Carrie Nye

Slavery in America: Numbers Out; People In

Carrie Nye — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:17:21 -0700

I’m done with numbers. Numbers are too black and white and just don’t seem good enough when dealing with human trafficking. Numbers are just numbers. They are only words spoken and lack any attachment or feeling and understanding. It’s just not that easy when it comes to buying and selling humans. And that is why. They are humans; not cattle. You can’t number them and move them along. We are complicated beings and require much more out of life and from each other than a number.

It’s important to hear survival stories of the rescued. Stories are bridge builders. They bring humanity together and open the door with an invitation to stay for dinner, serving a fine dish of common ground. Moms and dads are compassionate towards the world’s hungry children because they can’t imagine their own children being hungry. Women are moved by the Eastern Congo conflict where women are repeatedly raped and sexually mutilated by rebels and child soldiers because they know someone who has been sexually assaulted.

I find it is the same with human trafficking. The numbers are so big, the issue so overwhelming, it all seems so far away from our lives here in America. But that’s not the case at all.

I’ve mentioned in previous posts of this series that I met a beautiful young Egyptian woman, Shyima, not too long ago. Shyima is a local (Orange County, CA) survivor of domestic slavery. The article is a few years old now but I encourage you to read her story. She is not one million; she is one.

Stories like Shyima’s compel people to act because we can relate to her in someway through her story. We can all identify with her as a fellow human and created in the image of God. One million enslaved in America is a bit much. But if we’re talking about one, that’s a little easier to deal with.

So I encourage you to forget the numbers today and listen to only one. Consider the God who created all things, both the seen and the unseen and who also created Shyima. Consider the God who wants the best for his children and think about the children in your life and what you want for them. Consider the God who knows you more intimately than you know yourself. This is the God who although he created everything, became like his creation in the person of Christ so that he could reveal to us his story.

We identify with Jesus because of his humanity. God is no longer an overwhelming white-bearded-man who sits on a ginormous throne on some far away fluffy cloud. He came to us as a baby. It’s where our humanity started and it’s where he chose to begin his. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, we were given his spirit so that the story of God could reach not only our humanity, but our souls also. The spirit takes up residence within us when we surrender our lives story and enter his. The big far away God is now so close, we can talk to him, eat ice cream with him, surf with him, celebrate with him and take naps with him.

Stories are personal. I had the chance to meet Shyima. Her story is now personal to me and because of that I will do all that I can to prevent what happened to her from happening to other children. I will stop looking at the numbers as numbers and start considering the stories hiding behind them.

Some things to consider when being aware of a potential trafficked person:

A victim of trafficking may look like many people you see every day. However if you see someone who *appears to be unable to speak for themselves *someone else is controlling them *they appear fearful, especially of law enforcement *someone else has their documents (passport/identification) Then, you should call 888.3737.888 (National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline).

There are stories like Shyima’s all across America that need to be told. To hear more stories of modern day slavery survivors, check out the following links.

IJM

Free the Slaves

Stop the Traffik

Slavery in America: Fair Trade

Carrie Nye — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:24:34 -0700

When asked what Americans can do to help lessen the demand for slavery abroad, IJM staffer Lauren Johnson talked about Americans considering what they are purchasing. In case you missed it, you can read more of what she had to say here.

Trade As One is an organization that works alongside churches in hopes that entire congregations of people will understand the global impact of their purchases.

The market today truly is a global one. We buy produce, coffee, chocolate, clothing, jewelry, etc. and most of it comes from another part of the world. But how often do we consider the hands that have sewn our clothing, made our jewelry or farm the food and drink we are consuming today? We buy chocolate but aren’t told that the majority of the world’s chocolate is from Sierra Leone. There are over 800,000 children enslaved to the coca farms in Sierra Leone. I’m a sucker for chocolate but I don’t need it so bad that it would ever justify a child enslaved and deprived of his/her childhood so that I can eat a chocolate bar.

Check out this video that Trade As One released. Fair trade is not a perfect system but it is headed in the right direction. What are your thoughts on buying fair trade versus non-fair trade products? What are some other ways you know of that American consumers might help lessen the demand for slaves abroad based on what they purchase?

For more info on how fair trade can help stop slavery check out:

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/takeaction/chocolate/

http://live2free.org/fairtrade.html

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/coffee/

Slavery in America: A Conversation with International Justice Mission

Carrie Nye — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:37:09 -0800

Last month I visited the International Justice Mission headquarters, not far from the Pentagon and just outside our nation’s capitol. It was a beautiful day. The air was crisp and cool and the ground layered with the remnants of the recent snow storm.

Inside IJM, you’ll find a quant, but inspirational photo gallery. The walls are lined with telling photographs of beautiful people who are part of IJM’s work abroad. Each face on each photo has a story to tell of survival, of redemption and of justice at work.

An IJM church mobilizer, Lauren Johnson met me in the gallery. Upon meeting Lauren, it was clear that God has orchestrated her life’s path perfectly by placing her at IJM during this time. She was a terrific host. After a tour of the floor offices, Lauren and I sat down and we had a conversation about human trafficking.

Carrie: Lauren, thank you for having this conversation with me today about human trafficking in the world and what IJM is doing. I wonder if you could share with us a little about what your role is in the church mobilization department here at IJM?

Lauren: My team is responsible for sharing with US churches about our work and the Biblical call that we have as Christians to seek justice on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. We walk alongside churches as they build justice ministry into all aspects of their church, including missions, discipleship, evangelism, worship. In my particular role, I resource churches with tools that will help them along in their own journey and keep them updated on IJM’s frontline casework around the world.. I also assist IJM speakers who travel to churches in the US to share about God’s call to justice with diverse congregations around the country.

Carrie: When you are sharing with these churches, how do you go about sharing about the work that IJM is doing and about this global issue of human trafficking and modern day slavery without paralyzing or scaring people?

Lauren: Well, we try to communicate a message of hope because the facts and realities are startling. National Geographic estimates there are 27 million slaves today and UNICEF estimates that there are about 2 million children exploited in the sex industry. Those are hard numbers to hear. But we also communicate that our God is big, and he’s bigger than even these statistics. He sees every person trapped in slavery. In scripture we see that he wants to redeem them and bring them out of the oppression. We also share stories of IJM clients who have been rescued from slavery or violent oppression. A big part of my job is sharing these stories of hope about God’s goodness and God’s grace. We have seen many incredible stories of rescue. Our field staff who do God’s work on the front lines are also a source of encouragement.

Carrie: What do you say to those who believe that modern day slavery is something that only happens in the developing world?

Lauren: We at IJM see that modern day slavery thrives in areas of the world where there is an absence of the rule of law, which makes it very easy for people to be trapped in slavery and for people to run businesses with slaves. But you are right; it does happen all over the world. I know you are writing this column about slavery happening in the U.S. and we’re grateful that you’re raising awareness of this issue. IJM’s particular area of expertise is working in areas where the public justice system is not functioning, so we do not conduct casework in the U.S., but slavery does exist in our country. Thank you for what you’re doing to equip people to fight it.

Carrie: Are there things that Americans living here in the US can do to lessen the demand in trafficking in the US and overseas?

Lauren: The first thing that comes to mind is what we are doing with our Justice Campaigns. We, as citizens of the United States of America are in very powerful positions to influence our leaders. So we’ve been asking people to contact their Senators and Representatives in congress and ask that they support measures against human trafficking and make decisions that will help people in the developing world who are victims of slavery and child exploitation. We are specifically asking people to ask their representatives to support exciting legislation called the Child Protection Compact Act (CPCA). If this bill is passed, it will give extra funds to the United States State Department’s Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Office to help them fight child slavery and child exploitation. So that would be the first thing that comes to mind. Another thing would be to consider the things we are purchasing. An organization that comes to mind is Trade As One, which is an organization that helps the Christian community think about the way they purchase items and use their spending power.

Carrie: How would you encourage CL user to get involved with IJM or in the issue at all and act?

Lauren: I’ll start with the Justice Campaign since I already talked a little about that. You can ask your representatives in Washington to stand up for victims of trafficking around the world - just visit www.IJM.org/justicecampaigns to get started. This really makes a difference. Also, we recognize this work is impossible without God’s help, so we take very seriously our need of prayer. We have Prayer Partners all around the world praying for us and we need more people join us in praying for our clients and casework. You can sign up to be a prayer partner on our website. Also, as a non-profit we encourage folks to support us financially. Our donors are vital partners in this work and paying for the rescue the poor cannot afford is a really valuable way to engage in the work of justice. We have a monthly giving program called the Freedom Partner Program – that is fantastic – you can invest in a certain area of the world or particular casework type.

Carrie: Our last question comes from a CL user. Ridley would like to know how IJM balances fighting for justice while at the same time exercising compassion and Christ’s love for those who are the ones inflicting the injustice?

