Rhonda's thoughts on sex trafficking...

If you've read Jon's blog on this subject I assume your heart has been wrenched somewhat.

The session we sat thru was really heart breaking and horriffiying and hard in other ways because now that I know what I know, what am I going to do about it?

There is this verse in Revelation that kinda surprised me... bear with me... read it all

Revelation 18:11-13

"And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold and silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silks, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles or ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls."

Did you know that was in there?  I've NEVER heard of this before.  So basically since Revelation is talking about the end of the age when christ will be returning to earth, this is the time that the merchants are out of work and no one wants to buy their SLAVES anymore.  Meaning at the end of the age slave trading will be a business.

Another statistic that surprised me was in comparing the cost of a slave during the  trans-atlantic slave trade and today.  Due to the cost of "shipping" the slave and paying all the other people involved in getting this slave to it's destination a slave cost $ 40, 000. (in comparing what their dollar would buy to nowadays)  The average cost of a slave today is $90

Isn't that outrageous?  You can barely buy a cool pair of running shoes for that.

I found a book at the bookstore which intrigued me.  It's a fictional story of a 12 year old girl from the mountains of Nepal being sold into the sex industry by her stepfather.  Anyway, there was a mention in passing that struck me.  That being the men who were with her would be charged the amount it would cost to have a Coke.

O.k. I don't know how to transition to a less heavy topic.

Oh one more thing I thought was interesting....

During the session the speaker shared some history with us.

In regards to the Vietnam war, when the U.S. soldiers were on leave they went to ?Thailand?
Anyway, at the time prostitution was illegal in this country, but because of the huge demand for women from the soldiers and the $$ that was involved, they created a law that legalized prostitution somewhat when involving an entertainment business. The business people were rich, the politicians were rich and the women probably weren't.  (I may be alittle off in some of the details...)  But bottom line is the sex industry is HUGE business in these countries now and it was created by the american driven demand.

That's not to say that there isn't demand from non westerners too, but it really all comes down to money and it being a business.

o.k. one more thing...

Did you know that for the Olympics happening in Vancouver this winter, they are bringing in girls from all over the world to service the athletes.  To meet the increased demand that will occur due to this influx.  For more info on this you can google the Salvation Army or Benjamin Perrinn.

I don't have any huge ideas as to how to save the world quite yet.

But I'm still thinking.

Rhonda