A No Nonsense Type of Thing

I can sit down every day and do a new post regarding sex trafficking. The information is there and ready to be found, generally, if you look hard enough. Well, at least the most shocking of facts always seem to be there. I could also sit and complain how different organizations aren't doing enough or what I think they should be doing, or they are doing what I think is an awesome job, but that is all opinionated blub.

 I could write till my fingers bleed and try and get you all to join the fight against sex trafficking. I could post 10 very sad, heart breaking facts, that make your insides twist. Then, I could post a few very tear worthy pictures of young prepubescent girls in brothels and then manipulate my words to make you feel horridly guilty for not joining the fight against sex trafficking. Which, then moves you to write out a small check to donate to the first sex trafficking organization you find under your first google search.

Does this sound familiar? To me it does. That, right there, sounds like the American culture that I live in. Organizations will mess with the publics feelings to twist out a few good checks from the richer public crowd, only to let them continue on with their life till the next sad puppy dog commercial comes on. Don't get me wrong t gets what needs to be done, done; but does it change people? Like truly change them?

Please, let me make it very clear. I am not bashing organizations. Everyone has a passion, and yes, for certain people its not letting beaten and abused animals die in a shelter. That is perfectly okay! It is just, as I sat down to type out this blog post I had no idea what I was going to say, and to be perfectly honest, I am still not sure what I am going to say, but I know something will come.

Lately, I think a lot of our posts seem to bash a lot of things. First, we did a post called Men, then we did a post called Young Girls Do It Too and then lastly we did a post entitled Use Your Voice. Man, did we get around a lot on that note, men, women and the church. I think we must have made some kind of record! But, here is the thing, in today's society it is all too easy to put the blame on someone else, rather then take ownership for the things that we do and that we allow to happen. By not standing up and fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, we pass the blame on to others where we ourselves are to blame.

(Okay so this post may turn out a little more on the bashing, blaming side. Lets see where I am taking this, shall we)

Think about it. The dog commercials? The feed the children commercials? I will be totally honest as I say this. I do not watch television. And when I do it is rare and in between. I live in a dorm with no t.v. and at home I live in a house, where my mother doesn't have cable. But, do you want to know something? When those commercials for the save the something or other come on, I feel bad, and switch the channel.

I mean I don't, currently, have the money to donate, I am just happy to be in college. And I live in a dorm where I cannot have pets and my mom already has a dog and doesn't want another. So, I just keep going. Passing over the issue, thinking that someone else will take care of the sad faced puppies, the victims of homelessness and the needy children.

I am sorry if this makes me a bad person. But here is my question. Have you ever done the same thing that I am admitting to you? Or do you leave the commercial on to hear the soft, sad music that draws a few tears? If you do this, awesome! But then do you pick up the phone right away and donate to the cause? Or rush down to the nearest shelter to add two new animals to your collection of house hold pets? We cannot all do this but there is always something we can do.

Now, currently, I am not sure that my point is coming off clearly, so let me keep trying. I have noticed that people are all too willing to not let the negative bother them. YOLO!!! (you only live once) With this they think someone else will take up there lack of what is needed and it will make up for everything. People want life to be comfortable, God forbid we feel bad and uncomfortable. Well, what if everyone would think this way? That would leave a lot of slack, for the few people doing stuff, to pick up and take care of. And that my friends can get tiring.

Now, I am not saying that we all have to go out and donate to every single organization out there. Being broke is not the goal here, but helping out is.

Did you know that there is actually a lot of stuff that you can do to help fight the sex trade that really only demands a little time? Volunteering with organizations! Writing letters to your congressmen and representatives! Every sign a petition?! What about just looking up the facts and sharing the information you learn with the people around you!?

