East Side Women of Purpose

WE HAVE MOVED!!

2008-08-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

Our new Eastside Women of Purpose blog address is:

Visit us here! Don't forget to change it on your own blog... See you over there!

MEETING UPDATE

2008-07-25T15:12:00.001-07:00

Our next Eastside Women of Purpose meeting will be...

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3rd at 9:30am
in the OCC Music Suite's Choir Room

We will have all the information you can dream of about our upcoming Charity Golf Tournament called, "TEE OFF AGAINST TRAFFICKING" taking place at Willows Run in Redmond on October 5th at 2pm. We will be having a little sales training, you can sign up to play (or sign someone else up) and spend a little time on our website! It is almost done but you can check it out at www.teeoffagainsttrafficking.org. (There will be a lot less golf balls once we are finished :)

Be ready to laugh and work hard - be ready to meet some really cool women with similar passions - we move fast - we are making a difference - I want to see you there!

(I know that the weather has been really nice and it is hard to want to put your church-ish clothes on to come to a meeting. I know that you want to go and have brunch somewhere and sit out on the patio and soak in the glorious rays of sun. So... don't put on your church-ish clothes and go to brunch on Saturday morning instead of Sunday and head over to our EWOP meeting instead! We get done around 10:45... there is still plenty of sun left after that! You will be glad that you did it.)

check out this website

2008-07-13T22:41:00.001-07:00

http://www.slaverymap.org/

Please Read This Article!!

2008-07-11T19:53:00.001-07:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/opinion/11miller.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

July 11, 2008

OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR

The Justice Department, Blind to Slavery

By JOHN R. MILLER

Washington

PRESIDENT BUSH has won support abroad and bipartisan praise at home for his efforts to combat human trafficking, the slavery of our time. But now that work is imperiled by his own Department of Justice.

At the United Nations in 2003, Mr. Bush denounced the sex trafficking of women and girls around the world. A little more than two years later, he signed into law a bill that included a broad array of measures to reduce the domestic demand for sex trafficking.

Sex slavery is not the only modern incarnation of this ancient institution — factory slavery, farm slavery and domestic servitude are still with us — but it is the largest category of slavery in the United States. People who have spoken with the president say that he wants the fight to end modern slavery to be one of his legacies as president.

From 2002 to 2006, I led the State Department’s efforts to monitor and combat human trafficking. I felt my job was to nurture a 21st-century abolitionist movement with the United States at the lead. At times, my work was disparaged by some embassies and regional bureaus that didn’t want their host countries to be criticized. I didn’t win every battle, but the White House always made it clear that the president supported my work and thought it was important.

Imagine my surprise, then, when the Justice Department started a campaign against a new bill that would strengthen the government’s anti-human trafficking efforts. In a 13-page letter last year, the department blasted almost every provision in the new bill that would reasonably expand American anti-slavery efforts.

Should the State Department’s annual report on trafficking, which grades governments on how well they are combating modern slavery, consider whether governments put traffickers in jail? The Justice Department says no. Should the Homeland Security and Health and Human Services Departments streamline their efforts to help foreign trafficking victims get visas and care? No. Should the Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, State and Justice Departments pool their data on human trafficking to help devise strategies to prevent it? Amazingly, no.

In its letter, the Justice Department even opposes authorizing the president to create new awards for the international groups that are leading the struggle for abolition. It also doesn’t want the State Department to be required to give the names of American anti-trafficking phone lines to visa applicants at American consulates overseas. It doesn’t want a citizen task force to help develop an information pamphlet for victims.

Some objections like these are, regrettably, to be expected in a Washington turf battle. But the Justice Department is consistent — it opposes changes to expand its own efforts to combat human trafficking, too.

Should the department prosecute the American sex tourists who create demand for adult human-trafficking victims in foreign countries? No. Should Congress make clear that there should be increased penalties for Americans who sexually abuse children abroad? No way. Should we give our courts jurisdiction over Americans who traffic human beings abroad? Certainly not. Should the attorney general include information in his annual report on his department’s efforts to enforce anti-trafficking laws against federal contractors and employees? No. Too “burdensome,” says the Justice Department.

The department strongly objects to a provision that would make it easier to prosecute pimps, the chief slaveholders in the United States. The Justice Department opposes taking away from pimps the defense that they did not know a child’s age. And it opposes easing the requirement to prove force, fraud or coercion in order to prosecute a pimp for human trafficking.

How did President Bush’s Justice Department come to these positions? In conversations, department employees emphasize the threats of diversion of federal resources and intrusion on state and local rights.

But it is hard to believe these are the reasons. After all, the Justice Department knows that it will prosecute only the biggest pimps just as it goes after only the biggest drug dealers. It knows that pimping has long been recognized as an interstate activity with a federal role. And the Justice Department knows that the states have had very limited success when trying to convict traffickers.

A culture clash, I suspect, is the real reason for the Justice Department’s opposition. This isn’t the usual culture clash of right and left, religious and secular. In this case, the feminist, religious and secular groups that help sex-trafficking survivors are on one side. And on the other are the department’s lawyers (most of them male), the Erotic Service Providers Union and the American Civil Liberties Union — this side believes that vast numbers of women engage in prostitution as a “profession,” by choice.

