WELCOME TO The Seeds Storyteller Series in which I’ll be talking with Laura Parker about her passionate fight against human trafficking and for justice and freedom for all. Laura is co-founder of The Exodus Road, an organization that goes into the darkest corners of the world to gather evidence of human trafficking. They then work with police to facilitate rescue missions. It is noble, gritty work. Get ready to learn a few things from this wise sister about the world and some tangible ways to stand up for justice and weave steps of inspired action into your own life.
WHAT you can look forward to in this conversation
STORIES from around the globe about the fight for freedom and against human trafficking
TANGIBLE RESOURCES for your own steps and leaps of inspired ACTion
Unexpected GIFTS of hope, innovation, and tenacity that have come from times of struggle
GUIDED moment to BE STILL with a specific idea or two for you to take into your everyday life and practice on your own or with your family so you can experience peace and strength within these stormy days
ABOUT our storyteller
“I married my high school prom date, and we have three children. I’m a writer and I’ve lived a life of transition – moving houses nearly 20 times in our 20-plus years of marriage, including multiple international moves. I am passionate about supporting the work of those who are on the front lines of the fight against human trafficking.
My husband has served as an undercover operative in our work for nearly a decade now, and while we have seen the darkest humanity can give each other, I’ve also seen the incredible resilience and sacrifice humanity can offer the world, too.
I believe that everyone has something they can offer to the most vulnerable around them – just look to the margins and then do the next right thing. Human trafficking oftentimes seems too big or scary to actually learn about or do something about, but everyone can do something. Justice is in the hands of the ordinary.” -Laura Parker
We have a hunch and hope that you will find more of your story in Laura’s.
Nudges to consider of inspired ACTion
DONATE as we seek to provide one year of salary and expenses for one female national crisis care worker in India. The social worker will meet the immediate needs of the sex trafficking survivors, help them as they give their testimony to police, and give them comfort during the process. Donate via Facebook or GoFundMe
The actual rescue missions are often very traumatic for the girls. This is a vital and tangible way to say, “We are with you … You are not alone”, and to compassionately companion our sisters who have been bought, sold, abused, and enslaved.
GO THROUGH the Traffickwatch experience and share it with your friends.
FOLLOW The Exodus Road (@theexodusroad) on social media on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, where they have lots of great resources, content, and stories. Sign up for their newsletter – The Exodus Road. They’d love to connect with you.
WATCH
Stories from the Front Lines of TER’s operatives
Ordinary | The Story of The Exodus Road – Here, you’ll see the gritty, vulnerable story of how Exodus Road started – with two very ordinary people.
Today I’m Free – The Exodus Road fights to help free people like Anna, John, and Sarah. People trapped in human trafficking and sexual slavery.
Free Burma Rangers – Viewers are calling Free Burma Rangers the “most inspiring movie of the new century.” Free Burma Rangers is an epic adventure-doc exploring the extraordinary journey of Dave Eubank – who with his wife Karen and three young children have spent the last two decades living in war zones like Burma, Iraq and Syria, fighting to bring hope through the humanitarian work of the Free Burma Rangers. Here’s a preview of the film.
READ
Until She Is Free – You’ll read about what a rescue operation looks like through the eyes of an undercover operative, a survivor, a social worker, and a donor who helps fund mission work.
The Truth about Sex Trafficking – a free ebook by The Exodus Road.
SOLD, by Patricia MCormick.
COMMIT to learning about this issue and opening your heart to it. Check out this infographic created by The Exodus Road about human trafficking | PDF version
CREATE AWARENESS by sharing this conversation, the videos and social media handles, and the ways The Exodus Road is fighting against human trafficking and is for justice through prevention, intervention, and aftercare.
About The Exodus Road
The Exodus Road (TER) is an organization specializing in human trafficking rescue.
TER is a nonprofit which helps find and free slaves through strategic action and ordinary people.
TER empowers rescue for current victims of human trafficking, equips nationals to fight slavery in their own communities, and encourages effective collaboration among practitioners. LEARN MORE
“Setting people free is more than a job; it’s a mission. Right now, somewhere in this world, a person is being sold in slavery for another person’s gain. Our mission is to bring them home. Join us to empower more stories of rescue; one story at a time, one life at a time.” -TER
Many people don’t realize that there are more modern-day slaves today than at any other point in human history – some estimates are at 40 million people affected. These are some of the most forgotten and oftentimes abused people in our world today. To date, The Exodus Road has gathered evidence, provided investigative data and technology to directly support local police in the arrests of 800 traffickers and helped rescue nearly 1500 survivors.
ABOUT the Seeds Storyteller Series: Difference-Making During the Corona Crisis | Stories of community, compassion, and creativity in the midst of everyday life, today. We share these stories about everyday difference-makers with you in the midst of the Corona pandemic so you can be informed, inspired, and ignited to care for yourself and others in the midst of these disrupted and challenging days.
How I hope you can join us. I know this is not easy, but trust me – there will be stories of great HOPE and LOVE amidst the difficult ones. We don’t need to fear, because the light IS greater than the darkness.
My heart and prayers are with you, my friend. May you be DEEPLY and WHOLLY WELL in body, mind, and spirit.
You are loved.
You belong.
We belong to each other.
Let’s standTALL together and light up the world!
xo, -Sarah DT ❤️
