2011 Highlights: Beauty From Pain
On the evening of January 29, Hempfield UMC held an event entitled “Beauty From Pain.”
The goal was to bring about awareness of the problem of human trafficking to the congregation and community. Approximately 175 people attended the event which included a slide presentation, victim stories, a dance presentation, and three speakers.
The speakers were from International Justice Mission, Shared Hope International, and North Star Initiative. NSI is a local nonprofit group aiming to provide a restoration home for victims of sex trafficking, and donations were raised to help in this effort.
You can see a photo slideshow of the event HERE.
Did you attend this event last January? What impact did it have on you?
Go Serve Day – Faith Friendship Ministries
By Diane Adams
Seven of us went to Faith Friendship Ministries in Mountville, a residence for adults with mental illness, on GoServe Day April 30.
Kathy Spleen and I washed windows, while Chris, Georgie, Mary, Amanda and Kate mulched and planted flowers.
Besides working, we were encouraged to interact with the “family” members. We met numerous people who welcomed us, shared stories and family photos, and expressed their appreciation for our help. After finishing our tasks, we helped the jovial kitchen staff serve lunch to all 74 residents.
Being accustomed to volunteering in a noisy elementary school cafeteria, I was amazed at how quiet, polite and appreciative each person was, and at the harmony of all 74 family members sharing a meal together. FFM is obviously a special place, and all seven of us felt blessed to be guests in their home.
Washington D.C. Trip
Why did we travel over 300 miles on Sunday, April 10th?
By Diane Adams
Ginger Kelshaw and I traveled to Washington, DC, that day to attend International Justice Mission’s Advocacy Training Day. Along with 200 other concerned U.S. citizens from as far away as California, we learned how to effectively speak up for the victims of human trafficking by advocating for preventative measures, protection for victims and tougher laws against perpetrators.
The day’s main focus was to learn about and advocate for the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protections Act, which has been reauthorized by Congress every 2 to 3 years since its inception in 2000. This Act created the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking through prevention, protection and prosecution. It accounts for 0.00005% of the total federal budget, yet is one of the most effective foreign relations agencies in the U.S. government.
We returned home with stacks of postcards asking Congress to reauthorize TVPA. The signed cards will be delivered to legislators in June. Want to do a small thing to make a big difference? Contact Ginger or me and tell me you’d like to sign a postcard and show your support to end human trafficking.
“Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
E-mail Diane Adams at dadams9210(at)yahoo.com.
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