It is simple and easy stuff that everyone can do! And I mean it! Now, to get you started here are some facts to know and keep handy:

1.    Sex trafficking is the 3rd largest criminal industry in the world.
2. 12 is the average age for a girl in the U.S. to be trafficked into porn and prostitution.
3. 25% of child sex tourists around the world come from the U.S.
4. The United States is the 3rd destination country for trafficking in the world, with 15,500-17,500 trafficked in yearly, that is an active American football team every day.
5.  In 2011 94% of victims were females and 6% are males, while the number of males continues to grow.  
6. More then 50% of victims of sex trafficking are under the age of 18.

Those are just a few facts to help you get started. Now, take some time and do your own research. Look up facts and different organizations. Information and being aware is key.

Just a no nonsense post,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Every want to email or get in contact with us? Feel free to email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com We want to hear from you!! 

3...2...1...ACTION

I love movies as much as the next girl. I mean, I get to curl up in a ball with my favorite pink comforter, wearing my yoga pants and t-shirt, while cuddling my teddy bear, Surg, who I  have had ever since I had my appendix out. My favorite is when I get to do one of these movie moments with my friends!

During the summer I was able to watch a movie with Janice and we watched some movies on a popular, legal movie cite. Of course all the movies we watched had to do with sex trafficking. It is who we are, it is what we do. Anyway, this movie was one of the best sex trafficking movies I had ever seen. Like, it was really good. Anyway, time ran out and we were unable to finish the movie.

Now, that I am currently in college, I have more friends who I am always talking about sex trafficking with.  It truly is a good thing, and I cannot lie, I am grateful for all my friends putting up with me!  I am truly blessed. However, with always talking about sex trafficking I had mentioned the movie, that I watched with Janice, to them on multiple occasions.

This week we sat down and watched the movie in full, and I was able to finish it. Boy was it good. Sad, but good. I don't want to explain it and if you want to watch it, it is called "The Whistleblower." It is really a movie that should be watched.

There is something that is said in the movie though that is so true. "It spreads like cancer."

This quote is regarding human trafficking. And it couldn't be more true. Think about it. Like, really take a few seconds and think about it.  Sex trafficking is like cancer...

Sex trafficking is like cancer.

Is that hitting you as hard as it hit me? When I heard this part of the movie for the second time, it was like a punch to the stomach. I actually got up and left the room for a few minutes, repeating that over and over. I don't know what it is about that statement but it really was like I just got hit by a train. Though, that statement is a bit of an exaggeration, it gets my point across.

Here's the thing, sex trafficking is like cancer; and when a person has cancer there is always a fight against the cancer that takes place. For instance, surgery and chemotherapy are generally things that need to be done and is done so that the person with cancer can survive.

So, if sex trafficking is like a cancer, we need to start fighting against it like it is. We need to fight against it aggressively. Plain and simple. We need to stop being our old couch-potato-selves and get to work.

When I say this, I am even talking to myself. I like watching movies with my friends, but what if I gave up one movie a week to actively start fighting the sex trade even more then I am now? What if you did the same? What if we all did this? How many hours would we as people, around the world, be giving to those truly in need? Think of how many hours would go to such a great cause if we were to do this. I don't know about you all, but I know that I am going to start doing this.

Even if it is just volunteering my time or writing letters to my congress men, there is a lot that can be done; and I am not going to sit around on my butt while girls are being raped by men and blunt objects, being drugged and forced to do things that they do not want to do. I am not going to sit around as more and more young boys are being trafficked to fulfill the "needs" of dirty filthy men. I just cant sit around as the bodies of other humans are being defiled by people who have no business doing what they are doing. I just cant. And I hope, I pray that you can't either.

I am going to do some research on what I can do to help stop sex trafficking in my area. Why don't you do the same? Because, do you want to know a secret? You can make a difference. You!!! You. Is that not wonderful?!

Now, get up, get your war paint on and lets kick this cancer in the butt,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. If you ever need to get in touch with us, share a story, share your passion to fight an injustice feel free to comment or email us! We would love to share your passion! askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Use Your Voice

I go to a private college. It's a statement, a fact, about me. It's part of who I am and what makes me, me. Now, this post has to do with a chapel that I recently attended. Before you zone out and think I am going to go off on a theology tangent, decide, and make up your mind, to pay attention to the post. I have something to say, and unlike most of the people in my generation, I am going to use my voice to speak up.

