Life

- 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk every year for commercial sexual exploitation. -U.S. Department of Justice
- An estimated 2.5 million children, the majority of them girls, are sexually exploited in the ~ 12.5 billion dollar commercial sex industry – UNICEF
- Investigators and researchers estimate the average predator in the U.S. can make more than $200,000 a year off one young girl. – NBC Report by Teri Williams

To learn more, visit www.sctnow.org, www.ijm.org, www.humantrafficking.org, www.us.gov/g/tip, www.sisha.org, www.canyouhearus.org, www.freedomforgirls.org, www.transitionsglobal.org

The reality of the work of Satan has become more and more clear not only to me, but to the global Christian church, and you should be made aware also. Today I was given the opportunity to participate in a Walk to Raise Awareness in Colorado Springs through Stop Child Trafficking NOW organization (www.sctnow.org).



This is not simply a problem in far away lands, but this is an issue facing our country, it is impacting our communities. The greater awareness we all have, the harder it is for evil to go unnoticed.

Please pray for the organizations and people (such Kevin and Erica Kipfer serving in Ethiopia through Loving Shephard Ministries, or Summer Twyman serving in Cambodia through Transitions Global) that are dedicated to rescuing and nurturing those enslaved in human trafficking.



Caitlin Vida, Jim Howard, Summer Twyman and I at the SCT NOW Walk

If you didn't know, I'm in a 3 week training seminar in Colorado. Today our lesson was on Silence and Solitude, along with Resting on the Sabbath. It's convicting to me because I like to have noise and action and the energy of other people around me, and too often I forget that I need to spend time in solitude and silence. Our challenge today was to spend the afternoon outdoors and spend time in prayer and meditation around creation. My first reaction: "No way! It's way too stinking cold (upper 40s) for me to go outside. My pride kicked in and I was saying to a group of guys, I live in Jamaica now and there is no way you're getting me to go outside."

Picking up on my attitude yet?

So I stay nice and warm inside, i'm doing my assignment, meanwhile everyone else is heading outdoors. I stay in for a while and then start thinking, well, Blake, maybe you shouldn't be so lazy and should give it a try. So I thought about it and then a classmate walked by and invites me to drive down the road a bit to a neat trail that her and her husband were going to take. So I think about it....eh, well, ok, I guess I'll go. So I grab my Zune (non-hip version of an iPod) and head out the door with them. It was only a 5 minute drive and soon we're at the park. Dave points me the way to go and I head up the side of a mountain. It was really pretty and as I got higher, the view behind me began to get more and more spectacular. About 25 minutes into my hike I found a small reservoir with some large boulders at the end, and I just crawled out onto one of them and had a beautiful view of the scenery reflecting off the calm water.




After soaking in the moment, I got back on the trail and hiked up for 5 more minutes or so. I got to a good stopping point and again turned back to see the valley below.




I checked my time and I had been gone for 35 minutes already, so it was time to head back since I only had an hour. I had just turned around and started my descent when the next song came on my Zune. Once I heard the opening line I had to just stop and think twice...is this really the song that just came on??? It was one of my favorites by Bebo Norman, entitled (appropriately enough) "Walk Down This Mountain." I just stood there and soaked in the words:

"It's a better place, standing high upon this mountain. I've seen your face, full of light that only height can show. I'm reminded that you've given me all I need to know. So as you walk down this mountain with your heart held high, following in the footsteps of your Maker, with His love that's gone before you, and people at your side. If you offer up your broken cup, you will taste the meaning of this life"

It was a moment I won't soon forget. God was trying to teach me that he didn't want me to hunker down on a couch to spend time with Him, but to get outside and see His creation, and to commune with Him. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. Stay in my comfort zone, inside where I didn't have to fear the cold. But once I got outside, and started the hike, I wasn't even thinking about the cold anymore. I was thinking about how mighty the God is that created me and all the wonder I saw. So my challenge to you, is get outside and enjoy the creation around you, because;

It's a better place, standing high upon the mountain.

No one knows about this blog because I haven't told anyone about it...yet. You see, I have this fear inside of me that says if I tell people there is a place other than facebook on which they can follow my journey, then that means I have to be disciplined and keep it up. As you can see, there have been two times (May '06, my first 3 month stint in Jamaica and this April, when I found out I was going full-time) where I thought I was ready to make the great leap of a commitment and start blogging. But, the great excitement quickly subdued both times once I hit the craziness of the island. I am currently in Colorado at Mission Training International's (mti.org) SPLICE training program. During the program they talk a lot about how to keep in touch and allow friends and family to stay engaged in the ministry I am partnering with. With such encouragement, I have decided to start blogging and stick to this commitment. Over the next few weeks I will begin posting the history of the journey the Lord has brought me on.

A quick update: Training here will end Oct 2, then I will be in Lafayette for the 3, 4, and 5th of October before I fly down to Jamaica on Tuesday the 6th. West Lafayette AC Church is having a farewell service Sunday the 4th, and all are welcome to attend. I look forward to your communication and encouragement, and I certainly do appreciate and ask for your continued prayerful support.

Regarding blogging, I am new to this, so you expert bloggers, please offer your tips and infinite wisdom. I pray that today you will count your blessings and allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength!