There are times when I think to myself, “I may never leave Africa.” I know for some of you this is probably the last thing you would want to hear. I get it; you miss Kaela. I never intended to stay permanently. Being in the will of God, however, brings an extraordinary peace. If sacrificing this peace is required in order to relocate then I don’t intend to do so.

It is not uncommon for someone on the street to ask me, “Why are you here?” I suppose it is a curious thing for a (very) white kid from Texas to be wondering the streets of Maseru looking for a good deal on a cheap cellphone with a dual sim-card.  I have been asked the same question during my time in the states; “Why are you going to Africa?” Some applaud me, some shake their head as if disappointed in the “bad life decision”, some even scoff. I suppose my answers have not always been the best. “I’m fighting human trafficking.” as if every day I suit up in spandex and war paint like a lucha libre to do battle with the mystical human-traffikasaurous –rex.  How about this one? “I’m helping people in need.” Huh? Have you been to Corpus Christi, TX? Put on a blindfold, throw a lawn dart in any direction and you’ll impale someone who is in need of help in some way; (Particularly an ambulance after being impaled by a lawn dart). There is no reason to go all the way to Africa to find someone who needs help. What then is the “right” answer?  I guess there isn’t one answer that will make everyone happy. Some scoff at the idea because to them the “Good Guy White Man thinks he is gonna save the poor ole black fella with his bible and money.” I pity a person who actually believes they can save someone and would come to Africa for that reason. I am pretty sure there is nothing limited to myself or ethnicity that would save anyone. However I can say this; I haven’t met anyone in the street that wouldn’t accept money if it was offered and the bible came to Lesotho way before I got here (See Reinhard Bonkie).  So why am I here? It’s not so complicated. For those of you who do not ascribe to the idea of a God in the heavens; you won’t understand this. I’m here because God brought me here to serve Christ. Where is here? It’s at the local grocery, the movie theater, the street corner, the petrol station, at church, at the police station, in the courthouse. Hey, that sounds familiar. It sounds a lot like the same places we are all called to serve; EVERYWHERE.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me… Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’’ –Matthew 25:34-36, 40

We aren’t here to get born, get to school, get degree, get job, get to church, get married, get babies, get 401k, get Social Security, and get dead. We are here to serve Christ by serving one another for the glory of the grace of God. So I guess I’ll serve here and you serve there and we’ll meet somewhere in the middle. Serve wherever God puts you. We are here to serve Christ by serving one another for the glory of the grace of God. Just make sure He put you there because there is no greater peace than being where He says to be.

-Nathan Hardin

Nathan Hardin is the Legal Liaison for Beautiful Dream Africa and his wife Kaela is the BDS Safe House Coordinator for victims of human trafficking in Maseru, Lesotho.

This post was originally written on Nathan's blog. You can find the link below.

One year ago today, we (BDS team) were in Lesotho planning out how we would spend my husband's birthday.  It was just then that we received a call informing our team that the rescue attempts by local authorities were successful, and that there was need of shelter for two young adult females that were suspected victims of Human Trafficking.  This was the moment we had been waiting for, sort of.  Here came the questions the team hadn’t anticipated when we put together our "forty five days until open" plan of action.

Let’s take a look into the next twenty-four hours.  Here are several of the questions we had to work through in a rapid-fire amount of time.  First of all, where would our team of seven live, since this was going to expedite our plan to find a new place to live? Secondly, was there funding or means to support the BDS team at a second location?  Who would move us to the location we identified?  Who would shop for BDS safe house needs in order to be prepared to receive these ladies?  What about internet connection, and could my husband continue his job and reporting back to the US with minimal interruption?  Was the required paperwork to process our client ready to go?  Wait, what about Maya?  Who was going to take her to school and pick her up?

Let's not forget that it was Charles’ birthday. Who was going to make him a cake?  On second thought, please make him brownies, because he doesn’t really care for cake.  Who was going to buy the groceries for both locations?  When should we alert our supporters so that they can pray?  Has anyone told our social worker?  Wait; do we even have a licensed psychologist to involve yet?  Have I told Jennifer how much it costs to buy toiletries and groceries for our new residents?  Our BDS team is in need of blankets and pillows to sleep on the floor at the new location, no beds needed at this time.  Beautiful Dream Society had just finished a fundraising event, “Run for the Dream,” and I believe there might be a small amount of funding to purchase some of our needs.

