Small Change = Big Change

Photo credit: Salgu Wissmath

Sometimes it only takes some spare change to make a big difference. As an expat living and working in South Korea, sometimes I feel like I can't do much of anything. For instance, I can't even order a pizza without being shown the depth of my own failings through the confused look on the Korean person's face and my own brain trying to figure out what was just said to me. But though my shortcomings are many, I am blessed to be a part of a wonderful expat community in my small town, all of whom are incredibly generous people. Most of us have no family here, and so we often get together for dinners, holidays, and various other activities. One of my favorite activities to host is girls' night. This girls' night, however, I wanted to try something different. A prompting from the Holy Spirit reminded me that as we are all free to enjoy our girls' night together, there are just as many girls who are trapped in brothels every night working as slaves and being raped over and over. The season of lent was also upon us at the time, so I had decided to save all my spare change for those 40 days, at the end I would match whatever I had saved in change and give that money to the A21 campaign, an organization working to fight human trafficking all over the world (you can read more about them here: A21). So, God prompted me to invite ther other girls in my town to join me in a small way. I invited all the girls over for a night of nail painting, eating treats, watching girly movies, facials, etc. and invited them to simply bring any spare change they had with them to add to my pile. I explained that I would be donating double that amount to the A21 campaign. We had a wonderful time eating Nutella brownies, painting our nails, and watching Ever After. The girls all brought some spare change, actually A LOT of spare change, which we believe will make a small difference in the lives of those who are trapped in slavery. Through God's grace the change collected added up to approx. $130 which means that I will be donating $260 to the A21 campaign! All this happened because Jesus cares so deeply for those who are trappped in darkness.I am reminded of Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 8:3 "For I tesify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own." Keeping this blog and praying for an end to come to human trafficking is another small way I can fight the great darkness even in my small apartment in Korea. 
I want to thank all the girls who donated to this cause and bought freedom and healing for more girls trapped in slavery! 
Now what about you? I can pray. I can collect spare change. What can you do to help end human trafficking?