Human Trafficking is a modern day form of slavery . . . it is the fastest growing source of revenue for organized crime and terrorist networks and it happens everywhere.

Think about how often you may have an international person wait on you in a restaurant or perhaps provide some form of service at your place of work or along your travels. It may never have occurred to you that they may not be there of their own free will. I have been making it a priority to be more aware of my surroundings, particularly when children are involved. I have received training in my part-time job, to become qualified as a mandated reporter of child abuse. I also see a lot of little children moving freely about Mexico, often unsupervised and uncared for. In Mexico it is common to see little children begging or being expected to earn some change for cleaning your windshield or whatever. They then bring the earnings to a parent or adult somewhere nearby – who is out of sight. I can’t help but wonder how many are being used in unspeakable ways through abuse and criminal activities.

“Victims are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims are young children, teens, men and women. Approximately 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked across international borders annually, and between 14,500 and 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the U.S. each year, according to U.S. government estimates. More than half of these victims worldwide are children, according to the U.S. dept. of State.”

 

 

 

In an effort to become more qualified and aware, VOB, has joined a coalition of professionals headed up by a group with offices in San Diego and Tijuana, called Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition The group meets each month to discuss collaboration on plans of action for creating awareness, as well as seeing that justice is served to those who attempt to take advantage of these victims. One of the tools we use is a crisis cell phone. This is a hot-line that is used by law enforcement, social services, vice units, and victims as well. It is designed to help with immediate placement and needs of victims of human trafficking. On occasion, these calls require our coming to the scene in order to best serve the victim and innocent parties involved. I soon will undergo training to help with this crisis hot-line, and would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and discernment. It is an amazing opportunity to be clergy in a desperate situation.

Highlights from the Christmas Give Away!

The winter hats give away was a big success and covered many heads that rainy night! Unfortunately we ran out with 85 wrapped and distributed. I guess next year we wrap 100!

 

Vicente slices up some sweets for the antiguas at another outreach.

The children loved the toys you donated!

We had over 50 wrapped toys to distribute.

I hope you and your children are blessed as they were.

 

The kids take a moment to inspect their new gifts.

What a fun photo. By the way it was raining and

muddy during this gift exchange Christmas day!

 

 

 

 

Thank you from

the children!

“Peace on earth, goodwill to men”  Luke 2:14

We pray this newsletter finds you with peace in your heart and goodwill on your mind!

Jesus came to give us peace and abundant life, and it’s easy to lose sight of that when the stresses of the holiday season come up.   But, as we reflect on the love and commitment the Lord shows us through His birth AND His death, it becomes much easier to say, as Mary said,  “be it done to me according to Your will”. . . . Luke 1:38

This Christmas season finds Voice of the Bride abundantly blessed with being able to give 85 winter caps, with candy canes hidden inside, to the poor in Mexico.  Those men, women, and children who come to the Tuesday night outreach, will,  once again this year, find a small, gift wrapped item in their hands, along with bread and other goodies!  We have had a wonderful VOB partner come up with the idea of a ‘cookie bake’!   She sent out an invitation asking others to come over to her house, bake many dozens of cookies, and put them into little gift baggies, to be distributed to the Tuesday night group.  We are so excited to have this participation of our VOB partners!!  (Thank you  LL and all those involved in the cookie bake).

Other VOB projects for Christmas, have included a small toy drive to garner used toys to be given to our friend Vicente, who then takes them to children’s home’s in Tijuana.   Clothes and hygiene items will also be given, as well as 130 individual pair of new socks (also gift wrapped), for the elderly home.  Remember when getting a pair of socks seemed so boring as a child?   Not so for these ‘antigua’s’…  Thank you to all those who have given toys, clothes and hygiene items!!

It is truly a joy to be a part of giving to those who are so needy this Christmas season.  And we are so thankful to those of you who contribute to our ability to do this.  You each share a part in these wondrous opportunities, and in being Jesus to those who may not know Him. So, whether it be through your church, or through a worthy organization like the Salvation Army, or some other group,  may you find joy this Christmas, in the knowledge that ‘it is better to give than to receive’. . . Acts 20:35

We would like to ask just a couple of prayer requests this Christmas:

-please pray for our safe travels during the holidays, as we fly to the East coast, and travel between Virginia and North Carolina.

-please make it a priority, if you would, to pray for Wayne and Greg as they go back and forth to Mexico.  You have probably heard of all the violence going on in Tijuana and other border towns on the Mexico/U.S. border.  Although we have not seen anything specific, and have been safe, we would really appreciate your prayer covering as we do this work.

Thank you, bless you and MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!     Love, Wayne & Carol

p.s. we still have that briefing on Human Trafficking coming up . . . next month for sure!