As one Justice Department lawyer put it at a meeting I attended, there is “hard pimping and soft pimping.” The department’s letter hints at this view. Adult prostitutes who are transported across state lines, in violation of the Mann Act, should not receive grants under the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 because they “do not meet the legal definition of ‘victim,’” the letter states.

Both sides agree there is a small group of expensive call girls — the kind paraded in recent political scandals — who may choose to engage in prostitution. But that’s where agreement ends. Those who work with trafficking victims and those who have interviewed survivors believe that most prostitutes are poor, young, abused, harassed, raped, beaten and under the control of pimps against their will.

Put me on the side of those who have worked with the victims. I have talked with survivors all over the world, including the United States, and I share the view that these women and girls — the average age of entry into prostitution is 14 — are not participating in the “oldest profession” but in the oldest form of abuse. They are slaves.

It is hard to believe that the Justice Department’s perspective reflects the man at the top of the Bush administration. Yet the unusual anti-slavery coalition that President Bush helped to forge now finds itself battling the president’s own Justice Department.

The department lost the battle in the House, which passed the new anti-human trafficking bill almost unanimously, by a vote of 405 to 2. Unfortunately, the department seems to have more influence with the Senate, where the bill is stalled in the Judiciary Committee. And Senator Joseph R. Biden, Democrat of Delaware, has introduced a bill that largely complies with the department’s views.

The president may never have seen the Justice Department’s letter. But Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Democrat of New York, and Deborah Pryce, Republican of Ohio, two of the leaders of the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking, have been unable to arrange a meeting with the president to express their concerns to him.

President Bush should meet with them — and his own Justice Department — before he loses his legacy and his leadership on the abolition of modern slavery.

John R. Miller, a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute, is the former State Department ambassador at large on modern slavery.

Meeting Reminder!!!

2008-07-11T19:40:00.001-07:00

Don't forget!! We have our next Eastside Women of Purpose meeting THIS Sunday, July 11th at 9:30am in the OCC Music Suite's Choir Room. Read the blog entry below for your little homework assignment... I hope to see you all there!

back to school...

2008-07-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

Just kidding...but here is a little homework for our upcoming WOP meeting on Sunday:

*Start by... thinking of people in your sphere of influence: family, friends, life groups, business associates, school connections, kid connections, neighbors, etc? Make a list.

*Determine...which of these people in your sphere of influence could...1) Help us coordinate this event. 2) Play golf in this tournament. 3) Be one of the numerous sponsors that we need to make this event a success. Put each person in their potential category.

Pictures for a Purpose Set-Up Pictures

2008-07-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

We Just Pulled It Off!

2008-06-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

We have officially finished our first major fundraiser - Pictures for a Purpose - and it was a surprisingly WONDERFUL, EASY day! We were so fortunate. All of our volunteers showed up, our equipment never failed us, we had power, it felt incredibly easy going, everyone was healthy, the kiddos were adorable and well-behaved... Thank you to all of our dedicated photographers and volunteers! In the meantime, I am wiped! More info and a couple of pictures to follow!

"Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God"

2008-06-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

I recently finished reading this GREAT book by Kaye Warren - wife of Rick Warren. It was recommended to me by my dear friend, Kristina. She has given me many a good book recommendation over the years so I immediately ordered it. While it admittedly took me a couple of months to get through, it wasn't because of any weakness on the book's part (I just don't have the reading time that I used to).

I admit that I will often judge a book by Christian women before I read it... I don't often feel like the stereotypical "Christian Women" books are relevant to where I am at... Many feel antiquated... cheesy... unrealistic... I could go on. But this book is NOT that. It is written from a place of honesty that I think that we rarely get to experience as readers.

This book has greatly contributed to the rocking of my world and I would recommend it to anyone trying to figure out who they were created to be and what God's will is for their lives. I have even forced this book on my Bible Study group!

Go on and order the book right now! I promise that it is a great one and you can totally buy it used!

"The Girl Effect" - You've Gotta Watch This

2008-06-09T21:49:00.001-07:00

Pictures for a Purpose

2008-06-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

The morning time slots are almost all filled so if you want a prime time and have been meaning to sign up, visit
www.picsforapurpose.com and sign up now!

Your child's smile could help save a life...

Eastside Women of Purpose is launching their 1st Annual Pictures for a Purpose fundraiser! We have five super talented photographers lined up to photograph your kiddos on Saturday, June 28th from 9am to 6pm. To coolest part is that every photographer is donating their entire day and all profits to Eastside Women of Purpose! Everything we make will go towards programs that help protect children at risk from being trafficked in SE Asia.

Experts estimate 5.7 million children are trapped in forced or bonded labor. About one
million of these children are exploited in the sex trade each year. (Source: UNICEF) Many
times, unwitting parents hand over their children to slavers under false pretenses, such as
promises of schooling.

You can help.

Take advantage of this opportunity to secure a lasting memory of your child. All proceeds will be used to pay for desperately needed educational and training resources used
by World Concern to combat child trafficking throughout SE Asia.

Your $30 sitting fee goes directly to this cause. Pick the photos you like from our easy-to-use
website—flexible a la carte pricing lets you pick the photos and sizes you really want. The site will even change the picture to black and white or sepia tone for you! There is
no obligation to buy. Again, all of the proceeds from this event will go towards this project.

