Global Night Commute

This Saturday night I'm hoping to be involved in Atlanta's Global Night Commute. What is that you ask? Thousands of men, women and children across the United States are lying down and closing their eyes to join the invisible children in Norther Uganda. By doing so, they will demand that our government put an end to the longest running war in Africa and one of the worst crises in the world today.

All this I stole from the Invisible Children website linked to the title. So often we want to do more and make a difference. Well, on Saturday night, April 29 you can. Find out where the Global Night Commute is happening in your city and take part. We have an opportunity to make the children of Uganda's plight known and heard by our government.

Here's to a sleepless night.

Joy

Yesterday afternoon Gabriela, Jason, Lucy and I went to the Hamptons at Lennox to spend time with some kids. We go every week. Usually we just play games with them, give them a snack, pray with them and then send them home. Yesterday Jason brought pictures back to them of his trip to China.

Before Jason left we told the kids that he was going because there were people in China selling children and that he needed to find out more so that he could help. (If you want to read the specifics about his trip, try three posts back.) Anyway, we told the kids at the apartment complex the children and women in China were being sold. We thought that answer was valid. The kids seemed to be okay with that.

Yesterday Jason begins to show his pictures. He gets through about 30 of them and gets to one about a boy who is 16 whose mother was sold a few years earlier. That wasn't enough for the children in the room. The questions began. Why are they sold? Do the people kill them? Are they used for work?

How do you tell children who are between the ages of seven and thirteen that there are women and children in the world who are being sold for sex? You don't I suppose. There will come a time when they know more than they need to about sex and can help combat the problem. What's sufficient for now though? How do you express to children the reason why Jason had to go to China? How do you impress upon them the severity of the issue?

I see the children that we spend time with every week and I see their naivety when it comes to such things and I realize that children just like them - their age, their size - are being used for sex. It makes the problem of sexual trafficking that much more real to me. Then I wonder if there is a chance that any of these children, sitting in this room, could be trafficked. My heart breaks because I know it could happen. Traffickers don't just live overseas anymore. They live in my city and they probably live on this street.

I've been wondering how much good we're doing spending time with a dozen children each week. We don't teach them Bible lessons or sing Sunday School choruses. We just pray with them and ask them to keep coming. We may not be able to save them from something so evil. I do know that spending two hours with them each week keeps them away from predators for that short amount of time. Meanwhile they are learning that talking to God isn't hard and that they can trust us. Two things that don't seem to come so easily.

I'm now just wondering what more we can do.

Lord, please give us that kind of wisdom to see justice prevail here.

Girl's Weekend Away

this past weekend i got to spend time in Savannah with my best friend - Lorelie! we had such an incredible time - eating at the Pink House, staying in the Marshall House, walking around the town until it felt like our feet might fall off, learning about Pulaski and Oglethorpe and how they shaped the town. we ate milky way cake for breakfast!

the souvenirs from the weekend come in the form of art. we bought sketch books on saturday and decided to walk around the town and draw what we saw. here's some of the beautiful works of Joy and Lorelie that i'm sure you will appreciate. beside them are the pictures of the actual scenery.

to chatham artillary!

The Fountain in Johnson Square




The Huge Fountain that Caused Some Drawing Difficulties



And this one is Lorelie with her brand new sketch book. Thanks for a great weekend! You're the best.

Jason in China

Hi Everyone! My friend Jason is going to China next week. Please read what he's written regarding what the Lord has called him to.

Thanks,
Joy

China - Touch Their Poverty!

I have been asked to be a part of a human trafficking assessment team to
Mainland China. I will be going with a team of Salvation Army leaders to
various project sites within poor communities in China which are at risk
for human trafficking. My role on the team will be to see the situation
through the eyes of a westerner and give my feedback as to how this problem
may best be communicated to the west. My goal for the trip is to "touch
their poverty." Or rather I want to be touched by their poverty! I want to
feel the discomfort of their living to the point of it breaking my heart.

