We all have dreams we hope come true. Walking alongside someone who works hard for something they passionately believe in is truly an inspiring experience. Watching a seed of faith in action bloom into reality is beautiful. This picture was taken last year at a fundraising event as Stories Foundation was raising funds to make the StoryTeller Cafe a reality, and here we are now, the dream of some beautiful hearts has become a reality. In this place, purposeful purchases are made. Every purchase helps Stories Foundation to continue to raise awareness on Human Trafficking and exploitation. I want to help survivors like me get jobs and the resources they need to continue on this journey we call life. There is a need for housing and other resources for survivors coming out of. I met Stephanie in a stage of my trip where I was starting to face the trauma pieces of my journey, and was still growing out of the survival mode. People like Stephanie cause a ripple effect on the hearts she touches. Throughout the years I have known her, she has encouraged me to share my story to give others hope. I want to step out of my comfort zone and onto a platform to be a voice for others, even if that means shaking a little in my boots. Stories Foundation has helped me in many aspects, such as vehicle and vehicle repairs, as this is also much needed. There were a few times I couldn’t afford gifts for my son, and this foundation also helped me from the community's resources. Things like this give you faith in humanity when you lacked any due to life's circumstances.

Watching Stephanie all these years with her heart on the line and her passion for what she does is nothing less than inspiring to me. There was always a no-quitting policy, no matter how hard life’s storms got. Seeing StoryTeller Cafe a reality is nothing short of a miracle, with amazing people in the community who heard her heart and now can continue sharing their stories as they come into the cafe and share a cup of coffee. We all have stories, and her story of this cafe and how it came about inspires me to keep going on my dream and not to give up on my dream for my equine ministry. It proves that what people deem impossible can be done without quitting and persevering. We all have a dream, and watching others’ dreams come true should inspire you to keep going and keep moving forward. Truly a ripple effect of hope and dreams that can and will come true if you're willing to believe and put in the hard work and determination to do it. All it takes is a mentor to believe in you. Stephanie and the foundation have been that for me, and it's a wonderful community.

It doesn’t have to be a dream, but how could you inspire someone this week? Let’s pass along the baton of hope, keep shining light in each other’s lives, and be a beacon of encouragement. Let’s cheer one another on! Get that dream!

Being relational in a very non-relational world can be difficult. Our world has succumbed to communication through electronic communication, the new norm. What happened to the old relational world, where we could sit and converse face to face without a cell phone in that space? It was heartbreaking to see a family the other day out to eat, and they were all staring at their phones, and the relational piece was missing; there was no communication, just eating and looking at what’s going on with the world today, whether it be news or social media. What happened to the sit-down conversations at the table?  

To persevere, according to Webster's Dictionary, is: “to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking despite counter influences, opposition, or discouragement.” That says a lot. 

What do we do when life comes at us hard? Do we get weary and quit, or do we persevere? Sometimes, we are just going through life when everything is well, and boom, it seems to be goi a life happening occurs. In my case, these “life happenings” would come one after another, as I am sure many can attest to. As a survivor of human trafficking and domestic abuse, there were always things coming at me.

I was at a point in my life where I was feeling truly lost and in the dark, I held on to this family secret for so long. Lost and alone I felt I had no purpose other than to be used and abused by people, for that is my life story.

Trafficked by my parents, I searched for love in all the wrong places, leading me to abusive relationships. I really had no hope for life or trust in humanity or myself at this point. I happened to meet a friend from church who prayed with me and spoke on Trafficking Awareness and how she educates the community, A secret I held on to for way too long and was afraid to speak on, my whole life I was to stay silent not only by them but also the people that had abused me.

We were born into this world with a purpose. But somewhere down the line we have forgotten the true importance of what living life really means. Are we filling our lives with purpose and design God had planted in our hearts since he brought us here on earth or we letting the world consume us? He said he knows you before he formed you in your mother's womb. We were born with purpose, HIS purpose.  

What are you willing to fight for? Do I mean a physical fight, absolutely not, I am talking about what brings you to a place where you are willing to fight for someone that is hurting or something that you know is wrong. What does it take for us to start getting out of our comfort zone and start fighting back?

Isn't that how it is? We get encouraged into a promise God has shown us. We are all prayed up and start taking those steps of faith. The first few weeks we are pumped up, and we continue on our journey. But then life circumstances happen. We face our Red Sea moment. All of our uncertainties of life come rushing in as big as the waves crashing in at us.

This is a question I ask when I go to speak for trafficking awareness and domestic abuse issues. We live in a society that is comfortable staying silent or turning the other way, “it's not my issue” is their mindset. How long will this world be stuck in that mindset? Staying comfortable does not cause change, it is truly when we step out of the comfort zone and say I want to do something about this. Getting uncomfortable in a world that is oversensitive to making everyone else feel safe and not offending anyone is necessary if we want to see change. Will you find it in your heart to be uncomfortable, to stand up and be the voice that speaks out when everyone else wants to stay silent.