Awareness Is Key!

Christine Caine... A name I was not familiar with until just a few months ago. That was until I attended a women's conference and she rocked my foundation. She wasn't even the main speaker but God used her to speak deep into my soul. Her passion and her heart spoke louder than her words. Believe me when I say, she is who I want to be when I grow up, and not just because she's a cute little blonde spitfire with one amazing Australian accent. But because she heard the voice of God and she went.

The Lord spoke to her in a very real way about a very real need. Human Trafficking. This was something that my heart was broken over and had been for sometime but something that's so unbelievable and horrific was hard for me to even think about. It's so real and so hard to believe that this is happening in the 21st century. I'm talking about young women and children from all over the world being kidnapped or lied to and being sold into modern day slavery. Being shipped across the world in cargo shipping crates just so they can be sold, abused, used, lied to, broken down, beaten, and owned like a piece of property.

If that is not crazy enough to wrap your brain around, there are women right here in Kansas City that the same thing is happening to. Kansas City is a hot spot for human trafficking. They fact that their are major highways that run to just about anywhere in the U.S., trains, buses, and planes that do the same make it easy access for traffickers. The women you sometimes see on the streets don't necessarily want to be there. They are not always there on their own free will. Other women could be there because of choices, circumstance, and things that could or couldn't be out of their control. Some of the homeless women you see at the stop lights are the same women that you could see on the streets on any given night. Either way these women are lost in the darkness. They need The Light. The Hope. The One. 

Several years ago Christine Cain and her husband Nick started The A21 Campaign (http://www.thea21campaign.org/the-problem.php) to stop human trafficking. They are doing great things on the streets all over the world. They are rescuing the trafficked and they are helping to get the traffickers put in jail. God has used Chris in a mighty way and He can use us too. We need to open our eyes and our hearts to need that is all around us.

"When you decide enough is enough, that the darkness of this world must be lit with the hope of Christ and his transforming love, and that you are a conduit of that love, you will not rest."
-Christine Caine

I could go on and on but I will let you have your turn to check it out for yourself. Thanks for checking in. Please comment, I would love to hear your thoughts. Don't forget to follow as well. This is all so new to us and we are taking baby steps so please excuse the mess. I guess I'm just a work in progress. Thankful He's not finished with me yet! Love ya'll

To report Human Trafficking please call the national hot line at (800)373-7888

Hey ya'll, (OK, so I'm not even close to be southern but I just really like the way it sounds). To say we are so excited about what God is doing with A Hope for the Homeless is a huge understatement. It truly is amazing, we are blessed. Tonight we went to pick up the items from the coat drive we did last week. So exciting! We received a lot of great stuff. I will share more on this later. I just thought I would share with you a few cute photos of some of the crew. I hope ya'll had a great day! Know that we are so thankful that you are reading our blog, following, and giving. We're lovin you like crazy! 

The family truckster put to good use. Tell me you don't just love the crafty sign. Now that's talent!

Two amazing helpers. Jackson has such a heart for the homeless, what a blessing. This boy will grow up to be such a great man.

Our sweetest and littlest volunteer and his Momma. He may have the biggest heart of all. He's gonna get some things done in life, Let. Me. Tell. You.

Local Agencies

If you or someone you know needs help please click the link below. The website is a list of agencies here in the greater Kansas City area that can help with addictions, shelter, meals, abuse, long term housing, health services, mental health services, and much much more. Please reach out it could save a life.

http://hscgkc.org/agency.php

Real Faces Real Need

These are the real faces of despair, bondage, hopelessness, hurt, pain, and sickness, among many

 other things but these are also the faces of the people we love and are called to love.

 It's different now. It used to be when we would pull up to a stop light and see a homeless person on the corner; I couldn't wait for the light to change. I did everything I could to not look into their eyes. I was not willing to see their hurt. I might feel something that made me uncomfortable. That was until God did something deep inside of me that made me desire to see behind the eyes of the hurting on the street. He made me want more than to just give to them, He made me want to know them, see them for who He said they were, and love them deeper than I ever thought I could.

God gave me a desire to give hope to the homeless.

That is what this blog is about. We are here to bring a realness to the need, to put a face with the pain. To show that the homeless are people too, just like you and me. A Hope (A Hope for the Homeless) is out on the streets bringing them the love of Jesus Christ. We do that by cooking and delivering them warm meals on the streets, coat drives, purchasing and passing out deodorant and hyigene items, among many other things. Whatever we are able to give we are giving and we want you to join us. If you would like to donate or volunteer please contact us. You will be blessed.