On April 10th, our Live2Free team got the amazing opportunity to drive all the way up to Victorville to talk with young girls on probation.  We had no idea what to expect when arriving but we were so excited to be given the privilege to talk with these young girls.  All the girls were between the ages of 16 and 17 and all were on probation.  The team came prepared to talk about whats going on behind bars with modern day slavery.  We gave them opportunities to share with us personal stories and got to learn from them as well.  It was such an amazing experience to be able to bring awareness on human trafficking and how they can be more aware of this issue. We loved being able to connect with these girls and just hear their hearts. It was a successful trip and even one girl wants to start a Live2Free club at her high school campus!!!!

On April 10th, our Live2Free team got the amazing opportunity to drive all the way up to Victorville to talk with young girls on probation.  We had no idea what to expect when arriving but we were so excited to be given the privilege to talk with these young girls.  All the girls were between the ages of 16 and 17 and all were on probation.  The team came prepared to talk about whats going on behind bars with modern day slavery.  We gave them opportunities to share with us personal stories and got to learn from them as well.  It was such an amazing experience to be able to bring awareness on human trafficking and how they can be more aware of this issue. We loved being able to connect with these girls and just hear their hearts. It was a successful trip and even one girl wants to start a Live2Free club at her high school campus!!!!

On March 12th, 2013, I got to speak for the OC Christian Outreach Week.  It was an awesome experience to be able to connect with unbelievers and believers to share my testimony.  About 30 people came to hear me present on human trafficking and what is going on in the world with modern day slavery and specifically in California.

It was such an amazing experience to be given the opportunity to share my story and testimony with others, hoping it would show them there is light at the end of the tunnel.  That God will get you through whatever you are going through and there is hope.  I wanted to share with people Live2Free and how each individual can make an impact and do something about this big issue.

After speaking many people came up to me wanting Live2Free to come speak at their school or wanting to get involved in some way.  I am so excited for the amazing opportunities that keep on knocking at our door and cant wait for more speaking opportunities!!!

This past weekend, we got the privilege to go to the Ensure Justice Conference, about Cyber Exploitation.  This was such an amazing conference, with lots of valuable information, that we students got to take out into the real world.  We got to hear from many speakers including Lisa Thompson, Sandie Morgan, Ernie Allen, and Dr. Laura Lederer on the issues of cyber exploitation, amongst other speakers including probation officers.

It was so amazing to see the networking opportunities we received there and how we can all work together to stop human trafficking.  We got a lot of people wanting more information about Live2Free and wanting us to come to their schools, work, or church to come present to others by helping bring awareness to this issue.

Cyber Exploitation is a huge issue among teenagers today and it really helped us members as a club, want to take this information out into the real world and do something about it.  We are so excited to work as a team on this issue and help equip students to learn more about this issue and than want to do something about it.  I cannot wait to see where we will end up next. We are so excited to pump up teenagers and get them as passionate as we are about this issue!!

Live2Free had our first event for 2013.  It was a success!!! We had about 50-60 students come out and enjoy some fair trade coffee, chocolate, donuts, pizza, and tea from a students business he is starting.  Everyone had a part to play in making this event happen.  God was definitely in our favor by providing good weather and everything starting on time and working.  We got to bring awareness that human trafficking exists today, through a film called The Whistleblower. We as a club got to promote what Live2Free is doing and how they as students can make a difference in abolishing slavery.  So grateful for everyones help and the amount of people who came to support, thanks!!!

It was an honor to be given the invitation to go to dinner at the Zonta Clubhouse, last night. Last night, February 28th, we got the honor to be presented with an award to help build Live2Free and keep it moving. There were other organizations there including H.O.P.E, The Wooden Floor, and other organizations accepting awards for their non-profit organization from Zonta.

It was amazing to know that there are people who want to support Live2Free and helping us accomplish getting this club going on Vanguards campus. I can’t wait to see where God moves in this club and His plans for it.  I am so excited to finish our long film, for upcoming school presentations, outreach opportunities, and our upcoming event film night on campus to bring awareness on campus this Tuesday March 5th.  I am so excited to keep bringing awareness on campus and other schools and universities. We are so grateful that we have people who support us!! Thank you so much Zonta and to everyone who is helping support Live2Free get off the ground and helping us  bring more awareness to equip students to end modern day slavery!!!!!!

On February 23rd, 2013 I got the privilege to go to Santa Ana Century High School to inform students of the issues going on involving modern day slavery. We got asked to come give a presentation to 9th and 10th graders who were in a Human Trafficking class on Saturdays.