Would this be that point when I let the team know that I don’t have a clue what I am doing?  On second thought, scratch that, because I’m pretty sure they know that.  What if something happens that is “way over my/our heads?” Who would I call?  I know Jesus is there.  Hopefully any crisis would happen during central standard hours so that I could call for help and they would answer.  Would Jennifer answer?  What would Jennifer do in this scenario?  And the list goes on and on.  Deep breath.  Breathe deep.

It is solely by His grace, that the first BDS Safe House in Lesotho was opened in LESS than twenty-four hours on April 21st, 2011.  The BDS pioneers just went.  They did, and didn’t stop until our team was moved out of our current location, into our new location, birthday brownies made and the Safe House was completely ready to open.  Oh, I don't want to forget that two of our three male team members were actually with the authorities on their rescue attempt.  Each member of the body did what was before them to do. I’m so thankful for the sacrifice and service of all of those on the ground that helped to make this happen.  I’m especially thankful for the warm welcome and constant flow of support we have received from those who live in the mountain kingdom.  Yes, Jennifer was there every step of the way, during these twenty-four hours.  She and the Board of Directors have been there every day before and since.  Mark Crow and Victory Church have broken the mold, in illustrating how an overseas operation can be loved, communicated with and pastored.  The Executive team has been loving, actively involved, empowering and speak truth into our operation here. Back to the deep breath part we go.

Three hundred and sixty five plus days and deep breaths later, we continue to celebrate one year of His goodness and faithfulness to His dream and his people.  He has demonstrated that it is possible to help deliver and love those enslaved in this tiny part of the continent of Africa through a people who will simply say, "yes."  Our Creator gave one woman a dream, and put the unwavering “yes” in her friend's hearts to help.   It is this same heart that continues to beat, releasing a sound of conviction and passion that something had to be done.  Here is what I would say to you after one year of making our selves available, and doing what our hands have found to do.  Beautiful Dream Society stands very honored and fortunate to be a small part of what God is doing in this great nation.  We have so much to learn from the people in this beautiful country, around the world and those pioneers that have gone before us.  We are merely a people who remain fiercely dedicated to being part of the solution, and to love along the way.

Thank you to every single one of you who has contributed time, clothing, prayer support, taken trips here to serve and visit, money and positive words and energy towards this mandate.  I'd like to personally thank our family and close friends for supporting Charles, Maya and I every step of the way.  The support of the local church, and the open arms of those that work and live in this community have made such a huge and lasting impact on our work. Special mention to those of you who have given of your life and time to come serve here on the ground in Lesotho, and for those who are soon to join.  You are locked in my heart, and such a big part of why I do what I do.  I love and believe in you to no end.

There have been more than nineteen lives served, celebrated and multiple memories that come flooding to mind as I think about the last year.  The fond memories are of those beautiful ones, hugs, smiling, dancing, learning to laugh, love and be loved, all the while and daily saying, “Thank you," and "You are my good mother."

Please create a picture in your mind’s eye of my last description of those that are well on their way in their journeys to freedom and the love that is still yet undiscovered around and within them.   These beautiful ones are rejoicing, as they are running into their identities in Christ.  I am among them.  She is me.

God Bless you and yours.  Here is to the dream, small beginnings and the next three hundred and sixty five days.

-Sonya

It's been a while since I've posted anything. I thought I would be the queen of blogging when I moved here, but it's so difficult to find time to sit and type everything that happens. It's exhausting at times to try and put into words all that we are part of and all that happens on a daily basis.

Where to even start?? One of the residents that I was extremely close to was able to go back home to China after being in Lesotho for 2 years and be reunited with her family. I had so many mixed emotions on this one. Happy for her to be reunited with her family and have complete freedom, but so sad to see her go and not have her be part of our everyday life anymore. One of the last things she said to me is "You is my good American sister, we never divide." The pic below is of us walking into the airport. Such a bittersweet moment.

She has been home almost 2 weeks now and we were supposed to hear from her when she arrived. We became even more worried when her trafficker was released from prison after only spending a couple of months on a 15 year sentence!! The Lord has given me many dreams about her and I've been woken up many nights prompted to pray for her. Our director, Sonya and I were just having a conversation earlier today and believing that we would hear something today. About an hour ago, she called one of our missionaries to let us know she was safe and with her family. I feel like I can breathe deeply again. Such a relief to know she is safe.

One of the most difficult things about being here is to see all the corruption, especially among trafficking cases. Paying people off to keep quiet for something they may have seen seems to be a daily occurrence. Such disregard for human life and it makes my blood boil. I watch these precious victims come to the shelter and begin to understand that they have a voice and can use it. Then out of nowhere, just when we think we are making progress in their legal cases, we are hit between the eyes. I think I've felt every emotion you can possibly feel. You feel completely helpless. It requires total dependance on God. He is the ONLY one that can bring complete justice and change.

