Switching Gears

     As I searched for a pic this one jumped out at me. As I viewed it for a few seconds something came to mind that was not the original intent.  So first, the original intent which you be already know.
     At the end of the year, I will be "shifting gears" from the practice of Dental Hygiene for 40 years & focus on a new venture in ministry the Lord put on my heart - Hands of Love-Hearts of Hope - bringing awareness of sex trafficking here in my own backyard.  Ohio has the 5th largest number of youth trafficked & Toledo is 4th in the nation for trafficking, arrests, investigations & rescues. One out of 5 girls/1 out of 10 boys are victimized before adulthood with 13 being the average age of first exploitation.  The Super Bowl is the primary event for sex trafficking, as is the Indy 500, Kentucky Derby, Nascar, Final Four and NBA playoffs.
     Part of my ministry will include ladies writing "Love Letters" to rescued girls, letting them know we are praying for them & God desires to heal their broken hearts & redeem their lives for His glory.  I was made aware of human trafficking in Asia through Love 146  2 years ago.  Last year it was brought to my attention again through a Christian TV program and in April, I was invited to hear Sheri, from North Manchester IN, speak about global trafficking - forced labor and sexual.  My heart was moved to want to help.  As I researched the subject on the web, I started in Asia then to the United States ended up in Ohio.
     Having 2 daughters, 5 grand-daughters and a grandson, I kept thinking, "What if this happened to one of them?"  I had just read The Slave Across the Street by Theresa Flores who was trafficked out of her home at age 15 in Detroit. She is now in her 40's. living in Columbus with a ministry of her own Traffick Free (.com) which includes S.O.A.P. (Saving Our Adolescents from Prostitution) by putting bars of soap in the bathrooms of hotels with the number of the Trafficking Hotline.  I would encourage you to read the book, it is not graphic but brings this issue out in the open.
    Another part of the ministry is to purchase Christian books that will help these girls/women know they can be restored to wholeness through God's Loving Hand.  I just purchased five books this week & want to contact Children's Lantern in Defiance.   I was made aware they have at least 2 girls rescued recently.  Think about it - 40 minutes from my home there are girls being sheltered because they are victims of sex trafficking.
     Other Ministries I want to support are T.A.T. Truckers Against Trafficking , The Daughter Project in Perrysburg near Toledo and Rahab's Heart in Toledo.

Matthew 25:40 - “The King (Jesus)  will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’

      In light of what God has put upon my heart, I've come across some sayings that spoke to me.

                                                    

     A man was walking along the beach when he approached a young boy who was throwing star fish back into the ocean that had been washed up on the shore.  The man said, "Son, you can't save them all so what difference does it make?"  The boy picked up another star fish, tossed into the water and replied, "It makes a difference to that one."         

We all can make a difference, even if it's only for just one.

   To help support Hands of Love- Hearts of Hope I am sharing about Norwex products known for their cleaning cloths using only water for your daily cleaning.  No more chemical laden cleaning products to purchase.  If you would like to know more please visit  www.ShelleyAdam.norwex.biz  

 Cleaning with a Purpose brings together the Ministry along with the Norwex products,  Norwex is a Fair Trade Company and recently donated to The Hope Project which assists in the recovery & counseling for girls ages 11-19 .

And the other thought about the picture of the gears - I feel that's how my mind is constantly, even when I'm sleeping !!!!   

image: fineart.com