Hello Family and Friends!

4 months! F – O – U – R!  1 – 2 – 3 – 4 months!

Today marks 4 months before I leave to go on the World Race!

On June 4^th I will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for training then serve as a missionary and humanitarian worker for 11 months!

The last several months information about some of the countries where I will be working has entered my awareness. I’m amazed how more information comes when I open my eyes to notice!   

Would you please join me in prayer and learning more about these countries and challenging issues in the world?   

Human trafficking – Labor and Sex Trafficking

Pastor Jim, from New Life Church in Everett, recently returned from Indonesia! Some of my church’s budget funded a training and restoration week for people who work saving children from sex trafficking.

I certainly don’t know the answer to this disaster against humanity. And my heart breaks thinking about slavery and human trafficking. We can pray, learn about these challenging topics, give, and share about what we learn.

World Concern has the SOS initiative to Seek Out and Stop human trafficking.  My team may be serving with similar freedom setting organizations throughout the world.  

The United States OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS keeps a list of countries and their efforts to stop human trafficking.  https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2018/index.htm

A country labeled as Tier 2 “does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period.” These are the designations of the countries where my team will be traveling!

• Guatemala Tier 2 Watch List to move to Tier 3
• Nicaragua Tier 2 Watch List to move to Tier 3
• Costa Rica Tier 2
• Morocco Tier 2
• Ethiopia Tier 2
• Djibouti Tier 2
• India Tier 2
• Nepal Tier 2
• Myanmar / Burma Tier 3 – This article has more information about Myanmar’s recent move to Tier 3.  https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/28/asia/human-trafficking-tip-report-myanmar-rohingya-intl/index.html
• Thailand Tier 2
• Indonesia Tier 2

Djibouti – Khat

The country of Djibouti has a great addiction to a product called khat. Khat seems to be similar to marijuana. This is a national problem and far reaching issue. Djibouti men who use spend ~40% of their family's income to purchase this drug.

Our God is strong and can rescue people from any addiction! Praying for hearts to be turned towards God and for willingness to have the Holy Spirit transform minds, desires, and choices. I didn't know Djibouti existed before the World Race. But now my heart will be in prayer for this country and asking other people I share the WR with to also pray. ? Prayer is powerful!

• Video: https://www.france24.com/en/20180706-reporters-djibouti-khat-problem-drug-addiction-state-monopoly-health-poverty?fbclid=IwAR2_aCio4XxNhcI4zF-e6aBbsSXE5FI18UYsTgRbdcdOg-0nJjOtdJIs4kw  
• Blog: https://www.tesfanews.net/djibouti-a-nation-high-on-drugs/?fbclid=IwAR20CsOd_67F-1xVxUr-0yKDilkU8JGzyhmrkV7vJ577UQ9Ps-yhsb98Jfk  
• Blog: https://www.tesfanews.net/in-djibouti-life-moves-to-the-beat-of-khat/?fbclid=IwAR1g7Q7nQp95ONM5TVI5wjBoBTCN1v5lx6bRNF4wAgCOwERuyJPguWRxuYg  

Ethiopia

• Ethiopia has its first appointed female president, Sahle-Work Zewde. Many other women were also newly appointed to high government positions including leading the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Peace (formerly secret intelligence agency). Please pray over all of the transitions in government as they take steps to lead their country.  

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/world/africa/sahlework-zewde-ethiopia-president.html