In thesis research. I'm working on the literature review section of the document, which means I have to do extensive research on what is out there statistically, scholastically, and professionally pertaining to my topic. Some of you have asked me how you can get more involved in the issue of human trafficking and I have told you to educate yourself. Here is one such opportunity...
In case you missed it, Hillary presented the Trafficking In Persons Report of 2009 on June 16. It is an extensive, but easy to read/digest document on what is happening in every country around the world as it pertains to human trafficking (punishment, protection, and prevention). You can pick a country you want to know about and see what's going on there. Especially interesting is the amount of cases investigated vs. the amount of convictions actually made. Click here for the link.
The U.S. has a separate document. Although human trafficking stays out of the media unless an actual arrest is made, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) actually investigated 432 cases of human trafficking. Through the initiative Operation Predator, 11,654 arrests which led to 9,693 predators removed from the U.S. Click here for the link and read more about what is being done.
It's hard to know the correct response to this...in the scheme of things this is a small number and the reality is many of those people find a new venue to take advantage of the vulnerable. The supply and demand of the industry still remains and the truth is most of it is still hidden. I'm thankful to live in a country where attention is given to this problem, but there is so much more that needs to be done.
As my research continues I will post more on the topics of prostitution and human trafficking. My hope is that you educate yourself and something will stir you to action.
Love,
Cal
8.21.2009
A Week or So...
Back in Denver and pretty much back in the swing of life here...nannying, school work, getting ready for my internship, Top Gun at Red Rocks with friends and camping in the mountains this weekend. I guess if one must leave Europe, Denver is the place to be.
It's been hard to let go of Amsterdam, though. I miss my friends there, my research team, and riding my Amster bike around town. I've been trying to ride my road bike here as much as possible, but it's just not the same.
Last weekend I was having such a hard time letting go of Amsterdam that I began to get really frustrated...on the verge of just shutting down and digging a hole for myself. While my pastor spoke (he is a major voice for justice issues in Denver), God reminded me that I have so much to share with his people. I went to him after the sermon, told him what I had been doing in Europe, and offered my experience to him in anyway that would benefit the church.
Since then, I have been in touch with several people who are networking to get a program together for people in the church and the Denver community regarding trafficking and prostitution issues. I am so excited for the possibilities of what ways God can use the research and what I am learning as a result of my trip, in order to grow his people. I would love to do more speaking...if you have any ideas or people to network me with please let me know.
I have also posted my photos on my Facebook page. If you do not have FB you can click here and here to access the albums.
Thanks for your continued prayers and support. I am so grateful for all of you as the re-entry process continues.
Love,
Cal
8.11.2009
Time is Up, Seriously?
Since the interviews were over Friday night, we spent our last few days really enjoying Amsterdam and all of our friends here. My cousin Drew came through on his European travels and we were able to show him and his buddy all of our favorite Amster sights. As well as travel to Zaanse Schanse, which is best described as the Netherland's version of Silver Dollar City. Sort of like 18th century Dutch culture meets Branson.
We had a great time taking our photos with windmills, cheese tasting, and trying on wooden clogs. Whoever thought those were a better idea than bare feet really tricked people. They only thing they are possibly good for is standing in the middle of a bog. Maybe...my favorite pair was the snowshoe clogs. Perfect for Denver come January.
Saying goodbye today has been tough. The Cleft staff have made us part of their community and we are going to miss them terribly. It's still surreal that it's all coming to an end. In 6 weeks Amsterdam has come to be home. We have invested and been invested in. I have never learned so much in such a short time.
Thank you for your prayers...I leave tomorrow at 3 p.m. Amsterdam time and arrive in Denver at 9 p.m. I will be posting more in the days to come...follow-up thoughts and more about the interviews.
Love,
Cal
Drew and I in the clog by Dam Square
They paid a guy to put pigeons on me. It was terrible.
Hi-5 for big clogs.
Stilting...
We had a picnic today with some of The Cleft staff (Edna, Melissa, and Tania)
8.08.2009
Interview Day
After a train to a another train to a bus and a short walk, Enda and I arrived in Rotterdam, NL for my first interview of the day. I fell in love with her two year old little girl who taught me some Dutch and played with me in the sandbox (I guess I am missing my nanny life...). We hung out for a bit enjoying the day, then sat down for the interview.
During the interview, as she told me her story, I was impressed by her level of self-awareness. She has been out of prostitution and a Christian for 6 years, but knows it is still an on-going process. Despite her dignity and brutal honesty with me, she couldn't hide the tears when it came to talking about her family.
That is the thing...my first question for the women is always "tell me about yourself..." they always talk about their family. When I ask them to describe a painful memory, once again it's about family. The tears I have seen in the interviews have been over deep wounds from their birth families. The prostitution, addiction, violence, etc. all take a back seat to what happened to them as children. I have been amazed by the power parents have.
Second to that, which became more evident in the interviews I did at SHOP, is the power of addiction. One of the girls said her family only knows her as a junky...she is 23, smart, beautiful, and spends her days eating and sleeping (her schedule is like an infant) to fight off her drug addiction. One of my favorite shows, So You Think You Can Dance, had a routine this season about addiction. I watched it again this morning with this girl in mind and found it even more powerful.
I was also surprised yesterday by the fact that I was able to talk about God with all 5 women I interviewed. Each of them brought it up of their own accord and I was able to pray with 4 out of 5. It was so great. We talked about freedom from addictions, healing from the past, and the hope of eternity. It is surreal thinking about how all of it happened. Just like the rest of this trip, the day unfolded and I was able to join in what God already had set in motion. He is so faithful...the interviews are done and now we get to enjoy our last few days in Amsterdam.