The pastor who came and talked at Chapel was a preacher from the Philippines. I cannot recall his name at this current point in time, but what he talked about was awesome. This pastor talked about my generation and how we have pretty much been silenced by the older generations. For example, the Jesus Movement.

 The Jesus movement was really big in North America and Europe in the 60's and 70's. The movement was awesome and a lot of people came to Christ through it. But there was something that the pastor mentioned, with this movement, there really wasn't a come as you are mentality. The bible says in  James 2:1-4, "My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in after him, and you say to the man in the suit, 'Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!' and either ignore the street person or say, 'Better sit here in the back row,' haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who cant be trusted?" In the NIV version of the bible it says that you have become, "judges with evil thoughts."

Have you ever looked at the church? They want you to cut your hair, guys, so that it isn't long and shaggy. They look at you weird when you have "too many" piercings or tattoos. The church wants to catch a fish that is already gutted and cleaned, but that is not how fishing works. Please note that I am not saying this is true about every church, because it isn't.

I recently went to a church with a friend, it was right after I returned from India. I had ankle bracelets on both ankles, just gotten my nose pierced (one of many piercings I have), I had henna all over my wrists, hands and arms. And on top of that my outfit was not necessarily what you would call a "church outfit." I was wearing bright purple jeggings, a shorter then I ever should have worn baby doll dress that didn't even cover my full bottom, and was a little low on the cleavage section and a little black jacket over it, that I left open.  My exact words as I walked in with my friend was, "they are going to think I am a heathen." I even got mean mugged as I coughed at one point.

Here is what I am saying, the church is supposed to show love, what ever happened to loving the person and hating the sin? What happened to the church accepting the person, not the sin. The church is supposed to be a hospital for the broken, not a museum for the perfect. With the mentality of having to be perfect for church the church has single handedly taken the voice away for the younger generations.

Being original may, in fact, be what causes a movement to start. I stand out and I know it. I have a voice and I know it. But, what about all the others who have been told to fit in for so long and told to be quiet for so long that they forgot they had a voice? I am sure that this has been going on for more then just my generation, but shouldn't it be time that we started telling people that they had a voice and that they should use it?

Look at it this way. If I were to stand on a street corner for a whole day and talk to anyone who walked by about sex trafficking, what do you think would happen? I am sure at least a few people may get a little intrigued and maybe even looked into the matter further. My point? I would have used my voice. One, that I have had my whole life.

I have a voice that I can use to raise awareness of the injustices in this world. You have one too. Are you using your voice? If you aren't, you should. We have been silenced by a mentality for way too long. It is time to speak up! Use your voice! Don't every think someone can take away your voice, because as long as you have your vocal cords and sound coming out of your mouth, you can use your voice to make a change. So, why not do it?

We will be using our voices to disrupt the sex trade.

Never forget you have a voice,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Comments, questions, ideas, thoughts, share your story? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

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Stranger Danger

I'm a Nanny. Which means my job is to watch children. I take the little kiddos I watch to the park and let them work off some energy. They have fun running around and I get the joy of some time out in the sun and watching all the kids play together. And if other mom's or nannies show up it's nice social interaction. I love my job and I completely adore the children I watch. I honestly don't know how you can love a child more then I love them. When I have kids, If it is possible to love them more as I'm told it is, I might just be the most protective, caring, loving, child spoiling mother of all time.

This begs the question then, why do a post on sex trafficking from a nannies point of view? Well, the people who come to the park without children are what this post is mainly about.

I had taken the boy I nanny to the park one day as we so often do. It was a nice day and he and I were both enjoying ourselves. Going up and down the slide over and over. One thing that I have learned from being a nanny is that I must always pay attention to the people who are around. It's not just about me anymore. It's about this child too. His life is in my hands. On this particular day at the park, I noticed an older man just hanging out in a car, looking at the children. He was parked behind the bathrooms and a big tree. The only way he was visible was from the very edge of the park where the swings are located. Mine and the kid I nannies first stop.

