Stuck in Traffick

Ever been stuck in traffic? You know... going somewhere, coming from somewhere, needing to be somewhere, wanting to be somewhere...but you are just not moving. I've lived in major cities, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Greater NYC area, Charlotte, I know traffic!

Being stuck can be frustrating, even infuriating, at times. I will listen to the radio, chat if I am driving with a friend, pray. I certainly do not want to be anxious, or uptight. If I prepare mentally for it, I do much better.

Well my friend, the Hedgepeths are currently "stuck in traffick!" The kind of traffick I am talking about is human trafficking. You see, our adoption is on hold due to trafficking happening in, and out of, our child's country.

All of our paperwork is approved and up to date, we are just "stuck". Let me give you a few facts that may help you understand the gravity of this global situation.

The following information is from http://www.thefreedomproject-ywam.com/

-Human Trafficking if the world's 2nd largest criminal activity after drugs, earning up to $39 billion per year.

-Approximately 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders, 80% are female and up to half are minors

-Nearly 200,000 people live enslaved at this very moment in the United States and an additional 17,500 new victims are trafficked across our borders each year.

-Modern slaves are expendable. At about $100 a person, it is more costly to care for the enslaved than replace them.

The definition of "trafficking in persons" shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments to achieve the consent of a living person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced, bonded labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

These facts break my heart! They can be overwhelming. And yet, God has called us in righteousness. He has taken us by the hand, given us as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations. (Isaiah 42:6-10)

As Christians, God has called us to engage with the world around us. For Todd and I, we are called to engage in this area of woman and children issues, the poor and needy, in the whole area of Compassion.

We had no idea where God would lead us as we said yes to this precious baby Girl. We really have gone through a plethora of emotion as we have traveled on the truly amazing journey. We are still traveling, and yet, we are "stuck" here. Please pray for us and the process.

Please pray...

*that God would continue to meet all of Baby's needs in a very poor and needy situation

*that the people in charge of policies in that country would have godly wisdom in setting up boundaries and guidelines

*that there would be a breakthrough SOON in our adoption

*that other children would also be set in families

*that people of integrity would be placed in positions of influence, to see justice established in this whole area

As we "sit in traffick" the Lord has sent encouragement. A friend to sit and "chat" with us, signs of moving (albeit slowly) forward, people along the way, giving a shout out, inquiring of us and our status.

Thank you for that. We are grateful.