Sarah's Ghana Trip

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"I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being destitute of help from any" - Ecclesiastes 4:1

In February 2008 I picked up the book “Not for Sale” by David Batstone. I discovered that 27 million people were living in slavery – and I was forever ruined for an ordinary life. I didn’t want to be exposed to such a horrible injustice. I didn’t want to be made uncomfortable. But by the time I finished the book, I knew that I couldn’t turn my back on the people Dave had written about. If I did, I would be just as guilty as the men and women enslaving them, because I knew it was happening, and did nothing to stop it.

Fast forward a year. A year of reading everything about human trafficking I could get my hands on, signing up for e-mail updates from every organization I could find, and doing everything I could on my own to work for justice. An e-mail inquiry to the Not for Sale Campaign came back with the question “Would you like to get more involved?” Would I? I was working part-time, volunteering at my church, and going to school for my Bachelor’s. Most days I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. How in the world could I possibly add one more thing to my life?

"Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, ‘Hey, that’s none of my business,’ will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know – Someone not impressed with weak excuses." - Proverbs 24:12

Or . .. How could I not!? The “justice verses” I’d been finding in my Bible were speaking so clearly to me. I’d also been following NFS for a year. The model of smart-activism, of Backyard Abolitionists kept drawing me in. How in the world could I possibly give up the opportunity to be a part of this movement? I said yes.

And I never once regretted it.

The Campaign had opened up so many opportunities for me. I’ve met with representatives in Washington, D.C. to talk about human trafficking legislation and drawn pictures on a Peruvian beach with girls rescued from sex slavery. I’ve cheered on Free2Play soccer players at weekly games and introduced people to the deliciousness of Fair Trade chocolate at The Dark Side of Chocolate screenings. I’ve spoken about modern-day slavery from inside the ring at a MMA cage fight and from the front of a college classroom.

I’ve loved traveling around my state (and sometimes outside it) to share these twin realities: Slavery Still Exists. We Can End It. And now, after 2 years as the Not for Sale: Indiana state director, I’m ready for the next stage in the journey.

I saw a picture of Gideon in a slideshow. He’s a little boy who sleeps most his days away – even at school – after nearly drowning while untangling his slave master’s nets. My long-held hope to someday go to Africa crystallized into the desire to go and hold and love one little boy in Ghana.

Incredibly, Challenging Heights, the organization that is helping Gideon, has agreed to let me come volunteer with them for a little over a year. I am overjoyed by this chance to go to the front lines! I am so excited to learn from the abolitionists in Ghana, to help further the mission of Challenging Heights, to love and get to know the children they are helping, and to experience Ghanaian culture!

I’m looking forward to sharing all my adventures and experiences with you. It’s going to be incredible!