This is something that The Salvation Army has always been called to do.
Last August I was able to read, "Good Morning China!" a book by Lt. Colonel
Check-Hung Yee which tells the history of The Salvation Army in China. In
an epilogue his daughter says, "As you step back in time and experience
God’s transforming work in this generation of brave soldiers, may your
heart also leap and be fanned to flame with the bond of love for China’'s
1.3 billion souls.’ As I read this book that is exactly what happened. I
found myself with a burning desire to go to China and see the Army at work
there.

I plan on coming back to the States with a renewed vision and passion for
God's calling on my life for the world. I will be leaving next Wednesday
and coming back on April 8th. I would love to ask you all to support me and
the team. Please pray for us even now as we prepare to go. On my return it
is my plan to provide a report of the trip on this blog.

One friend wrote to say the Lord had layed the following verse on his heart
regarding this trip:

'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap
their hands. Instead of the thorn-bush will grow a pine tree, and instead
of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an
everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.'

Isaiah 55:12

I am raising support to cover the cost of this trip. If you feel that you
would like to help support this trip financially or would just like more
information please contact me at Jason_Pope@uss.salvationarmy.org.

Correction

Today I stand corrected. I should really consult the Word of God before I decide whether or not something is or is not Biblical. My good friend Anna pointed out to me that the saying "God is not a God of confusion" does indeed come from scripture and is not just some cute little saying that church people throw at us in the middle of a crises. I was wrong. I have been wrong in my life about a lot of things. I just wasn't ready for the simple that day - that's all.

I'm not quite sure I'm even where I was when I wrote last time. I think it was a pretty saying really - to ask God not to calm the storm but to show me his presence in all of it. I was too quick to criticize the disciples though. I always am.

Right about now I'm wishing the Lord would wake up and calm the storm.

In other news however, my beautiful cousin Leslie just had a gorgeous baby girl named Lindsey Nichole yesterday who weighed 4 pounds and 14 oz and was 19 inches long! God is the author of life.

Happy Birthday Lorelie and Beth!

It's Beth and Lorelie's Birthdays! I wish them both a really great day! Enjoy you two! I love you both!

Joy

God is a god of confusion?

I've been gone a long time! I didn't know it until I checked the date of my last post and realized that it was almost a month ago.

I don't have anything profound to give today. Marty and I are in the middle of the biggest decision we've ever faced as a married couple and while I know in the end this journey will be rewarding, in the middle it's just downright frustrating and tiring.

Someone, a lovely lady who attends Atlanta Temple, stopped me last Wednesday night after she found out about the decision we're facing and said, "Just remember, God is not a God of confusion. If there's confusion, God's not in it." I have used that line before with people. I believed it as well. Until last Wednesday night when a person offered that advice to me who doesn't really know me or Marty all that well. I walked away thinking - "I don't remember that part of the Bible." I don't remember Jesus saying of his father that he wasn't a God of confusion. What I'm pretty sure of is that the disciples spent a lot of their days in confusion - scratching their heads because they couldn't quite figure this Jesus guy out.

He definitely confused them - and the world around them.

I was left with the thought that the cliche I was handed wasn't really Biblically based at all but just something Christians made up to make themselves feel better instead of really pushing through to the end of the confusion to reveal a deeper relationship with their father. It sucks being in the middle of two choices. It sucks not really knowing what God wants from me specifically in all of this but I know he's teaching me that I need to listen more and pray more. Perhaps God is not a god of confusion but I'm beginning to believe he's in the middle of the confusion helping you know which way is up.

I'm reminded of the disciples in the boat during the storm. They thought they were going to drown. They woke Jesus up and he immediately calmed it but then he questioned their faith.

Is my faith big enough to ride out this storm? I don't want him to calm it if it doesn't bring growth.

Teach me Lord, in the middle of the confusion to hear you clearly and to trust you completely. I will not ask you to make the storm go away - just that you allow me to understand your presence in all of it.

5 Patients Healed

Marty and I sponsor the Bahay Paraiso Cancer Center through The Salvation Army. Basically this means that every month we donate $20 to this particular center in the Philippines and we help provide medical care, food, clothing and other supplies to the patients who are living at this center and have been diagnosed with cancer.

The cool thing is today, after sponsoring this home for a year, I received a report from the center. The first one! In January the center held a Salvation meeting that had an incredible impact on those in attendance. Patients who have no hope decided to put their hope and trust in the Lord. Others who believed strengthened their walk with Jesus.