Please stand in agreement with us, that God will continue to change the legal process here for trafficking cases and strengthen the laws here in Lesotho. One thing to remember is the law against trafficking has only been in place for a year so everyone is still learning. Pray God will continue to give us favor with government officials and with the people of this beautiful country.

Just when you start to panic, God gently reminds you that he is in control and everything is being worked out for his good.

Taking a deep breath....

Another new experience that will hopefully lead to a fresh start is the ongoing trial that we are in the middle of with one of our residents. One of our sweet, precious Ethiopian residents will hopefully be liberated from her traffickers once and for all by next week. She has already testified, as have other witnesses. I will take the stand tomorrow as an 'expert witness' for the first time on her behalf. Please pray that the Lord grants me wisdom and the right words to speak so that this resident that we have all come to love so much will see justice done. There will definitely be more to come in updates on this trial, so please pray for justice!

Finally, as if we didn't have enough going on with fighting human trafficking, we are planting a church! I have never planted a church before- it is a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding. Victory Church Maseru (which will be a church plant of Victory Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) will open on 6 May 2012.  We could not be more excited for what the Lord is doing in the lives of the local pastors here that are going to be serving at Victory, and for what He is doing in our own lives as we help to support, encourage, and serve them as well as the people of Lesotho!

Another big prayer request that I have is for one of our former residents, the Chinese woman who saw a conviction against her trafficker back in January. About two weeks ago, the Chinese Embassy contacted us saying that they had been in touch with her family and that they wanted to pay for her flight back to China. We put her on a plane with many tears on everyone's part- we were extremely happy that she was going back to her family as this is what she had been wanting, but also grieving the loss of a dear friend and sister. Less than a week after she left, her perpetrator was released from prison, even though he was supposed to serve a 15 year sentence. They cannot appeal the case without our client being in the country. The timing of all of this was very suspicious, and we cannot get ahold of our client or her family. We are all very worried about her safety, so please pray that we begin to find answers. Corruption runs rampant here, as it does in many parts of Africa. Please pray that she is safe at home and that we can put her perpetrator back behind bars somehow.

"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain..."

-Jennifer Crow

Thursday. Feb 2nd. 2012

Over the past week or so, the need for trained mental health professionals here in Lesotho has become more and more clear. I was pretty aware of it after my first trip here, and once again requests for counseling services and training's are mounting! It all serves as an affirmation that I am serving where God wants me, and I am so excited to be able to help.

This week's adventure involves the CGPU (Child and Gender Protection Unit), which is a part of Lesotho's law enforcement. I met with them this morning; apparently they have 4 minors in their custody that are victims of trauma and/or sexual abuse. They would like me to work with these children, to assess them, counsel them, and testify on their behalf when their cases go to trial. I never thought that part of my job description here would involve helping the police investigate child abuse cases! While I am a little apprehensive about taking the stand, I just have to trust that my education, training, and experience has prepared me for this. I also keep reminding myself that my testimony might be able to give these precious children a voice and help them see justice done. Well worth a little fear and discomfort on my end!

I will see the first two children tomorrow morning, and the others on Saturday. Please pray that I am able to cross cultural and language barriers (I will have a translator present) and build trust with these little lambs. Also, pray that I am able to quickly get licensed here. Because I am already licensed in the U.S., I should only have to fill out a form and pay a fee. However, my new license did not arrive before I left, so I do not have any original documentation. Please pray that they will accept either a faxed copy or an internet license look-up.

Other than those things, please continue to pray for my beloved residents here; there is some spiritual warfare going on with my 16 year old. Also, several cases go to trial in the next two weeks, so pray for justice!

"However, as it is written: 'What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived'- the things that God has prepared for those who love Him."

~1 Corinthians 2:9

-Karin Sandstrom

Karin is a Social Worker for the BDS Crisis Care Shelter who works with all of the survivors of human trafficking.

Almost a year to the day after the government of Lesotho enacted a historic law making Trafficking in Persons a crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison, Beautiful Dream Society Africa Director, Sonya Martinez, and other BDS staff and volunteers were in court today to support a courageous survivor of human trafficking as she heard the GUILTY verdict read, marking the very first time that someone was convicted of human trafficking in the country.  This young Chinese woman, the very one who nicknamed the shelter the ‘Love House’ and calls Sonya “my mother”, sat in front of the court room as still as stone, but tears began to flood her cheeks as she heard the judge summarizing the case and recounting details of the harrowing story of her ordeal.

