http://www.rideforrefuge.orgThe main RIDE news feed. Keep up with the latest big RIDE stories - breaking news, tips and tricks, commentary, maybe even an interview or two.en-usMon, 06 Sep 2010 15:03:25 -0400Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:03:25 -0400info@rideforrefuge.com (Ride for Refuge)info@rideforrefuge.com (Ride for Refuge)http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4057613716788430706Julie Slagter
Coordinator of Anti-Slavery Ministries
International Teams USA
julie.slagter@iteams.org
www.iteams.org/endslavery

I'm a self-proclaimed "people watcher". I especially love to observe and learn in unfamiliar cultures. I'm typically more interested in analyzing the similarities and differences in a place rather than shopping or engaging in a tourist attraction. But every once in a while when traveling, I enjoy fully embracing my tourist status.

I was able to immerse as a tourist recently in Kusadasi, Turkey - a port city near the ancient ruins of Ephesus. I was in the area for a conference and a group of us escaped for an afternoon of shopping. We walked through the streets lined with shops and were frequently enticed by shopkeepers to purchase their unique merchandise.

A conversation I had with one shopkeeper revealed that 5-6 cruise ships dock at the port each day during the peek of tourist season. When I commented on how successful his business must be, he readily agreed.

As we were perusing all the jewelry, pottery, and fabric, suddenly another kind of business emerged - SEX. It's a lucrative industry throughout the world and even in Ephesus the tourists have an option to buy it's product - PEOPLE.

Sex tourism is a growing industry. Criminals are smart and in areas where tourism drives an economy they see demand. There are people who travel to foreign destinations in order to have a secret sex-vacation, spending their time buying and using children, women, or men. And the suppliers' greed gets to a point where they wish for every tourist to desire their product. While an American colleague of mine who lives in Bangkok was running errands one afternoon, he was stopped in the middle of the street and handed a list of children available for purchase. Another friend was in a hotel lobby in China and was offered a menu of women.

Major sporting events are also hot spots for sex tourism. The World Cup and the Olympics draw in thousands of spectators and tourists. Just as shopkeepers stock up their supply rooms for the increase of demand, so do those who traffick human beings and sell them as sex slaves.

Children are often innocent victims of the sex industry. "Maria is . . . prostituted by her aunt. Maria is obliged to sell her body exclusively to foreign tourists in Costa Rica; she only works mornings, as she has to attend school in the afternoon. Maria is in fifth grade." (from the U.S. Department of Justice: Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.)

What can we do?
The roots of the tree need to be cut out. If we only chop away branches or even take a chain saw to the trunk, the roots still exist. But what if we cut out the roots and planted a new tree?

There are many root causes to sex tourism and slavery: poverty, greed, corruption, broken relationships, violence, abuse, addiction, and... you get the picture. New trees need to be planted... a tree that's a functioning family unit, one that gives us permission for full disclosure in our church communities and leads to redemption, one that loves unconditionally and walks along side people struggling with addictions, one that puts aside our own selfish desires and ends poverty, one that allows every person to have clean drinking water and food. I'm not saying these trees don't exist, but I know we need to plant more and cut out the roots of the ruined ones.

This is what Paul said to the Ephesians: "For you were once darkness, now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: 'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.'" (Ephesians 4:8-14, NIV)]]>Mon, 24 May 2010 17:43:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4057613716788430706http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=6531898501149557105

Jesus said the poor we would always have with us. I don't think he intended for me to dehumanize them the way I have, the way I am apt to. After all, they could be somebody's baby girl. Youtube link to "Somebody's Baby"


Brian


]]>Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:50:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=6531898501149557105http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=1342573545589337274
On June 5th, 2010 Parry Sound is hosting the Ride for Refuge for the first time but, the collection of friends and churches supporting this RIDE here were all part of the genesis of a cycling event that began in 2007. Initiated by Dr. Rob Donevan to encourage a growing cycling community and the benefits of physical exercise, an indoor 'spin-a-thon' was started in 2007 which doubled as a fund-raiser in support of a unique orphanage and children's home in Kisumu, Kenya. The following year the event grew their proceeds to $13,000 and in 2009 the Ride for Kenya took to the streets of Parry Sound and area where 97 riders helped raise in access of $25,000.

For 2010 the RIDE will morph into the collection of cities and towns that make up the Ride for Refuge, a movement started in 2004 that has raised more than $2,000,000 and this year hopes to draw in over 6500 riders and $1.5 million.

