After a rough plane ride battling with a stomach bug, we made it to Amsterdam in good spirits. We have been here for almost 2 weeks and have enjoyed every minute of it. This pregnant momma is LOVING all the good food. Boy did I miss familiar tastes :)
We have had 3 jewelry workshops so far. Two of which were for women still involved in prostitution and the other for ladies who are no longer involved in that line of work. No one came to the first 2 workshops, and 3 ladies came to our last workshop. Shannon and I had the opportunity to walk through the red light district and pass out invitations to ladies working. It was eye opening to say the least. There were women from all over the world in the dimly lit doors. Some were older than my mom and I was told have been there for 20-30 years. Others looked tired and malnourished.
I learned a lot that day about how ladies are brought into the red light district here in Amsterdam. Women from Africa are kidnapped and then a voodoo priest puts a hex on them and tells them if they ever try to get out then someone in their family will die. They stay, out of fear for their family members lives.
The dutch women are worked on from a young age to get into prostitution. Between the ages of 12 and 14 what they call "lover boys" start pursuing them. They tell them how beautiful they are and learn all about their family life. They promise them all this money and a great life and before they know it that great life that was promised to them has vanished and they are working the streets of Amsterdam. Many Latin American women come here because they are told they can make great money here. Traffickers get the women here with the women's hopes high in a new life only to find out that the way they make all this money is to prostitute. They have no where to go and eventually get sucked into working the streets as well.
A good portion of these women are not in this trade by choice. Someone has lured them in with promises of a great life and they are left empty and used up. As we walked the streets that night I wondered how these precious ladies must feel. Many have a tough exterior but I know inside they long for the same things you and I do. A prince charming to come a rescue them and to accomplish something in life.
I also wanted to share this eye opening video of how girls in our own country are trafficked. I hope this video causes all of us to pray and ask the Lord how we can reach out to young girls around us who have low self esteems and could potential be lured into the sex trade.
http://vimeo.com/22195408
Ryan, Britt, Micah and our little blueberry
We have had 3 jewelry workshops so far. Two of which were for women still involved in prostitution and the other for ladies who are no longer involved in that line of work. No one came to the first 2 workshops, and 3 ladies came to our last workshop. Shannon and I had the opportunity to walk through the red light district and pass out invitations to ladies working. It was eye opening to say the least. There were women from all over the world in the dimly lit doors. Some were older than my mom and I was told have been there for 20-30 years. Others looked tired and malnourished.
I learned a lot that day about how ladies are brought into the red light district here in Amsterdam. Women from Africa are kidnapped and then a voodoo priest puts a hex on them and tells them if they ever try to get out then someone in their family will die. They stay, out of fear for their family members lives.
The dutch women are worked on from a young age to get into prostitution. Between the ages of 12 and 14 what they call "lover boys" start pursuing them. They tell them how beautiful they are and learn all about their family life. They promise them all this money and a great life and before they know it that great life that was promised to them has vanished and they are working the streets of Amsterdam. Many Latin American women come here because they are told they can make great money here. Traffickers get the women here with the women's hopes high in a new life only to find out that the way they make all this money is to prostitute. They have no where to go and eventually get sucked into working the streets as well.
A good portion of these women are not in this trade by choice. Someone has lured them in with promises of a great life and they are left empty and used up. As we walked the streets that night I wondered how these precious ladies must feel. Many have a tough exterior but I know inside they long for the same things you and I do. A prince charming to come a rescue them and to accomplish something in life.
I also wanted to share this eye opening video of how girls in our own country are trafficked. I hope this video causes all of us to pray and ask the Lord how we can reach out to young girls around us who have low self esteems and could potential be lured into the sex trade.
http://vimeo.com/22195408
Ryan, Britt, Micah and our little blueberry
