I watched my hubby spends weeks writing this post and pouring his heart into researching the subject. We have two daughters, and I know this was a hard one to tackle. I’m so proud of the Man Up teams for standing UP (with muscles flexing) against human trafficking and going to the unreached people groups to share the gospel with the very men who are abusing girls. Please pray for the team that God is building to make a difference in the life of the fatherless who are priceless.

That’s me … simply ignorant. About human trafficking that is. I first heard about sex slavery through my church. In fact, I still remember thinking that the word “slavery” seemed to be a little strong. We are in the 21st century? Slavery … we got rid that when Abraham Lincoln was president, right?

Girls are being lured, snatched, and taken to be sold into slavery from Russia to India to Thailand to Ethiopia to Brazil to the United States. Yes, it’s real and it is a problem right here in our own backyard. As of April 4, 2012 the UN announced, “That 2.4 million people are victims of human trafficking at any one time. And, 80% of them are being exploited as sexual slaves.” That means at least 1,920,000 are being sexually assaulted today! Check out this website here called A21 Campaign to learn more about abolishing injustice.

Detestable! I wish this corruption could be treated like a disease. We could hire a group of scientist to invent a vaccine or an antibiotic to eliminate the atrocity of this horrible crime, but obviously we can’t do that. So … what can we do?
Ashton Kuchter and Demi Moore did an anti-trafficking campaign called, Real Men Don’t Buy Girls. Regardless of how they live their personal lives, Ashton and Demi are on the right track in helping to eliminate trafficking … by targeting MEN! Now, I’m a man and I love being a man and I have no intentions of bashing men. I’m just simply going to CHALLENGE men. Why? Unfortunately, men make up the majority of the perpetrators against these young girls and boys. I know, it is getting worse by the minute. Men preying on boys is also a part of the moneymaking sex trade industry. With all the new laws, regulations, and task force assigned to help eliminate trafficking it will only have a minor impact. The real antidote to trafficking is getting MEN to simply Man Up Against Trafficking.

Why do we need men to Man Up Against Trafficking? There is a great story in the bible about a man who Manned Up. In fact, he has a whole book dedicated to his Man Up adventure. It’s called, Nehemiah. He was a simple man who saw a problem and answered the calling. He took a city whose walls were destroyed and rebuilt the entire wall around Jerusalem in just 52 days. Nehemiah gives us a good blue print of what we (men & women) can do to help restore the sanctity of these precious lives caught in the this horrible crime.

1. Pray: After Nehemiah heard the news of Jerusalem walls being torn down he fasted and prayed with such intensity that he wept and mourned for days.  Basically, all of Nehemiah chapter is his prayer to God for the restoration of Jerusalem. The prelude that pushed Nehemiah to pray was hearing that not just the walls were broken down and its gates were destroyed by fire, but in Nehemiah 1:3 it says the people were in “great trouble and shame”. Nehemiah was not weeping and mourning over a wall. It’s the people who were living inside of the wall. It was his people. God’s chosen ones. Every child who is being exploited is in “great trouble and shame” needs our prayers!
2. Protection: Obviously, the walls gave the Israelites protection against their enemies. Without a solid fortitude around Jerusalem it left the people exposed to attacks. What would happen if all the men in the U.S. decided to Man Up and say, NO to trafficking and prostitution? I know that is not possible, but what can we (men) do to Man Up and say no more?
3. Restoration: Imagine the daily humiliation, beatings, and being degraded daily by men. Picture the orphan who so desperately wants a daddy to love them, protect them, and be a “daddy’s girl”. Instead, a pimp is looking at how they can increase that child’s profit margin as opposed to nurturing that child’s heart. By rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah gave the Israelites tremendous confidence. The wall represented “strength” and without it the Israelites were very ashamed.  Men who are followers of Jesus Christ can restore the wall by modeling the love of our Heavenly Father to show what real love looks like. Men who choose to Man Up can be a part of changing a girl’s perspective of what a real Godly man looks like … honorable, leader, honest, gentle, integrity, sacrificial love, etc. What can we do to restore the sanctity of these precious lives? What can we do to bring hope and big dreams to each child who has had their future snatched from them?