We got to talk about statistics and what those numbers meant to them,we talked about real stories that have happened to victims here in the U.S. and than how victims get trapped in this industry.  It was an amazing experience to be able to inform boys and girls of stories that are happening right here in California, their backyard, when they had only thought it was going on globally.

It was an awesome experience, because it was more of an intimate setting with about 15 to 20 teenage boys and girls compared to the normal setting where we get to do a presentation in front of a big group of high schoolers or middle schoolers.  I really enjoyed speaking in the classroom because I felt like I could still relate to where they are in life by relating my high school stories to theirs. I was able to share with them the trials and mistakes I had made in high school that have now made me into the woman I am currently today.  That my life wasn’t easy and still isn’t easy but your mistakes and trials that you go through can turn into something beautiful, if you let it.

I feel extremely blessed to be able to have shared with them more information on modern day slavery and how they as students can make a difference.  I only hope that they will now keep their eye out for signs of human trafficking and be more passionate about this issue.  I hope they know they can make a difference by just being more aware of the issues and  informing others of the news they have heard.

On Saturday, Feb. 16th a couple of live2free members accompanied Sandy Morgan to a Justice Matters Conference which was located at Calvary Chapel, Murrieta! The purpose of this conference was to inform the community of what Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery looks like in todays day and age. Speakers such as Sherri Harris of The Salvation Army, Jennifer O’Farrell of Operation Safe House, Harmony Dust, founder of Treasures and many others were there to help the community better understand the crisis at hand. And of course, shout out to Sandy Morgan for hosting the event!

The Justice Matters Conference Saturday had about 300 people who attended at Calvary Chapel La Murrieta. The morning started off with all the exhibitors setting up their organization’s tables in the gym and people were able to walk around before worship.Amongst these tables was Live2Free The only booth who was a school club and not an actual organization. We received a lot of positive feedback from all of the attendees and they encouraged us to keep doing what were doing. I noticed that many young people are unaware of the injustice that is being inflicted on these helpless trafficked victims and I hope we can be the ones who change that. Many were interested in our work and I wont forget what one woman told us: “Don’t be discouraged, the big things in life always have to start somewhere!”. I know our club is small and barley lifting off the ground but she reminded me that even though Live2Free is not that well known right now, I have faith that it will be and the passion in our hearts for our brothers and sisters in christ wont stop us just because we’re a small team.

It was such an amazing experience and we learned alot about human trafficking and what we can do as the Church and body of Christ. We were able to talk to amazing people and organizations and really soak in their knowledge and expertise about the issue. It was great getting to listen to people’s testimonies and how God is using them to equip others and put a stop to human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Today is National Freedom Day. When Abraham Lincoln was president he signed what is now the 13th Amendment, to help outlaw slavery.

The problem is that slavery still exists today. It is estimated that there are 27 million people men, women, and children still enslaved by human trafficking.

We have the power to not be blinded by this issue.  We have power to be the change and do something by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.  Make a difference today and stand up for abolishing slavery in the 21st century.

On Wednesday night Jan. 30th, I had the privilege to go speak at a girls high school small group from Saddleback Church.  I got to share with these girls what human trafficking is and what we can do to help prevent it.  It was amazing to feel empowered by these girls and want to help them get a club started on their campus with a passion stirring in their heart.  That passion is contagious and keeps me motivated to keep on pursuing God’s plan and ministry for my life.  I am so excited to see what God does with all of these women and how he uses all of their passions and talents to help combat against human trafficking.

God is so good.  We had our first club meeting of the semester and it couldn’t have gone better.  People showed up and got to share their input on what brought them to the club and what they would like to get out of the club.

I am really excited to be able to see the club grow and equip students to be able to make choices that can change the lives of others.  To empower them to know they can make a difference and be the change to ending modern day slavery.

Just a few updates for this week:

Wednesday: I am  meeting up with a girls high school Bible study to help equip them with knowledge of human trafficking so hopefully they will be able to start their own club on their high school campus.

Friday: We will have a table on Vanguard’s campus outside the Caf promoting Live2Free for Freedom Day.  We will tag everyone making a statement to show the modern slave trade going on right here in OC.

Saturday: We will have a table at the Biola vs. Vanguard basketball game on campus.  We will be providing information about Live2Free and human trafficking.  Along with selling shirts, bags, and raffle tickets.

Today I realized that this isn’t about me but what God has in store for me. He has plans already laid out for me, and now I just have to take those plans into action. I am so excited to see God’s plan prevail.