This Summer's Travel- and Why.

(This blog has been in the works for over a month now- sorry it's taken me so long to create!) 


If you don't already know me, I'm Rachel. I'm an English teacher at Christian Community School in Ohio, and I love traveling. After thirty seconds, I can safely say that blogging is not my cup of tea. I am impressed with those of you that do this on a regular basis!

Several people have asked me for updates about what I’m doing in London this summer, so I just want to give a brief explanation/snapshot into what’s going on. A few months ago, the Lord laid it on my heart to get involved in prevention of human trafficking, which I’ve been learning about over the last couple years. Specifically, I felt led to the London Olympics this summer, and began to research different options. All of the groups that I emailed, both Christian and secular, pointed me towards a UK organization called Stop the Traffik. 

Stop the Traffik has partnered with many organizations, namely the United Nations, to create the UN.Gift Box project, to be launched at the start of the 2012 Olympics. This initiative created several seven-foot square walk-in 
boxes, decorated like a present on the outside and with several enticing tags (like “Earn money abroad to support your family”). On the inside are some case studies that display the stark, dismal reality behind these promises that traffickers use to manipulate victims. 

Gift Box outside St. Mary's Church, Islington

The first box that I was assigned to, stationed at St. Mary’s church in Islington, London, focused on forced labor. This expression of human trafficking lures able-bodied men, women, and children with the promise of (relatively) well-paying jobs in wealthier nations, but often results in anything from extremely low wages to nopayment combined with captivity and physical abuse (slavery, in other words). Victims often can’t speak the local language and have no real connection with the local community, making it extremely difficult for them to seek aid and for traffickers/employers to be caught.

Along with several other volunteers, I was stationed at this “gift box” to pass out information and to invite those passing by to glance inside the box and become more informed. Many also signed up for Stop the Traffik’s mailing list, and took information about what signs of trafficking include. Over the course of four days, there were several great conversations with people who not only felt very compassionate towards victims, but who suspected that they might know someone who is being trafficked. It’s amazing to think that I was part of an initiative that will hopefully lead to many of those victims being helped, simply because someone has seen their plight, is connecting the dots, and plans on taking action and reporting it. 

Other Gift Box volunteers

It was also great to get to know the other volunteers, who have come from many different countries to help fight human trafficking. From university students to missionaries to Hindu teenagers, this is an issue that clearly unites people into taking action. It was so encouraging to see all of the support and enthusiasm as we worked hard to spread the word about the reality of human trafficking. On Thursday, I’ll be assigned to a different box in a more tourist-y are of London, so it will be interesting to compare that location with St. Mary’s. 

Part of the "International Team"

As far as other details of my trip, I’ve been staying at a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) base in Harpenden, about 40 min. north of London. They’re providing accommodation ("Tent City") for about 400 people who have a heart to serve London during the Olympics. Most of them are serving as teams on missions trips, but there are a few of us who are just here as individuals. We’ve been formed into the “international team”, and include a Tongan, a Lithuanian, an Australian, three Americans, a New Zealander, a South African (all men), an Englishman, a Frenchman, and then an English girl and a girl from Hong Kong as well as myself. I’ve only been with them part of the time as I already signed up with Stop the Traffik, but as a group they’ve done prayer walks, street evangelism, and general ministry in different areas of London over the last few days. It’s been so great to get to know them, and they have been a huge encouragement for me personally. There are always periods of loneliness and “what-am-I-doing-here?!?” when I travel, and God always brings new friends at exactly the right time.  

Prayer would be greatly appreciated, as God brings it to your mind. It’s often a challenge when traveling, even/especially when doing some sort of missions, to clearly hear the Lord and prioritize time with Him, because there is so much group activity. Just today I’ve been reminded that it’s not about activity for Him, but intimacy with Him. And this lovely day of rest has helped with that. 

"Tent City"- 120 tents in the Harpenden Oval

As an aside, by living in a tent for the last week, I’ve realized just how dependent on “creature comforts” I am. Honestly, it has been really tough at times. I find myself vacillating between 1) making sure that God knows just how much I’m sacrificing for Him, and then 2) realizing that even with just a tent and suitcase, I’m still living at a much higher standard than a lot of the world’s population. It really puts in perspective just how much you and I actually have and enjoy. 

Classic fish 'n' chips!

Having said that, prayer for health would be great as well! Most food is pre-packaged or eaten out, so eating healthy has been a bit of a challenge. Sleeping has gotten easier, but can still be tough with 400 other people in a field. 

The main prayer focus, though, is that God and His people will be breaking down the spiritual strongholds behind human trafficking, specifically in London. Many see this as an economic or social issue, but we know that “our battle is not against flesh and blood”. If you pray about anything, please pray for the rescue and salvation of the victims, and also the traffickers themselves- ultimately, both groups are enslaved, as we all are without Christ. 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this! Tomorrow and Wednesday will be some sort of ministry days with my YWAM “international team”, and then I’ll be back with Stop the Traffik on Thursday-Saturday. I’ll try to post updates about what those look like. 


God bless you! 


~Rachel