I’m sure you are asking, “Where are the solutions?” “How can we put an end to this?” Like I said, I’m just simply ignorant about human trafficking. However, I’m a dad. I’m a dad who wants to love and protect the fatherless. If trafficking makes you MAD. If trafficking breaks your heart. If trafficking makes you want to stand up and fight. It doesn’t matter if you are a male, female, knowledgeable or not knowledgeable about trafficking, like myself, I want to challenge you to Man Up and go to the front line of trafficking. Research and find mission trips to see where trafficking takes place, were you can visit orphanages where the pimps take the girls from, we will visit and love BIG on former girls who were rescued from trafficking.  Most of all, you get to be the start of change and hope for a child stuck in the atrocity of these horrible acts. You don’t know them or how, but God is already at work. Join His work in rebuilding the walls around the fatherless.

Today, when you are braiding your daughter’s hair or watching them play with their dolls or picking out the perfect outfit for the day … would you pray for the young girls in the world ages 3-13 year olds who are being raped, abused, neglected, and sold into slavery.

It’s such an honor to have my share his new quest, 127 Warrior with my readers! I have watched God do mighty miracles in his life and can’t wait to see what adventures He has planned for our family. If you enjoy this post or learn something crazy, please go grab your hubby and encourage him join the 127 Warrior movement. We have Man Up mission trips planned this summer (open spots!!) with several wonderful organizations, as well as the Man Up and Go movie, and conference coming soon!! It’s time to Man Up – protect and love the fatherless … living James 1:27 in a radical way.

My Life Is Crazy Too is a new series of reader submissions. This is your opportunity to share stories about life, love, and mommyhood to provide understanding, hope, and compassion in the unique situations each of us face every day. If you would like to submit a story to this series, email me. Today’s crazy guest is Roger Gibson.

What does a modern-day warrior look like? I recently saw the movie Acts of Valor. It was a total dude flick. No Hollywood actors. The actors were real life Navy Seal action heroes. It was the kind of movie where 40 year olds get to live out their warrior fantasies by watching these bad asses pulverize the enemy on the big screen. Hooyah!

Acts of Valor is about a Navy Seal Seven unit that is deployed to rescue a captured CIA agent behind enemy lines and defend the borders of the United States by keeping suicide bombers from entering. For me, a modern-day warrior operates very much like a Navy Seal, but in James 1:27 style. What does a 127 Warrior look like? As men, we are naturally wired to protect! In the book, The Male Brain the author called this hormone “Vasopressin the White Knight.” Vasopressin is the reason for our gallantry and monogamy. It makes us aggressively protect and defend our turf, mate, and children. Along with testosterone, vasopressin runs the male brain circuit.  A 127 Warrior is a man who is able to look beyond his own wall to Man Up for the fatherless. I know as men we instinctively know that we are supposed to protect our home, spouse, and kids but outside of our own very “wall” what does that look like? Unfortunately, four years ago I didn’t have a clue. Continue Reading

Man Up for Moldova Orphans! Mission Trip Giveaway Project…

Thank you for making our first day of the project such a crazy success! Your donations are going to make a real difference in the life of a child living in Haiti and Moldova with Children’s HopeChest ministry! Please join us for the next two weeks sharing our project with your family and friends! I’m praying specifically that 1000 mission-hearted people will buy a tee shirt to provide  protection, food, clothing, and medical care for hundreds of orphans – and WIN a free mission trip!! But, if you can’t go on a trip this year, win the trip and give it away to a friend!

If you just bought your Man Up tee shirt and now wondering what exactly does your donation support- let me make it quite simple. WE HATE HATE HATE EXPLOITATION OF ORPHANS!! This quest will take REAL men to MAN UP and fight for justice, projection, and love big for the fatherless!!! We are truly blessed to be able to join the Beginning of Life project- an organization that knows how to Man Up in Moldova!!! Here are a few reasons WHY we are fighting against human trafficking of orphans partnering with Beginning of Life.

CARE FOR THE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN MOLDOVA

Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe nestled between Ukraine and Romania. The poorest country in Europe, many Moldovans leave the country illegally to find work in other countries. Experts estimate that nearly half of all Moldovans working outside the country (300,000) are victims of human trafficking or illegal migration.

Unfortunately, that means over 30 percent of Moldovan children are social orphans—children of parents who have illegally left the Moldova to find work in another country. In many cases, these parents send money, but will never return to Moldova to parent their children. Given these dynamics, trafficking rings in Moldova now export tens of thousands of children into the global sex trade each year. Children’s HopeChest partners with “Beginning of Life” to offer a rehabilitation home and program for survivors of human trafficking.

GOAL

Restore victims of sex trafficking through the Beginning of Life by providing:

• Safe living conditions in a transitional living facility

• Therapy, counseling, and relationships with caring Christian professionals

• Food, clothing, and medical care

• 24-hour supervision

Currently 8 girls live in the transition home and receive services. The length of time the children are in the program depends upon the level of abuse and violence they have experienced.

 Personal Story of a Rescued Girl:

Tatiana, was trafficked into Turkey, were she worked as a prostitute in a brothel. Thankfully, a police raid closed that brothel, put the pimp into prison and returned the girls to their home countries. Tatiana lived the Beginning of Life home for four months. After finishing trade school, she went to work in a bakery and lives on her own in an apartment. Each woman’s needs vary depending on their background, education, family status, type of abuse, and length of abuse. Beginning of Life creates a specific counseling plan for each woman, and starts the process of rehabilitation and reintegration. In general, all participants receive the following care:

• Accommodations. The safehouse provides safe and complete accommodations, including a bedroom, bathroom, food, and medical care for up to 12 months.

• Counseling.  The staff psychologist identifies each woman’s unique needs and develops a specialized, individual counseling plan.

• Social Assistance. The social workers live with the girls 24-hours/day, taking care of all their needs and educating them basic life skills. These might include tasks such as cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, and other daily routines.

• Cultural Services.  The staff organizes special events for the girls, inviting them to local theaters, concerts, and public events. The goal is to teach the girls to see and experience the good parts of society, and to begin integrating with other people in society.

• Group Activities. Once each week, the girls watch a movie with the

social workers and then discuss the themes and applications for their

own lives within a group context.

• Bible Study & Church Attendance.  Beginning of Life invites a

local pastor to provide Bible instruction classes for the girls. He

teaches lessons and helps the girls develop a prayer life. All residents

are invited to worship at local churches. Most choose an evangelical

church, and attendance is purely optional.

• Art Therapy.  Victims of sex trafficking struggle to find their gifts

and self- worth.  Art therapy is a tangible way to show the girls they have special gifts. A professional

art therapist helps the girls identify their talents, and helps them create jewelry, cards, paintings, and

clothing items.  Beginning of Life also organizes exhibitions to sell their artwork. This aids the

healing process when the women discover that their artistic gifts are valued by others and purchased

as gifts. This provides them not only with a self-esteem boost—but a small source of income.

• Drama and Role Play Therapy. Sex trafficking victims struggle with depressed emotions, and have

tremendous difficulty sharing their past experiences. At the start, these young women are closed up

within themselves almost completely.  Dramatic role playing helps the women experience and relate

to the emotions of others that are similar to their own. This allows the women to open up and relate

to others. Processing the similar emotions in the “third person” helps the women understand

themselves and begin to open their hearts again.

• Trade schools. Beginning of Life has relationships with a variety of different trade schools.  We

attempt to place the girls in a good trade school to receive professional training and the opportunity

to work in the future.

