Before I left on this trip, a dear friend said to me, “Vicki, are you prepared for what this trip is going to do to your life?” Someone else asked me recently if this was a life changing trip for me.

I find it difficult to answer those questions. Has this experience changed my life? Altered it, certainly. But the reality is I got home from Asia and went right back into my role as wife, mom, and household manager. The laundry still overwhelms me, the mirrors in my bathrooms are still covered in little fingerprints, glitter still needs to be vacuumed from my carpets, and the basement? Oh man, don’t get me started.

The difference is that I’m going about my normal duties with my heart changed. I have images of dire poverty and filthy living conditions seared into my brain. But I also have images of happy children, living with hope and a new outlook right beside them.

So what to do with it all? Here’s a few changes that I’m making in my own life:

1. We are sponsoring a child. We have talked about sponsoring a child through other organizations (Compassion or Word Vision. . .both awesome organizations doing amazing things for children). We have chosen to sponsor a child through Destiny Rescue, knowing that this organization is specifically focusing on children either rescued out of sex slavery or rescued out of a high risk situation. These children are getting such tender care through Destiny Rescue and I believe whole-heartedly in this ministry. Eventually, we would like to sponsor more children.

2. I will continue to research human trafficking and child sex slavery. This is not a “done” issue for me. Seeing the problem first hand has only ignited a passion even hotter in my soul. I will not be uninformed of this global pandemic. If you are interested in reading more about this, I highly recommend this book.

3. I am promoting the 26 Second Challenge. As we were touring the Destiny Rescue facilities in Thailand, we were shown the project that is underway with the funds raised from the 26 Second Challenge. I love knowing that my small donation is helping build a facility that will further expand the ministry of Destiny Rescue.

4. I am encouraging others to host a jewelry party. I learned that jewelry parties are the biggest fund raisers for Destiny Rescue. What could be more fun and fulfilling than gathering up a bunch of friends and shopping the jewelry made by rescued girls, knowing that the proceeds go right back into the ministry? Love it!

5. I am speaking out to others. . .MOPS groups, church functions, small group gatherings, etc. Whatever opportunities come my way, I will take them if it means getting the message out about human trafficking.

This is the last post I plan to share about this trip (I think). I may refer back to it now and then, but Christmas is quickly approaching and I want to get back to recording current events in this household. But I simply cannot close out this series without saying this: Destiny Rescue is amazing. I’m not just saying that. DR is not asking me to put in a good word for them, in fact, I don’t even know if anyone from DR is reading this little blog of mine. But here’s the thing: I spent 2 weeks traveling and interacting with the staff and volunteers of DR, including the founder and several of the top people in the organization. In that two weeks, I saw nothing but utmost integrity. I can honestly say that the children in DR’s homes are receiving warm, parental care. Those working closely with the children care deeply for them. I did not observe even one thing that causes me to hesitate to recommend this ministry to others.

If you are looking for a way to get involved in the fight to rescue children from deplorable circumstances, I hope you will consider Destiny Rescue and the sweet care they are providing for their children.

On that note, this blog is now moving onto other things, but you can be assured that this experience will never be far from my mind. Thanks so much for reading and for the tremendous support you have offered over the last several weeks.

If you are interested in reading more about this trip, I encourage you to click on the blog of my friend and teammate, Bryant. He is also writing about his experiences in Asia, and I know you’ll enjoy reading his perspective.