Slavery

Yesterday, our church service was a little different. We sang, we listened, we cried, we prayed. But our focus was on modern day slavery. If you know us, you probably know something about it. Sweatshops, sex trade, child trafficking, forced marriages, and on and on. If you don't know what Im talking about, then you NEED to go here. The Not For Sale campaign is just one of many organizations that is trying to raise awareness of trafficking and slavery in the world today. It has all the statistics. I won't bore you here.

Because what I want to tell you is about Korea.

Korea is a hidden country. Many abuses and human rights violations happen here, but no one will tell.

In Korea, infidelity is the norm. No one talks about it, but it's there. Around our house there are probably 10 "love motels". Places where people go to have sex... with someone other than they're spouse. (Bf/gfs will go there too because sex before of marriage is still considered "bad").

Domestic violence is common. Many of my kids could probably tell you about how their parents abuse them. Physically, sexually, and emotionally. Just talk to many of the teachers here. They have kids who don't speak. EVER. There is something wrong with that. But no one tells.

It is still common for poorer Korean men to "import" their wives. Read my friend Sam's blog post about some kids she met at one school. Many times these women don't know the language, have no support network. The woman in Sam's post can't even communicate with her husband!

In South Korea, the legal age for consenting sex is 13 years old.

Not For Sale has 2 documented cases of trafficking within Korea. One near Daegu and the other near the NK/SK border.

http://slaverymap.org/

AND ALL OF THIS IS JUST SOUTH KOREA!!!! Think about all of the horrible things happening in the North! (North Korean defectors who make it to China are regularly abused in all forms).

Ok, so why do I tell you this?

PRAY FOR KOREA.

It is so easy to think that because it is a "developed" country that horrible things do not happen here. They do, just like the happen in the US, Canada, UK, and every where else that we think is "modern".

And I want to encourage you. God is moving in people's hearts about the situation in Korea (and all over his world! duh). In the past week I have had 2 conversations with my co-workers about the prevalence of child abuses in Korea and how things need to change. God sees.

Now, I know there will be at least one of my friends who reads this and says "yes, but you can't just apply the  US model to Korea and expect it to work."  You are a very perceptive person.
It's true.
Please don't think that I am advocating for the USs system of abuse reporting, trafficking restrictions, etc to come to Korea. Because i'm not. And even if i was, it won't work (It would be like one of those failed attempts "don't do this" that I read in my text books.)

So how do you pray? Here are some ideas:
-That God would open the eyes of Korean believers to the abuses other Koreans are experiencing
-That foreigners would have wisdom in sharing their knowledge with Koreans
-That foreigners and Koreans can partner together with cultural understanding
-That God would show himself to those who are suffering in various situations
-That abusers/enablers can become educated to the cycle of abuse


Here are some other ways that you can become educated and involved in abolishing the slave trade around the world.

Women at Risk International

Remember Nhu

International Justice Mission

Grace Haven (Safe house in the US (Ohio) for trafficked girls)

Walk a Mile In Her Shoes

If you know more, Post them below!!!