The best part of all? Five of the patients from the Cancer Center were sent home because they were healed!!! God is doing incredible things in the Philippines!

Because I send $20/month to the Philippines I get to rejoice with my brothers and sisters in Christ when they are healed! I didn't do anything incredible. I didn't give up anything that I would have needed. Perhaps I miss out on a cup of Starbucks every now and again or a trip to McDonalds or the purchase of a new CD but I've never gone without. Please know I'm not trying to flaunt the fact that I sponsor a child. What I am trying to do is persuade others to join me. Currently there are over 400 names of children on The Salvation Army's list waiting for sponsors. Your money would provide schooling, food, shelter, clothes and medical coverage. There are a ton of other reasons to begin donating your resources to The Salvation Army's Child Sponsorship program - to help broken, needy families, to provide for children, to offer hope, to care for the fatherless, to defeat injustice. The rejoicing alongside them is just an added bonus. To see them gain a future is another added blessing. I hope you seriously consider sponsoring a child - no matter which sponsorship program you choose. Your gift is well worth the effort. Even if you never receive a report that five cancer patients were healed.

It's so worth giving up a White Chocolate Mocha.

To Healing and Sponsorship,
Joy

Quit It or Forget It

I'm just wondering if we focus too often on what we have to give up or quit instead of on what we can do and have the ability to do. Perhaps that's why Christians so often feel as if their walk with Christ is constantly struggling - because they just can't quit ....or they just can't get .... right.

I wonder how much more lovely our lives would be if we simply focused on our ability - what we have the right to do because God has graced us with the title of His child.

Just an early morning thought as I became frustrated over some reading material.

Blessings!

Sacrifice

Phil has written on a white board in his office the verse 2 Samuel 24:24: "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God a sacrifice that costs me nothing." When I first read it I began to ponder what a sacrifice that would cost me something might look like.

This week I've been reading Leviticus. The first eight to ten chapters are God specifying to Moses exactly how the Israelites should offer their sacrifices; where the animals would be slaughtered, who would do the killing, which animals were for which sacrifices. It all seemed incredibly gory to me. I can't imagine being a priest during this time and spending my entire day covered in blood and burning animals. However, there were some things that fascinated me and made me consider my sacrifice.

In Scripture it is read as if every Israelite would just simply offer a sacrifice. It is taken for granted that they would want to do this. I was under the impression that sacrifices were just for atonement but they were also for an offering unto the Lord and for fellowship - to bless him. Maybe I'm showing my ignorance but I never received any teaching otherwise. So, Israelites were not simply required to bring a sacrifice, it was taken for granted that they would want to bring a sacrifice - above and beyond their sacrifice for atonement.

How often do I bring a sacrifice simply because I want to?

Their offerings were costly - the first, the perfect, the unblemished male of a herd. These animals were a part of their livlihood in most cases - if not, I'm sure they cost a pretty penny. They were offering what could've been used to feed a family. That brings it home for me. That's where the sacrifice really makes its understanding. Now I get sacrifice. These people were taking food off of their table, food from their children's mouths to offer it to the Lord.

Have I ever gone without to give to the Lord?

Then I wondered how often I would've been required to offer a sacrifice for my sin. Once a year would I have had to go without food? Once a month? Once a week? Daily?

Needless to say, when considering sacrifice this week I have been overwhelmed with understanding for the need of Jesus in my life and grateful beyond words for the fact that he took upon himself my sin - yearly, monthly, daily, hourly.

I am still left wondering however, what my sacrifice should be. I read somewhere that now our sacrifices our solely spiritual. I don't know that I agree. Does the Father still not ask sometimes for a fellowship sacrifice that shows up in the physical world? I don't have an answer.

Here are a few quotes I read regarding Leviticus that I thought I'd include because I think they're important.

On Leviticus 10
"The glory of God appeared not while the sacrifices were in offering but when the priests prayed, which intimates that the prayers and praises of God's spiritual priests are more pleasing to God than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

"God's consummation of the sacrifice signifies God entering into covenant and communion with them."

Any thoughts?

