Human Trafficking

(Source)

There are so many different types of people in Ibiza. When you're out on the streets at night, you never know who you might meet...
 
Some of my favorite people to work with are a beautiful group of African ladies on the island. They are brought to Ibiza during the busiest time of year to work as prostitutes.
 
They are the victims of Human Trafficking.
 
These beautiful African women, are promised the possibility of a job as a house cleaner or a nanny in Europe. So they leave their homes in Africa, hoping for a better life. Once they get to Europe, they learn the harsh reality. All of a sudden the person who's been "helping" them find a job, tells them that they owe a debt that must be paid off before they can go home. I met one lady who was told she owed $94,000! They are then told that the only work available to them is prostitution. Here are a few shocking facts about Human Trafficking:
 

An estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labor as a result of trafficking.

43% of victims are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation, 98% of them are women and girls

An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year

95% of victims experienced physical or sexual violence during trafficking

In 46% of cases the recruiter was known to the victim

Estimated global annual profits made from trafficking -$31.6 billion

(Check out UN.GIFT for more info)

We actually have a Sunday evening service  in our center in Ibiza, that was started because several of the African ladies told us they wanted to go to church. There were many Sunday nights, I found myself in the back of the room trying not to cry, and wondering how I ended up getting the chance to love on these daughters of God. Their situations are despicable, and there are times that I feel completely helpless. But I know that God sees them, and loves them, and that I am to do the same.

Just one of the amazing things I get to do in Ibiza...