Instantly, red flags started going up. Especially since it was just the child I nanny and I at the park for a while. Hopefully this is the case for everyone watching over a child. When people who are very out of place in an environment for children, it is better to be "too safe". Now, yes this is technically profiling but it's important to be safe rather then sorry. I'm not betting the child's life on it, so I'm ok with being known as a "profiler". But a lot of times a recruiter for trafficking can be someone who blends into the surroundings perfectly.

My point is, people who are in charge of children need to be careful. Start keeping your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings. There is no way to truly estimate how many young children who are kidnapped while in their parents or guardians presence are trafficked.  But I can't help but wonder how many "recruiters" scope out children at a simple, fun place like the park. The very place I take the child I nanny all the time.

So parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, nannies, baby-sitters, legal guardians, watch out for your child. Don't stand there and text while your child plays (which I've seen all too much), and maybe ignore a call from someone if needed. If anything is going to distract you from watching the child you're in charge of and possibly put them in danger. It can wait.

Just a thought from an over protective nanny,

Janice and Nicole

Wally World

Hello and good day to you wonderful friends! I hope that you are all having an amazing day. Today I just want to get a little personal on my end. Don't worry, it does involve sex trafficking, so don't zone out just yet.

Here is the thing. I am currently not in the beautiful state of Colorado. I am actually in a very flat state in college. And yes, I can say whole heartedly I miss my mountains, family, and friends! You don't live in a place like Colorado and not miss it.

Anyway! Right by my school is a very conventionally placed Wal-Mart. Behind that, there are the crack apartments and then it leads to the North part of town; if you go there, make sure you have a group of guys you know and maybe some pepper spray. Anyway, on the other side of my school's campus there are some really nice houses and the neighborhoods that get nicer and nicer the further you go. I take this way to get to work, and even though I dislike the town I live in, I definitely would not mind living in one of those houses.

Now, this Wal-Mart right next to me is known for something. What is it you ask? Well, sex trafficking, and hold-ups at gun point, but that is not the point that I want to currently talk about. I want to talk about sex trafficking.

Here at my college there are two "rules" that are not really rules but they are taken very seriously. The two rules are to never be on a bridge late at night. And never go to Wal-Mart at night. Simple enough right? Wrong. Within the first week of school I managed to break both rules. Don't worry though, I have not been on a bridge since the first time I broke that "rule." But I cannot lie, I do go to Wal-Mart at night every once in awhile.

Anyway, one night I was at Wal-Mart with two friends. One was walking slow so she witnessed me and my other friend get followed by two very bad "stalkers." We laugh about it now and how the Wal-Mart turns into a Halloween Wonderland at night. But that is not the worst experience I have had at Wal-Mart.

If you are getting tired of reading, hold on, it is about to get really interesting.

I have this roommate here at college. She is awesome and like the bestest ever! Last year we would go to Wal-Mart every Saturday, along with some other girls at the time neither of us had a car. Anyway,  we had all gone to Wal-Mart this particular Saturday afternoon, and we had ran into a friend who use to live on our floor. We were all talking to her till my roommate and I walked off so that we could do a little fast shopping on the opposite side of the store.

Not long after separating we notice that there is a group of about 7 guys following us. Sometimes they would separate and then they would come back together. My roommate and I weaved in and out, we went to weird parts of the store. These guys were on us. Quickly we started making our way back to our large group, where two of the men started looking at the flowers we were all gathered around and then left.

After that they didn't bother us anymore, in fact we didn't see them anymore. It may have been the fact that Mama (the girl who use to live on my floor) was making very load statements to make sure that her daughters (me and my roommate) were safe. She is my Mama away from home and she is the safe haven I run to when anything goes wrong.