Lauren: That’s a really great question. One important thing that we do at IJM is that we pray for the perpetrators. We recognize that like all of us, they are created in the image of God and we know that our Father is longing for their reconciliation to Him. So that’s what we pray for. We also believe that to treat the perpetrators with love is to restrain their hands from inflicting pain upon other people. We do celebrate the hope and healing of our victims but we obviously do not celebrate the pain inflicted upon them by the life of the perpetrator. But, we see an obvious call to seek justice and restrain the hand of people who are oppressing others.

Carrie: Lauren I really appreciate you taking the time to chat with me about this issue and about what IJM is doing to fight for justice on behalf of the oppressed and enslaved. IJM’s work is truly inspiring and I believe that your mission is a kingdom one that is obedient to the call for justice we know our God desires for all his people. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and press on with your good works for the Lord.

Lauren: Thank you. It is really exciting to walk with God in this journey of seeking justice on behalf of the oppressed. Justice is an aspect of God’s character that really is an exciting and challenging component of Christianity and of our faith walk. So I just encourage everybody to investigate justice ministries and see how God might be calling us to use our own resources, gifts, and power to rescue and bless those who are being oppressed.

Thanks for checking out the interview CL users. I’d love to hear from you regarding any comments you have or questions related to this interview with Lauren.

Rescued Slave Victims Speak Out for the First Time

Carrie Nye — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:27:43 -0800

This series on slavery in America will continue next week with an interview from International Justice Mission in Washington, DC. In the meantime, here is a recent news story video of a few girls who are speaking out for the first time after being trafficked from Guatemala to Los Angeles 5 years ago. Having heard the stories of two girls rescued in Orange County, CA recently, I have witnessed the amount of courage it takes for them to speak up and tell their stories. This crime of slavery is happening all over our free nation.

We can help stop it from happening in our communities. Check back next week to hear what IJM suggests we do to abolish modern day slavery in America.

Slavery in America: We the People...

Carrie Nye — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:50:40 -0800

America is a unique place. It is a nation governed by its own people.

As I write this column, the third of a series on slavery in America, I am at a hotel just a few miles from our nations Capitol. The hotel is themed appropriately with halls named after former Presidents and national leaders.

International Justice Mission (IJM) is not far from my hotel. IJM is a 300+ person organization that is made up of case workers, advocates, church modilizers and lawyers. Started in 1997 by former lawyer for the US Dept. of Justice, Gary Haugen, IJM has worked alongside governments and law enforcements around the world in efforts to abolish modern day slavery. Taken directly from their website, one of IJM’s core commitments sums up what they strive to do:

IJM seeks to restore to victims of oppression the things that God intends for them: their lives, their liberty, their dignity, the fruits of their labor. By defending and protecting individual human rights, IJM seeks to engender hope and transformation for those it serves and restore a witness of courage in places of oppressive violence. IJM helps victims of oppression regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or gender.

The foundation for their work comes from Isaiah 1:7: Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan and plead for the widow.

By creating laws and implementing them in America and a number of countries around the world, IJM has been able to carry out this command found in Isaiah. IJM works to free all people from lives of injustice, and they invite you and me to participate in their efforts. In America, it’s the people’s vote that matters.

As American citizens we have an incredible privilege and responsibility to vote on matters of equality and justice. IJM invites us to use our vote in a way that will speak for those enslaved in our country and abroad. We have the freedom to urge our congress to move on behalf on those in enslaved.

IJM makes this pretty easy for us to do. Check out this page on IJM’s website to learn more about what you can do to use your freedom, your voice and your vote to protect the poor and the enslaved.

I am learning just how passionate and expressive God is when it comes to the well-being of all of his precious children.

“And the Lord looked and saw that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene.” Is. 59:15-16.

"I looked and saw all the oppressed-and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors.” Eccl. 4:1.

Edmund Burke said:

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”

One of my hopes for this series on modern day slavery is that it will inspire action on the part of the church. Modern day slavery is not just an overseas issue. It’s not just something that happens in poor, remote places. There isn’t a race, location, neighborhood, country or any other demographic we can assign, that is untouchable in the massive human trafficking industry. I mentioned before I met a young woman who was enslaved in a very wealthy community in Orange County, CA for several years. This is happening everywhere. It is happening at the Olympics in Vancouver right now as young women and girls are being moved around unwillingly and forced into unthinkable situations in order to meet the demand raised by those in attendance.

We do have the tools to close down this monstrous industry of the buying and selling of human beings. I encourage you to visit IJM’s website and act. They will walk with you step by step as you contact congress and your local governments. If you’re a student, they will help you start a club on your campus that will raise awareness to this issue. If you’re church wants to be more active, they have staff whose jobs are to mobilize churches.

