Chrissy is a dear friend from college who I have known now for over a decade! We have countless stories of memories together but the reason I wanted to have a conversation with her on The Legacy Podcast is to talk about the amazing things they are doing with the ministry Beauty For Ashes.
When they graduated from Christopher Newport University, they always had a desire to live abroad. A teaching opportunity came up for Brandon to work at an English speaking school and they took the leap! They had their babies there and she was able to stay at home with them while he was working at the school. They had such a huge heart for that place and the school! Beauty for Ashes was born from them being in Morocco.
Chrissy had the opportunity to work with refugees and young kids at the school. But her heart was to really work with victims of human trafficking. This really wasn’t talked about much in Morocco and she talks about how it was happening all around them, but there wasn’t a legal system in place for it. Her friend who also lived in Morocco had a heart for this problem to bring awareness and help to those who were suffering!
In 2018, they were able to open a transition house for those who were vulnerable to being trafficked and exploited. They teamed up and felt like they were supposed to do something! It’s amazing. She didn’t go to Morocco for this mission but the Lord used her to see the need and have passion for it.
What is Human Trafficking?
So I asked her how she would define human trafficking, because it’s not something that comes up in every day conversation.
Chrissy says, “It’s modern day slavery. It’s people who are being forced into involuntary servitude, but it can look different in so many ways. The leading form of trafficking is sex trafficking. Roughly eighty percent of all human trafficking around the world is sex trafficking that is happening to women and children. The next leading kind of human trafficking is forced labor, they are being forced to work and not getting compensated. They will threaten their family so there is a fear-factor or inability to leave.”
Between 20-45 million people around the world are being trafficked, it’s a 150 billion dollar industry around the world. It’s just terrible and horrific. The magnitude of this is just so hard to comprehend.
As a mom with 2 small children and 1 on the way, I can’t be on the front-lines fighting this, but we all can bring awareness and support to this global problem.
So what is Beauty for Ashes and how does it provide for these women?
In a nutshell, they are seeking to end vulnerabilities for those who are at risk and restore them to dignity and beauty that is intended for all humans. Chrissy shares a powerful story about a girl who was the first in the transition house for Beauty for Ashes who received education, food, community, counseling, and restoring them to the identity of who they are meant to be. By stepping in for one family member, it can change generations of prostitution and slavery that they are entangled in. This can change the entire legacy for their family!
How can people help?
It can start right where you are. There are so many resources that we each have- time, experiences, money, love, support! We each have to take inventory of what resources we have available to give. Beauty for Ashes has an internship opportunity, but also web based opportunities in the US to increase awareness! If you have a financial resource, there are a lot of people who can benefit from that stand to make a difference. It will engage your customers, community and increase awareness of those around you!
We are designed and created to use who we are to build business to change other peoples lives! If you have a business and have a heaviness about what is happening around the world, take the first step to get involved!
Resources:
Born Into Brothels Documentary
Nefarious Merchant of Souls Documentary
UN Trafficking and Persons Report
Thank you for listening to this conversation and increasing your awareness of this problem! We’re thankful that we get to support ministries like Beauty for Ashes so they can continue to do what they’re called to do.
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
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