Here is the thing. Everyone said beware of Wal-Mart at night! Guys follow you and sex trafficking is something that happens there and there are some strange and pretty creepy people there. I have never had an issue with Wal-Mart at night. But during the day, that is when I have issues there. There are other things that have happen there to me as well, and it happened during the day.

What is my point with this? Sex trafficking doesn't wait for night time to roll around. It happens at every hour of every say. And the people involved are not always the "creepers" we would like to picture them as. You know the ones I mean, with yellow rotting teeth, the huge balding spot and receding hairline with the wrinkled face and large warts all over, and lets not forget the scratchy high pitched voice. Pretty much your typical horror movie creepy old guy. 

But this isn't always the case. More often then not the typical male recruiter for sex trafficking is good looking, someone who you wouldn't be thinking would be involved in the sex trade. So, remember that. The guys following my roommate and me around definitely did not fit the "creeper" title. Rather they were guys that were attractive and other any other circumstance I would maybe even go out with.

Do you get my point? If not there were two and I will say them again for you. One: sex trafficking happens at all hours of the day, just because you are sleeping, doesn't mean the sex trade was put on pause.  Two: recruiters of sex trafficking don't always fit the "creeper" profile that we put them in.

Just some stuff for you all to think on.

And on one last very important note. In the bathrooms of this Wal-Mart there are little stickers that are everywhere. They say that you think there is someone being trafficked to call the National Trafficking Number which is 1-888-373-7888.

So, now take a moment and put that number in your phone. And if you ever think you are witnessing or suspect someone being trafficked call the number right away.

You can always do more then you think you can,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. We now have an instagram so go follow us at @whatdoyouknowaboutsex. And we have a twitter so go follow us there as well @AMASeexTFaxts. And then like us on facebook at What Do You Know About Sex Trafficking. And then lastly if you would ever like to email us for any reason our email is askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

Love

Hello and happy September 10th to all you wonderful readers! I hope that you are all having a great day and that it is going smoothly.

For those of you who do not know about it, today is the day that we write love on our arms. This is to take a stand on something that has been occurring more and more over the years. It is cutting and self harm. Janice and I have talked about how we need to stand up against the injustices that are taking place.  We do not want to be blinded by the things that are currently going on around us.

Some people, like Janice and I, feel strongly about sex trafficking, but then there are others who feel about self harm in the way that Janice and I feel about sex trafficking. It is the passion behind the issue.  There are so many things that are going on in the world that need to be addressed. So today, to the people who are fighting to bring awareness to self harm, WAY TO GO! It is awesome what you are doing.

Normally, Janice and I only do posts on sex trafficking, but on a day like today, we wanted to take a moment to raise awareness on an issue that is happening more and more and that effects both males and females, young and old.

So, even though your passion may not be self harm or sex trafficking, it is always smart to be in the know about what is going on. Maybe your passion is fighting against abortion or eating disorders,  what ever it is, it's always good to know about the other injustices.   

So, take a moment and learn about something new. Something that needs to be brought forth, out of the shadows, so people know they aren't alone. That there are people out there in the world
who are fighting for them.

So, I am going to sign off now and am going to write love on my wrist. Why don't you join me and do the same?

Here to support others,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. What is your main passion in life? Some injustice you want to see stopped? Let Janice and I know! We want to support you and share your passion! Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com and while you are at it like our Facebook page What Do You Know About Sex Trafficking!

The Lady With Her Eyes Covered

This past week I was at my Doctor getting a normal check up. When I walked in I found out that the lady who scheduled my appointment didn't do it right so there was apparently no such appointment in the system. After much deliberation they finally fixed the issue, but I ended up having to wait an extra hour to see the doctor.

As I'm sitting there, watching the same health warnings over and over again on the screen, this lady with her face covered comes in. I'm thinking to myself how annoyed I am to be waiting there an extra 40 minutes, thus far, due to something that wasn't my fault. I even had the confirmation card to say I made an appointment. This totally wasn't my doing. Basically I'm basking angrily in the fact I'm, healthily, sitting there waiting on the doctor.