We are selling these photo sessions at OCC (across from the info booth) on Sunday mornings or or you can visit www.picsforapurpose.com and sign up from there. If you live in the Seattle area and would like to participate but have absolutely no idea where OCC is, feel free to comment on this posting or visit picsforapurpose.com to schedule an appointment!

A Change of Date and Time for our June Meeting

2008-05-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, we decided to have our WOP meetings on the 1st Sunday of every month. We thought that we were very clever and smart and that it would make it so much easier for people to plan their Sundays... We all try so hard!

We have run into a small problem for the month of June... June 1st is Dave Morgan's (Celebration Service Music Pastor) last Sunday at the church and all extra activities at the church will be suspended as their will be one 10am service to celebrate Dave.

So... we will now be having our June meeting on the 8th instead! And just to be even crazier - we are going to start the meeting at 9am so that we can take care of EWOP business before our speaker gets there! Be there! Mark your calendars! It is going to be a really cool meeting. There will be a Seattle Human Trafficking Detective at the meeting to educate us on the human trafficking going on right here in Seattle. It should be a really informative meeting. It is sometimes easy to think that trafficking happens in other parts of the world but it is happening right here... I hope to see you all there!

Pictures for a Purpose

2008-04-22T21:48:00.001-07:00

Your child's smile could help save a life...

We are launching our 1st Annual Pictures for a Purpose fundraiser at our May 4th meeting. We have five great photographers lined up to photograph our kiddos on Saturday, June 28th. Every photographer is donating their entire day and all profits to Eastside Women of Purpose!

Our goal is to raise $6500. All proceeds go to programs that help children at risk of being trafficked in
SE Asia.

You will have a chance to sign up to help at our next meeting on Sunday, May 4th! (Check out how cool these shots are...)

Our Next Meeting is...

2008-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday, MAY 4th at 9:30am in OCC's Orchestra Room! We will be launching our 1st Annual Pictures for a Purpose Fundraiser that we hope will raise at least $6500! We will be able to buy lots more jewelry from Freedom Stones (I have tons of it in my possession and the jewelry is gorgeous)! Be there! Bring friends! See you soon...

Help Stop the Hunger Crisis!

2008-04-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

In just three years, the price of staple foods like wheat, corn and rice has almost doubled, and this week, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said that if left unchecked, global food shortages could set the world back seven years in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease. We must urge our leaders to take action.

Sign One's petition to President Bush. Click on this link and take 30 seconds to sign the petition.

The Truth About Chocolate

2008-04-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Among other things, I am a chocolate lover. I just came across an article about the trafficking of children into the chocolate business. An estimated 12,000 children have been trafficked into Cote d’Ivoire to work on small cocoa farms. Nearly half of the world’s chocolate comes from Cote d’Ivoire. That's 12,000 children making our cheap-o chocolate!! This really rocks me. So what can we do as consumers of chocolate (some of us more than others).

After a little research, I found out that fair trade chocolate is also traffik free chocolate. I will be really careful where I buy chocolate from now on. Check out the Good Chocolate Guide to find out where you can buy Fair Trade Chocolate locally. Trader Joes brand is fair trade certified and Whole Foods carries fair trade chocolate as well. Help me by spreading the word about chocolate! Just another step in putting traffickers out of business...

Last Call for AWAKE!!

2008-04-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

OCC's Awake Women's Event is coming up this weekend! We moved the event into a larger room so that you can still have a chance to register but space is filling up fast!

Check out www.occ.org for details or e-mail charlened@occ.org
This event is going to be life-changing (and very not cheesy!) You can also register the night of the event if you are a last minute kind of person. (It starts at 7pm...)

For a preview of our speakers, you can visit;

www.sunbreaksintherainycity.blogspot.com (Jodie Howerton, speaker)

www.onemomtrying.blogspot.com (Neely McQueen, speaker)

www.troniefoundation.org (Rani Hong, speaker)

www.mrssyrup.blogspot.com (Marisa Butterworth, worship leader)

See you all there!

Freedom Stones are Back!

2008-04-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Lynne just returned from another trip to Thailand where she met with the boys making the Freedom Stone necklaces and brought some back for us to sell! We only have a couple left after our meeting yesterday but email her (lynnee@occ.org) if you would like one. We also have another shipment ordered so if you can't buy one this time around, we will have more!

Date Change for Pictures for a Purpose

2008-04-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

We have changed the date for Pictures for a Purpose to Saturday, June 28th. We will start selling the appointments at the May meeting. Be ready to sell!

Pictures for a Purpose

2008-03-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Our 1st ever Pictures for a Purpose Event is coming up soon! It looks like the event will take place on Saturday, April 26th and it will go all day (although this hasn't been finalized yet). Ashley Julian and Amy Cheng will be taking the photos and all profits will go toward our project at the India/Nepal border. Stay tuned for more info!! In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful baby pictures! Who wouldn't want pictures taken of their kiddos as a great way to help keep other kids from being trafficked into slavery?!?

NEXT WOP MEETING APRIL 6th!

2008-03-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hello Women of Purpose!

We will be having our next Women of Purpose meeting on Sunday, April 6th at 9:30am. We are going to be launching our first
fundraiser to help stop trafficking on the India/Nepal border and I would be honored if everyone would do their best to be there. If it isn't a possibility, I totally understand and will email you personally asking for your help! ;) As soon as I have our room
confirmed, I will post it and email a reminder!