Retreat

There aren't words to describe how elated a girl can get when she watches her husband do what the Lord gifted him to do. Friday night Marty played at the Georgia ski retreat and he was able to do all of his own songs except for one. The response of the crowd, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the support of friends were all incredibly tangible. I couldn't stop beaming. I may be a little biased but I know he's got talent and I know he's going places. I just wish we knew which places.

Jason did a great job planning the Young Adult retreat. We took a detour from the beaten path and instead of doing normal meetings we had small groups for the entire weekend. Some of the studies were better than others but Sunday mornings left me begging for more. There wasn't enough time to finish the study and I really wanted to get there. I think it was partly because we studied one of my favorite scripture passages; Philippians 2: 1-11. Perhaps it's my favorite because I just can't get it. Anyway, I walked away begging the question - how much does obedience play a part in humility? What would it truly look like to "consider others better than yourselves" with regard to obedience to Christ? I think it's a legitimate question. One I don't want to rush past.

Saturday afternoon we skied. I was pretty impressed with my ability since it had been two years. I fell mostly when standing still or waiting in line. I'm not sure that many others can boast of that trait.

It was great to hang out with everyone - Bethany, Matt, Danielle, Kris, Jeremy, Kelly, Lesley, Jason, Robin.



It was great to hang out with everyone - Bethany, Matt, Danielle, Kris, Jeremy, Kelly, Lesley, Jason, Robin.

Thanks for making this weekend exactly what I needed - exactly that, a retreat.

Chris' Going Away Party

My friend Chris is moving to Sri Lanka for 3 years. I'm so excited for him but will miss him too. He gets to do some amazing work for the Tsunami victims. While he's there he'll coordinate the construction of 600 homes as well as teach those affected by the storm a new trade. How cool is that?

Good luck Chris! We'll all be praying for you. Here's a pic from the party. I took many more but none of them really turned out as well as this one.

Joy

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed." Exodus 15:13

Change

From Donald Miller's "Through Painted Deserts"

I could not have known that everybody, every person, has to leave, has to change like seasons; they have to or they die. The season remind me that I must keep changing, and I want to change because it is God's way. All my life I have been changing. I changed from a baby to a child, from soft toys to play daggers. I changed into a teenager to drive a car, into a worker to spend some money. I will change into a husband to love a woman, into a father to love a child, change houses so we are near water, and again so we are near mountains, and again so we are near friends, keep changing with my wife, getting our love so it dies and gets born again and again, like a garden, fed by four seasons, a cycle of change. Everybody has to change, or they expire. Everybody has to leave, everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reasons.

I want to keep my soul fertile for the changes, so things keep getting born in me, so things keep dying when it is time for things to die. I want to keep walking away from the person I was a moment ago, because a Mind was made to figure things out, not to read the same page recurrently.

I wondered when I read that page in his book if I was fertile soil for change; if I just simply talk about change and want it but am too afraid to make it happen; or if I'd change but the chance just wasn't offering itself. I was afraid of the former and mad at the latter.

This year seems to be birthing in Marty and I's life new things. Before we were ever married we laid our lives on the line and asked the Lord to do things with us that we could never imagine. Then we kept praying and begging and pleading. It seems that now the Lord is beginning to allow those prayers to come into reality. Just now I'm thankful for the fact that He is showing us how valuable we are to Him.

ROOTS '06

It's almost eery how well ROOTS went this year - especially in the Illuminate (Teen) Venue. We had about 35 teens at every meeting and the leadership team was incredible. TransMission led Praise and Worship and throughout the weekend the teens had different opportunities to give over parts of their lives to the Lord. One teen accepted Christ and has now given himself the name the New Found Sheep. We were able to welcome him to the family on Sunday morning with cheers and celebration. The greatness of it all was overwhelming. Watching teens choose to forgive - completely and truly some of the people who have hurt them so deeply is almost beyond comprehension. Watching them decide to live "ordinary" lives for Christ through their relationships, through their roles at school and work and home was inspiring. Even I have a hard time making the ordinary part of my life count and yet they were willing to give Him that part too!

