Each day for me begins between 3:30 and 4:30am. After my quiet time, I turn on my computer. I check my personal emails and then go to the daily news reports I receive that are related to child sex trafficking. I get dozens of news articles every day – 7 days a week. The articles are related to every area of child sex trafficking including child prostitution, child sexual abuse and child sex slaves. If there’s anything written about these areas anywhere in the world – I get a copy of it.
It’s sometimes overwhelming. Many people ask me how I don’t get jaded or hard-hearted when there’s another victim… one after another… minute-by-minute, day after day. I believe it’s because I’m focused on the task at hand. I believe it’s because I have hope that today, another child will be rescued. Maybe one… maybe several. If not today, then hopefully tomorrow. I know that if I allow myself to get jaded, that the one child, who may have been rescued through our efforts, will remain a sex slave. I cannot let that happen. I’ve got to use the tools I have and try to set her free. No matter what it takes.
If I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, I would be in constant darkness and severe depression. I have to keep my eyes focused on whatever needs to be done to reach that light. I remember in 1983, when I rode my bicycle across America. Everyone thought I lost my mind. Even the local bicycle clubs, when hearing that I hadn’t trained and had never ridden a bicycle more than 40 miles, said it would be impossible to ride from California to New York without proper training. They didn’t know that I had a greater purpose in mind. They didn’t understand that The Lord would be my strength. On the first day, I rode 72 miles. While lying in bed that night, I wept. From pain and fear. I wondered if everyone was right and I bit off more than I could chew. Then I remembered why I was doing it. To raise funds for children in India who were in desperate need. That’s all I needed to think about each day as I got on that bicycle. That… and my Lord. My Messiah would give me all the strength I needed as I sang praises to Him while peddling across America. (See Psalm 118:14 and Isaiah 12:2).
While riding across the country, there would be many hills and valleys and many mountains I would have to climb. When there are mountains in front of you, your only goal is to reach the top. When I did, do you know what I saw? Another hill… another mountain… another obstacle to overcome. I knew the end was far off. My goal was The United Nations Building in New York City. I would eventually ride a total of over 3,600 miles. Each mountain brought me closer to that goal, just as each step I take every day, brings me closer to seeing another child rescued from the depths of despair and the atrocities and unimaginable sexual abuses being perpetrated against her. If I didn’t get on that bicycle each day and I stopped peddling, I never would have reached my goal. If I am not willing to accept the pain and heartache I read of each day and forge ahead in this battle – a child who might have been rescued, will remain a slave. I can’t let that happen… because that child belongs to God. His child is our child. He told us to call Him Father, because we are all His children. She is part of our earthly family and we must use every weapon available to set her free from the life of horror and terror she lives through every day.
I made it across America and reached the UN Building in 55 days. I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life searching for another child suffering from this horrific abuse. I don’t want to ride this road to freedom alone… but I will if I have to. There’s another child waiting to be set free. Please join me in this fight. Together we can accomplish miracles for a desperate child and together we can rejoice when she’s finally set free.
Dr. Jeff
2 John 12
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.”
“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” ~ Albert Einstein (1879-1955)