• Reintegration.  As graduation from the program gets closer, our staff help the women make the

first steps toward independence, housing, and employment.  Once a good job is located, the girl must

maintain employment for thirty days before she can leave the safehouse. After this point, the staff

help locate a safe apartment or dormitory for the girl to live in, and the program pays the rent for a

few months while the girl fully transitions back into society.

• Follow-Up.  All of the Beginning of Life graduates are invited to spend the holidays at the

safehouse, as well as just stopping by. The home is a place where they can always come for help—even after graduation.

 PROGRAM RESULTS:

10 girls have graduated from the program, and currently 8 women are living in the Beginning of Life Safehouse.  Other results include:

- Two national days of prayer that drew over 300 churches and 20,000 adults to pray for victims of sex

trafficking.

- Over 23, 000 people received prevention information detailing how sex traffickers operate and how

to avoid their traps.

- Approximately 1,500 individuals received training through partnerships with local churches.

PROGRAM TESTIMONIALS-

Natasha’s Story

Natasha was abandoned to an orphanage by her parents shortly after she was born. Having grown up in an orphanage, Natasha followed the footsteps of many other orphans into a technical school where she was to learn baking. One day, the director of the school invited a young man to come and meet with the girls. He developed a close relationship with Natasha, and after about two months offered her a job in Moscow. He promised to take her away from Moldova and provide her with a better job than she could dream of. She agreed. When she reached Moscow, Natasha was locked in an apartment, and began to realize that the teacher from the technical school and her boyfriend had worked together to kidnap her and bring her to Moscow. That night, she entered the sex trade. As a forced prostitute, she was raped and brutally beaten when she tried to resist. The brothel owners would torture Natasha by burning her with lit cigarettes and cutting her with knives. Natasha still has those scars today…

One night, Natasha boldly and secretly called one of her own clients for help. He was a builder from Tajikistan who took an interest in rescuing Natasha—even while using her as a prostitute. He had been afraid that Natasha’s owners would kill him if he helped her. But he acted anyway. He paid for Natasha for the entire night, and then put on her a train back to Moldova.

Natasha entered the Beginning of Life Safehouse and there she received help to overcome her fear, sense of guilt, nervousness and a emotional withdrawal. The team offered Natasha sincere love, kindness, and caring. She is now studying to become a baker, and is beginning the hard road to full healing and integration.

We will draw the mission trip winner’s name on April 2nd and announce Purchase your Simply Love & Man Up Tees here- Children’s HopeChest Store.

Please SHARE today’s post link on your blogs, facebook, twitter, and don’t forget to Pin It!

 

For those of you who might be new to My Crazy Adoption website- we are so excited to be a part of the incredible documentary film Man Up and Go. This full feature documentary film will premiere Summer 2012!! We got to preview on Sunday the first 22 minutes of the film and was blown away! You can be a crazy part of making this film come to life on the big screen- donating your time praying, fundraising, and sharing with your family and friends: Pin It, Facebook it and tweet it!!

Read all about the film and how you can be a partner to Man Up and Go. Click here- Man Up and Go Indigogo page.

MAN UP AND GO:
Why would an unlikely band of American brothers go on an adventure, a road trip, to the depths of Ethiopia and Uganda and join with African men? To combat the heartbreaking problem of over 7,000,000 orphans suffering. Not dismayed by the staggering numbers, the men literally man up and go to change lives and discover their own lives are most impacted.

This cast of characters is joined by a common passion — to love and care for orphans and hurting people. Many call home Missouri, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Uganda and Ethiopia. Miles apart geographically and worlds apart socially, economically and culturally, this band of American brothers includes a seasoned cop, a retired military man and an architect. Then there is the standout ex-college football player, highly successful businessman, well-known publicist, celebrity athlete and teenage boys. With over 30 adventurers on this rag tag team, most previously have never stepped on African soil.

Focusing on five Americans, the film reveals the unique stories of the men…before the trip even starts. We see them at home, work and play and connect with their unfolding lives. The film’s journey continues as the team comes together at an airport in Washington DC — for most, a first time meeting, yet they unite as one.