This Friday afternoon I will be visiting IJM and will have the privilege of meeting with a staff member who is the church mobilizer for California. Check back next week for the continuation of this series and the outcome of my visit to IJM. I am not certain of the amount of time I will be granted at IJM but if any of you have burning questions you’d like me to consider asking the organization, now’s your chance. Please let me know by Thurs. evening and I will do my best to ask any and all questions that may come up.

Pray about how you can get involved. Using your privilege to influence congress and voting are great places to start. After all, we once said:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As I mentioned in the last post on the subject, if you suspect any human trafficking happening in your area, please call the national hotline immediately at (888) 373-7888.

Video: Can a Church be both Attractive and Missional?

Carrie Nye — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:40:59 -0800

What do you think? Can the church be both attractive and missional? What would this look like? Or should church be only attractive or only missional? How do churches continually mobilize their congregants to be missional, taking church outside the church walls and into their communities?

Slavery in America: New Forms of an Old Monster

Carrie Nye — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:01:23 -0800

Slavery is not new to America. It was the year 1619 when the first African slaves arrived in Virginia. Allow for just a moment for the reality of that situation to sink in. Men, women and children were involuntarily uprooted from their homes, violently packed onto a ship like canned sardines and taken to a new land where they would be worked to the bone day after day.

Over the next 250 years, America would see many slaves step onto its soil. The US Constitution would make slavery illegal in the Northwest Territory in 1787 but Congress would not ban the slave trade until 1808. The demand for slave labor sky rocketed at the invention of Eli Whitney’s cotton gin in 1793. Those who tried to revolt were hanged. Those who tried to escape and were caught were returned to their slave master per a federal law. In 1863 President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring “that all persons held as slaves” within the Confederate state “are, and henceforward shall be free.” Two years later the thirteenth amendment abolishes slavery throughout the United States. However, it would be 2 months before slaves in Texas heard the news they had been freed.

“It has been called by a great many names and it will call itself by yet another, and all of us had better wait and see what new form this old monster will assume.” –Frederick Douglass

If you read my last column, the first of a series on slavery in America, you know that there are approximately 1 million slaves in America today.* Oh sure, the thirteenth amendment did declare the end to all slavery in 1865, but in the 150 years since, the slave trade has grown like a pesky little weed throughout the United States. Next to the largest industry in the world, drug trafficking, human trafficking is the second largest industry, closely followed by arms trafficking.

The quote above, of activist and leader Frederick Douglass, is disturbingly true. We might not see Africans picking cotton in the south anymore and we might have an emancipation proclamation, declaring freedom for all men, women and children, but today we find ourselves further immersed in a culture of slavery than when Lincoln gave his speech.

So if slavery today doesn’t look like it did 150 years ago, what does it look like now?

At the core, slavery is the buying and selling of human beings. Slavery is involuntary subjection to another or others. Unlike drugs, people can be sold over and over again. The average cost for a human being around the world is roughly $50 USD.

The root of slavery is buried in deep, dark soil. The root is nourished by a demand and as that demand increases, the root breaks through the surface, spreading like wild weeds destroying everything in its path. It is the demand for slaves that has changed over time, giving shape to a number of types of slavery that exist today.

Sex trafficking is the most known form of modern day slavery. Obviously, the demand for this type of slavery is sex. Often we think of sex trafficking happening in Southeast Asia or on the crowded streets of Calcutta. But don’t be fooled. The demand for sex, mostly for young girls, is happening across America. Just today, Superbowl Sunday, CNN ran an article about Miami’s recent peak of sex trafficking to meet the demands for sex from those traveling to Miami for the game. There is much discussion on the issue of sex slavery and prostitution. Check back for an upcoming post on this issue. Sex slavery is not confined to street corners or dark alleys. Brothels exist behind restaurants, massage and nail parlors, motels and small businesses.

Labor trafficking is another form of slavery happening right here in America. Labor trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.**

In the first column in this series, referenced above, I mentioned I had the privilege of hearing a survival story of a young woman who had been trafficked into Orange County. This young woman was only a child when she was brought to America and forced to work as a domestic slave and caregiver to the other children in the home. She slept in the garage without light or access to the outside and where field mice frequented her. Last week I heard another woman share her story of being brought to US and sold to work as a domestic slave, caring for 4 homes and several children. She was a child herself at the time and was enslaved to this large family for 7 years. This is happening to other children across the United States.

