Human Trafficking

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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...

Lamentations 3:22-26

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."

Have a little Faith...

It's been quite a week! I've been dealing with some last minute visa issues, and trying to stay calm through out the process!

Long story short, I got a letter from the Spanish Consulate telling me I needed to submit documentation to show that I was qualified to be a missionary. The fun part, was that the request came from Spain, so the Spanish Consulate here in the states couldn't give me any idea as to what documentation I should submit. And to top it all off, I have to submit it within 10 days...

My first instinct was to freak out.

As I've gotten closer to leaving for Spain, I've felt more and more that God has been challenging me in the area of FAITH. I think my little human mind thought he was getting me ready for life in Spain on a missionary budget. That seemed the likely area to have a little faith growth in, don't cha think?!

Now I'm realizing that maybe those lessons of faith aren't just for Spain. Maybe they're for my everyday ordinary life also. Because Lord knows I've been relying on some faith this week! Over and over I've been reminded of God's faithfulness, and of the things he's been teaching me these past few months.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."  - Hebrews 11:1

I was reading Hebrews 11 today, and it's filled with examples of men and women of faith...Like Noah, who built a boat and filled it with animals, because God told him to...even though I'm sure most people thought he was crazy! And Abraham and Sarah...I love that Sarah's included in this list. If we go back and read her story (Genesis 17), we're reminded that she didn't get the faith thing right at first! When she first heard that God was promising her and Abraham a son, she actually laughed at God. And if we keep reading, we learn that at one point, she even tried to take matters into her own hands! But here's what Hebrews 11:11 says about her...

"It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise."

It was by her faith...not faith in herself, or her own ability, but her faith in the fact that God keeps his promises.

I should have all of my original letters and the translations by Friday, and once I get them I'll be shipping them overnight to the consulate.

I'd love if you kept me and this situation in your prayers this week.

I believe that God called me to go to Ibiza, and I believe that God keeps his promises....

AMEN!

My Ibiza Journey...

Have you ever wondered how I ended up in Ibiza? If so, today is your lucky day! This post is the story of how Poppy ended up heading to Spain.

In late 2007, I started reading a blog called Curious in Ibiza. It’s written by Brian Heasley who, along with his wife Tracy, was the leaders of 24/7 Ibiza.

On his blog, Brian shares stories about the things that happen out on the streets in Ibiza. He shared stories about getting to pray with people, of building relationships with prostitutes, and the more I read, the more I was intrigued. The ministry sounded so unique, and I loved the thought of being out there in the trenches armed with God’s love. I became a blog stalker! From reading his blog, I knew 24/7 Ibiza offered opportunities in the summer for people to come take part in 2 week mission teams. In the back of my mind I thought it would be cool to eventually get to do that.

Then in the spring of 2009 Brian posted a blog that included the dates and descriptions for all of the mission teams they were hosting that summer. I noticed that the very first team was an intercessory prayer team. Here’s the description:

April Team

Before the busy summer begins, we plan to spend time praying, giving the season over to God, preparing the way for the summer months ahead –

We'll pray as we walk quiet streets, beaches, bars and clubs that will soon burst into life and activity.

We'll pray in significant and beautiful places on the island.

We'll pray in our centre – for the work and the people that we will meet.

We'll dance at world famous Pacha and worship, pray and celebrate life and music.

We'll pray that God would drench this place with his presence, that people would be touched by his love and that they would know God's truth which sets them free.

Dates: Mon 26 April - Sat 1 May

After reading that, I instantly knew that I was supposed to go. I freaked out; because I knew I didn’t have the money to go. It was actually my pastor at the time Randy Woolstrum, who encouraged me to calm down, and have a little faith. Before I knew it, God provided the money, and in April of 2009 I headed to Ibiza for the first time.

I spent 6 prayer filled days on the island (Check out my trip report), and I fell in love. I fell in love with the people, the work, and with the heart of 24/7 Ibiza. When I left, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be coming back. But to be honest, I was thinking more along the lines of doing another short term trip.

Boy was I in for a shocker!

On September 9, 2009 (I remember, because I wrote it down in my journal!), I was going to bed when God rocked my world. I was praying when in the middle of my prayers, this thought came to me…”Poppy, you need to go to Ibiza.” I remember I sat straight up in my bed because this thought had literally just come out of nowhere! Not only that, it was so clear. After that I was wide awake, and for about an hour I prayed as my mind began to race with the possibilities. After some prayer and confirmation, I reached out to Brian and Tracy. I remember I felt a bit like a crazy person. Technically I had been to Ibiza, but I had never been during the busy season when they actually do most of their work. They suggested I come for the summer, and we would take it from there.

So in the summer of 2010, I headed back to Spain. As a US citizen I can use my passport to stay in Spain for up to 90 days without a visa. That summer I stayed for 88 days! I had an amazing three months, and by the end, I was even surer that God was calling me to commit to the ministry on a more long term basis.

So now, I’m working on trying to move to Ibiza to work with 24-7 year round. I really don’t know if I can express in words how excited I am at the prospect! Mostly because I feel so privileged that God has called me to go join with the work that’s being done there. I’ll also admit that I’m a little scared. Mostly about the amount of money I need to raise to be able to stay in Spain. But then I remember my first trip, and the way that God provided, and I know things will be okay.

So, that’s it…that’s the story of my Ibiza journey.

...like a bird in a cage

I just read this great poem by theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, that sums up how I'm feeling as I wait. Here's my favorite bit...

Am I really that which other men tell of?

Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat
yearning for colours, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
thirsting for words of kindness, for neighbourliness,
tossing in expectation of great events,powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the Other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? Hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!

Learning to fly...

It's my Birthday month! Last year at this time I was celebrating my 40th in Ibiza...

I can't believe it's been a year since I got on a plane, and headed to Spain for the summer.

If you've seen this month's newsletter, than you know that I've finally gotten some good news about my visa! September 15th is the tentative date that it'll be ready for pick up. Which means soon, I will be able to leave! Now I'm starting to finalize stuff here in Vegas.

I still need to:

1. Sell my Car! - I've never done that before, so it should be an interesting experience. I'm going to try to sell it myself instead of to a dealership. Anybody got any car selling advice?

2. Death to the Pack Rat! - Yes I admit it, I am a pack rat! I'm making myself go through my remaining boxes, and throw away all of the stuff that I don't really need. I have one box that I've been through at least 4 times! I'm learning to let go...

3. Packing and Shipping - I'm trying to pack as much as I can, so I don't have to ship a lot. To ship an average sized box to Spain costs about $60-70, so I don't want to send many of those! I'm thinking I'll ship my bedding, and pillows, and maybe a few other things...

4. My Books! - If any of you have ever had the privilege of helping me move before, you know that 80% of what I own are books! I know that I can't take all of my babies with me, so I've been trying to decide which ones I'll take, and which ones will stay here in Vegas. Tough Choices!

As the days pass, I'm getting more and more excited to go. For the past several months, God has been teaching me a lot about FAITH. As I get ready to step out into the unknown, I feel like more than ever He's asking for my trust. I read this great quote last week...

"When you have come to the edge of all light that you know, and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught to fly"

- Patrick Overton

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Here's to learning how to fly...

Surrender...

“The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender.”

-William Booth