But to get back to my point, it's about the lady. I never caught her name. She never thought to give it. I never thought to ask. So she's forever known in my memories as "the lady."Anyway, she walks in, face covered with a wash clothe, and she has DARK sunglasses on. She was creeping the people around me out, but I was intrigued. I wanted to know about this lady. Found out, from overhearing her talking with the receptionist, that she had a MASSIVE migraine. Her meds were on back order until October 10th. She's in severe pain and has no choice but to come to her doctor in hopes of getting an appointment for that day, eventually. Yet, I'm painlessly sitting there, mad at the receptionist for getting my appointment wrong. Vanity of vanities much?

I was sitting with my back to the only window on that floor. I offer the lady my seat so she doesn't have to look directly into the light. She kindly takes my offer and we start a conversation. She tells me her son, who is 18, dropped her off because she couldn't drive. She has two son's. The oldest one has a son of his own. He's 16 months old. I'm a nanny so of course this strikes up a good conversation.

 She asks me why I'm there. I tell her my whole story of getting a physical. Which then leads to our lives. She tells me she's worked with disabled people in her community for years. I tell her I want to see the sex trade stopped and I'm going to fight to make it happen. I tell her all about this blog, all about my plans, all about the sex trafficking industry. She's shocked, horrified, and marveled by the facts.

Understanding it was a active organization, but not understanding it was happening all around her in the very state she calls home. I educate her with the thought in mind that she could save her grandson from becoming a victim. Or simple spread the word and educate someone she knows.

Shortly after discussing sex trafficking I get called back. She's still waiting there, in pain. I'm not even in this slightest bit of pain. The nurse thought she was my mother because we were just chatting away as if we weren't strangers, but friends. Technically I guess we are friends, everyone starts out as a stranger first.

The nurse takes me to the room where I wait for another 40 minutes for the doctor. All the while all I can think about is this woman. A woman who is in terrible pain yet laughed, joked, encouraged, and talked with me as if everything was normal. It was such a short meeting, but a very memorable one.

If I had gone in at 9:20, like I was supposed to, I would've never met this lady. Never educated her on sex trafficking, and never been influenced by her kindness and patients.

My main point you ask? Sometimes things don't go as we plan. Maybe they never do. But use the moments you are given to change someones life. Take seemingly bad moments and turn them in to life changing moments, if not for yourself then for someone else. Educate them on what you're passionate about and recruit someone new to stop the injustice you are fighting against. It's going to take us all working together to see this industry die. But we can do it!

Don't be afraid to talk with a stranger. They're just people who can become your future friends. We all love friends!

Sincerely someone who had a life changing moment,

Janice and Nicole

P.S. Have you been doing your sticky notes? Have you been educating those around you about the injustice of sex trafficking? Tell us all about it! We want to hear your stories. Email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com

It All Goes Together

Have you ever been in a group project for a class? I have many times and here is what always seems to happen. First off, there is always the person who does all the work. They bring cookies and drinks to all the meetings and on top of that do all the research for everyone in the group. Then when the meetings are done this person runs home to secretly cry on their pillow from pure exhaustion. Then there is the person who wants to help with the project. They are ready and willing, but person one makes it impossible for the shared help. Then there is the third person, the person doesn't want to do any work and does not do any work. And they feel just fine about this. I have had this happen many times and even in college I find that people are still this way.

Now, there is a point to my story and it does have to do with sex trafficking. To end sex trafficking a group effort is needed. Just like in a school project, only with this assignment everyone really does need to work together. But, see here is the thing, it is rather surprising how many people don't want to work together. They would rather do nothing, fight with each other on the right way to end the sex trade or just try and stop the sex trade all by themselves. Then these people get burnt out before they ever get a chance to do some positive damage.

But want to know something awesome about this positive "homework assignment"?  No matter what you do, you ARE helping! It doesn't matter how big or small you think what your doing is. Everything adds up. So really, you are doing a big thing! Plus, being informed on the matter and not being ignorant of a very important issue is also key.

