We’re adventuring toward a unique opportunity to serve some of the most neglected communities in Asia while also joining with work that began over fifty years ago. We will be serving at the Philippines Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS) teaching pastoral care and music. We will also be working to increase awareness of human trafficking in Asia and partner with local churches in their efforts to rebuild after four consecutive typhoons.
Teaching: While Christianity is growing in Asia, access to education is not. Churches are in desperate need of well trained ministers from their community. PBTS is a place where those from all over Asia can receive a high quality and affordable education. This melting pot provides several unique opportunities for our supporters to be connected to churches around the world.
Human Trafficking: Not an easy conversation for any congregation, we will have the opportunity to educate church leaders from where human trafficking has been the most devastating. As congregations become more aware, fewer individuals will become victims. Philippine men, women, and girls were trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, North America, and Europe. Government and NGO estimates on the number of women trafficked range from 300,000 to 400,000 and the number of children trafficked range from 60,000 to 100,000. Many Filipino men and women voluntarily migrate to work abroad but later coerced into exploitative conditions (U.S. State Department Report on Human Rights, 2006).
Typhoon Rebuilding. Baguio (or Bagyo) means “typhoon.” The needs around the world left over from natural disasters can be overwhelming. Last year the areas around Baguio were victims of four consecutive typhoons. While the death toll was not severe, more than 9 million people were affected in some way by the storms which destroyed and damaged their homes, or swept away their means of making a living (Reuters, March 2010).
I recently read a book that might interest you–”The Road of Lost Innocence” by Somaly Mam (see http://www.amazon.com/Road-Lost-Innocence-Cambodian-heroine/dp/0385526210/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273861627&sr=8-1). Mam was sold into sexual slavery in Cambodia as a girl, but later escaped and now helps other women and girls to build lives after escaping brothels in Asia. It’s a very inspring book (despite its heavy subject matter) and describes the practical solutions that Mam has put in place to help these women.