The judge clearly outlined:

• The claimant left China for greener pastures, but she was very deceived once she arrived in Lesotho.
• Her passport was taken, automatically reducing her to someone with substandard opportunities for a healthy working life.
• She was treated less than human and made to be a modern day slave.
• She was forced to become a prostitute and made, then, to be a sex slave.
• She never received any money for anything she did.
• The victim is obviously lamenting over the horrible and unjust things that have been done to her.
• The summary presented by the Department of Public Prosecution meets the requirements for guilty plea under the ATIP law of 2011, and therefore the verdict of GUILTY as requested by the prosecution will stand.

There was great rejoicing!  Once everyone got back to the shelter, there was a lot of conversation on Sonya’s computer via Google translate while Sonya made sure that our survivor had understood all of the proceedings and the guilty verdict, though thankfully the court had provided a Chinese interpreter to ensure her comprehension.   A new plan for the life of our former victim was discussed and a new job opportunity.  Our survivor also wanted Sonya to know that the BDS team was her family and she wanted to be a “good daughter for her good mother”.

I’m not sure how many of you have ever used Google Translate, but we should make a commercial about how Google is helping us to help victims of human trafficking!  As the brave young survivor typed in the words that she wanted to say in Chinese,  this is the broken mismatched English translation that popped up on the screen:

I would like the Chinese newspaper China in South Africa: African Chinese newspaper submissions, write a paper, is a very long article. Content: a touching thing of "the United States is Sonia save a trafficking of Chinese girls ". Until I my article in the Chinese newspapers published in Africa, I will get a little reward contributors, and then I will continue to write a book, also about the things you save me and I used to my boss may not work the money thing, and personal experience in Africa, write a book, look forward to a Chinese director to see my story, then play the movie come true!'

Well…that pretty much sums it up from our former victim’s perspective:

“Sonya save a trafficking of Chinese girls”

Our dream is to see lives made beautiful.  Today, thanks to all of you, a life-changing event occurred for this young woman who now has a hope and a future and wants to share her story to help others.  She will never be the same and Lesotho will never be the same.

-Jennifer Crow

Photo by Derek Green

Keep Going

Dec. 14, 2011

There were some ups and downs regarding the prosecution of human trafficking in Lesotho during my last week in the country, but mostly opportunities for us to continue step by step in moving forward. Before I discuss some of the developments, let me tell a story:

A 16-year-old Basotho girl, (let’s call her Mpho), was brought to the Beautiful Dream shelter a few months ago. She had been what is called in Africa “a child on the move”. Her parents separated when she was 1 when she was taken to live with her maternal grandmother. Her father died when she was 4 and her grandmother died when she was 5; Mpho was then sent to live with her uncle on her mother’s side. Shortly after that, Mpho moved in with her mother until her mother got married, so the girl was sent to her great-grandmother’s home and her younger brother was sent to another grandfather’s home. At her great-grandmother’s home, Mpho dropped out of school due to financial constraints and needing to take care of the domestic chores of the household. Desiring to better her situation, at the age of 15, Mpho took a job caring for two children of a single mom, age 3 and 1. After about 3 months of working there, the mother of the children didn’t come home one day and with no prior warning left Mpho to care for the children with no money and no provisions. After several days with no food, some people in the community called the police who told Mpho to take the children to their relatives. The relatives refused to take the children in, so the police took the children to the village chief where they ended up being referred to the Department of Social Welfare. Mpho was then told of a job in a neighboring Lesotho village to which she was given directions and money for taxi transport. On her way to this village, she was called by a relative who redirected her to another town near the South African border, where she was told a woman who had a job caring for a child would be waiting for her. She met the woman who had ‘connections’ at the border and took her across with someone else’s passport into a border town in South Africa. She was promised a monthly salary of 400 Maloti (equivalent to $60 USD) per month, but after the first month was only paid 200 Maloti with no prior agreement.

The working conditions at the house were unbearable to Mpho, and she said the lady of the house mistreated her. After several encounters with her boss, in which she felt threatened, intimidated, and abused, she became fearful and decided to leave the house even though she was afraid to contact the police, because she did not have a passport. With no money, no food, no transportation, and no way of contacting her relatives in Lesotho for help, she roamed the streets of the South African town looking for food and shelter. While on the street, she met a girl who said she could help her find a place to stay until she earned enough money to go home. This temporary shelter ended up being a house where three young men lived with whom she had to exchange sexual favors for a place to sleep and food to eat. Despite her predicament, her lack of identity documents and fear kept her from contacting the police. Finally, she related her story to a woman on the street who accompanied her to the South African police for help. The South African police then called the Lesotho police who brought Mpho back to Lesotho where she was taken to safety at the Beautiful Dream Centre Shelter for victims of human trafficking.