I love you guys!

one thing

2008-02-27T22:46:00.001-08:00

I think I might steal this mission statement from someone...

"Every day, I try to live my life in such a way that I accomplish at least one thing that will outlive me and last for eternity."

at least one thing...we can all do that, right?

Awake Women's Event Update

2008-02-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that we will have a special guest speaker at the Awake Women's Event! Rani from the Tronie Foundation will be speaking on Saturday afternoon (April 12th)! Check out www.troniefoundation.org for more information on her and her husband's organization. I saw her on Oprah a while ago and she has an incredible story to tell. Our Women of Purpose group will also be working to help their organization at some point down the road so it will be really great for us to hear what she is doing. Make sure to put the event down on your calendar. (April 11th and 12th) We will be able to register soon!

To Starbucks or Not to Starbucks...

2008-02-05T13:45:00.000-08:00

I just heard something that piqued my curiosity on another friends blog. The woman on the video briefly spoke about Starbucks and their strained relationship with the country of Ethiopia (the true birthplace of coffee). She mentioned the extremely low amount Starbucks pays the Ethiopian farmers per pound and then how much they charge us for the coffee (one specific Ethiopian brew sells for $26 per pound in the US). It is no wonder the country of Ethiopia can't catch a break.

My husband and I are huge coffee drinkers and have spent way too much at our local Starbucks. I have always thought Starbucks to be a globally responsible company that takes their billions made on gourmet coffee sales and gives back. It turns out that I may have been wrong. While Starbucks seems to be taking action to care for the environment (obviously important for their coffee bean business) they do not seem to put the same energy into the care of the people that supply them with their beans (Google Starbucks Ethiopia for a ton of articles and visit Starbucks.com for more info). A cnnmoney.com article says this:

"Last season, that pound of coffee fetched farmers an average price of $1.45. Figuring in the cost of generator fuel, bank interest, labor and transport across Ethiopia's dusty roads, it netted them less than $1. In the U.S., however, that same pound of coffee commands a much higher price: $26 for a bag of Starbucks' roasted Shirkina Sun-Dried Sidamo."

I have a decent understanding of business and I have no doubt that what Starbucks is doing is completely legal. The question is this... is it ethical? Is this the problem with the world today? Just because it isn't illegal to pay these farmers WAY less than you are making, it isn't necessarily right. Is this the problem with big business? Is it impossible for us to see the people that work in the dry, dusty Ethiopian fields as legitimate people with real flesh and blood families. Do we notice or care that they have children that are starving? Do we care that the people of Ethiopia are no where near getting by? Do we just overlook it because it makes us uncomfortable....... I have felt convicted because I am just as guilty of this as Starbucks.

So what do we do? We can approach this with anger and write nasty letters and stage a boycott that doesn't really make any impact. (This is where I was at yesterday). OR!! We can approach this with a gentle hand and give Starbucks (and other companies like it) a chance to do something revolutionary and start really taking care of the suffering, invisible people of the world. Let's give them the opportunity to change how we do business in the US.

The bottom line is this... I am just as guilty as Starbucks. I rarely think about where my food comes from or where my clothing was made or who made it... This is a call to begin thinking about it. This is a call for us all to take action.

Awake Women's Event at OCC

2008-02-03T15:26:00.000-08:00

Time to wake up, ladies!

April 11th and 12th....

Stay tuned for this fabulous, fabulous, very not traditional women's event coming to Overlake Christian Church.... In other words, this event will not look like your grandmother's bathroom AND it will meet you where YOU are at......

Speakers are Jodie Howerton, Neely McQueen, Jennifer Wilshire, and a Rani Trong from The Tronie Foundation.
Worship by Marisa Butterworth (scary I know :) )

I am SO excited! Keep your ears and eyes open!

And our next Women of Purpose meeting is...

2008-02-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday, March 2nd! Put it on the calendar! We will be meeting from 9:15am to 10:45am in the Music Suite's Orchestra Room. See you all then!
PS. I will be sending out a couple of email reminders as well.

The necklaces Not for sale at this time...

2008-01-29T09:23:00.001-08:00

So sorry ladies.... I just received an email from Leah (who dreamt up the Freedom Stones project and works for World Concern in Thailand) that she has had a major family emergency and might be moving back home to the states as soon as next week. I do not have any details but she asked for prayer for her family. In the meantime, Freedom Stones is on hold... I am sorry if anyone was wanting to order them! Let's pray. I'll post details as I have them...

Order Freedom Stone Necklaces

2008-01-28T22:59:00.001-08:00

Here are some of the examples of what these women can do! The Jewelry averages from $35-$50, believe me, they are worth every penny and then some. Each necklace is so well made. Each piece has meaning. I bought the red thick-stoned one with the silver pieces. It was $50. The women can also make long beaded necklaces that hang down for a bit less cost. I would suggest everyone in our Women of Purpose group order a necklace. It makes you feel so proud when you wear it. If you have questions about this please contact me.

corriewest@yahoo.com (206)349-0734

Freedom Stones and Girl Power Hour

2008-01-28T22:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry it has taken me a week to write about this great event, but here it goes...

