter and spent alone one on one time with God. There are poverty pictures around, a world map showing nations that are unreaches, and instraments to play worship to God. There was worship already going on yesterday when i came in, and spent a couple hours there just spending my time with God. It is so amazing to be around others experiencing God in this deep level as well, and it is just one more proof of how amazing God really is. I know that this is exactly where God wants me, and He is already starting to change my life even more, for His glory. Thank you all for everything.

YWAM

April 8, 2010 at noon, i arrived here in Kona, Hawaii and came to the University of the Nations. The moment i stepped foot on campus, i felt God's complete presence and knew exactly why God had me come here. I had such peace and felt an overwhelming power of God's love. First day here was registration day, paying fee's, meeting people, and of course getting used to the Hawaiin humidity and heat. The second day here was orientation. Third day here was beach day where we went to Hapuna Beach, then we had a Luau Dinner then the Hawaiian people gave us a presenation of welcoming us to the land. Today was another free day where we went to town, explored, went to the farmers market, and explored various beaches and seeing God's beauty. Tomorrow officially starts our normal schedule. Monday thru froday We have breakfast at 6am then we have "jesus time" then worship then we have 2 lectures during the moring adn afternoon then photogrpahy classes. Our lectures have differnt speakers every week speaking on differnnt topics such as God's love, purity, listening to His voice, and so on. I am so excited to see what God is going to be doing in my life here and i already know that he has me for specific reason. God is so good and thank you all for everything you have done and are doing for me.

Well... It's March 29.. and only 9 more days till I begin my journey in Hawaii. God is still continually blessing me, and i want to thank each and everyone of you for keeping me in your prayers, I appreciate it so much. God is so amazing and truly reveals himself to me each and every day. I have heard that there are just over 60 people in my DTS (discipleship training school) and we will all be together in out training in Kona. After training, and we set out for our outreach, we will break into 4-5 different groups to either Central America, Mexico, Africa, or Haiti and France. I've had a calling to Haiti since i was 16 years old when i attended NYC (Naxarene Youth Conference) in St. Louis Missouri and never really understood what God meant, maybe this is what he meant over 3 ywears later. Be praying for me in that area as well. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me, He is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you all for everything continually and next week it begins! I will keep you all updated through this and facebook and many pictures to come. God Bless!

Just a little over a month until I leave on this journey God has set before me in my life. Life is going so well. God is so good to me, just as He always is. My job is going very well. It is such a blessing from God. The three churches I attend throughout the week are amazing churches that I know God has placed in my life. Everything is gradually coming together for YWAM. I'm a little worried about the responses on my support letters though. I've talked to some other students that will be attending the PhotogenX DTS with me in April and a few of my leaders and they said that DTS's in Hawaii are the most difficult ones to raise support for becuase of the fact that it is in Hawaii. I'm not going on this journey BECAUSE it's in Hawaii. I am going here becuase this is the only YWAM base that offers the PhotogenX DTS, where I feel God strongly calling me to be involved with. Please continue praying for me that God will provide. Thank you for all your prayers, God bless!

-Emily

Philippians 4:6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.