The Parry Sound RIDE will go June 5th with a goal of raising $30,000. Rob and Evi Donevan are co-leading this event and are looking forward to the same bright sun and warm temperatures that greeted them last year. For more information please email parrysound@rideforrefuge.org]]>Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:51:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=1342573545589337274http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=6684074693342407065
This week I was couriering a banner to Grand Rapids and stepped out of my car near a local eatery. When I got out of my car an obviously African, early-twenties man greeted me by name. I did not recognize him until he connected me with his cousin, Enoch. His name was Jackson. It also happened that Jackson worked at the same restaurant as my son. When I got home I asked Nic if he knew Jackson and he said something vague like, "Oh yeah, some of the staff said he wasn't Canadian". "Wasn't Canadian?", I retorted? "Do you have any idea what that kid has gone through?" I asked. Nope. Not a clue.

I can't blame my son for not knowing the family history of every staff member at his place of employment. But I wish he did know Jackson. I wish the staff knew what this kid endured in the Congo. I wish the manager there could appreciate how personally connected Jackson is to the machette he's using to cut up tomatoes and onions.

World Refugee Day - if it helps any of us get to know our own Jackson or Enoch or Victoria or Selema - that would be well worth the effort. Who are you going to get to know today?]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:08:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=6684074693342407065http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4585668071601056260
HPIC gratefully recognizes the contribution of the RIDE for Refugees to our work of providing medicine to people in the developing world who would otherwise have to do without. The RIDE gift was used to provide medical aid to people living in extreme poverty in Haiti, many forced from their homes by tropical storms.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. The health care system is inadequate and the people suffer needlessly from preventable and treatable diseases. In 2008, large numbers of Haitians were displaced due to tropical storms and flooding, wiping out their resources and leaving them even more vulnerable to hunger, disease and infection.

Caring Canadian medical professionals travel to Haiti every year to offer their time and skills to provide healthcare to this needy population. HPIC provides medicine and medical supplies, packed in Physician Travel Packs, to enable them to do their work effectively. In the months following last year's devastation, 25 PTPs were carried to Haiti. The PTP is a portable medical kit that enables the doctor to travel to isolated and remote areas and treat people through mobile clinics.

Some 1,500 Haitians were treated with the medicine sent through the RIDE donation.]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:59:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4585668071601056260http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=9117661070466800051The RIDE is proud to be bringing the Ride for Refugees to Ottawa this October. But it is all happening through the concerted effort of the Matthew 25:35 Network and their expanding team of churches, business and volunteers who are serving 100's of refugees through their work.

Last night, June 24, they celebrated their first year of service together - read the following email to share in the momentum that is the Matthew 25:35 Network:

Good Morning Friends,

Wow! That's is about all I can say to shin dig that Eglise Evangelique Baptiste d'Ottawa put on last night for the Matthew 2535 Network's First Year Anniversary.
It was an amazing evening to which we are very grateful to Sister Esther Narcisse and her hospitality team. Merci Ma Soeur!

Refugee children sang, danced and shared their stories of fleeing persecution. Adults told powerful stories of getting out of Haiti with their lives and having to leave everything they owned in the US. They went on say how God brought them straight into the welcoming arms and blessings of the network. Pastor Benito Bastien, Champion of the Refugee, gave unbelievable accounts of the types of help and numbers of people who have helped get on their feet here in the National Capital City. Hundreds and hundreds have received council, shelter, furnishings, jobs, orientation, warm clothing, community and on and on. It is wonderful to see just what can happen when people work together and in the same direction.

There were balloons and gifts and words of praise and appreciation shared by all and to all that have been a part of the growing cooperation and shared efforts of local churches, business and helping organizations here in Ottawa. And afterward the church put on a spread fit for Kings and Queens. Oh, how happy and proud were we all at the goodness and cooperation and grace God has poured out on us all.

For those of you unable to attend last night, the church will be sending you a little something to say thank you for your hard work and support.

"...and the King will say, when you did these things for the least of these, the marginalized and neglected, it was me, you did it for me..."
Year One - Check! Year Two... Have you visited www.rideforrefugees.com yet? Every mile matters!

La Paix,
Marc Wyatt
www.matthew2535network.com]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:56:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=9117661070466800051http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=1640255567280231534
Here are some quick links that prove how wide the LOVE is growing.

- http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=323319&src=3
- http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/09/grand_rapids_family_avoid_empt.html
- http://www.momentumplanet.com/news/ride-refugees-comes-vancouver-area
- http://www.ottawagreens.ca/ottawacentre/index.php/2009/09/22/ride-for-refugees/352
- http://www.cpj.ca/en/blog/rebekah/ride-refugees-gear-your-bikes-october-3rd
- http://lovingtheoverlooked.com/2009/08/24/ride-for-refugees/
- http://community.wr.org/Page.aspx?pid=2074
- http://www.haroldalbrechtmp.ca/myCalendar.aspx?pID=535]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:52:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=1640255567280231534http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4358141518040684314Click here now to watch this 21 seconds of one kid making her stand for refugees. For even more fun, click her brother's appeal here.

See, its not hard!]]>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:50:00 -0400http://www.rideforrefuge.org/resources_blog.php?p=4358141518040684314