I took on the mission to sell Freedom Stone necklaces at this great women's networking event in down town Seattle "Girl Power Hour." This was a great success! I sold all 10 of the necklaces and all of the money went to help continue this project in Thailand. These necklaces are so amazing and special. They are hand made by a missionary and Thai women who have survived and gotten out of the sex trade and prostitution rings in Thailand. The money goes to help continued support in the mission to provide micro loans, training facilities and safe houses for these women. I am very proud to say that I have helped to get the word out about this project to a group who would have otherwise been unknowing. I was able to speak in front of around 75 women about what Women of Purpose is doing and what the Freedom Stone program is all about.

Women from all walks of life expressed interest in helping out with our cause. A boutique owner offered to sell the necklaces at her shop for no cost during the month of May. Another women offered up her web design services to help build the Freedom Stone website. I am so thankful to the women who helped out with this. I hope to do many more creative things with Freedom Stones and women of purpose.

If you would like to place your own order for necklaces, please contact me.

corriewest@yahoo.com

Great Book I've Been Reading...

2008-01-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

I have been reading this book for the last three months (pathetic since it is only 357 pages) and it has really been challenging a lot of my views, changing my heart in certain areas and helping me to realize what we are all called to... It is called "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. If you pick it up, prepare yourself to be rocked. I just read this paragraph last night (that is not all I read last night but close :) ) and it really resonated with me. I woke my sleeping husband up to read it to him and I just thought that I would share it.

"Just as "believers" are a dime a dozen in the church, so are "activists" in social justice circles nowadays. But lovers are hard to come by. And I think that's what our world is desperately in need of - lovers, people who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned about. We are trying to raise up an army not simply of street activists but of lovers - a community of people who have fallen desperately in love with God and with suffering people, and who allow those relationships to disturb and transform them."

It only takes 2 seconds...

2008-01-16T13:43:00.001-08:00

I've just signed the No Child Soldiers Declaration committing myself to help bring peace and protection to the children of northern Uganda. More than 25,000 children have been captured, tortured, and used as frontline soldiers and sex slaves in a bloody civil war that has raged for 20 years.
The time has come to end this war.
I hope you will make this commitment, too.
Please join with thousands of concerned citizens and parents who believe that all children deserve to have a childhood free from torture and a future free from cruelty.
World Vision will take this petition to the Bush Administration, Congress, and the United Nations to demand action.
World Vision's goal is 1 million signatures--and they need your help to get there.

You can sign the Children Should Never Be Soldiers Declaration by visiting:
http://www.worldvision.org/nochildsoldiers

Make a call today!

2008-01-11T14:41:00.001-08:00

Just called my Governor and my State Senators regarding Human Trafficking on National Awareness Day. I was really surprised when a person picked up the phone...wasn't quit ready to give my speech. But after the initial shock, I just let them know that it was important to me that we toughen laws on human trafficking and sex trade, both locally and globally.

It was really easy...you should make the call today too!
Here are the numbers for the Seattle/Washington area:
Govenor Gregoire 260-902-4111
Senator Murray 206-553-5545
Senator Cantwell 206-220-6400

Isabel Allende: Novelist/Feminist

2008-01-11T12:47:00.000-08:00

Isabel is one of my favorite writers. Her stories speak of women and their hardships from all over the world. She is the promoter of passion in women. She encourages people to stop and take notice of what is happing in this world. Some stats from her video:

80% of the worlds refugees and displaced people are women and children

2/3 of the world's work is done by women, women own less than 1% of the worlds assets

For every $1 given to women's programs $10 is given to men's programs

Pleas watch this video! It is such a pleasure to be exposed to Isabel,

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/204

Our Brothers and Sisters in Kenya

2008-01-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Women -

I just received this email from a friend of ours that is a missionary in Kenya. He and his family are currently in the United States and they received the following email from a friend and pastor in Kenya. It is chilling. Please join me in praying for our brothers and sisters in Kenya. Pray for the people that are doing these horrific things and pray for the victims of their crimes. Pass this information on to anyone that you can. Join me in educating myself about their election crisis and what we can do to help!

Dear Brother Gregg Garner,

Greetings to you in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Iam writing to both pass my New Year Greetings
and to place my sincere prayer request not
only for my FAMILY UNIT but for Kenya at large

We are facing aterible post Election Crisis
that has never been witnessed in Kenya. We are
in dire need of your intercessory prayers.Iam
currently in Nairobi where no one is ever sure
of what can befall you in the next moment.I
have witnessed my brothers in the Lord murder
ed in cold blood,Houses burnt down,women and
Girls raped in full sight of their Husbands
and Fathers,young boys sodomised and many ugly
seens.Many people are displaced,prices of
essential comodities sky rocketed,food and
fuel gases are rare to comeby.etc.

Please pray for peace and dialogue to
prevail.We have not slept for anumber of
Days because of the civil unrest,senseless
killings.
GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU REMEMBER US IN PRAYER.

Pastor Walter Odayo.

National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness

2008-01-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

We just found out that this Friday, January 11th, is the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness. We would love for us all to be praying on this day. Since it isn't realistic for all of us to get together, let's do a virtual prayer for the people that are being trafficked and the people that are enslaving them. I think that it would be great if we could all pray at 8pm on Friday. Obviously it might not work for everyone but I would love to know that we were all united in prayer on Friday night. You can also use this day as a spring board for conversations with people - let's let our friends and family know what is going on around the world and here in our country.
Love you guys!

