Author Archives: annie4love
When Death Pays a Visit
When death pays a visit, fear is tangible. Tonight I saw photos of the African woman’s body after she was murdered last week. Two women came to meet us for an interview and to ask for assistance. We had scheduled to meet with one but she brought her friend as well. The friend was mostly […]
Enough is Enough
An African trafficked woman died this week. Last night we went out on the streets to talk with the women we’ve been assisting and encountering. Everyone wanted to talk about the woman who died. A spirit of heaviness loomed when they whispered the words. It was as though saying it too loudly would bring the […]
A “High Return on Investment”
I didn’t actually expect to enjoy a conference on business. I recently attended a BAM (Business as Missions) conference where 530 people from 41 nations came together to listen, ask questions, and learn about the potential and impact of BAM businesses (business as mission) in transforming society. The attendees were from a broad spectrum of professionals […]
What If?
I’ve been catching news clips and posts about the Boston bombings. It’s horrific and tragic on so many levels. I can only imagine what it would feel like to have my legs blown off, or to be the parents or fiance of someone killed so tragically. My heart goes out with prayers to all those […]
My Scandalous Confession
I have a scandalous confession: I have a favorite trafficker. You might ask, how someone who passionately fights to rescue victims of human trafficking could like a trafficker let alone have a favorite? Trafficking is a complex situation that employs, exploits, profits, and destroys millions of people – humans, with emotions, people with families, people […]
Ayumi
Ayumi came by today in a cute white and black dress, a shiny necklace and a girlish hairband with a bow. He wore no shoes though, and that was upsetting to him. Yes, he. Ayumi is not a little girl but a teenage boy who struggles with gender identity and actually Ayumi isn’t even his […]
This Awkward Day
It’s the day after Good Friday; Saturday, the day before Easter. The day after Jesus died I seriously doubt anyone was referring to it as “Good” Friday. What could they possibly have seen as good about it? We call it “good” because we know the purpose and the outcome. Without that revelation, there is nothing […]
It’s a Gamble
Why couldn’t Ginger accept the offer of a good job when 17 years in prostitution has proven to be road to nowhere? I met a friend today who had read the journal and she was wrestling with this very question. I shared my insights with her and realized there might be others of you asking […]
Empty Promises of Opportunity
“He’s crazy!” The streetwalker at the sign was referring to the young boy dressed in girl’s clothes. I answered, “No, he’s just acting out. It’s not who he really is.” We had been reaching out to this boy for about 3 years already but that’s a whole other story. The streetwalkers had gotten my attention. […]
Dao’s Story Part 3: Finding Love and a Place to Call Home
Apaw was once a drug addict but he found freedom through the rehab program at Operation Dawn. After he finished he was mentored and is now one of the staff at the center. Dating and such is not allowed at the rehab center, but as Dao and Apaw studied together in classes they began to […]
Annie Dieselberg 