This was only the beginning of healing during a long, difficult few weeks that turned into months. For many weeks, Mpho suffered from symptoms of extreme Post Traumatic Stress including severe nightmares and periods when she would ‘black out’ and lay limp and lifeless. Her health was poor as she complained of many ailments and after a time, and a second pregnancy test, it became obvious that she had become pregnant by one of the men at the house in which she had stayed.

Since Mpho came to the BDS Shelter in June 2011, there have never been any formal charges files against any potential perpetrators on either side of the border as of Dec. 2011.

Here are some interesting perspectives on the case:

Department of Public Prosecution:
Human trafficking was just made illegal in the country of Lesotho in January of 2011, with heavy penalties of between 15 and 25 years in jail for convicted persons. There has only been one case in which an accused perpetrator of human trafficking has been remanded (similar to being ‘arraigned’ in the US legal system) thus far, so there is no precedent developed from which the police and prosecutors can draw knowledge and experience. This makes it understandably difficult for the Lesotho justice system to move forward against the crime of trafficking in persons. The Department of Public Prosecution looked at the evidence taken by the Lesotho police in Mpho’s case, and determined that the lady who took Mpho across the border with someone else’s passport did not have ‘trafficking’in mind as a motive, but was just trying to get her a legitimate job, so, in the Department’s opinion, she could not be prosecuted for human trafficking.

Lesotho Police Officer:
After questioning Mpho, the South Africa Police claim that the 16-year-old did not go to the police when she was allegedly raped, and therefore sexual abuse cannot be proved. They also claim she was living as a prostitute so her abusers cannot be prosecuted under South Africa’s Sexual Offences Act. By the way, Human Trafficking is not defined under South African law other than by ratification of the Palermo Protocol, and it seems that it is therefore difficult to prove and prosecute.

When the police officer who investigated the case saw that the prosecutor was not going to prosecute the case under the Trafficking in Persons Act, he allegedly went to the lady who took Mpho across the border and he threatened her with the hefty 15-25 year jail sentence and offered to make sure the case was not prosecuted in exchange for a bribe of 30,000 Rand (around $3,750 USD). This might have gone unnoticed by anyone, but a few weeks later, he allegedly asked for an additional 5000 Rand that he said was required by the Prosecutor to ensure the case stayed out of court. The story goes that the accused questioned this additional request for a $5000 bribe and went to the Prosecution department herself to verify whether or not the case was actually going to court. During this encounter, the accused somehow let the prosecutor know of the first bribe, at which time, the prosecutor reported the issue to the police who proceeded to arrest the police officer accused of taking a bribe. The accused police officer was jailed for a few days, said to have been put on administrative leave, and then allegedly transferred to a different police department pending a full investigation. Even though Mpho’s alleged recruiter supposedly admitted that she gave a 30,000 Rand bribe to the police officer, she is not set to be prosecuted since she is testifying against the police officer. The police officer denies taking the first bribe and claims that he was framed by fellow policemen due to competing interdepartmental disagreements. He claims that the police who arrested him askedhimto givethemmoney in exchange for them dropping the case against him.

South African Police:
After questioning Mpho, the South Africa Police claim that the 16-year-old did not go to the police when she was allegedly raped, and therefore sexual abuse cannot be proved. They also claim she was living as a prostitute so her abusers cannot be prosecuted under South Africa’s Sexual Offences Act. By the way, Human Trafficking is not defined under South African law other than by ratification of the Palermo Protocol, and it seems that it is therefore difficult to prove and prosecute.

Beautiful Dream Society:
BDS has been caring hour-by-hour, day-by-day, and week-by-week for this teen-ager and has seen her pain and suffering. Because of generous donors in the US, committed African and US volunteer caregivers, and BDS’ connections within the community, Mpho’s medical, psychological, physical, emotional, spiritual, and educational needs are being supplied, but what about her ongoing needs, future needs, and the needs of her child? Who will pay for the crimes committed against Mpho? Orwerethere any crimes committed against Mpho?

It seems that there are many elements of human trafficking in Mpho’s story. Why not allow this case to be reconsidered and tried in court especially in light of the fact that the lead police officer in the investigation has been formally accused of bribery in the case? Since he was the only police officer involved in the investigation, can the facts of the case, as recorded by him, be trusted?