Easy Life

2008-01-04T20:32:00.001-08:00

Today I woke up pretty grouchy...my youngest is sick and isn't sleeping well. So, I called the doctor and he said there was nothing he could do but that I should prepare for a few rough nights of sleep.

I was in need of perspective...here's what I found...
For the 1.9 billion children from the developing world, there are:
640 million without adequate shelter (1 in 3)
400 million with no access to safe water (1 in 5)
270 million with no access to health services (1 in 7)

Oh yeah...I woke up and took my kid to a doctor...pretty easy life!

2008-01-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful to start the New Year......I am excited to see that God takes what we offer and mulitiplies it. I truly am amazed how the little stirrings and desires in our heart to bring God's hope to the world can be accomplished. One of the ways I hope to work on this coming year is with prayer support: actively hooking up with God and listening to what He wants to do and keeping our heart and ear tuned to Him. I just finished up a study on Daniel and was in awe that even in his 80's - God gave visions and work for him to do because He knew Daniel was available. Daniel had been interceding for Israel all his life. He was involved because he kept seeking understanding. (Dan. 2:20,21) So WOMEN OF PURPOSE, I think part of our journey will be from Proverbs 2:3-5 as we "call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if we look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" concerning each person suffering under the oppression of human trafficking.....looking forward to seeing all of you again on Jan. 20th and I'm rejoicing with the gift we get to give to our new friends in Thailand....Patti Orrico

OUR TOTAL AS OF JANUARY 3rd IS.......

2008-01-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

...a whopping $2,950!!!! Way to go fellow Women of Purpose! I am SO proud of us. And the even better news is that we still have money out. I personally know of $650 in checks waiting to get to Overlake! So - $4000 here we come! If you have money out you can...

- Take it to the church front desk (in the back of the building) and leave it for Lynne Ellis with a message that says that it is for Women of Purpose

- Put it in the offering on Sunday (please make sure that it says that it is for Women of Purpose)

- Find me at church

- Bring it with you to our Women of Purpose meeting on January 20th

I am so excited by what we have accomplished in a short amount of time. It brings me such a deep satisfaction that we are helping women find their God given value and worth and gain their own independence. Thank you ladies!

See you on the 20th!

Marisa

Getting the word out about Women of Purpose

2007-12-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that our Women of Purpose Group has been chosen to be the featured charity at the Girl Power Hour event on January 17th at Solo bar on lower Queen Anne in Seattle! We will be selling necklaces made by saved women at the event! All proceeds acquired by the necklace sales will be donated to the micro loan program! Any women is welcome to attend. The cost of the event is $10 and there will be a guest speaker. Please check out the invitation for more details. I am so happy to announce this great news! Every little bit of exposure helps create awareness about our cause!

Girl Power Hour

Tronie Foundation Serves Trafficked Women Locally

2007-12-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies!
Have you read about the Tronie Foundation lately in the papers - or seen Rani and Trong on Oprah and PBS? Well, they are from our own backyard! They have an amazing story, both being victims of trafficking and are now working in Washington state to fight trafficking and also to provide shelters for trafficked women. I spoke with Rani by phone and she is excited to find ways our Women of Purpose at Overlake can partner with them. She is also available to come to Overlake sometime to tell her own story. She is currently doing some speaking with Sharon Cohen of IJM. How do you feel about serving victims of trafficking right in our own backyard?!! Check out the link included here to the recent Seattle Times article on the Tronie Foundation and their story :(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003980653_trafficking29m.html).

Looking forward to your thoughts at our next meeting!

Our Microloan Sales!

2007-12-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

Hello Women of Purpose Ladies!

Well, I am not exactly sure where we are at with sales, but my estimations are that we are at around $2000 to $3000!! That means that we could be helping as many as 30 women start their own businesses! I have not heard from very many of you though so let me know where you are at with your sales so that I can get a more accurate count! I am more than excited by all of your enthusiasm for this project and I love that we are getting the word out about this cause. It is so important for us to communicate that there is a real, tangible way to help women and children suffering around the world.

If you are having a hard time figuring out the best way to go about selling the cards, be encouraged! I just sent out an email to many of my contacts saying that if they were interested, I would mail the cards out to them. I have been really surprised by the variety of people that have responded to this call to action. I have friends from high school that were moved to buy a card! You just never know! So be encouraged if you aren't a "seller" and don't feel comfortable asking people to help.

I am honored to be working with all of you on this project and excited to take on another challenge in the near future! I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Marisa

A chilling article entitled "Child Sex Tours"

2007-11-28T13:59:00.000-08:00

I was reading through old articles in Christianity Today (www.christianitytoday.com)and came across a very chilling article about child sex tours. As I read on I realized that nothing is really stopping men (from all over the world, even America) to sign up for these "Sex Tours," where, apparently men are taken on guided tours where young girls are presented to them as though they were animals. That is not even the worst part, these men are, at times, American business men who travel to places like Thailand to satisfy their perversions. The saddest part is, there is practically nothing being done about it. No punishment, no shameful actions made public to these men's families and friends! The problem is so enormous, like a huge white elephant in the living room! 2 million women and children are slaves in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The Thai government even admits that 20,000-30,000 of the slaves are young children. It just sickens me that men from our country are partaking in this. I will pray for them and for their families. I will also pray for the women and children who are suffering, while these men get back on a plane and return home, to their lucrative careers and their beautiful unknowing families.