Conferences like ROOTS, TYI, Youth Councils sometimes pump teens up for a weekend or a week only to send them home and back to the life they lived before. That's just it though isn't it? Shouldn't they live the life they were living before only as individuals who have been transformed by the Holy Spirit? Russ spoke of how when Jesus sent his disciples out into the world he sent them out as sheep among wolves. That's what our teens are - sheep among wolves. All I pray is that somehow, someway, we equipped them to live holy lives among those wolves.

Ah to be 28

Yesterday morning I woke up and all of a sudden I was 28. I was remembering on my way home from church my 18th birthday and couldn't believe it has been 10 years! I've been out of High School for 10 years, I've been an adult (whatever that is) for 10 years. This is strange.

I didn't even remember. Marty tapped me on the shoulder and told me "Happy Birthday" yesterday morning and I said, "Oh yeah, today is my birthday."

Marty is such an excellent husband and my family is just as fantastic and all of that is backed up by pretty great friends. Last night I had a surprise party! I knew we were going to dinner at Macaroni Grill but thought it was just my family. I get there and 21 of my friends and family were there to let me know how much they love me. I couldn't believe it! On top of that I couldn't believe that Marty was able to keep it a secret. He usually gives things away.

Sometimes in your life you are overwhelmed and don't have any words to say. That doesn't happen to me all that often but last night was one of those times. It was as if everything important in my life was sitting right in front of me - my mom, my dad, my brother and sister-in-law, Marty and all my friends who live nearby. I just can't get over it.

I'm wondering what this year will bring for me. Some changes are definitely on the horizon and I can't wait. I'm clinging to the fact that I am known by my Father and that He will lead both Marty and I there - wherever that is. I'm looking forward to this stage of life. It only seems to get better and better.

All of you who came last night - your presence in my life is so meaningful. Thank you for showing me how much you care. To those of you who wanted to be there but couldn't because of distance, please know that you were thought of and loved.

I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD!!

Pictures to come.

Thank YOU!

I just wanted to say here thank you to all of you who prayed and are praying for my father. Thank you all for standing alongside me with your mouths wide open. Thank you for your wisdom and understanding.

He went back to the doctor today and had more tests done. He won't find out the results of those tests until tonight or tomorrow but I'm rejoicing early. The doctor told my dad that he would not have to go through radiation or chemotherapy! I don't know everything that means but I know it's good news and my insides are doing cartwheels!

I know that the Lord answered my prayer and the prayers of so many and I'm so thankful. I know that how he answers our prayers doesn't determine whether or not he's good. God just is good. Today and yesterday and the day before, when everything was so chaotic, the Lord showed me his goodness through friends and family who cared. He's a good God who blesses us with so much - most of all friends like you.

Thank you!

Cancer

Wednesday November 16.

That morning I was standing at Christine's desk recounting a dream I had the night before - my next door neighbors stalking me by driving around my house in their 1970-something Impala or other such car with their wedding clothes on and Paula looking a lot like Bette Midler as the police called me and asked their names - strange. I didn't get to finish telling Christine my dream because the phone rang.

"Joy Mikles"

"Hey sweetest girl in the whole wide world." (I know - it's really quite cheesy that my mom still calls me this even though I'm 27 but it's familiar)

"Hey my mama" (yes, that's always my response)

Then Dad says hi.

"Hi Daddy" A pause. "Oh no, you're both on the phone with me at the same time, what's wrong? What is it?" (This is the way they've always given us bad news - together - no matter what).

"Joy, I have cancer." My heart stopped beating for a second I think.

That's where it began. Dad proceeded to tell me that he had just found out that morning from the doctor. The doctor did say however that it was 90% curable because they caught it early.

Then mom asked through tears if I was okay. No, I'm not okay. My dad has cancer. I don't know what to do - so I sob. For the rest of the day as I tell people I just keep saying to everyone else that he'll be okay. This is more for me than for them. I can't stop saying it - like I'm trying to convince myself about the last part of the statement, the 90% part, more than the fact that he has to have surgery and they have to do it quick because...well, he has cancer.

On the outside over the next couple of weeks I'm fine. People ask. "I'm fine." What they didn't hear or see were my thoughts about what our family would become if he doesn't make it. It's so early I shouldn't even be there yet but I can't help it. Then, of course, I think about what my spiritual life would become if he wouldn't make it. Then I start bargaining and pleading and praying. For three weeks that's all I can do. Such basic prayers over and over again. I couldn't help it and yet I kept feeling the entire time like somehow my faith should be stronger - my trust in the Creator should be a little bit more solid. I couldn't get there though. My prayers simply just placed me clinging to Him - pleading for a cancer-free dad.