Another Perspective--South African Lady in the JFK Airport:
As I was on my way home to Oklahoma from Lesotho, I was in the JFK Airport in New York City. Coincidentally, on the train from Terminal 4 to Terminal 3, I sat next to a lady who was leaving that day to South Africa from where I had just returned. She was a black, middle-aged, South African with a tribal language accent, who lived near Johannesburg. We were engaging in small talk about South Africa when she asked what brought me to Lesotho. After I explained that I worked for an anti-human trafficking organization in Lesotho, she proceeded to ‘set me straight’ about human trafficking and the Basotho people. It seemed important to her for me to understand her perspective. She told me two things which caused her to doubt there was human trafficking in Lesotho: (1) She stated that the people of Lesothowantedto get jobs in South Africa and that they willingly crossed the border (2) She said the people of Lesotho did not want to pay Lebola (the bride price, or dowry) but willingly lived together as husband and wife, so the issue of forced marriage was not valid.

Although I agreed that her descriptions may be typical scenarios in Lesotho, I briefly gave her some examples of situations BDS had seen in the shelter that pointed to a different conclusion, including underage Mpho’s case where she was taken across the border with a false passport, promised certain wages but paid less that what was promised, and intimidated into not contacting law enforcement. I realized that although I was not going to change my airport acquaintance’s perception, which had been developed over a lifetime, in just the few minutes we had on the train together, perhaps I could at least plant a seed of awareness of the issue of human trafficking.
With the passing of the Anti-Human Trafficking law recently enacted, and the Child Protection and Welfare Act, Lesotho is leading the way in Southern Africa in improving the country’s value of the human rights of people of all ages.May I encourage Lesotho to continue in the path of change it has chosen. Work to investigate and prosecute these cases with skill, courage, honesty and integrity.

That afternoon, we attended a Lesotho government meeting.The Beautiful Dream Society has been a member of the Lesotho Multi-Sectoral Committee on Human Trafficking and we were honored to be invited to attend a training facilitated by the International Labor Organization to assist Lesotho in developing their National Plan of Action against Human Trafficking.Sonya and I attended and worked for two days with government officials in developing this plan. As we divided into two groups to flesh out the plans, Sonya and I were both asked to be presenters of the findings of our separate groups. TheStrengths,Weaknesses,Opportunities andThreats to the National Plan of Action were outlined and evaluated.

It is such an honor to be able to serve the people of Lesotho in this way.The future is bright as the people of Lesotho are joining together to help the marginalized young people of this country.

Here is a photo of Sonya making her presentation to the Multi-Sectoral Committee on Human Trafficking:

-Jennifer

Busy!!!!

What a great couple of days we have had in Lesotho, Africa! I spoke on Dirty Lies at a Victory Maseru Ladies Night where over 270 women gathered for worship, dancing, teaching and food! We partied African style! Around 23 ladies raised their hands to receive Christ or rededicate their lives to him including 2 from our shelter.

Then the following night, Beautiful Dream was invited by the Alliance Francaise of Maseru to participate in their celebration of International Human Rights Day. BDS was asked to show a film that we use in the local high schools to raise awareness in young Basotho people about the dangers of human trafficking and what to watch out for. Sonya introduced the movie, entitled “Dear Sister”, which was produced by YWAM’s Media Village in Capetown, South Africa. It’s an excellent short film about a young 19-year-old man and his 17-year-old sister who have been orphans since their mother died when he was 14. The story shows exactly how human trafficking happens in Southern Africa. If you watch this film, then you know what the Beautiful Dream Society is dealing with every day.

I am so proud of Sonya, Charles, Maya, Cristen, Monie, and Tanya, (our full time missionaries here in Lesotho) who have made connections with the government of Lesotho, other embassies and NGO’s to further the message to prevent human trafficking, and that there is hope for the victims.

We were glad to see US Ambassador Bond one more time as she reinforced to us in a brief conversation her desire and the desire of the US Department of State to work together with BDS to rescue victims in Lesotho and South Africa. In fact, we have a conference call with a Department of State representative in Washington, DC tomorrow afternoon. We are grateful to be a part of a nation so blessed that it reaches outside of our own borders to help other countries in their pursuit of justice and human rights.

God bless America and God bless King Letsie III and all of the people of Lesotho!!