The Americans are contrasted and compared with the lives of African brothers. Included are harrowing stories of survival through unthinkable situations — one being left for dead on a mountain of bodies and the second once orphaned himself, living in a dump. These stories and others represent shining examples of manhood and the spirit of the adventure.

Strongly drawing attention to the touching lives of orphaned children, the Man Up team travels to hidden children prisons and a dump site, which is home to thousands of orphans. The journey continues to a ministry for street children, a remote village in the middle of Ethiopia and to a multitude of orphanages. The needs of the precious children are revealed by the spirited actions of the Man Up team, entwining strong, common threads of hope, joy, love and the power these have over adversity

In-the-end, the American team travels home to their comfortable lives…but will they ever be the same? Will the choking facade of the American Dream grip them like it used to? The men return with the truth planted that life is not just about them; they are transformed by their African adventure and brothers, and are united with a strong commitment to love big and to be fathers to the fatherless.

FILM MISSION:
Man Up And Go, a documentary motion picture, is being produced to bring significant awareness to viewers regarding the critical needs of the growing number (50,000,000 currently) of orphans in Africa and the desperate, heartbreaking lives that these beautiful children and people are forced to live.

Engaging character driven stories will unfold from the film’s main subjects, a group of men from America and Africa that are part of a team calling themselves Man Up 4 Orphans. With vastly different lives that contrast and compare, the film will illustrate that simple actions taken by normal people like you and me can produce encouraging, powerful change. Instead of focusing the film’s viewers only on the despair and heartache associated with the orphans, Man Up And Go looks to empower, inspire and lift people to act…and one-by-one we can make a difference.

When completed, Man Up and Go will be a feature-length documentary movie (Approximate 90 minutes with an anticipated PG rating). Shoot locations will be in the USA, Ethiopia and Uganda.

For more information contact:
Randy Bacon, Producer/Director
OR
Jonathan Murphy, Producer/Senior Editor

WHAT WE NEED & WHAT YOU GET:

We have taken the first step to get this important message out by self-funding the first portion of this project.  We fronted the money for the trip to Africa allowing us to capture the trip section of the film.  Now we need your help to help us complete the editing of the full length feature film, Man Up and Go.  We are trying to raise enough money to allow our team to edit full time and complete the movie. The money will also be used for the follow up “post-trip” filming and the film premiere.

MEET THE DIRECTOR- RANDY BACON – Director / Producer / Director of Photography-Cinematographer / Editor

Randy has been shooting professionally since 1985 and is in very high demand as a art portrait, editorial and commercial still photographer and cinematographer.   His clients reside throughout Missouri, nationally and internationally.  His adept still photography skills and artistry has gained him a multitude of awards to include:
American Photographer Magazine:  Images of the Year – Best Portrait Selection
417 Magazine: Photographer of the Year AND Artist of the Year (three time winner)
Gannett News-Leader: Photographer of the Year (seven time winner)
Business Journal Magazine:  Selected as one of the “Twelve People You Need To Know in 2011″
Addy Awards:  Best Photography in Print Advertising Campaign (multiple winner)

In 2008, Bacon expanded his creative still talents into the motion picture arena.  Instantly, securing a number of commercial video projects that continues to grow, he honed his motion abilities as to apply to his passion of film making.  Bacon’s movie film career exploded in 2010 with the release of his directorial debut and film production, The Last Days of Extraordinary Lives.    Produced by a long list of prominent supporters, the 90-minute documentary feature celebrates the meaning of life.  The movie has garnered a significant amount of film coverage and awards.  Included is the red carpet premiere at the Gillioz Theatre, playing to an audience of over 800 people.  In addition, the film has played on PBS to rave reviews and continues to appear at multiple universities and organizations.   The Last Days of Extraordinary Lives ran the film festival circuit and accumulated an impressive 15 film festival official selections and won over 10 awards, including Best Feature Documentary and Best Director. The film is now in the process of gaining national distribution.