So, the next time you are thinking, "dude! I wish I could do more!" Remember this, everything adds up and if you take the time to do your research you can make the educated choice on what to do next.
If you decided to close your eyes and go to sleep, ignoring the issue and think someone else will do your job. Here's the thing though, you're the only one you can control. You can't guarantee that anyone else will help stop sex trafficking. You can't even guarantee that Janice and I will always fight against sex trafficking (though we can guarantee we will). But you have the control to guarantee YOU will do something to see the sex trade stopped. If you don't step up to do something then what is making others decide to be positive students and help out on this "project"?

So, step up and be good students! Never forget that what you are doing is important and no one can do what you can do! No matter how small it is. You are a unique part to a puzzle that is fighting to end the sex trade. Now, get working and be the A+ students I know you all can be.

Keep studying,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Have you been doing something to stop the sex trade? No matter how small it is, Janice and I want to share it with others! Email us your stories at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com! Plus if you have been sticky noting let us know! We want to share your passion! If you don't know what that is check out our first blog post Lets Explain Our Mission! It is totally worth your time.

Young Girls Do It Too

The smartest thing we ever did was to take a readers advice and sign up for the FBI emails. They're packed full of information regarding sex trafficking. My only issue is that you have to be subscribed to get the information. I feel it should be on the local news more, and all over the Internet. Not something you have to hear about from someone else, or really search for to get the information.

That's beside the point though, because, this is yet another post about an article we recently received from them. It's about a girl, who we'll call, Pam (not her real name). She was recently sentenced to 18 years in prison for conspiracy of sexually trafficking under age girls. Though they have officially put the ruling as a "conspiracy" there are girls, under the age of 18, that supported the accusations against Pam.

There are plenty of terrible things you can read on this trial. Like, the fact Pam was the head of a gang in Tennessee, that trafficked girls to get extra cash. They trafficked girls in Tennessee and in New Orleans. She, of course, kept all the money the girls made from selling themselves. If the girls refused to "work" she would threaten them and use force to get them to continue working. One witness even claimed to have seen Pam drag a girl by her hair while beating her.

That's not even the worst part. It's not the thing that hurt our heart the most. The thing that tore us up was the fact that Pam is a 20 year old girl. She's the same age as Nicole and I. She's selling girls for sex. She's beating them and forcing them to lose all respect for themselves. She's making these young girls feel worthless. She's stolen all their security. She has stolen their innocence. That's going to be the hardest thing to gain back. SHE'S ONLY 20!

We could NEVER think of doing to someone what she did to these girls. Not now, not when we're 90! But the fact that a 20 year old girl could take the freedom of so many girls and lose 18 years of her life is sad to me. She took a risk to make some money. Greed controlled her so much that she was willing to lose her "golden" years to make some easy money. Not caring that she was hurting so many innocent people in the process.

This generation saddens me. Why do we feel so empty that we seek all the wrong things to fill that emptiness? We try to fill it with money, sex, drugs, drinking, etc..... Obviously this generation needs something more. Pam wouldn't have been willing to risk 18 years of her life to fill that "void" if she didn't know there was something missing. She just thought it was power and money. She was wrong. She's just as empty in her jail cell as she was out in the world. Worldly things can't fill her void, obviously. They just landed her in jail. And in the end how did that help her?

We already did a post about the men who buy and sell girls and boys for sex trafficking and how they're held captive by things too. It was controversial to say the least. Now, here's a post on a girl who's being held captive by something.

Here's the thing. Nicole and I are Christians. Our beliefs are this: We have a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. He is Lord of our lives, and lover of our soul. We believe the Bible from the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation. We don't take away from the Word and we don't add to it, as the book of Revelation says not to. We're not here to preach to you, or to push our beliefes on you. But, we are here, rather, to inform you on sex trafficking. But, every now and then our faith will come up, and our views might be different then yours because they're based upon our faith.