-Jennifer Crow

Last night we celebrated Christmas at the Beautiful Dream Centre for victims of human trafficking.The coffee table of the shelter was piled high with presents wrapped in happy shades of red and green as the Beach Boys Christmas album played through a small speaker of one of the American volunteer’s iTunes.This music seemed appropriate since it was summer time here in the Southern hemisphere.There were enough presents for each resident of the shelter, each BDS staff member and each dedicated house mom and volunteer, thanks to the Beautiful Conference and Victory Church members.We played a fun game, very common in the US, called Dirty Santa where each person draws a number and takes turns picking either a gift from the pile or taking a gift that has already been opened by someone else.This was the first time that any of our African friends had played the game.

Laughter and giggles prevailed as each person took a turn.I will never forget the expression on one of our residents face when she opened her package to reveal a jar of bright red and green gumballs with a bright ribbon wrapped around it.She screamed and jumped up and down as if she had won a million dollars!She loves sweets, and in her native country of China, she had never celebrated Christmas, since she has only come to know Christ since coming to the Beautiful Dream Centre.

After fun was had by all and everyone had a Dirty Santa present and another present, the evening’s festivities came to a close as two of the residents led in a Christmas prayer of thanksgiving for all God had done in their lives and in the Beautiful Dream Centre.During the prayer, I looked over and our two newest residents were both weeping covering their faces with their hands.As the house moms seated next to the two beautiful 16-year-olds wrapped their arms around the girls, I’m sure there was not a dry eye in the house.After the prayer, Sonya, our Director, gently asked one of the girls why she was crying.The precious girl replied with tears in her eyes, “This is the first time in my life that I’ve ever been given a present”.

The old saying has never been more poignant: “There is a first time for everything.”

Merry Christmas to all, and May God Bless you for all you have done to help see lives made beautiful!

-Jennifer

I was greeted by happy smiles at the BDS shelter and was reminded of the difference that the love of God is making in lives.   The contrast between the brand new residents who just came to the shelter last week and those who have been at the shelter for weeks was shockingly noticeable. The two 16-year-olds who are new were noticeably traumatized as they walked slowly, bowed their shoulders low with the unspoken burdens they had to bear and whose eyes filled with tears as Sonya asked them how they were feeling.  In contrast, the residents who have already been through the Crisis Care curriculum were laughing, hugging and talking freely. As we walked into the living area unannounced, we found one of those residents reading her Bible which BDS has given her in her own language while worship music played in the CD player. As we sat down to chat, she could not quit talking about Jesus and how she had never heard of him before she came to BDS and how He had changed her life. Just then, another resident was brought back to the shelter from her first day on the job!  She, having gone through 7 months of BDS sponsored sewing school, had been teaching 12 young vulnerable women how to sew that day.  This young woman, who the last time I had seen her as a new resident had been silent and bowing down low, was now bright eyed and beaming from ear to ear, sharing her joy at having the opportunity to teach others.

I also saw that the residents have been baking for the snack bar at a local church. With the help of BDS house moms, they are given a budget to buy the ingredients for brownies, cookies and cakes, then their products are sold at the snack bar and the residents are given all the proceeds which they save and sometimes send to relatives and from which they buy the ingredients for their next week's order.  In this way, they are learning baking, business skills, and money management which helps them to be self supporting.

I know there is hope for those young women who have just arrived at BDS because I have seen the results of love with my own eyes. It is a miracle to see the change in countenance, heart and spirit.  It is no wonder that the former victims of human trafficking have named the BDS Crisis Care Shelter the "Love House".

-Jennifer

I'm still in need of more finances to come through as I will not be making any type of salary while there. If you are interested in giving, you can do so in the following ways:

Go to the website www.beautifuldream.tv and click on  the "Give" tab. You can choose a one time donation or set up a monthly donation. You can then specify my name in the notes section so they will know who it is specified for.

Checks can be made payable to Beautiful Dream with my name in the memo line. Please mail checks to:
Beautiful Dream Society
PO Box 32554
Oklahoma City, OK
73123.0754

All donations are tax-deductible. Again, thank you so much for your support and prayers. They have meant the world to me. I love and appreciate each one of you so much.

If you are interested in staying connected while I'm in Lesotho, please leave your email so I can add you to my email listing. Love you all xoxo!!

-Melissa

This was originally posted by Melissa HERE

I think of one of our Chinese young residents who was promised a better life in Lesotho, but once she arrived, she was forced to be a prostitute in exchange for her airfare to Africa. At the BDS shelter, she began to learn about Jesus Christ who loved her and to whom she has now dedicated her life. She recently created a lovely heart-shaped note describing the beautiful life that she is beginning to have which I want to share with you.

Thanks so much to all of you who are making beautiful lives!

