Hey there and thanks for checking out our blog!  My friend/running buddy, and I are planning a 5k race to raise awareness about human trafficking, and funds to support those who are actively engaged in fighting this crime and those who provide help to victims.  For me, this started just a few months ago as I started hearing more stories from victims of trafficking from other countries.  They are heart-wrenching stories.  I wanted to turn away from the reality of this crime, but I couldn't as I thought about all that the victims had endured, and had survived, to tell their stories.  I am grateful when they tell their horrific stories now, because bringing the awful cruelty of human trafficking into the light is the way to defeat it.  This crime isn't just happening in some war-torn third world countries; it occurs right here in the US.  I think I was most angered by that.  That here in the free country that I love, people and children, are suffering under slavery.  It must be stopped.


  I attended a women's conference in January of 2012, led by Carolyn Custis James, author of Half the Church.  She told story after story of oppression against women in other countries, and of how young girls were kidnapped and sold into the sex trade.  At the end of the conference she asked, what we would do with the information we had heard...would hearing these stories change us in any way? Or would we go back to our routines, pretending that life wasn't any different for other women around the world.  Well, I was heart-broken. On the way home, I prayed that God would lead me to do something.  Something that could make a difference for other women and something that would shed light on this subject for other people.  Because with knowledge of this, comes a responsibility to do something.  I really kind of thought this "something" would involve art, because I'm an artist!  But I heard, "you love to run, do a 5k race to raise awareness" !!  So, here we go!  Our race is called "Run to Free 5k", and it's being held on Labor Day, 2012!!  I think it's fitting that as we all take a break from work, we run to free other people from slavery.


  We're in the early planning stages, picking a fun route to run, designing a logo and t-shirt, and looking for sponsors for our race! Stay tuned and watch God bring all things together for HIS good!!