As I mentioned above, slavery is not new to America. Slavery is not new to the world. Slavery is not new to God. As this series on HT continues, I’ll write about what we know of God’s character and response to HT by taking a look at what the Bible tells us. The idea of a person being bought and sold over and over again angers me. I think it angers God too. Keep checking back about once a week and you’ll see why I think this.

Also in future columns, I’ll be addressing the issue of demand for slavery and what you and I can do about diminishing it.

In the last post and here I have mentioned a few of the areas I’ll be writing on in regards to HT in America. I would like to hear from you on this as well. Are there areas of HT that you’d like me to research and write about? Do you have questions about modern day slavery? Whatever it is, I’d love to hear from you. ConversantLife.com is a place where we can have discussions about tough issues like this and really learn from one another. I welcome your thoughts.

If you know of someone who meets one of the types of HT mentioned above, the national number to call is (888) 373-7888. It’s an easy one to memorize and even easier to put into your cell phone. If ever you have a suspicion of trafficking, do not hesitate to call. You may be saving someone’s life by doing so.

*Victims of crimes such as trafficking and violence don’t often speak up about the crimes committed against them due to fear placed upon them by their abuser, therefore making this number hard to pinpoint as exact.

**Definition taken from Live2free.org website.

Slavery in America

Carrie Nye — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:27:00 -0800

“The American people have a right to know that what they are buying was not made on the backs of slaves.” That somber statement, along with several other halting comments and statistics, are part of what you hear watching “At the End of Slavery”, an International Justice Mission (IJM) production.

January 11th was national Human Trafficking (HT) awareness day. The church I attend hosted a showing of At the End of Slavery to help unveil the realities of HT in today’s world. Not only did the film provide a look into the world of modern day slavery, it touched upon the realities of it happening right here in the United States. After the film we heard from a young woman who is a survivor of human trafficking and who lived as a domestic slave for years in Irvine, CA. For those who are unfamiliar with the area, Irvine is considered one of the safest places to live in America as well as being one of the wealthiest cities in Orange County. This woman’s story of survival is incredible. She is a testament to the reality that slavery does exist in America and that it can be stopped.

I’ll be honest with you, when I first learned a few years back, that there are an estimated 27 million people enslaved in the world today I thought it was a joke. When I learned that there are 1 million people enslaved in America, I was speechless (believe me, that doesn’t happen to often).

Modern day slavery* is happening everywhere. America is not an exception. Over the next few months, I’ll be tackling this issue of HT here in America by posting a series of columns and videos on the topic. My hope is that we can enter into a dialogue, creating awareness and a hope for action. William Wilberforce, along with only a handful of friends, abolished slavery in England. If we work together with our churches, our communities, our friends, our families, our local governments and law enforcements, I know we can end slavery in America too.

Hearing that there are 1 million slaves in America today can be paralyzing. Don’t forget that God is not overwhelmed in the same way you and I are. He is mighty and he desires to use ordinary people like you and me for his extraordinary purposes of carrying out justice and mercy. Don’t forget Moses, who was only one man, and God used him to rescue thousands of Israelites from the bondage of Egyptian slavery.

In the columns to follow, I want to create conversation about the different coats modern day slave wears on its back and what you and I can do about it. I’ll be bringing in some special people at times to help us in our dialogue as well. Our first guest will be Sandie Morgan, featured in the video here. Some of what I write about will be central to Orange County, CA simply because I am currently in OC. But I hope that through that, you may discover more about the slavery that may be happening in your backyard. I’ll also be addressing the questions of, is prostitution slavery or a personal choice? But I want to hear from you too. I really do want to dialogue with you. I think the best place to start with this issue of injustice is to talk about it and to ask our questions. A good friend of mine recently said “the church has stopped talking.” When the church closes its lips to the issues of its culture, it isolates itself from its neighbors. May this not be so in our churches and in our communities.

Please share with me your thoughts or questions on human trafficking in America and we can wrestle with this global issue here at home together. Trafficking thrives because there is a demand. We can lessen the demand beginning today.

So let’s hear it. What pops in your head when you hear the words modern day slavery? What questions do you have?

*There are many terms for which slavery falls under today. The most common are human trafficking, modern day slavery, restaveks, domestic slaves and debt bondage.