• Myself, Jennifer Crow—(my husband, Mark and I are pastors at Victory Church in Oklahoma City.) I am the dreamer.
• Teresa Pinson—friend, business owner, entrepreneur, and previous fellow journeyer to Africa
• Barb Swanson—friend, Victory Women’s Ministry Director, BABES founder and Beautiful Conference creator
• Gaye Jacob—friend, supporter, Grad School Student, Lesotho paper-writer
• Sonya Martinez—friend, Pastor of Victory South Coast in Corpus Christi, passionate about correcting injustice
• Matthew Munger -friend, Creative Director—Victory Productions, video journalist, and Beautiful Dream Team Logistical Coordinator
• Derek Green—friend, businessman, photojournalist, visual artist

As you noticed, I am fortunate to put the label ‘friend’ beside each name, because only true friends would follow me to a tiny, mountain kingdom, relatively unknown country within a country with little more direction than a dream.

But then again, it is a dream from God, and I have learned that you can trust a dream from God. Here is the story of the dream, repeated for those of you who haven’t heard and restated as a reminder for those of you who have:

Around the middle of March. 2008, I had a vivid dream in color.

In my dream, Christine Caine (Hillsong) and I were on what seemed like a tour boat traveling through the ocean. We were on the starboard bow, standing against the rail, looking over the railing out into the water. We came upon a huge group of black seals which were huddled together, what seemed like hundreds or thousands of them, along a rocky coast. In my dream, above the heads of the seals, I saw a strange ‘word’ spelled in capital letters in the sky above their heads. The word was “L-E-S-O-T-H-O”. I had never heard of this word before and didn’t even know if it was a real word, but I knew in my dream that these seals were “LESOTHO” seals.

In my dream, I remember wondering, “What is this word ‘LESOTHO’? My thought was that maybe it was a brand name of some kind of clothing, (the name ‘Izod’ came to mind), or a possibly a corporate business name. In the center of the group of seals was a larger mother seal, much larger than the rest by at least 2 or 3 times. This mother seal had a pouch like a kangaroo, and in that pouch were hundreds of baby seals in different stages of development. Some were embryos and some were tiny seals, some were red and bloody, some were whitish or grey as if ill, and some were black. As our boat passed by, Christine and I saw that the mother seal’s pouch became either torn or ripped and all of the baby seals spilled out into the water where they were lost and could not be recovered and could not survive. As we looked into the face of the mother seal, her face turned into the face of a plain, but beautiful, black woman with smooth, medium brown skin. Her large, brown eyes met ours as tears slowly trickled down her cheeks, and she looked at us with her eyes filled with sorrow. Although she did not speak with her mouth, her penetrating gaze easily willed the message across the water to us which was “Help me”.

Now, it has been two years since that dream and I feel that I have not done much to help, but I am trying. Those eyes still compel me and I cannot get their message out of my mind.

So, we begin….the 2nd journey to Africa to follow the dream……

Well, we have been busy since we have gotten back to the U.S. Teresa and I shared all the information, pictures and video from our trip with all of our friends and family and we had a strategy meeting with Mark. As we discussed the issues facing the social infrastructure of the beautiful country, we realized that many if not most of the problems stem from a leadership crisis. As God raises up courageous leaders in that country, then things will begin to change. We outlined a few ideas that we had for helping Lesotho. Here are some of the things we have discussed:

—3 year campaignLeadership Lesothoin conjunction with John Maxwell’s leadership teaching organization,Equip. This would involve bringing a team from Victory Church and coordinating with ministries there in Lesotho to bring leadership teaching to not only the churches, but also the government and civic arenas as well.—Conferences to be held in conjunction with the Leadership Lesotho meetings. These conferences would have a specialized target audience each time. Some would be for women, men, youth, families, business owners, general public, etc. Again, a team from Victory Church would go each time to work and minister at the conferences.—Monthly financial support to various ministries in Lesotho—Media resources needed—CDs, curriculum, computers, software, etc—We discussed involving Barb Swanson and the women of the Beautiful Conference in focusing on assisting Africa

As Teresa and I presented these ideas to Mark, he was very favorable and excited to think of what God wanted to do with Victory Church in helping in Africa, but he is also a good businessman and understands that as the Bible says, “Don’t build a building without counting the cost”, so he has asked Teresa and I to put together a spreadsheet (not my strength!!) of projected costs over the next 3-5 years to be reviewed. Teresa has been working on this with Gay Jacobs. There is a lot of research and planning and collecting of estimated costs to be done. We are almost to the point of review of this information.

I will keep you posted. Continue to pray for resources for this endeavor and continue to pray about how God may want to involve you in this work.

Blessings to all,
Jennifer