Here are some photos (of the women I didn't interview) from our "creative night" of collaging, dancing, and hanging out with the SHOP women. It was such a great night. Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. We could totally feel them yesterday.
Love,
Cal
During the interview, as she told me her story, I was impressed by her level of self-awareness. She has been out of prostitution and a Christian for 6 years, but knows it is still an on-going process. Despite her dignity and brutal honesty with me, she couldn't hide the tears when it came to talking about her family.
That is the thing...my first question for the women is always "tell me about yourself..." they always talk about their family. When I ask them to describe a painful memory, once again it's about family. The tears I have seen in the interviews have been over deep wounds from their birth families. The prostitution, addiction, violence, etc. all take a back seat to what happened to them as children. I have been amazed by the power parents have.
Second to that, which became more evident in the interviews I did at SHOP, is the power of addiction. One of the girls said her family only knows her as a junky...she is 23, smart, beautiful, and spends her days eating and sleeping (her schedule is like an infant) to fight off her drug addiction. One of my favorite shows, So You Think You Can Dance, had a routine this season about addiction. I watched it again this morning with this girl in mind and found it even more powerful.
I was also surprised yesterday by the fact that I was able to talk about God with all 5 women I interviewed. Each of them brought it up of their own accord and I was able to pray with 4 out of 5. It was so great. We talked about freedom from addictions, healing from the past, and the hope of eternity. It is surreal thinking about how all of it happened. Just like the rest of this trip, the day unfolded and I was able to join in what God already had set in motion. He is so faithful...the interviews are done and now we get to enjoy our last few days in Amsterdam.
Here are some photos (of the women I didn't interview) from our "creative night" of collaging, dancing, and hanging out with the SHOP women. It was such a great night. Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement. We could totally feel them yesterday.
Love,
Cal
8.06.2009
Right On Time...
Tomorrow is a big day. I have at least two interviews lined up with the possibility for MANY more...yes, many. It's going to be intense. My dear friend Edna from The Cleft has lined up two interviews with women she knows who are few years removed from prostitution. We're taking the train to Rotterdam to sit down with them so I can hear their stories.
After that we head to The Hague (Den Haag). On Tuesday we were able to connect with an organization in there called SHOP click here to go to their web-site (there is an English option). They are a government funded agency who take in all types of women in and coming out of prostitution. Currently there are 18 women living in their facility, 8 of which were trafficked to The Netherlands. The staff was so open and kind (something we have rarely found with socialized organizations), giving us full access to talking to the women. We stayed for a few hours, ate lunch, and decided we wanted to come back to do the interviews.
I didn't feel right about just asking the women to sit down and spill. So I proposed to the staff that we do a creative night after dinner on Friday (collaging, of course...) with food and music and during that time do interviews so it is more relaxed. We already connected with a few of the women and their staff offered to translate for me. I'm beyond shocked and amazed by how all of this has worked out.
I've been so nervous about all the work getting done and the purpose of the trip being fulfilled, but I've had to lay all of that down in the weeks I've been here just to realize that the purposes are so much bigger than my own. If I would have known that all of the interviews would get done in one Friday I would have never pursued the Hungary trip, which ended up being one of the most powerful, life-changing, memorable things I have ever done.
I've never been more sure of God's provision and faithfulness as I've been on this trip. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement. They have seen me (us) through. I can't believe we come home next Wed...and Molly left yesterday. Here are some photos from her last morning in Amster...we miss you, Mols!
Love,
Cal
8.03.2009
Hungary...
This past weekend was my ten year high school reunion. If you would have told me ten years ago, on my graduation day, that instead of attending the reunion I would be interviewing victims of human trafficking in Hungary, I don't think I would have believed you. I'm overwhelmed by all that happened in our short time in Eastern Europe.
Most of the time we spent in a beautiful, small town a few hours away from Budapest. There is a safe house there for women coming out of prostitution of which they were all trafficked into. We spent a lot of time with them and I was actually able to interview three of the girls through Dora, a Hungarian-Canadian, and one of the most incredible women I have ever met.
Although it was an intense time, we had fun with the women (well they are 19-22) learning bits of Hungarian, going out for pizza and ice-cream and just being a part of their lives. Sunday we took the train back to Budapest and were able to see the city. It is HUGE...Dora took us all over town, so we saw the real city as well as all the tourist parts. I'm determined to brush up on my European history so I know what all of the really old buildings there were actually used for.
Overall, our time in Hungary was totally unforgettable...thanks for your prayers. The next week and a half are going to be really busy. We have another meeting tomorrow with an organization in the Hague that will HOPEFULLY bring more interviews. More soon...
Love,
Cal
The Chain Bridge over the Danube in Budapest
The girls by the Danube
Parliament building
The busy streets of Budapest...loved the R.V. the beautiful central train station is in the background.
The town a few hours outside of Budapest where the women were living had a memorial to the Berlin wall coming down...pretty powerful and hard to believe it was only 20 years ago.
With our dear new friend and translator, Dora.
The girls in front of the apartment we stayed in.
Back from Hungary
We just arrived "home" to Amsterdam. Our trip was indescribable at this point. So much to say and still so much left to download in my head. More on our trip later...but all is well. Thank you for your prayers.
Cal
Cal
7.31.2009
Goodmorning!
I just received a text from Cal saying that they won't have internet until Monday, but everything is great! She asked that everyone would please continue to pray for interviews.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support for Calley and the girls!
Blessings,
Abbey
(Calley's sister)
I just received a text from Cal saying that they won't have internet until Monday, but everything is great! She asked that everyone would please continue to pray for interviews.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support for Calley and the girls!
Blessings,
Abbey
(Calley's sister)