There are many resources that can help in understanding modern day slavery. Here are just a few:

Books:
Skinner, Benjamin E. A Crime So Monstrous
Bales, Kevin. Modern Slavery: The Secret World of 27 Million People and The Slave Next Door: Human Trafficking and Slavery in America Today
Haugen, Gary. Just Courage: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian and Good News About Injustice

Movies:
Taken
Trade
Human Trafficking

Websites:
Humantrafficking.org
End Human Trafficking
Tell Craigslist to Make REAL Change in the Adult Services Section of Craigslist!
Live2free

Soccer, Sex and You

Carrie Nye — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 14:53:47 -0800

"Instead of waiting until crisis problems develop which result in panic praying for others, we need to trust God to protect them as we pray Spirit-led, thoughtful, caring prayers before the problems overwhelm them, and they are unable to cope. We need to engage in major battles, not just minor skirmishes, moving from surface praying to in-depth praying. We need to pray both defensively and offensively." -Dr. Will Bruce

South Africa is currently preparing for what will no doubt be an exciting time in the life of soccer players and fans worldwide. The FIFA 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa this summer is creating a number of jobs for locals as they prepare to host the thousands of tourists who be arriving.

Unfortunately, there are a number of underground jobs being formed in preparation for those tourists as well. Months out from the sports event, human traffickers are securing residences to house the numbers of girls who will be brought into the area to meet the demands of the tourists for sex. Right now these traffickers are bartering for girls both intranationally and internationally.

The time for prayer is now. Prayer is a force that’s strength we may never fully comprehend. As the quote above suggests, we can pray now for what will happen at the World Cup. We can pray now for the traffickers to recognize their actions as wrong and stop buying and selling girls like baseball cards. We can pray now for the protection of women of children who are most vulnerable to sex traffickers. We can pray now for the churches of South African to work together in combating the sex industry in their neighborhoods. We can pray now for the tourists who are making their plans to go to change from their wicked ways and embrace truth whole heartedly.

The Lausanne Pulse, which provides evangelism and missions news recently published this article on the situation. The article articulates the situation very well and offers ways that you and I can help. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. Does your church have partners in South Africa that are working with this issue? I’d love to discuss what’s being done now and how others can help as well.

Live Video Update from Haiti

Carrie Nye — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:19:51 -0800

I received this video update from my friend Stuart who is on the ground in Haiti now. His team from a church in CT were there when the quake hit.

Stuart had this to share in an email only a few hours ago:

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers. Our team is still in Haiti, and we are doing fine. We have been working on various ways of getting out of the country. We are just taking it day by day. It has now been 4 nights since the quake and still most Haitians are sleeping on the streets, in open places, and huddled together. Most of them just have a sheet around them, or not even that. At 4am this morning I saw a man in shorts sleeping on the hard cement. They are sticking together though - it is vary rare to see people sleeping alone at night. We have continued to sleep outside as well, as the tremors are still rumbling quite powerfully. Please pray that the tremors would stop, that it would be safe enough for people to begin the long process of rebuilding there lives. Yesterday we were able to help find a number of Haitians whose relatives in the U.S. had heard no word from them. They are all alive. Today we will go out with different families in the community and visit their homes, pray with them, and help in any way we can. The smell in the air is getting worse as the morgues are overflowing. Though, being 40 miles outside Port-au-Prince, we are in a safe zone. Things sound to be getting pretty bad there, as bodies are lining the streets, and anger is rising as the days continue, the reality sinks in, and the scarcity of food and water makes its impact.

Last night was quite an experience as we witnessed firsthand the U.S. Navy air rescue a U.S. woman whose spleen had been ruptured. Seeing the efficiency and power of the U.S. Military in action was quite impressive. The helicopter touched down once but with all the Haitians rushing around they chose to evacuate her from air. I never imagined I'd be on the ground side of what you commonly see on world news. Our team will be able to leave sooner or later, but these people will remain - homeless, helpless, without much resources at all, completely dependent on the help of others right now, in a country scarce of resources, shaking to the core physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But hope remains - as we were running to the helicopter I looked down to see 3 little children running alongside, grabbing my hands, and smiling brightly, beaming with hope. Though no material help came last night, I know their hope won't be disappointed. There are good people helping on the ground, and I know the world has mobilized to make a difference. It has been so encouraging to hear all the feedback from friends, of the support already given, the people and churches praying, and the teams that are scheduling immediate trips down here. I truly believe that this situation can be turned around for good in Haiti - what was meant for evil will be turned into a greater blessing as the world walks in love, hand and hand with Haiti, carrying hope. The Haitians are resilient and strong, and they will make it.

Check out Stuart's website for more updates from Haiti. The picture is of the priest who was rescued in the crumbled church.