I was reading Psalm 81 that week and got to verse 10, "I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." What's that mean? Open wide your mouth and I will fill it? Not quite sure. Then I realized that the Lord was telling the Israelites that if they would trust him, He would meet their needs. He wasn't just saying open your mouth and I'll put food in it - that's essentially what He's promising but He says, "Open WIDE your mouth." "Don't just stand there timid and barely open it and hope that I throw you a crumb from the table. Stretch your jaws, as far as they'll go and I'll fill them." (my paraphrase) Later in the chapter, verse 16 to be exact, he says, "But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

He wanted me to trust him enough to throw my head back and open my mouth wide enough, trust Him so much, that I could ask him for exactly what I wanted - a dad without cancer. So I did. I pictured it over and over again. Me, head back, open mouth - hoping, waiting, wanting desperately - not just for wheat but the finest wheat and honey from a place where it couldn't come unless he provided it.

I was spiritually poor for three weeks. Still am I suppose. Dad went through surgery fine and came out looking beat up but okay. He said some pretty funny things while coming out of the anestisia - things that would embarrass him if I mentioned them here. However, I went home that night and sobbed like I had just found out the diagnosis. I guess I was just letting out the stress.

Anyway, he had his follow up appointment this past Wednesday. The doctor said it had spread just a little bit outside of the area but they took more than they needed so they probably got it all. I said, "probably?" Anyway, it comes down to the fact that we won't find out for sure until he has another test in January.

I don't really know where all of this puts me. I'm not quite sure my relationship with the Father has grown through this. All I know is that I'm still standing with my head thrown back, mouth open, trusting the Lord to meet my need - maybe.

Is my Dad's health a need? I'm not sure. I've asked myself that question over and over again. I feel like it is. It's the most desperate plea I've ever had in my life. Anyway, I just can't get past this part - the asking part. I'm not sure that's trust when you ask over and over again because maybe God didn't hear you the first time - or the fiftieth but I'm still asking.

Perhaps this is simply what holding your breath feels like.

With hope,
Joy

Making Moments

This week I've been focusing on Making Moments. The book I use for to guide my devotions asks this week that I prayer that the moments of my life may themselves become prayers. Whether they are in the joy of a birthday party, in the weariness that comes from labor, in the majesty of the setting sun or in the pain that comes with tears. Pray that each in its turn will cause you to lift your voice to him.

Each day we're also given a selection for meditation. Today's was a story. Most of the time they are just profound thoughts someone like A.W. Tozer once said. I love those but today I realized something. God put something in me when I was born that just relates to stories - whether true or fiction. So often I feel a little less intelligent than my friends who don't read fiction because they prefer the intellectual musings of some great mind. This morning I realized that so often I only get the point if it's made through story. So, this morning, I got the point of making moments through this story. If you don't like stories - stop reading. If you do, read on, it's about kites and meeting Jesus with today in your eyes.

Well, I'm disappointed. Who wouldn't be? With socks, a Sunday School shirt, some handkerchiefs, a hand-me-down sweater and a year's subscription to a religious magazine for children. The Little Shepherd. It makes me boil. It really does.

My friend has a better haul. A sack of Satsumas, that's her best present. She is proudest, however, of a white wool shawl knitted by her married sister. But she "says" her favorite gift is the kite I built her. And it "is" very beautiful; though not as beautiful as the one she made me, which is blue and scattered with gold and green Good Conduct stars; moreover, my name is painted on it, "Buddy."

"Buddy, the wind is blowing."

The wind is blowing, and nothing will do till we've run to a pasture below the house where Queenie has scooted to bury her bone (and where, a winter hence, Queenie will be buried, too). There, plunging through the healthy waist-high grass, we unreel our kites, feel them twitching at the string like sky fish as they swim into the wind. Satisfied, sun-warmed, we sparwl in the grass and peel Satsumas and watch our kites cavort. Soon I forget the socks and hand-me-down sweater. I'm as happy as if we'd already won the fifty-thousand-dollar Grand Prize in that coffee-naming contest.