This is one of those views. So let us explain ourselves please. The Bible says in

John 8:34-36
Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through." (MSG)

We believe this scripture whole heartily. Therefore we believe that unless you have been set free from sin, by Jesus Christ, you are a slave to something. Just like we all were slave to something at some point in our lives. By seeing people, such as the people who buy and sell boys and girls for prostitution, set free from their bondages there can be a complete stop to sex trafficking as a whole. I believe that this case shows that. Pam was a slave to greed and power so she was willing to risk it all and to degrade other human beings to become "free" and feel the emptiness in her life. I'm glad she's behind bars so she can't take others down with her in her search to fill her void. But, I pray she finds the only true freedom maker, Jesus. If she had found Him in the beginning she wouldn't have felt the need to traffic young girls.

Please, don't take this the wrong way. We understand that EVERYONE is needed in this fight. No matter the belief difference, the ethnic background difference, the gender, age, or race difference. We want everyone to feel that they can voice their opinion, and we hope you see the bigger picture, which is to see sex trafficking STOPPED COMPLETELY, and not just the difference in beliefs or opinions that this post might have. No matter our differences we want to fight this fight with YOU if you're willing to partner with us. We are more then willing to partner with you. Let's work together. Let's see sex trafficking stopped completely!

Just two people desiring to change the WHOLE world,

Janice & Nicole

P.S. Are there any suggestions you have on how to find more information about sex trafficking? The FBI suggestion came from a reader. We'd love to hear your suggestions too!!!

Email us at: askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com or comment on the post. We want to hear what YOU have to say. :)

And It Happens Again

Good morning you wonderful lovelies! I hope that you are all doing well and that you are enjoying your day. I know for me that today is going by really fast and I cannot believe it is almost the weekend!

On that note lets get to more important matters. As most of you know, Janice and I say it so often, but sex trafficking is a local issue as well as a world wide issue. It is so shocking to me that so many people do not realize that trafficking is happening in their own back yard! Granted that is just a figure of speech, but you get what I mean.

Recently Janice did a great post called, A Slap in the Face. She talked about a sex trafficking case that was taking place in the state where she was from. Today, I am doing a post on a trafficking case that touches a state that we are both connected to. Colorado.

The beautiful sunny state. The state I fight tooth and nail for, for being the most beautiful state in the U.S. Though, my opinion may be somewhat bias. But, today, I am disheartened to say the least. So, with out further blabber I will tell you about the case that hits close to home, literally.

The man on trial is a man of the age 45. He is guilty of, "advertising child pornography, receipt of child pornography, two accounts distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography." Bob, the name of the man as we will call him, will officially be sentenced on November 14 of this year. They way Bob worked was through an online circle of friends, trading, exchanging, advertising and distributing to anyone who was a member.

In the end it was found that he possessed over 200,000 pornographic images of children on several hard drives. Part of the goal of his online group was to encourage new videos of child pornography. And through the arrest of Bob, 2 young girls, both younger then 12, were able to be rescued from the people holding them captive.

Bob faces a minimum of 15 mandatory years in prison. All together, for crimes like his 15 years is the minimum years anyone can face and 30 is the maximum years and along with the years in prison people who commit these crimes face a fine of $250,000.

This court case was brought forth because of Project Safe Childhood which was started in 2006.

It is important to remember that pornography is a form of sex trafficking. Especially, child pornography.

Remember the fight against sex trafficking starts in your own back yard,

Nicole and Janice

P.S. Are you doing something to fight against sex trafficking? Email us at askmeaboutsextrafficking@gmail.com  We would love to share your story!! Also like us on facebook: What Do You Know About Sex Trafficking. Follow us on twitter @AMASexTFacts

Want to read the article on the Denver man?

"Denver Man Convicted of Advertising Child Pornography and Other Child Pornography Related Charges." FBI. FBI, 27 Aug. 2013. Web. 04 Sept. 2013.