Bacon’s career also has ventured into being a highly sought after public speaker at universities, schools, churches, businesses and more.   In addition, Randy and his wife/business partner, Shannon, own and manage one of the Missouri’s premiere art destinations, the Monarch Art Factory.  The Monarch is a 16,000 square foot art center that is home to a multitude of creative endeavors including Bacon’s 8,000 square foot studio and art galleries, as well as to their film production company, Bacon / Murphy Films.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

Even if you can’t give, post this link on your Facebook, Twitter, blog or email list to get the message out to others.  Every little bit helps.  Thanks so much for taking the time to see what we are passionate about and partnering with us in making this film a reality!  Without you, we couldn’t make this happen.

 

We are so excited to finally be able to share the Man Up and Go trailer to all my bloggy friends! There is so much to share with you, but for now … enjoy the trailer. We need your help! Help us spread this video and copy the embedded code to share on your blogs, too. The full featured film will debut in theaters nationwide, Summer 2012. Your help will spread the fire to encourage men to love BIG and Go BIG!

Why would an unlikely band of American brothers go on an adventure, a road trip, to the depths of Ethiopia and Uganda and join with African men? To combat the heartbreaking problem of over 7,000,000 orphans suffering. Not dismayed by the staggering numbers, the men literally man up and go to change lives and discover their own lives are most impacted.

This cast of characters is joined by a common passion — to love and care for orphans and hurting people. Many call home Missouri, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Uganda and Ethiopia. Miles apart geographically and worlds apart socially, economically and culturally, this band of American brothers includes a seasoned cop, a retired military man and an architect. Then there is the standout ex-college football player, highly successful businessman, well-known publicist, celebrity athlete and teenage boys. With over 30 adventurers on this rag tag team, most previously have never stepped on African soil.

Focusing on five Americans, the film reveals the unique stories of the men…before the trip even starts. We see them at home, work and play and connect with their unfolding lives. The film’s journey continues as the team come together at an airport in Washington DC — for most, a first time meeting, yet they unite as one.

The American’s are contrasted and compared with the lives of African brothers. Included are harrowing stories of survival through unthinkable situations — one being left for dead on a mountain of bodies and the second once orphaned himself, living in a dump. These stories and others represent shining examples of manhood and the spirit of the adventure.

Strongly drawing attention to the touching lives of orphaned children, the Man Up team travels to hidden children prisons and a dump site, which is home to thousands of orphans. The journey continues to a ministry for street children, a remote village in the middle of Ethiopia and to a multitude of orphanages. The needs of the precious children are revealed by the spirited actions of the Man Up team, entwining strong, common threads of hope, joy, love and the power these have over adversity

In-the-end, the American team travels home to their comfortable lives…but will they ever be the same? Will the choking facade of the American Dream grip them like it used to? The men return with the truth planted that life is not just about them; they are transformed by their African adventure and brothers, and are united with a strong commitment to love big and to be fathers to the fatherless.

FILM MISSION
Man Up And Go, a documentary motion picture, is being produced to bring significant awareness to viewers regarding the critical needs of the growing number (50,000,000 currently) of orphans in Africa and the desperate, heartbreaking lives that these beautiful children and people are forced to live.

Engaging character driven stories will unfold from the film’s main subjects, a group of men from America and Africa that are part of a team calling themselves Man Up 4 Orphans. With vastly different lives that contrast and compare, the film will illustrate that simple actions taken by normal people like you and me can produce encouraging, powerful change. Instead of focusing the film’s viewers only on the despair and heartache associated with the orphans, Man Up And Go looks to empower, inspire and lift people to act…and one-by-one we can make a difference.

When completed, Man Up And Go will be a feature-length documentary movie (Approximate 90 minutes with an anticipated PG rating). The film is scheduled to be filmed and edited over a one-year period with a release date in summer 2012. Shoot locations will be in the USA, Ethiopia and Uganda.

For more information contact:
Randy Bacon, Producer/Director
OR
Jonathan Murphy, Producer/Senior Editor