One of the areas affected by autism is communication. Many
children are developmentally delayed in this area and therefore struggle to
communicate their needs, wants, fears, preferences, etc. This can be very
frustrating for the child and heartbreaking for the parent. There’s nothing
worse than your child crying in frustration because you don’t understand how to
help them. Because of this struggle – many advocate for children with autism to
help “be their voice.” We have been more than blessed with wonderful therapists
and teachers that have been a voice for Hudson. They have persevered with his struggles;
they have helped to get him the right kind of therapy; they have helped to draw
out our son from his autistic shell. There are many who are helping in the
autistic community to be a voice for the voiceless.
Over these last few weeks, I have been learning about
another group of children who are desperate to have a voice. They are desperate
to know someone cares. They are desperate to be children again. They are those
that have been enslaved in human trafficking.
Maybe this is the first time you’ve even heard this was
still a problem in our modern day society. Maybe you’re like me. You’ve heard
of the issue before, you’ve shaken your head at the atrocities, but you’ve
never been moved to action. Well, I’m not sure what clicked. But I have felt
drawn to be a part of the solution.
I’ve been following a blogger named Jamie Wright who
recently wrote of her experience in SE Asia and her eyewitness account to these
children being exploited for sex. Though the content is heavy – it isn’t absent
of hope. Jamie also shares about the good people who are fighting to bring
these children freedom…people that are willing to risk their comfort and safety
to be a voice for the voiceless. Please take a moment to read her post:
Sometimes when things are too hard to imagine, we turn our
heads and ignore the problem because it’s too much to bear. Sometimes we look
the other way because we feel helpless. Thanks to organizations like The Exodus
Road, we don’t have to feel helpless. They have provided a practical way for us
to make a difference. After learning more about this project, Sean and I
decided to support an investigative team monthly so that they have the
resources to be the hands and feet that reach out to these children in bondage
to sex trafficking. Check out http://www.theexodusroad.com
for more info.
I strongly believe that we are blessed so that we may in
turn be a blessing to others. Hudson’s struggle with autism is not over, but he
has been given a voice. I now want to also make a difference for those children
whose parents have betrayed them. I want make a difference for those families
that have no idea what has happened to their loved ones. I want to stand up
against the evil in this world. Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing
necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” I want
to do something. I want to help be a voice for those that are still voiceless.
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