"My, how foolish I am!" my friend cries, suddenly alert, like a woman remembering too late she has biscuits in the oven. "You know what I've always thought?" she asks in a tone of discovery, and not smiling at me but at a point beyond. "I've always thought a body would have to be sick and dying before they saw the Lord. And I imagined that when He came it would be like looking at the Baptist window: pretty as colored glass with the sun pouring through, such a shine you don't know it's getting dark. And it's been a comfort: to think of that shine taking away all the spooky feeling. But I'll wager it never happens. I'll wager at the very end a body realizes the Lord has already shown Himself. That things as they are" -her hand circles in a gesture that gathers clouds and kites and grass and Queenie pawing earth over her bone -"just what they've always been, was seeing Him. As for me, I could leave the world with today in my eyes."
~From A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

That story taught me about what it means to make moments matter. I want to make moments that matter so much that I could leave today with them in my eyes.

Here's to kites and friends,
Joy

The Battle Begins

Here's where it begins - information. I receive emails almost daily from Lisa Thompson who works for The Salvation Army's Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking. Daily I'm disgusted at humanity and the idea that we will tout human beings as something to be bought and sold and that we will continue to glance over the problem as if it doesn't affect us. The truth is sexual immorality walks into our homes and lives daily and we don't even recognize it. So, now it's our chance to fight back. It might only be a small way to take a stand but it's a stand nonetheless. I'm posting below an article sent to me by Lisa from The Observer about a tourist company marketing tours through the Red Light District for FAMILIES!! Children under three get to go for free. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm also posting the address underneath the article where you can write the company to tell them of your outrage. It's not enough to get angry sometimes our righteous indignation calls for action.

For justice,
Joy

***************************
Red light tour condemned as 'sick'

Gemma Bowes
Sunday November 13, 2005
The Observer

Thomas Cook, Britain's longest running tour operator, is launching family tours to see prostitutes touting for trade in Amsterdam's red light district. The night-time excursions, which include a briefing about the 'system' from a former prostitute, are open to children of any age, and the company boasts 'under threes go free'.

Last week parents and charities working to protect women in the sex industry reacted with shock and disbelief when alerted to the tours by Escape.

'It is sick to propose a "prostitution tour" not only for adults, but even more so for children,' said Esohe Aghatise, the European representative of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), which campaigns against sexual exploitation of women.

A press release issued by Thomas Cook to announce the new 'Walking Tour Dark Amsterdam' describes how the two-hour tour, leaving at 8pm, will take visitors 'deep into the famous red light district, accompanied by a reliable and trustworthy guide, offering a fascinating insight into the oldest profession in the world!'

The brochure details what is included in the experience: 'Begin with a drink at a prostitute information centre where a former prostitute will explain the system and answer any questions you may have. Then head for the Wallen (red light district) and see for yourself.'

Adult tickets for the tour cost £12, though parents may be relieved to know children's tickets only cost £6. When asked what age range the child ticket covered, a spokeswoman said the prices apply to those from four to 12, and under threes go free.

CATW argues that taking children to see prostitutes is 'highly irresponsible' and risks traumatising them. The organisation estimates that 50-85 per cent of women in prostitution experience violence and debilitating injuries, and that more than 80 of those working in the Netherlands are of foreign origin, with most of them likely to have arrived there as victims of sex trafficking.

Dr Janice Raymond, co-director of CATW, said: 'Thomas Cook Tours treats prostitution as harmless fun. Women are sold as commodities in the Dutch sex industry, and Thomas Cook charges tourists to view the marketable products and chuckle at the human merchandise.'

Thomas Cook said it has introduced the tour in its 2006 Thomas Cook Signature Cities and Short Breaks brochure in response to feedback from clients.

'We have added this excursion to our programme so that our clients who do not feel comfortable or safe walking through the red-light district on their own can do so with an experienced guide, not only to escort them but to share his/her knowledge of this city's colourful past and present,' said a spokeswoman.

Thomas Cook needs to hear from you. Click the topic drop down box and select feedback. http://thomascooknew.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/thomascooknew.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=99