I am cutting right to the chase today. I am very excited to let you all know about a great opportunity that is at my fingertips. But of course, I need the help and prayers of friends and family who partner with me on this crazy but fantastic journey. I already know your prayers move mountains, because my car is still running strong! Sometimes I hit a bump and I think I might lose my back end, but every time I look in my rearview it is still in tact, and that is because of you! Haha I am joking…but not really.
Recently Justice [ACTs] has added an investigative aspect to all that we are doing. When we go all around Cape Town and do presentations, we almost always get tips on human trafficking that is happening in the area. As we fight this terrible injustice with a lot of blood, sweat, and tears it is hard to receive these tips and not know what to do about them. Currently there is no law against human trafficking in South Africa. This is hard to imagine, but true. Therefore, many of the police are not trained on how to handle human trafficking cases, and there are no safe houses in place for the victims. Right now, Justice [ACTs] is part of the South African Counter Trafficking Coalition where we are working with police and other service providers to put a rapid response plan/team together. This means that Justice [ACTs] will be a huge part of helping the police to investigate and find traffickers and trafficked men, women, and children. This brings me to my opportunity:
December 27th- January 8th the Not For Sale Campaign in the United States is offering human trafficking investigation training. It will be held in San Francisco for ten days only. There is only room for 25 people. The Not For Sale Campaign is a highly reputable anti-trafficking organization. Any training they offer will be top notch. As you can imagine, this type of training would be invaluable for me and for Justice [ACTs]. They have asked me to go and represent Justice [ACTs] and return to teach all that I have learned; we can then begin to work effectively with the police to bring these criminals down and bring the victims to freedom. Here is brief description of what will be accomplished: The Abolitionist Academy is an in depth two week training session for those desiring to become Abolitionist Investigators of modern slavery. Attendees will be educated on how to properly record, document, and map all of the various types of human trafficking through hands on education, training, and meetings with experts in the field. They will learn how to identify probable cases of human trafficking, how to properly record cases of human trafficking, and how to effectively confront slavery in supply chains. By certification, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to become investigators of modern slavery in their own backyards.
I am incredibly excited about this opportunity, and I know this type of education will help all of us in South Africa who are fighting human trafficking to take things to the next level in investigation.
Justice [ACTs] is paying for the actual cost of the training, which is $549.00. Unfortunately, they cannot cover the total cost. Room and Board costs $560.00, and the cost for a flight right now is around $430.00. This is a total of $990.00 that is not paid for. I realize this is a lot of money to come up with, but I believe so strongly in this training and that I am supposed to be there that I am boldly asking you to help me get there. If you cannot give financially to help, then please pray with me that God supplies this. As I said before, I already know your prayers move mountains! But f you can give a little extra this month, or you feel God speak to you about this, your financial help will be going to such an incredible cause. I know God longs for justice in the area of human trafficking and modern day slavery, and this will enable me to further be His hands and feet on the earth.
If you feel you want to give, you can either email me and let me know, or go straight to my website, www.christinabacino.com and give via paypal. This money will go straight to me.
Thank you for being great supporters and letting me come to you constantly with my spiritual and financial needs. Most missionaries will tell you that the hardest part of the job is asking others for money, and I normally agree with this. But I truly believe so strongly in the benefit of this training, that I come to you without a trace of sorrow for asking for your help. I am honored to ask you to be a part of what God is doing on the earth to stop this injustice.
I will keep you all posted on where I am at financially. The money needs to come in within a few weeks to hold my spot, as there is only room for 25. With God, all things are possible. This is a small number to Him!
Love you all!
Christina
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