There is some good news. There are groups like World Vision who have teamed up with national governments and U.S. immigration and law enforcement agencies to make a difference. They are working on punishing any U.S. citizen up to 30 years in imprisonment for partaking in sexual activity with a women under the age of 18 years old. I do hope that people start to take notice, and even better, take action. It is time that we fight for our sisters!

Lets help unite the powerful women of the world to our cause!

2007-11-20T16:21:00.000-08:00

I was looking through the candidates for president and without getting too political, I found that Senator Hillary Clinton is taking a really strong stance on issues involving women. I e-mailed her camp about what steps, if any are being taken to improve the situation in Thailand and across the world. If you would like to e-mail her, here is the page to do it. I think that Hillary would be a great person to be an advocate for the Women of Purpose groups all over our nation. I would like to start e-mailing powerful women like Oprah, Martha, Hillary and others who may be interested in our mission. I will keep you informed on how to contact these women coming up!

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/women

Another reminder of the injustice to women around the world...

2007-11-19T21:32:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I was reading CNN and ran across a really sad article that reminded me of the need for us to be women of purpose. I hope this article as the same effect on you as it did on me.
First, I took a moment to pray for the women of the world and their difficult situations. Next I forwarded the article on to a few of my friends...just another way to speak on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves and spread the word.

Take a look at this article and pass it along to a few friends...and let's see if together we can't bring an end to the injustice to women in the world!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/17/saudi.rape.victim/

A letter from a young woman serving in Cambodia

2007-11-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

hello all,
cambodia is hot!!! although im psyched to be away for the chilly
winter months...i wish i had a bit more of a fall experience before
plunging into absolute hot, stickiness. however, i cant really
complain as i have started discovering the lush pool havens amidst the
concrete. just trying to strike a balance between staying cool and
being respectful in terms of my attire.
the weekend brought some interesting new experiences my way. i took a
boat ride along the mekong river for a friend's birthday. it dropped
us at this funky bar called snowies, whose owner made a guest role in
the movie city of ghosts...never seen it, but heard its quite good.
following the birthday party we went to a club called heart of
darkness...which ended up being an extremely appropriate name.
i had heard a bit about the sexpat/sex industry in cambodia and
southeast asia in general before coming here...but wasnt sure how i
was going to react. for a little back story- i have never set foot in
a strip club and the only encounters i remember having with
prostitutes involve them approaching my dads car for a good time at a
stoplight (he respectfully dismissed their advances and answered my
questions that followed with grace) on our way downtown before 42nd st
was cleaned up. upon entering the club...i was face to face with a
seedy side of this beautiful city. i place no judgment on the
women...and in fact had some lovely conversations with several
prostitutes, who have excellent english skills, dancing feet and a
personable demeanor. also had to fend off one woman who cornered me in
the bathroom and practically begged me to have sex with her...that was
interesting to say the least. but my prostitute buddies sensed i wasnt
into it and came to my rescue. haha. after switching between staring
at ignoring the groping, touching, kissing, flirting, etc i had to get
some fresh air. the sense of entitlement and access seeping from the
sexpats pours made me feel sick and sad. knowing that the going rate
for a woman's body is no more than $20...wow! not sure what else to
say. the saddest thing is that these women's families depend on them
and this sex industry for survival. a friend took me down the street
to check out the walkabout hotel, which is in essence a 24 hour
brothel. the faces of the western men nearly hit the floor when we
walked in. i think the sight of a western woman, who maybe looks like
your mom/sister/wife, is a bit of a downer when trying to score a
khmer prostitute. so that was fun.
another unfortunate sidenote in regards to women's lives in cambodia
concerns the value placed on light skin and a quiet mouth. when out to
lunch with the teachers, the restaurant owner started poking fun at
ann, a particularly badass lady. i later inquired what it was all
about and she said that they are all trying to find her a man. when i
commented on how beautiful, smart and funny she was, her response was
that i was the only person to have ever said anything like that to her
and that it is her badluck that she was born with dark skin and a
sense of humor. we then launched into a great discussion about white
privilege and women's ideal appearance in the states. however, i dont
think that my feelings about waiting for a man who is looking for a
challenge to love really translates in cambodia, where money speaks
louder than words and women are meant to be seen and not heard (sorry
for two cliches so close together).
on a brighter note...spent all day saturday with the folks at sovann
komar. three children celebrated their birthdays. in addition, we had
a full moon celebration. we made boats out of bamboo (i actually cut
huge pieces of bamboo with a machete and some smaller knives) and
placed offerings (flowers, fruit, seeds, candles, incense) for our
ancestors on the boats. we then placed our boats into the river with a
sense of what we were thankful for and what we wanted in our hearts.
my boat was pretty small, but some of the dads made the most beautiful
creations. in an attempt to be creative i carved a sun out of bamboo,
covered it in yellow paper, and placed it on top the little hut i had
created to protect my offerings.
went to the "thrift shop"market today. that's how it was advertised,
but as thrift junkie, i was not so impressed. plus...the scene at the
market was a bit off putting as in between the aisles chickens hung
from hooks and animals innards were on display...including the penis
and testicles on an unidentified creature. nevertheless i purchased a
cute shirt/dress, my first since being here.
making friends is not no hard in this town...but i found a couple more
treasures this weekend, both ladies from the states. ali is from the
chicago area...funny that i become close to chi folks no matter if im
in wisconsin, south africa or cambodia. the other is charis. charis
invited me on a weekend roadtrip to kep, about three hours southwest
of pp. we'll be staying with a friend of hers for free and from her
descriptions will be out in the wilderness hiking and swimming!! fun.
plus, we'll come back for the last day of the water festival, as the
boat racing sounds incredible.
i will be spending my thanksgiving delivering toys, books and a
hammock from the children of sovann komar to an orphanage in an outer
province. i cant think of anything more appropriate and lept at the
opportunity in hopes that it will distract me from what im missing
back home. i think the leftover sandwich later thursday evening is
what i will miss the most...outside of family and friends of course.
that's all for now....gotta run to dinner with my pp ladies. instead
of asking how are you, khmers ask: happy, healthy? i hope you are all
happy and healthy,
katie xoxoxo

