Welcome to my journey:

The past few years have brought into my life a journey of unusual and remarkable experiences I would never have planned. This journey has brought me to my recent college graduation along with a variety of possibilities for my next step. Although a traditional career path is an option, I have decided to continue on a journey that is both unique and challenging. To follow this path, I need your help and support. I write this to invite you to share this journey with me.  

Past experiences  living and working in developing countries such as Zambia, Mexico, South Africa, and Uganda, as well as cities close to home like Coatesville, Grove City, and New Orleans  have instilled in me a passion for rescuing, empowering, and enabling those unable to do so for themselves, particularly women. I have been given the opportunity to work alongside women at risk for human trafficking and prostitution as a project manager with Freedom Stones. On August 5^th, this role will take me to Pattaya, Thailand, a town known worldwide for its widespread sex tourism.

Prostitution is a thriving industry in Pattaya. It is a popular option for so many women living in poverty with so few opportunities. Through my role in Pattaya, I will work directly with the artisans, targeted women from the local slum community. Through jewelry production they are able to generate enough income to escape the oppressive sex trade. I will also work alongside the women to empower them through holistic training and skills, enabling them to live in the full freedom God desires for them.

The mission of Freedom Stones is to “transform individuals and entire communities, so that they can begin to walk in their God-given destinies free from extreme poverty, oppression, and injustice…through holistic skills development, social entrepreneurship, and a micro lending strategy.” In Thailand, Freedom Stones partners with Pattaya Slum Ministries to employ women as artisans through jewelry production, while also teaching them holistically in finances, health and nutrition, and trafficking awareness.

 Freedom Stones desires the artisans to be self-sufficient and as a nonprofit 501c3 tax exempt organization, the majority of the jewelry sales profit is given to the women as living wages. Those of us working for Freedom Stones receive a small stipend for housing each month, but must raise all other living expenses. I will need to raise monthly an estimated $1,000 for each of the next twelve months for food, utilities, language school, etc. I will also need to raise an initial $2,000 for the costs of travel to Thailand and other necessities such as a obtaining a Visa. And this is why I have come to you: I need financial help, and I am asking you to be a part of my support community.  

Also Pattaya is a dark place, and moving there alone will be challenging. So I am asking you to also support me in prayer and in community. I will need encouragement and the assurance that I am not doing this alone. I thank God that He has already placed you in my community, and I ask that you continue to do so even more in this next step of my journey.