Operation Underground Railroad

Today, a friend of mine shared this article on facebook:

BYU grad rescues child sex slaves – U N I V E R S E

I HIGHLY recommend you read it. I have since looked further into the organization started and operated by the subject of the article, Tim Ballard. His non-profit organization is called Operation Underground Railroad. Their website is https://www.ourrescue.org/ .

Tim Ballard and his team have put forth a lot of, time, talent, effort and energy to rescue children and victims of human trafficking. His organization has been featured on ABC Nightly News as well as on The Blaze. He has been promoting his organization for a while now, and I am just now hearing about it. I hope that those of you who read this will help to promote this organization as well as donate to the cause.



In some of the videos that I have watched relating to this, Ballard talks about having his own children, and as I have read about the child sex trade, I am disgusted and angry and so sad for these children. As I look at my own children I think of how horrifying it would be if anything were ever to happen to them.

I think the most powerful things said by Tim Ballard is this:

 “It’s funny, because we all read history [regarding early US slave trade] and we think, ‘Oh, I would … have risen up, I would have fought, I would have been an abolitionist,'” Ballard said. “And I tell them, ‘No, you wouldn’t have. If you would have, you’d be doing that right now. You know trafficking exists, you’ve heard of it, but you don’t want to look.'”

So, let us look:

Here in the USA

This information comes from arkofhopeforchildren.org

Update: In 2012 the (UNODC) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports the percentage of child victims had risen in a 3 year span from 20 per cent to 27 per cent. Of every three child victims, two are girls and one is a boy.

Gender and age profile of victims detected globally: 59% Women - 14% Men - 17% Girls and 10% were Boys.

• 600,000 to 800,000 women, children and men bought and sold across international borders every year and exploited for forced labor or commercial sex (U.S. Government)
• When internal trafficking victims are added to the estimates, the number of victims annually is in the range of 2 to 4 million
• 50% of those victims are estimated to be children
• It is estimated that 76 percent of transactions for sex with underage girls start on the Internet
• 2 million children are subjected to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade (UNICEF)
• There are 20.9 Million victims of Trafficking World wide as of 2012
• 1.5 Million victims in the United States

The Impact:

• Human trafficking has surpassed the illegal sale of arms
• Trafficking will surpass the illegal sale of drugs in the next few years
• Drugs are used once and they are gone. Victims of child trafficking can be used and abused over and over
• A $32 billion-a-year industry, human trafficking is on the rise and is in all 50 states (U.S. Government)
• 4.5 Million of trafficked persons are sexually exploited
• Up to 300,000 Americans under 18 are lured into the commercial sex trade every year
• From 14,500 - 17,500 of those victims are trafficked into the United States each year

For a religious viewpoint, I refer to the Bible. Matthew 18:5-6 has some harsh words from the Savior of the world about those who harm His little children: "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

A few years ago one of our religious leaders gave a great talk about protecting children. Here is a little clip of that talk:

So, what can we do? We can donate, we can spread the word, we can elect leaders who will get something done. We can support our local law enforcement agencies in their efforts by reporting suspicious activity. We can be more active in our local communities. If all you ever do is go from home to work to home, how do you know what is going on in your community?

Watch your own children. Be mindful of their activity on the internet. Be open with them about the dangers of online predators. Communicate and help your children be aware of people that may wish to entrap them for their own evil and selfish purposes.

I think above all, do not support these evil human traffickers. Do not seek out pornography, especially that which involves children. Tim Ballard mentioned in one of the clips that I viewed that the average "customer" for child prostitution is a regular person who became addicted to pornography and sex. Soon, they couldn't get enough, and over time their appetites changed. They become addicted to the risky behavior. Don't start down that path. Seek help now if necessary. 

Who is this "Barely Educated Woman?"

     This first post will be one of introduction. I feel like it is important to understand where my opinions come from. To do that, you will have to know a little bit about me...

     I was born and raised in Northern California in a small 3 bedroom house in North Highlands (a suburb of Sacramento). My parents had six children and I am number five. I shared a room with my two sisters and my three brothers shared the room across the hall. We never moved. We shared one bathroom. Although I consider us growing up "poor," as children, we hardly noticed. There was always something to do and we never were hungry. It wasn't until I was older that I realized that certain things took longer to repair because we didn't have money to fix them. I remember having to take baths because the shower was broken. I remember having to use pliers to turn on the water because the faucet was also broken. We joke now about a time when a toothbrush was used to turn on and off the television. There was also a time when the door broke on the girl's bedroom and a sheet was hung in it's place. For years, we went without a door. Food, shelter, and clothing took precedent over privacy. We just made do with what we had. And as small children, we were none the wiser. I went to all of the same schools as my older siblings. All throughout elementary school I was lovingly referred to by teachers as "Little Elmer" and not my actual name- Leah. In the world I was just one of many, but at home we were valued as individuals.

     My parents grew up in a time when children were meant to "be seen and not heard." My mother's father had a difficult time expressing affection. When my mom would tell him "I love you daddy," he would clear his throat and mumble "likewise." Both of my parents had amazing parents. They were well cared for and love was shown through quiet acts of service, however, there was a lack of open dialogue in the relationships that my parents had with their parents. As a result, my mother and father at the beginning of their marriage, decided that it would not be the same with their children. They wanted their children to feel free to come to them with any question or concern. Although my mom never finished college, and my dad has only an AA, I thought (and still think) that they were super smart. Dad and Mom viewed each other as equals. My mom is a woman of strength and wisdom and my father values those qualities in her. My father, is quite logical and very well read. When he has an interest in something he will read everything he can about that thing and he remembers it all! We tease him that his mind is filled with a bunch of useless crap (like baseball stats from the 70s). (Never play against my father in Trivial Pursuit, you are bound to lose.) I felt that I could ask Mom and Dad about anything and everything. Sometimes they didn't have all of the answers and would have to "get back to me." But they often turned questions around and asked "Well, what do you think about that?" We would have open and honest discussions about every topic under the sun. From religion and politics to science and literature. As teenagers, I remember being in a conversation where my older brother asked a question about oral sex. My mom nearly lost her composure, but answered the question as best she could.

     As a result of this open dialogue and the value placed on our thoughts and opinions, I grew up with much self confidence (as far as my mind was concerned). I had no problems speaking in public, or participating in class. I think I would have killed it on a debate team (it that was offered at our high school). I graduated from high school in 2000. I met my husband, Jesse, in August of 2002, married in January 2003 and stopped going to school when I had our first child in the beginning of 2004. Together we have five children and one more on the way. They vary in ages from 10 to 2. I joke and say that some people take up painting or pottery- I have babies. Nothing is more important to me than to see my children happy and healthy. I hope that one day, they will be successful, responsible adults. In the mean time, my educational goals have been placed on hold. I have been able to take an online class here and there over the years, but with almost 6 children, the time for my own schooling is not right now.

     Throughout our marriage we have had some ups and downs. We have had financial struggles and successes. We have had our fair share of disagreements and triumphs. All of my life experiences have helped me to develop my own mind, and my own opinions. I learned that it is important to have questions, but to also have faith. To seek out answers from various sources, but to not believe everything you hear or read. Sometimes the best answer is the simplest one, and other times, things are a little more complicated.

     This blog is my way of sharing my thoughts with you (the reader). My husband is a great listener, and so are my parents, but sometimes I enjoy the thoughts and opinions of those who might disagree with me (not that we are always in agreement). I hope you enjoy The Ramblings of a Barely Educated Woman.