Mission Trip to Thailand coming up in February!

2007-11-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?...Then you light will break forth like the dawn.” Isaiah 58

There is a great opportunity presenting itself in February, a mission trip to Thailand! The trip will take place from the 11th-19th! We need women to go with the music team and perform ministry in the brothels! This will give any woman interested, an opportunity to get to experience first hand, the issues these women are dealing with. I pray that women from our Women of Purpose Group at Overlake will be called to go. I have been praying and have decided to make this my first mission trip! I want to be able to come back and become the voice of these women. I know that this is my calling, but for anyone else who may feel the same and may be interested I have attached some information below...

click the link below and watch a great short film about our cause!

http://www.occ.org/ministries/reach/reachvideo.asp?video=Reach-THAILAND.mov

If you would like more information on this trip or others,

Contact Lynne Ellis: lynnee@occ.org

Getting Started

2007-11-12T11:25:00.000-08:00

Women of Purpose, a project of World Concern:

Thanks to the dynamic, caring members of Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, WA, a few women have taken on the important process of building a special women-focused Women of Purpose Group. We are the 10th group to spring up in the United States. Women of Purpose is a Project of World Concern, a group based right here in Seattle, WA. www.worldconcern.org

The Women of Purpose project focuses its concern and attention toward women in need around the Globe. With poverty, child trafficking, prostitution, and slavery running rapid the Women of Purpose project seeks to revive healing, opportunity, and freedom to women and children. This is accomplished through education, missions, microloan programs, job training, and shelter and safe house programs.

A few of the women at Overlake Christian Church have decided to band together and become a driving force in the fight against slavery and human trafficking! We are praying about what our role in this fight will be. So far our group is working on getting our website up and running. The website will be a place where people can buy items made from women in impoverished countries. By purchasing these items on our website you are providing these women with an alternative to prostitution. These items will include jewelry, candles and cards. Purchasing these items will also allow these women to maintain their freedom and continue the owning and running their own businesses. On the web site there will also be the option for people to donate funding, co-sponsor fund raising events and get more personally involved with our Women of Purpose group. Our group is hoping to raise $1,000 before Christmas. This $1,000 will allow 10 women to started in own business and intern get out of prostitution in Thailand! We are here to give women a voice, a choice and the right to be free!

We need help and are excited to find strong women who want to join in the fight! If you want to help please contact:
Marisa Butterworth: marisabutterworth@hotmail.com

East Side Women of Purpose

WE HAVE MOVED!!

MEETING UPDATE

check out this website

Please Read This Article!!

The Justice Department, Blind to Slavery

Meeting Reminder!!!

back to school...

Pictures for a Purpose Set-Up Pictures

We Just Pulled It Off!

"Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God"

"The Girl Effect" - You've Gotta Watch This

Pictures for a Purpose

A Change of Date and Time for our June Meeting

Pictures for a Purpose

Our Next Meeting is...

Help Stop the Hunger Crisis!

The Truth About Chocolate

Last Call for AWAKE!!

Freedom Stones are Back!

Date Change for Pictures for a Purpose

Pictures for a Purpose

NEXT WOP MEETING APRIL 6th!

one thing

Awake Women's Event *Update*

To Starbucks or Not to Starbucks...

Awake Women's Event at OCC

And our next Women of Purpose meeting is...

The necklaces Not for sale at this time...

Order Freedom Stone Necklaces

Freedom Stones and Girl Power Hour

Great Book I've Been Reading...

It only takes 2 seconds...

Make a call today!

Isabel Allende: Novelist/Feminist

Our Brothers and Sisters in Kenya

National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness

Easy Life

OUR TOTAL AS OF JANUARY 3rd IS.......

Getting the word out about Women of Purpose

Tronie Foundation Serves Trafficked Women Locally

Our Microloan Sales!

A chilling article entitled "Child Sex Tours"

Lets help unite the powerful women of the world to our cause!

Another reminder of the injustice to women around the world...

A letter from a young woman serving in Cambodia

Mission Trip to Thailand coming up in February!

Getting Started

Awake Women's Event Update