The very first project that we wanted to initiate as Stop Slavery was the school and community center at Unit 14.  The orphanage ended up getting funded first since it required less start up funds and just on going funds to run it.  Just before Christmas we received the last $3000 for this $19,000 project from a small group from The Harbor, which is a Cadence ministry in Okinawa, Japan.

Hopefully the school will get started soon.  We are already moving on towards other projects.  Two of our big projects for 2012 are opening the Museum of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery in Siem Reap, Cambodia and getting a real office so we don’t have to to work from home, couches, cafes etc.  Waahoo!

You can see the original post for the school here http://stopslavery.org/unit14

Thank you to all who have helped with special one time gifts and those who help sustain our ministries monthly as well.

Would you like to be involved in 4 1/2 months that will change the rest of your life? We are joining with Cadence International from July 27th until Dec 14th to be part of a life changing Disciple Training School. The school is based on the YWAM DTS with a few tweaks and a focus on human trafficking and slavery in South East Asia. If you would like to be a part please go to www.cadencedts.com and fill out an application.

Find out more at Cadence Discipleship Training School

The very first day that I thought about Stop Slavery (my original name for the project was Dream27 thankfully my student leaders came up with Stop Slavery) I thought about funding it with a business.  I even registered a domain for the business that I still own.  Shortly after that as the idea began to grow and more people got involved I thought we should just go with the traditional non profit route of praying, telling others about our needs and fundraising.

Since we have been back in the states a number of influential people in my life have asked about using a business to fund Stop Slavery.  As I began to think and pray about it I was convinced that I would like to go down that route but also just as strongly convinced that there was no way I had the time to start a business in addition to running Stop Slavery and the Discipleship Training School we are starting in July 2011.

One of my former students, who had done an internship for me in the past, called up and said that he was interested in starting a company with the profits going to Stop Slavery.  It was neat how God had moved my heart back in that direction at the same time that he was preparing someone else to take that over.

At this point I am not sure where it will go or what it will look like.  Another neat aspect of the project is that when we were talking about opening an orphanage in Siem Reap many single mothers wanted us to take their children since they couldn’t properly provide for them.  We were not willing to take the children but I told them that we would try within the next year to figure out a way to help them provide for their families.

The business idea is to create hemp products in Cambodia, hence the name Hope Hemp, (though that is just an idea at this point as well)  made by single mothers who have already demonstrated a willingness to part with their kids and whose kids are at risk to be sold into slavery, and sell those products here in U.S. on different college campuses, youth ministries, botique shops etc.

If you have any thoughts on the matter please feel free to pass them on.  We’ll have more information in February.

Please pray for Ravy’s recovery.  Here is a picture of him teaching at the orphanage before he was attacked.  I have included his email below.

Hello,

Well we have found a building that is perfect for the Orphanage and Paul and his wife and Ravy have completed their internship under Pastor Sokunthea. All we need now is you. We are looking to open the orphanage in 10 days but we need people to help us make that a reality.

Here is our current pledge and needed amount. Please think about pray about being part of the Stop Slavery team. Right now we need another $723 a month to open the Orphanage.

Some people have asked about donating monthly to Stop Slavery in amounts other than the $27 a month that we had originally put up on our Donate Page. Now you can donate in different denominations ranging from $10 to $250 a month. If you would like to donate a different amount please let us know and we will work with you to get that exact amount.

At this point PayPal is still the most cost effective means for us to accept donations because of our volume of giving so until we go with a different processor we will have operate that way.

You can also donate to help with Stop Slavery projects using this form below.

Giving Options

$10 Donation : $10.00USD – monthly $20 Donation : $20.00USD – monthly $27 Donation : $27.00USD – monthly $40 Donation : $40.00USD – monthly $50 Donation : $50.00USD – monthly $75 Donation : $75.00USD – monthly $100 Donation : $100.00USD – monthly $150 Donation : $150.00USD – monthly $200 Donation : $200.00USD – monthly $250 Donation : $250.00USD – monthly

October 5th, 2009 is the day that Stop Slavery was officially incorporated so that make today it’s 1 year birthday. Hopefully Stop Slavery won’t be needed before it turns 25! Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this first year.

From right to left Kate, Jose, Anna and Akari making care packages for women and children ministered to by the Free Burma Rangers.  My family and I are getting on a plane tomorrow to take these packages to people in Thailand who will ensure the packages get to the women and children who need them most.

You can download the Project Page that gives an overview of the first project that we are looking to fund under the Prevention arm of Stop Slavery. It is for Special Forces Unit 14. On Saturday we get to meet with the General in charge of the camp and look over the details of the project.

Unit 14 Stop Slavery Prevention Project