Tom Davis posted a haunting, informative, and compelling piece about the sex trade in Russia yesterday. Read it here: Sex Trafficking in Russia. I'll never forget the first trip that Julie and I took to Russia with Children's HopeChest in May 2004. We visited an orphanage in Kostroma region called Ostrovskoye. When we pulled up in the bus, children came to greet us. The 9 year old boys looked like 9 year old boys. The 14 year old girls looked like 14 year old girls. Nothing unusual. Then one of these teenage girls retreated to her room. While she was gone, a black Mercedes showed up and businessmen from Moscow got out. They were the ones who gave TVs and a new fence for the orphanage. This girl emerged from her room provocatively dressed and looking 5 years older. She left with the men for the weekend. I began to ask questions of the other kids. These men were taking them to the zoo and McDonald's and buying them clothes. As I explored and experienced more, I came to understand that this is often a first step in the slave trade. Creating relationships of trust and provision, only to set an orphaned girl up for vulnerability and exploitation. This is confirmed in Victor Malarek's book, The Natashas. Join us as we seek to introduce vulnerable orphaned children to Christian mentorship, life skills, and educational and vocational opportunities. We are fighting the dehumanizing and disgusting sex slave trade by teaching young women that they are indeed made in the image of God, and by giving them the skills necessary for a healthy and whole adult life.
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